King Horn ; Floriz and Blauncheflur ; The assumption of Our Lady / first edited in 1866 by J. Rawson Lumby ; and now re-edited from the MSS. with introduction notes, and glossary, by George H. McKnight.

FLORIS AND BLAUNCHEFLUR.

Trentham MS., fol. 98 a; vellum, c. 1440: beginning lost. Headlines 'Florence and Blanchefloure.'

Ne thurst men [[first 'mey, then alterd]] neuer in londe After feirer Children fonde. Þe Cristen woman fedde hem þoo, Ful wel she louyd hem boþ twoo. [ 4] So longe sche fedde hem in feere þat þey were of elde of seuen ȝere. Þe kyng behelde his sone dere, And seyde to him on this manere, [ 8] Þat harme it were muche more But his sone were sette to lore On þe book letters to know, As men done, both hye and lowe. [ 12] "Feire sone," she seide, "þou shalt lerne, Lo þat þou do ful ȝerne." Florys answerd with wepyng, As he stood byfore þe kyng; [ 16] Al wepyng seide he, "Ne schal not Blancheflour lerne with me? Ne can y noȝt to scole goone [19 Floris says that he cannot learn unless Blauncheflur is with him.] With-out Blanchefloure," he seide þane. [ 20] "Ne can y in no scole syng ne rede With-out Blancheflour," he seide. Þe king seide to his soone, "She shal lerne for þy loue." [ 24] To scole þey were put; [25 The two are put to school together, and make good progress.] Boþ þey were good of wytte. Wonder it was of hur lore, And of her loue wel þe more. [ 28] Þe Children louyd to-geder soo, Þey myȝt neuer parte a twoo. When þey had .v. ȝere to scoole goone So wel þey had lerned þoo, [ 32] Inowȝ þey couþ of latyne, And wel wryte on parchemyne. Þe kyng vnderstod þe grete Amoure Bytwene his sone and Blanchefloure, And þouȝt when þey were of Age Þat her loue wolde noȝt swage; [ 38] Nor he myȝt noȝt her loue withdrawe When Florys shuld wyfe after þe lawe. Þe king to þe Queene seide þoo, [ 98 b] And tolde hur of his woo, Off his þouȝt and of his care, How it wolde of Floreys fare. [ 44]

"Dame," he seide, "y tel þe my reede, [45 The king begins to devise to separate the two, and proposes to put the maiden to death.] I wyl þat Blaunchefloure be do to deede. When þat maide is y-slawe, And brouȝt of her lyf dawe, [ 48] As sone as Florys may it vnder ȝete, Rathe he wylle hur forȝete. Þan may he wyfe after reede." Þe Queene answerde þen and seide, And þouȝt with hur reede Saue þe mayde fro þe deede. [ 54] "Sir," she seide, "we auȝt to fonde Þat Florens lyf wit menske in londe, And þat he lese not his honour For þe mayden Blauncheflour. [ 58] Who so myȝt þat mayde clene, Þat she were brouȝt to deþ bydene, Hit were muche more honour Þan slee þat mayde Blancheflour." Vnneþes þe king g[ra]unt þat it be soo. "Dame, rede vs what is to doo." [ 64] "Sir, we shul oure soone Florys [65 The queen suggests that Floris be sent away.] Sende into þe londe of Mountargis. Blythe wyl my suster be Þat is lady of þat Contree. [ 68] And when she woot for whoom̄ Þat we have sent him vs froom̄, She wyl doo al hur myȝt, Boþ by day and by nyȝt, [ 72] To make hur loue so vndoo As it had neuer ben soo. And, sir," she seide, "y rede eke Þat þe maydens moder make hur seek. [ 76] Þat may be þat other resoun̄ For þat ylk enchesoun, Þat she may not fro hur moder goo." Now ben þese Children swyþ woo, Now þey may not goo in fere [ 99 b] Drewryer þinges neuer noone were. Florys wept byfore þe kyng, And seide, "Sir, with-out lesyng, [ 84] For my harme out ȝe me sende, Now she ne myȝt with me wende. Now we ne mot to-geder goo, Al my wele is turned to woo." [ 88] Þe king seide to his soone aplyȝt, "Sone, withynne þis fourtenyȝt, Be her moder quykke or deede," "Sekerly," he him seide, [ 92] "Þat mayde shal come þe too." "Ȝe, sir," he seid, "y pray ȝow it be soo. [94 Floris is sent to his aunt at Mountargis, with the promise that Blauncheflur shall follow within fourteen days.] Ȝif þat ȝe me hur sende, I rekke neuer wheder y wende." [ 96] Þat þe Child graunted þe kyng was fayne, And him betauȝt his Chamburlayne. With muche honoure þey þeder coome, As fel to a ryche kynges soone. [ 100] Wel feire him receyuyd þe Duke Orgas, Þat king of þat Castel was, And his Aunt wiþ muche honour; But euer he þouȝt on Blanchefloure. Glad and blythe þey ben him withe; But for no ioy þat he seith, Ne myȝt him glade game ne gle, For he myȝt not his lyf see. [ 108] His Aunt set him to lore

