25 'And hees neuer come vpon Eldrige [Hill],
Him to sport, gamon, or play,
And to meete noe man of middle-earth
And that liues on Christs his lay.'
26 But he then vp and that eldryge king,
Sett him in his sadle againe,
And that eldryge king and his ladye
To their castle are they gone.
27 And hee tooke then vp and that eldryge sword,
As hard as any fflynt,
And soe he did those ringes fiue,
Harder then ffyer, and brent.
28 Ffirst he presented to the kings daughter
The hand, and then the sword,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
* * * * *
29 'But a serre buffett you haue him giuen,
The king and the crowne,' shee sayd:
'I, but four and thirty stripes
Comen beside the rood.'
30 And a gyant that was both stiffe [and] strong,
He lope now them amonge,
And vpon his squier fiue heads he bare,
Vnmackley made was hee.
31 And he dranke then on the kings wine,
And hee put the cup in his sleeue,
And all thé trembled and were wan,
Ffor feare he shold them greeffe.
32 'Ile tell thee mine arrand, king,' he sayes,
'Mine errand what I doe heere;
Ffor I will bren thy temples hye,
Or Ile haue thy daughter deere;
I, or else vpon yond more soe brood
Thou shalt ffind mee a ppeare.'
33 The king he turned him round about,
Lord, in his heart he was woe!
Says, Is there noe knight of the Round Table
This matter will vndergoe?