Page 539
Tho smote they to-gedyr faste,
Whiles ther wepon wold laste.
There be-gan a stronge fyght:
Line 9640
They smot on helmys, that were bryght.
They brekyn steroppis and paytrellis, [Caius MS. 107 page 223]
And theyre sperys euery-deale,
But her hawberkis wold not ryve.
Down of theyre stedis gan they dryve.
Line 9645
Now be they on the erth both:
Full sone I wene they will be wroth.
On her stedys they lepyn, sans dowt;
Non dred other: they were so stowt.
They drew swerdys stowt and stronge,
Line 9650
And fought to-gedyr swyth long.
The dyntis on helmys were so stoute,
That all the hyll dynned a-bowt.
They breke hawberkis and shyldys:
The pecis flow into the fyldys.
Line 9655
Sir Gye was armyd well thore,
But the Duke had armour more:
He had two helmys styf and bryȝt,
And two hawberkis for dred of fyȝt.
They were set with preciouse stonys
Line 9660
All a-bowte for the nonys.
Well grete and stronge was that bateyle:
Her horse were stronge, with-owt fayle.
They seyd a-mong hem eche man
That seyen the bateyle than
Line 9665
That Gye was erthly man none:
Of hevyn he was an angell one,
Other ellys a man of fer londe:
He myȝt not ellys the Duke with-stond.