Þere as other Children wore, Boþ maydons and grome; To lerne mony þeder coome. [ 112] Inowȝ he sykes, but noȝt he lernes; For Blauncheflour euer he mornes. Yf enyman to him speke Loue is on his hert steke. [ 116] Loue is at his hert roote Þat no þing is so soote: Galyngale ne lycorys [ 119] Is not so soote as hur loue is, [ 99 b] Ne nothing ne none other. So much he þenkeþ on Blancheflour, Of oo day him þynkeþ þre, For he ne may his loue see. [ 124] Þus he abydeth with muche woo [125 He grieves until the fourteen days are past.] Tyl þe fourtenyȝt were goo. When he saw she was nouȝt ycoome, So muche sorow he haþ noome, [ 128] Þat he loueth mete ne drynke, Ne may noone in his body synke. Þe Chamberleyne sent þe king to wete, [131 The chamberlain reports Floris's sorrow to the king.] His sones state al y-wrete. [ 132] Þe king ful sone þe waxe to-brake, [133 The king is very angry, and again proposes to put Blaunche∣flur to death.] For to wete what it spake: He begynneth to chaunge his moode, And wel sone he vnderstode, [ 136] And with wreth he cleped þe Queene, And tolde hur alle his teene, And with wraþ spake and sayde, "Let do bryng forþ þat mayde! [ 140] Fro þe body þe heued shal goo." Þenne was þe Quene ful woo. Þan spake þe Quene, þat good lady, "For goddes love, sir, mercy. [ 144] [144 The queen proposes, instead, to sell the maiden.] At þe next hauen þat here is, Þer ben chapmen ryche y-wys, Marchaundes of babyloyne ful ryche, Þat wol hur bye blethelyche. [ 148] Than may ȝe for þat louely foode Haue muche Catełł and goode. And soo she may fro vs be brouȝt, Soo þat we slee hur nouȝt." [ 152] Vnneþes þe king graunted þis; But forsoþ so it is, Þe king let sende after þe burgeise, Þat was hende and Curtayse, [ 156] And welle selle and bygge couth, And moony langages had in his mouth. Wel sone þat mayde was him betauȝt; [159 This is done, and for the maiden they receive among other things a magnificent cup with a romantic history.] An to þe hauene was she brouȝt. [ 160] [[100 a]] Þer haue þey for þat maide ȝolde xx. Mark of reed golde, And a Coupe good and ryche, [ 163] In al þe world was none it lyche. Þer was neuer noone so wel graue; He þat it made was no knave. [ 166] Þer was purtrayd on, y weene, How Paryse ledde awey þe Queene; And on þe Couercle a-boue Purtrayde was þer both her love; And in þe Pomel þerone Stood a Charbuncle stoone. [ 172] In þe world was not so depe soler, Þat it nold lyȝt þe Botelere, To fylle boþ ale and wyne, Of syluer and golde boþ good and fyne. Enneas þe king, þat nobel man,

At Troye in batayle he it wan, [ 178] And brouȝt it in-to Lumbardy, And gaf it his lemman, his Amy. Þe Coupe was stoole fro king Cesar; A þeef out of his tresour hous it bar. And sethe þat ilke same þeef For Blaunchefloure he it ȝeef. [ 184] For he wyst to wynne suche þree, Myȝt he hur bryng to his contree. Now þese Marchaundes saylen ouer þe see, With þis mayde, to her contree. [ 188] So longe þey han vndernome, Þat to Babyloyne þey ben coome. [190 Blauncheflur is taken to Babylon and sold to the Admiral.] To þe Amyral of Babyloyne Þey solde þat mayde swythe soone; Rath and soone þey were at oone. Þe Amyral hur bouȝt Anoone, And gafe for hur, as she stood vpryȝt, Seuyne sythes of golde her wyȝt, [ 196] For he þouȝt without weene Þat faire mayde haue to Queene; Among his maydons in his bour He hur dide with muche honour. Now þese merchaundes þat may belete, And ben glad of hur byȝete. [ 100 b] nOw let we of Blauncheflour be, And speke of Florys in his contree. Now is þe Bu[r]gays to þe king coome With þe golde and his garysone, And haþ take þe king to wolde, Þe seluer and þe Coupe of golde. [ 208] They lete make in a Chirche [209 The king and queen cause to be made a supposititious tomb for Blauncheflur.] As swithe feire graue wyrche. And lete ley þer-vppone A new feire peynted stone, [ 212] With letters al aboute wryte

