And then bespake him [the Greene Knight],
These were the words said hee:
"If youle stand stifly in the battell stronge,
For I have won all the victory."
Then bespake him the King againe,
215 And these were the words said hee:
"If we stand not stifly in this battell strong,
Wee are worthy to be hanged all on a tree."
Then bespake him the Greene Knight,
These were the words said hee:
220 Saies, "I doe coniure thee, thou fowle feend,
In the same licknesse thou stood unto me."
With that start out a lodly feend,
With seven heads, and one body;
The fier towarde the element flaugh,
225 Out of his mouth, where was great plenty.
The knight stood in the middle....
[Half a page is wanting.]
... the space of an houre,
I know not what they did.
And then bespake him the Greene Knight,
230 And these were the words said he:
Saith, "I coniure thee, thou fowle feend,
That thou feitch downe the steed that we see."
And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he cold hie;
235
And feitch he did that faire steed,
And came againe by and by.