¶ In þis launde her-before
An hondred haþ her lif y-lore,
Whan he seȝ hem ride. [folio 174a:b]
Her forþ ne schel pase no kniȝt,
Ȝif he haþ brenye [breyne MS.] or stede liȝt,
Line 5
Þat he ne schel abide,
And for-lese þer þat on,
Oþer is heued riȝt anon
Be þe wode side.
Ȝif ȝe be þat launde gon,
Line 10
Ich telle ȝow be sein Ion,
Swich aunture ȝow schel betide.'
¶ 'O, god be þanked,' queþ Reinbroun,
'Ichaue founde me compaynoun,
Me felle wiþ to fiȝte.
Ȝif he wile haue oure þing,
Y schel him teche, wiþ-outen lesing,
Line 5
Þat he doþ vnriȝte.'
Nouȝt fer þanne ne beþ þai gon,
Þai be-helde aȝen anon:
Hii siȝe his armes briȝte
Vpon a stede whit so flour;
Line 10
His armes wer of rede kolour,
A semede of meche miȝte.
¶ 'Sire Heraud,' seide Reinbroun,
'Now y se þat bolde baroun
Þat is so stout a fere.
Wiþ vs to fiȝte he makeþ him ȝare:
Wiþ him to iusten ich wile fare
Line 5
Emforþ me powere.
Ich him asaile, ȝif þow wilt so.'
Heraud seide, 'so þow schelt do,
Me leue sone dere.'
Swiþe þeder rod Reinbroun,
Line 10
& he in þe launde com adoun
Vpon is deistrere.