With ful muche worshippe. Who-so couth þe letters rede, [ 215] Þus þey spoken, and þus þey seide: "Here lyth swete Blaunchefloure Þat Florys louyd Paramoure." Now Florys haþ vndernome, And to his Fader he is coome. [ 220] [220 Floris returns, and asks his father and mother for Blauncheflur in vain.] In his Fader halle he is lyȝt, His Fader him grette anoone ryȝt, And his moder, þe Queene, also, But vnneþes myȝt he þat doo, [ 224] Þat he ne asked where his Lemman bee; Nonskyns answere chargeþ hee. So longe he is forth noome, In to Chamber he is coome. [ 228] Þe maydenys moder he asked ryȝt, [229 He then asks the girl's mother.] "Where is Blauncheflour, my swete wyȝt?" "Sir," she seide, "forsothe ywys, I ne woot where she is." [ 232] She beþouȝt hur on þat lesyng Þat was ordeyned byfoore þe king. "Þou gabbest me," he seyde þoo, "Þy gabbyng doþ me muche woo. Tel me where my leman be." [ 237] Al wepyng seide þenne shee, "Sir," shee seide, "deede." "deed!" seide he. [ 239] [239 The mother at length tells Floris that Blauncheflur is dead.] "Sir," sche seide, "for sothe, ȝee." "Allas, when died þat swete wyȝt?" "Sir, withynne þis Fourtenyȝt [ 101 b] Þe erth was leide hur aboute, And deed she was for thy loue." [ 244] Flores, þat was so feire and gent, Sownyd þere verament. [246 Floris swoons.] Þe cristen woman began to crye

To ihesu crist and seynt Marye. [ 248] Þe king and þe queene herde þat crye; In to þe Chamber þey ronne on hye. And þe Queene herde her byforne On sowne þe Childe þat she had borne. Þe kinges hert was al in care, [ 253] Þat sawe his sone for loue so fare. When he a-wooke and speke moȝt, Sore he wept and sore he syȝt, [ 256] And seide to his moder ywys, "Lede me þere þat mayde is." Þeder þey him brouȝt on hyȝe; [ 259] [259 His mother comes to him, and conducts him to the supposititious tomb.] For care and sorow he wolde dyȝe. As sone as he to þe graue com, Sone þere behelde he þen, And þe letters began to rede, [263 Floris reads the inscription, and then swoons three times.] Þat þus speke and þus seide: [ 264] "Here lytħ swete Blauncheflour, Þat Florys louyd paramoure." Þre sithes Florys sownydde nouth; Ne speke he myȝt not with mouth. As sone as he awoke and speke myȝt, Sore he wept and sore he syȝt. [ 270] [270 Floris weeps and sighs, and laments Blauncheflur's death.] [No gap in MS.] "Blauncheflour!" he seide, "Blaun∣cheflour!" So swete a þing was neuer in boure. Of Blauncheflour is þat y meene, For she was come of good kyne. [No gap in MS.] Lytel and muche loueden þe For þy goodnesse and þy beaute. [ 276]

Ȝif deþ were dalt aryȝt, We shuld be deed boþ on oo nyȝt. On oo day borne we were; We shul be ded boþ in feere." [ 280] [[101 b]] "Deeþ," he seide, "ful of enuye, [281 He apostrophizes death.] And of alle trechorye, Refte þou hast me my lemman." "For soth," he seide, "þou art to blame. [ 284] She wolde haue leuyd, and þu noldest, And fayne wolde y dye, and þu woldest. [No gap in MS.] After deeþ clepe nomore y nylle, But slee my self now y wille." [ 288] His kynf he braide out of his sheth; [289 He attempts to stab himself with a knife, but is prevented by his mother.] Him self he wolde haue doo to deth. And to hert he had it smetene Ne had his moder it vnder ȝetene. Þen þe Queene fel him vppone, [ 293] And þe knyf fro him noome. She reft him of his lytel knyf, And sauyd þere þe Childes lyf. [ 296] Forþ þe Queene ranne, al wepyng, Tyl she come to þe kyng.

Þan seide þe good lady, "For goddes loue, sir, mercy! [ 300] [300 The queen persuades the king to reveal the truth.] Of .xii. children haue we noone On lyue now but þis oone. And better it were she were his make, Þan he were deed for hur sake." [ 304] "Dame, þou seist soþ," seide he; "Sen it may noone other be, Leuer me were she were his wyf, Þan y lost my sonnes lyf." [ 308] Of þis word þe Quene was fayne, And to her soone she ran agayne. "Floryes, soone, glad make the, [311 They tell him the facts, and together open the grave and find it empty.] Þy lef þou schalt on lyue see. [ 312] Florys, sone, þrouȝ engynne Of þy Faders reed and myne, Þis graue let we make, Leue sone, for þy sake. [ 316] Ȝif þou þat maide forgete woldest, After oure reed wyf þou sholdest." Now euery worde she haþ him tolde, How þat þey þat mayden solde. [ 320] "Is þis soth, my moder dere?" [ 102 b] "For soth," she seide, "she is not here." Þe rowȝ stoone adoune þey leyde, And sawe þat was not þe mayde. [ 324] "Now, moder, y þink þat y leue may. Ne shal y rest nyȝt ne day, [326 Floris declares his resolve to find Blauncheflur.] Nyȝt ne day ne no stounde, Tyl y haue my lemmon founde. [ 328] Hur to seken y wołł wende, Þauȝ it were to þe worldes ende." To þe king he goþ to take his leue, And his Fader bade him byleue. [ 332] "Sir, y wyl let for no wynne;

