¶ Heere bigynneth the knyghtes tale [[Lines 920-1170, 1582-1931, 2927-3016 from Egerton 2726.]]
¶ Iamque domos patrias scithice post aspera gentis / prelia laurigero &c.
Whilom there was / as olde stories tellen vs,
A Duke / a worthy man that hight Theseus
Of Athenes / he was lord and gouernour
Line 861
And in his tyme / swiche a conquerour
That grettere was ther non / vnder the sonne
fful many a riche contre / had he wonne
Line 864
what with his wysdom / and Chyualrie
He conquered al the regne / of femenye
That whilom cleped was / Scithia
And wedded the fressh quene / ypolita
Line 868
And brouȝt hire hom with him / to his contre
with meche glorie / and grete solempnyte
And eke hire ȝonge suster / Emelye
And thus with blisse / & with victorie
Line 872
Lete I this noble Duke / to Athenes ride
And al his Ost / in armes / by his side
And certes if it ne were / to longe to here
I wold haue told fully / the manere
Line 876
How wonne was the regne / of ffemonye
By Theseus / and by his cheualrie [folio 13b]
And of the grete bataille / for the nones
Bytwene the Athenes / and Amasones
Line 880
And how assegid was / Ipolita
The fair hardy Quene / of Scithia
And of the fest þat was / at hire weddyng
And of the temple / at hire hom commyng
Line 884
But al this thyng / I mot as now forbere
I haue god wote / a large felde to ere
And weyke be the Oxen / in my plow
The remenaunt of my tale / is long I-now
Line 888
I wil nouȝt letten eke / non of þis route
