Page 204
When þe soudan seye his folk dye, [C line 3331]
Line 3525
Bi ten, bi tvelue, in þe waye,
He cleped to him þe king of Nubye,
Þat was ful of felonie.
'Sir king,' he seyd, 'sest tow nouȝt
Hou mine men ben to deþ y-brouȝt?
Line 3530
Descumfit & y-slawe hij beþ,
Þe bodis ded wele ȝe seþ.
Þis Cristen our men to deþ doþ;
Ac bi Cariot y swere mi noþ,
& bi Apolyn þe grete,
Line 3535
Bi Ternagaunt, & bi Mahoun þe swete,
Bot we of hem be wreken swiþe,
No worþ y neuer glad no bliþe,
Bot we hem aseyle biginne,
& þe hille wiþ strengþe awinne.
Line 3540
An hundred we ben oȝain hem on,
& al we schul hem nimen anon.' [C line 3346]
Þe helden þai nimeþ about strongliche,
& þe Cristen aseyl stalworþliche
At þe brode paþe & narwe also;
Line 3545
Þe Gregeys wele werd hem þo.
On þe Cristen þai gun smite,
Þe Sarrazins, boþe miche & lite,
& our men hem werd wel
Wiþ scharpe speres & grounden [the r added over the line.] stiel:
Line 3550
Wiþ axes & swerdes y-grounde,
Wiþ gisarmes þai ȝif deþes wounde.
¶ Þe soudan forþwiþ alder-farst
On þe Cristen smot wel fast;
On heye on helmes he hem smot [folio 125b:b]
Line 3555
Wiþ his fauchon þat wele bot.
Toȝaines Gij he smot þo,
& seyd 'war, ich-il þe slo!'
Gij he smot so ouer þuert,
Þat he was sumdel y-hert;
Line 3560