Me to bydden it it were grete synne." Þan seid þe king, "seth it is soo, Seþ þou wylt noone other doo, [ 336] Al þat þe nedeþ we shul þe fynde; Ihesu þe of care vnbynde." "Leue Fader," he seide, "y telle þe [339 He describes to the king the retinue that he would like.] Al þat þou shalt fynde me. [ 340] Þou mast me fynde, at my deuyse, Seuen horses al of prys, And twoo y-charged vppon̄ þe molde Boþ with seluer and wyþ golde, [ 344] And two ycharged with monay For to spenden by þe way, And þree with clothes ryche, Þe best of al þe kyngryche, [ 348] Seuen horses and seuyn̄ men, And þre knaues without hem, And þyne owne Chamburlayne, Þat is a wel nobel swayne. [ 352] He can vs wyssħ and reede, As marchaundes we shułł vs lede." His Fader was an hynde king, Þe Coupe of golde he dide him bryng, [356 The king gives him also the marvellous cup, and an elegantly caparisoned 'palfray.'] Þat ilke self Coupe of golde [ 357] Þat was Blauncheflour for ȝolde. "Haue þis, soone," seide þe king, "Herewith þou may þat swete þing, Wynne so may betyde, [ 102 b] [ 361] Blauncheflour with þe white syde, Blauncheflour, þat faire may." Þe king let sadel a Palfray, Þe oone half so white so mylke, And þat other reed so sylk. [ 366] I ne can telle nouȝt How rychely þat sadel was wrouȝt. Þe Arson̄ was of golde fyne, Stones of vertu stode þeryne, [ 370]

Bygone aboute wit orfreys. [ 371] Þe Queene was kynde and curtays, Cast hur toward þe kyng And of hur fynger she brayde a ryng: "Haue now þis ylke ryng: [ 375] [375 The queen gives him a magic ring.] While is it þyne, douȝt no þyng Of fire brennyng ne water in þe See; Ne yren̄ ne steele shal dere thee." [No gap in MS.] He took his leue for to goo; [ 379] [379 Floris takes leave and comes to the haven, and lodges at the same house where Blauncheflur had been.] Þer was ful muche woo; [No gap in MS.] Þey made him noon̄ other chere Þan her soon̄ were leide in bere. [No gap in MS.] Furþ he went with al his mayn̄; With him went þe Chamberlayn̄. So haue þey her hauyn̄ nome [ 385] Þat þey ben to þe hauyn̄ come Þere Blaunchefloure was alnyȝt, Wel rychely þey ben dyȝt; [ 388] Þe lord of þe ynne was welle hende; [389 They find there good entertainment.] Þe Child he sette next þe ende, In al þe feirest seete [ 391] Alle þey dronken and al þey ȝete: [392 All make good cheer except Floris, who thinks ever on Blauncheflur.] [No gap in MS.] Ete ne drynke myȝt he nouȝt; [ 393]

On blauncheflour was al his þouȝt. Þe lady of þat vnderȝat [ 395] [395 The hostess observes his 'mourning,' and tells him that she is reminded of the mourning of Blauncheflur.] Þat þe Childe mornyng sat, And seide to her lord with styl dreme, "Sir, nyme now goode ȝeme [ 398] How þe Child mournyng syttes: Mete and drynke he forȝetes: [[103 a]] Lytel he eteþ, and lasse he drynkeþ; He is a marchaund, as me þynkeþ." To Flores þen seide she, [ 403] "Al ful of mournyng y the see. Þer sate þer þis sender day, Blauncheflour, þat swete may. Heder was þat mayde brouȝt [ 407] With Marchaundes þat hur had bouȝt; Heder þey brouȝt þat mayde swete; Þey wold haue solde hur for byȝete; To Babyloyne þey wylle hur brynge, Boþ of semblant & of mornynge." When Florys herd speke of his lemman, [ 413] [413 Floris rejoices at the mention of the name. He gives the hostess a silver cup, etc., and inquires further about Blauncheflur.] Was he neuer so glad a man, And in his hert bygan to lyȝt; Þe Coupe he let fulle anoon̄ ryȝt: "Dame," he seide, "þe fessel is þyne, Boþ þe Coupe and þe wyne, [ 418] Þe wyne and þe gold eke, For þou of my leman speke: On hur y þouȝt, for hur y syȝt; [ 421] I ne wyst where I hur fynde myȝt; Wynde ne weder shal me assoyne, Þat y ne shal seche hur in Babyloyne." Now Florys resteþ him al a nyȝt. At morne, when it was day lyȝt, [ 426] [No gap in MS.]

