¶ Þemperour on him gan bihold,
& seyd to him wiþ wordes bold,
'Artow þerl Tirri?
Where is now þi bold chere
Þat whilom so douhti were,
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& holden so hardi?'
'Ȝa, sir,' he seyd, 'icham he.
Whilom y was of gret bounde,
& helden ful douhti; [The whole line on an erasure.]
& now ich haue al forlorn
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Wiþ miche sorwe on euen & morn [folio 161b:a]
To seke mi felawe sir Gij.
¶ Ich haue him souȝt in mani lond,
Ac neuer man ȝete ich fond
Can telle of him no sawe:
He is dede, ich wot full wel.
God almiȝti & seyn Miȝhel
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To blis his soule drawe!
Ac now is it told me þis pilgrim
As slayn þe douke Berardin;
Þerof icham ful fawe.
Sir emperour, y bid merci:
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For godes loue & our leuedi,
Þo[u] do me londes lawe.'
¶ Þritti erls wel curteys, [C line 9725]
& alle þe lordinges of þe palais, [altered from paylais.]
& mani baroun afine
Crid merci to þemperour bold.
Þemperour gan him bihold, [The i of bihold partially gone.]
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& seyd, 'Tirri, frende min,
Here y sese þe in al þi lond,
Wiþ worþschip to held in þine hond,
Bi god & seyn Martine.
Bifor mi barouns y graunt þe,
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Steward of mi lond þou schalt be
As was þe douke Berardine.'
