Onswered [ansuerd . . . . . ansurd.] nought o word to Merlyn.
Line 8144
When Merlyn sey þey ne onswered [ansuerd . . . . . ansurd.] nought,
Right to þe kyng he sayde his þought:
¶ Dicta Merliny ad Regem. [Lambeth folio 35b:2]
" Syre kyng," he saide, "gyf now entent! [þi tent.]
" By-neþe þe erþe, atte ffundement,
Line 8148
" Is a water rennyng dep, [rynnand depe.]
" Þat makes þy werk slyden o slep. [to slide o slepe. (Par quoi ta tor en terre font, Wace, i. 359, l. 7694.)]
" & serteyn þer-of [þat] þou be,
" Do graue þe erþe al vp, & se."
Line 8152
Þe kyng dide come mynours [grauers.] ynowe,
Þat þe erþe vp caste & drowe.
As Merlyn seyde, þe water þey fond.
" ȝe maistres," seid Merlyn, "of þys lond,
Line 8156
" ȝyf ȝe con telle vs now here
" What merueille ys in þys ryuere,
" Seyeþ now þe righte certeynete,
" ȝe þat diuined þe deþ of me!"
Line 8160
Þe maistres alle stille þey stod,
Þey seyden neyþer yuel [seid noiþer ill.] ne god.
Þen to-ward þe kyng Merlyn gan turne:
" Do scope þis water, & turn þe borne. [burne.] [Petyt folio 49a:1]
Line 8164
" Sykes do ȝe graue & groupe, [MS. groupes. P. groupe.]
" Þe water þer-inne [in þam.] men schal scoupe."
Þe kyng dide come folk ynowe,
Þat þe water wiþ scopes vp drowe.
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