[No gap in MS.] He dide him in-to þe wylde flood. [427 Floris sets sail once more.] Wynde and weder with him stood; Sone so Florys come to londe, [ 429] Þere he þanked goddes sonde To þe londe þer his lyf ynne is: [431 He arrives in the country where his leman is.] Him þouȝt he was in paradyse. [ 432] [No gap in MS.] Sone to Florys tydyng men tolde Þat þe Amyral wold Fest holde; His Erls, Barons, comyn̄ sholde, [ 435] And al þat wold of him lond holde, For to herkyn̄ his hest And for to honoure his Feest. Glad was Florys of þat tydyng; He hoped to come to þat gestyng, Ȝif he myȝt, in þat halle, [ 441] His lemman see among hem alle. [[103 b]] nOW to þat Citee Florys is come; Feire he hath his ynne y-noome At a palaise; was none it lyche; Þe lord of þat ynne was fulle ryche; He hadde ben ferre and wyde. [ 447] Þe Childe he set next his syde, [448 At the inn there is good cheer, and Floris enters into conversation with the host.] In al þe feirest seete. Alle þey dronken and ete, Al þat þerynne were, Al þey made good chere, [ 452] Þey ete and dronke echoon̄ with other; But Florys þouȝt al another, Ete ne drynke he myȝt noȝt, [ 455] On Blauncheflour was al his þouȝt. Þan spake þe Burgays Þat was hende and Curtays:

"Ow, child, me þynkeþ welle [ 459] Þat muche þou þynkest on my catelle." "Nay, sir, on Catel þenke y nouȝt," (On Blauncheflour was al his þouȝt,) "But y þynke on al wyse For to fynde my marchaundise; [ 464] And ȝit it is þe most woo, When y it fynd, y shal it forgoo." Þan spak þe lord of þat ynne, "Þis sender day, þer sate hereyne Þat faire Maide Blauncheflour, [ 469] boþ in halle and in boure. Euer she made mornyng chere, And bement Florys, her lyf fere; Ioye ne blis made she noon̄, [ 473] But for Florys she made her moon̄." Florys toke a Coupe of syluer clere, A mantyl of Scarlet with menyuere: "Houe þis, sir, to þyn̄ honour; [ 477] Þou may þonke it Blauncheflour. He myȝt make myn̄ hert glade, Þat couþ me tel wheder she is ladde." "Child, to Babyloyne she is brouȝt; [481 The host tells him that Blauncheflur has been sold to the Admiral at Babylon.] Þe Amyral hur haþ bouȝt: [ 482] [[104 a]] He gaf for hur, as she stood vpryȝt, Seuen sithes of gold hur wyȝt; For he þenkeþ with-out weene, Þat faire may haue to Queene. [ 486] Among his maydons in his toure He hur dide, with much honoure." Now Flores resteþ him þere al nyȝt, Tyl on þe morrow þe day was lyȝt; He roos on þe morownyng, [ 491] He gaf his Ost an hundryd shelyng, To his ost and to his Ostesse, And toke his leue, and feire dide kysse;

And ȝerne his ost he besouȝt, Þat he him help, ȝif he myȝt ouȝt, Ȝif he myȝt, with any gynne, [ 497] Þat feire may to him wynne. [No gap in MS.] "Childe," he seide, "to a brygge þou shalt come, The Senpere fynde at hoome: [ 500] He woneth at þe brygges ende; Curtays man he is, and hende; We arn̄ bretheren, and trouthes plyȝt: He can þe wyssh and rede a-ryȝt; Þou shalt bere him a rynge [ 505] [505 The innkeeper sends him with a ring of introduction to the bridge porter at Babylon.] Fro my-self to tokenynge, Þat he help þe in boure and halle As it were my self befalle." [ 508] [No gap in MS.] Florys takeþ þe ryng, and nemeþ leue, For long wold he nouȝt beleue.

