'Erl Ionas,' seyd þe king,
'Telle me now wiþ-outen lesing, [folio 152a:b]
Line 5
Gij & Herhaud where ben he?'
Þerl answerd, & siked sore,
'Gij no Herhaud sestow no more;
For soþe y telle þe,
For hem ich haue in Inglond ben,
Line 10
& y no miȝt hem no-whar sen:
Þer-fore wel wo is me.
¶ Ac þe lond folk teld me in speche
Þat Gij was gon halwen to seche
Wel fer in vncouþe lond,
& Herhaud after him is went
For to seche him, verrament:
Line 5
Noiþer of hem y no fond,
Ac þis man ich haue brouȝt to þe
Þat haþ ben man of gret bounte,
Þat wele dar take on hond
Oȝain þe geaunt þat is so fel,
Line 10
Al for to fende þe ful wel:
For drede wil he nouȝt wond.'
¶ 'Erl Ionas,' seyd þe king, [C line 7779]
'Loke wiþ him be no feynting,
Þat y deseyued be.
& ȝif þer be, þou schalt anon
Be honged & þi sones ichon.'
Line 5
'Y graunt, sir,' þan seyd he.
Þe king cleped sir Gyoun,
& asked him at schort resoun,
'What is þy name? tel me.'
Sir Gij answerd to þe king,
Line 10
'Youn,' he said, 'wiþ-outen lesing,
Men clepeþ me in mi cuntre.'
