Kunne a boy nu breke a spere, he shal be mad a kniht.
And thus ben knihtes gadered of unkinde blod,
And envenimeth that ordre that shold be so god
and hende;
Ac o shrewe in a court many man may shende. 270
And nu nis no squier of pris in this middel erd,
But if that he bere a babel and a long berd,
And swere Godes soule, and vuwe to God and hote;
But sholde he for everi fals uth lese kirtel or kote,
Glossary.—253. weden, garments.—255. degysed, arrayed. i-diht, arranged, clothed.—256. unnethe, scarcely.—258. mieknesse, meekness.—261. hende, gentle. levedi, lady.—262. nel, will not. wonde, stay.—264. acloied, debased. fot lame, lame of foot.—265. deolfulliche i-diht, lamentably arrayed.—270. o, one. shende, ruin.—271. middel erd, world, middle earth.—272. bere, carry. babel, fool’s bauble(?).—273. vuwe, vow. hote, promise.—274. uth, oath.