By þat it was vndern̄ hyȝe, [511 Floris takes leave, and by midday reaches the bridge and finds the porter.] Þe Brygge come he swyth nye. [ 512] Þe Senperes name was Darys. Florys gret him wel feire ywys, And he him þe ryng arauȝt, And ful feire it him betauȝt. [ 516] [No gap in MS.] Þrouȝ þe token of þat ilk ryng [517 Floris presents the ring, and is hospitably received.] Florys had ful faire gestnyng Off Fyssħ and flessh and tender breed, Of wyn̄, both white and reed: [ 520] And euer Florys sate ful colde, [521 Floris sits mourning.] And Dares bygan þe Childe beholde: [No gap in MS.] [[104 b]] "Leue Child, what may þis be, [523 Daris asks if he is not pleased with his entertainment.] Þus þouȝtful as y the see? [ 524] And þou nouȝt al in feere, Þat þou makist þus sory chere, Or þou lykkest noȝt þis yn̄?" Þan Floreys answered him̄: [ 528]

"Ȝis, sir, by goddes ore, So good ne had y mony day ȝore: God let me abyde þat daye Þat y þe quyte wel may: [ 532] But y þenke on al wyse [533 Floris tells him, in veiled words, his real trouble.] Most vppon̄ my marchaundyse; [No gap in MS.] And ȝit it is most woo, When y hit Fynde, y shal it forgoo." [No gap in MS.] "Childe, woldest þou telle me my gryf, [537 Daris bids him speak plainly, and Floris speaks out.] To hele þe, me were ful lyf." [No gap in MS.] Euery word he haþ him tolde, [ 539] How þe mayde was fro him solde, And how he was of Spayn̄ a kynges sone, For grete loue þider y-come, To fonde, with quantyse and with gyn̄. Blauncheflour for to wynne. [ 544]

"Now," seith Dares, "þou art a "Folt,— [545 Daris takes him to be a fool, and proceeds to tell the strength of the Admiral and the size of the city.] And For a Foole þe Childe he halt,— "Now y woot how it gooth, Þou desirest pyn̄ own̄ death. [ 548] Þe Amyral haþ to his Iustinges Oþer half hundred of ryche kinges; And þe Alder-rychest king Durst not begynne suche a þing. [ 552] [No gap in MS.] Ȝif Amyral myȝt it vnderstonde, He shulde be drawe in his owne londe, A-bout Babyloyne, y wene, Six longe myle and tene; [ 556] At euery myle is a walle þerate, Seuen sithes twenty ȝate; And .xx. toures þer ben ynne, Þat euery day chepyng is ynne; [ 560] Euery day and nyȝt þrouȝ-out þe ȝere Þe Chepyng is y-lyche plenere; [[105 a]] And þauȝ al þe men þat ben bore, Had on hur lyf swore [ 564]

To wynne þat maide feire and free, Al shul þey die, so moot y the. In þat bour, in mydward pyȝt, [567 Daris tells of the 'towers,' the spring, the wonderful carbuncle, the porter on guard, and the forty-four maidens kept in the 'high tower.'] Stondeþ a toure, y the plyȝt, [ 568] An hundryd fathum̄ it is hye,— Who-soo beholdeþ hit, fer or nere, An hundred fathum it is y-fere;— It is made with-out[en] pere, [ 572] Of lyme and of Marbulstone; In al þis world is suche noone. Now is þe morter made so wele, Ne may it breke, iren ne steele. [ 576] Þe Pomel þat aboue is leide, It is made with muche pride; [No gap in MS.]

Þat man ne þar in þe Tour berne Nouther torcher [[MS. torther]] ne lanterne; [ 580] Suche a pomel was þer bygone, Hit shyned a nyȝt so doþ þe soone. [No gap in MS.] Now arn̄ in þat ilk Tour Twoo and fourty nobełł boure; [ 584] Wel were þat ilke man Þat myȝt woone in þat oon̄! Ne durst him neuer more ywys Couete after more blysse. [ 588] Naw arn̄ þer Seriauntes in þat stage Þat seruen þe maydons of hyȝe parage; But no serieaunt may serue þerynne Þat bereþ in his breche þat gynne To serue hem day and nyȝt, [ 593] But he be as a Capoun dyȝt. At þe gate is a ȝateward; He is not a Coward; [ 596] He is wonder proude with alle; Euery day he goþ in ryche palle. And þe Amyral haþ a wonder woon̄, Þat he þat is come of cristendome,

Euery ȝere to haue a new wyf, [ 601] [601 The Admiral takes a new wife each year.] Þen he loueþ his Queene as his lyf. [No gap in MS.] Then shul men brynge doun̄ of þe Toure [ 105 b] [603 The maidens are brought down into a beautiful orchard in which is a marvellous spring and a wonderful tree.] Al þe Maidens of grete honour, [ 604] And brynge hem into an Orchard, Þe feirest of al mydlerd: Þeryn is mony fowles song; Men myȝt leue þeryn ful long: [ 608] About þe Orchard is a walle,— Þe fowlest stone is Cristalle,— [No gap in MS.] And a wełł spryngeþ þerynne, Þat is made with muche gynne; [ 612] Þe wel is of muche prys, Þe stremes com froo Paradyse; Þe grauel of þe ground is precious stoones, And al of vertu for þe noones. [ 616]

