"Is riche of tenement, his sonnes strong & stith,
"þer wille wille not be went, ne lete þer lond ne lith.
"Wild þe bicom Cristen, fulle eth I were to drawe,
"Bot I dar not for þam alle one to leue our lawe.
RICHARD said, "per fay, go now & conseile þe,
"& bi þe þrid day, þat salle haf certeynte.
"Bi þan I salle þe say, how þat it salle go,
"Of pes to haf þe way, or werre, on of þe tuo.
Listen now a gile of Sir Safadyn,
Contreued a wikked wile on his broþer Saladyn.
¶ Now wendes Saladyn þer his oste gan lie,
His [Sic.] boþer Safadyn his comyng did spie,
He sent to kyng R. a stede for curteisie,
On of þe best reward, þat was in paemie:
Bad him bi þat ȝere token, ware him for trieherie;
Said, "Saladyn was fulle foen, on him may non affie,
"He sais behind þi bak, in strange companie,
"Wordes þat er to lak, he dar þe wele diffie,
"If he & þou alone myght ȝow togider alie,
"He myght withouten mone of þe wynne þe maistrie;
[Si tu soys taunt vayllaunt, com le mounde te crye, Rebukez le bien de sa sur quiderye, Codd. Gallici.] "&, Sir, if þou be suilk, als men of þe crie,
"Rebuke him for þat ilk of þat auauntrie.
"If I may be auaile of hors or armurie,
"Forsoth I salle not faile, to mende þi partie.
Bot or þat day felle to stand, þat þer acorde suld be,
Had R. herd tiþand out Normundie.