Now is þe wełł of muche auȝt; Ȝif a woman com þat is for-lauȝt, [618 If any maiden, who is not a virgin, approach the spring, the water boils up as if mad.] And she be doo to þe streeme [ 619] For to wesshe her honndes clene, Þe water wylle ȝelle as it were wood, And bycome red as blood. On what maide þe water fareþ soo, Sone she shal to deþ be doo. [ 624] Þoo þat ben maidens clene, Þey may wesshe þeryn, y wene; Þe water wołł stonde feire and clere; To hem makeþ it no daungere. [ 628] At þe walles hed stondeþ a tree, Þe feirest þat on erthe may be; It is cleped þe tree of loue: Flowers and blossomes spryngen aboue; Þen þey þat maydons clene bene, [ 633] Þei shul be brouȝt vnder þe trene, And whicħ so falleþ þe floure, [635 The maiden upon whom first falls a blossom from this tree is chosen queen.] Shal be queene with muche honour. [No gap in MS.] Ȝif any mayden þer is [ 637] Þat þe Amyral telleþ of more pris, Þe flour shal be to her sent Þrouȝ art of enchauntement. [ 640]

Þe Amyral cheseþ hem by þe flour, And euer he herkeneþ after Blaunche∣flour. [[106 a]] Thre sithes Flores sownyd anoon̄ Riȝt byfore hem euerychoon̄: When he awoke, and speke myȝt, Sore he wept, and sore he syȝt, [ 646] And seide, "Dares, y worth now deed, [647 Floris implores the aid of Daris.] But þat y hope of þe som reed." "Leue soon̄, wyl ȝe see Þat þy trust is muche on me; [ 650] Þen is þe best reed þat y can̄— Other reed ne can y noon̄— Wende to-morn̄ to þe toure [653 Daris bids him go, disguised as a mason, to the tower, and induce the porter to play at draughts.] As þou were a good gynoure; [ 654] Take on þy honde squyer and scantlon̄ As þou were a free mason̄; Behold þe tour vp and doun̄, Þe porter is cruel and Feloun̄; [ 658] Wel sone he wyl come to the, And aske what maner man þou be, And bere on þe, Felonye, And sey þou art come to be a spye. And þow shalt answere swetlyche, And sey to him myldelyche, [ 664] Sey þou art a gynoure, To beholde þat feire Toure, For to loke and for to fonde To make suche another in þy londe. [No gap in MS.] Wel sone he wyl com þe nere, [ 669] And wyl byd þe play at þe chekere. When þou art at cheker brouȝt, Without seluer [be] þou nouȝt; [ 672]

Þou shalt haue redy with the XX. Marke beside þy knee; Ȝif þou wynne ouȝt of his, Þow tel þerof lytel prys; [ 676] And yf he wynne ouȝt of þyn̄, loke þow leue it with hym̄; So þou shalt, al with gynne, Þe porters loue forsoth wynne, [ 680] Þat he þe help on þis day: But he þe helpe, no man may. [[106 b]] Wel ȝerne he wyl þe bydde and pray [683 Manage him so as to secure an invitation for the morrow.] Come anoþer day to playe: Þou shalt seye þou wylt soo; [ 685] Þou shalt take with þe suche twoo; [No gap in MS.] Þe þrydde day take an hundred pound, And þy Coupe hool and sound: [ 688] [688 Show him your cup, and he will be greedy for it.] Ȝeue him markes & poundes of þy Of þy tresour tel þou no tale; Wel ȝerne he wyl þe bydde and pray male; To lay þy Coupe, and to play. [ 692] Þou shalt answere alþerfirst, Lenger to play þe ne lyst. Ful muche he wylle for þe Coupe bede, Ȝif he myȝt þe better spede; [ 696] Þou shalt it blethly ȝeue him [697 At length give him the cup.] Ȝif it be of gold fyne; And he wol ful moche loue þe, And to þe bowe also, parde, [ 700] [No gap in MS.]

[No gap in MS.] Þat he wyl falle to þy foote, [701 Promise him unlimited gold and silver if he will aid you. He will then fall at your feet and be your man.] And become þyn̄, ȝif he moote. And homage þou shalt fonge, And þe trouþ of his honde." [ 704] [No gap in MS.] As he seide, he dide ywys; And as he ordeynd, so it is: [No gap in MS.] Þe Porter ys Florys man bycome, [707 Then reveal to him your wishes.] For his gold and his warysone. [ 708] Florys seide, "now art þou my moon̄, Al my trust is þe vppon̄; Now my consel y wyl þe shewe; Rede me ryȝt, ȝif þou be trew. [ 712] Now euery word he haþ him tolde, [713 Floris acts as advised, and discloses his identity.] How þe mayde was fro him sholde, And how he was of Spayn̄ a kynges soon̄, For grete loue þeder ycoom̄ To fonden, with some gynne, [ 717] Þat feire mayde for to wynne.

Þe Porter þat herde, and sore syȝt, [719 The porter at first reproaches himself, but presently promises his aid.] And seide, "y am betrayde aryȝt; Þrouȝ þy Catel, y am dismayde; [ 721] Þerfore y am wel euyl a-payde Now y woot how it gooþ; [ 107 b] For þe shal y suffre deth; [ 724] I shal þe faile neuer moo, Þe while y may ryde and goo; Þy forwardes shal y holde alle, What-so-euer may befalle. [ 728] Wynde now hoom̄ to þyn̄ ynne While y beþenke me of sum gynne; Bytwene þis and þe þrydde day. Fonde y shal, what y do may. [ 732] Flores spake and wept amonge And þouȝt þe terme al to longe. Þe Porter þouȝt þe best reed, And let geder floures in a meed; [ 736] He wist it was þe maydons wylle. To lepes he lete of floures fylle: Þat was þe best reed, as him þouȝt þoo, Floures in þat oon̄ lep to doo. [ 740] [740 He covers Floris in a basket of flowers, which is borne above.] Twoo maydens þe lepe bore; So heuy charged neuer þey wore, And bade god ȝeue hem euyl fyne; To mony floures he dide þerynne. [ 744] To Blaunchefloures Chamber þey shulde tee; Þey ȝede to anoþer, and let þat be: Þey shuld haue gone to Blauncheflour, And ȝede to swete Clarys boure, [ 748] And cursed him so fele brouȝt to honde; Þey ȝede hoom̄, and lete hem stonde. Clarys to þe lepe come wolde, [ 751] Þe Flores to hondel and to be-holde;

Florys wende it hadde be his swete wyȝt; [753 Floris mistakes another maiden for Blauncheflur and leaps forth.] Of þe lepe he stert vpryȝt; And þe mayde, al for drede, [755 The maiden cries out.] Bygan to shrelle and to grede. [ 756] When he sawȝ it was not shee, In-to þe lepe aȝen̄ stert he, [758 Floris covers himself again.] And held him betrayde clene; Of his lyf tolde he not a beene. [ 760] [No gap in MS.] Þer come maydons, and to Clarys lepe by ten, by twelf, on an heepe And þey asked what hur were, [ 107 b] And why she made suche a bere. [ 764] Clarys byþouȝt hur anooneryȝt Þat hit was Blauncheflour þe white, And gaue þe Maydons answere anoon̄, [767 The maiden conceals the fact by a clever story.] Þat to her Chamber were goon̄, [ 768] Þat to þe lepe come she wolde, Þe Flowres to hondel and to beholde; "And, or y it ere wyst, [ 771] An Otter fleyȝ a-geynst my brest: I was so soore a-drad þan, Þat y loude crye can." Þe Maydons þerof hadden glee, [ 775] And turned hem, and lete hur be. As sone as þe maydons were gon̄, [777 Claris bids Blauncheflur come see a 'well fair flower.'] To Blauncheflour she ȝede anoon̄, And seide boldly to Blauncheflour, "Felow, come and see a feire Flour!

Suche a flour þe shal wel lyke, [ 781] Haue þou it sene a lyte." "Awey, Clarys!" quod Blauncheflour; [783 Blauncheflur bids Claris depart, and reproaches Floris for his inconstancy.] "To scorne me, it is none honoure. [No gap in MS.] I here, Clarys, without gabbe, [ 785] Þat þe Amyral wyl me to wyf habbe; But þat day shal neuer be, Þat he shal euer haue me, [ 788] Þat y shal be of loue so vntrewe, Ne chaunge my loue for no newe; For no loue, ne for noon̄ aye, Forsake Florys in his Contraye. [ 792] Now y shal swete Florys mysse, Ne shal noon̄ other of me haue blysse." Clarys stood and beheld þat rewth, And þe trewnesse of hur trewth, [ 796] And seide, "lady Blaunchefloure, [797 Claris further urges Blauncheflur, who at length comes.] Goo we see þat ilk floure." [No gap in MS.] To þe lepe þey went both. Ioyful man was Florys þoo, [ 800] For he had herde al þis. Of þat lepe he stert y-wys: [802 Floris springs forth, and they embrace one another.] [[108 a]] Wel sone Blauncheflour chaunged hewe; Ayther of hem other knewe: Withoute speche togeder þey lepe, And klippt and kyst wonder swete. [No gap in MS.] Clarys beheld al this, [ 807] Her countenaunce and her blysse,

And seide þen to Blaunchefloure, [809 Claris asks Blauncheflur if she knows this flower.] "Felow, knowist þou auȝt þis flour? [No gap in MS.] She shul konne ful muche of Art Þat þou woldest þerof geue part." [No gap in MS.] Now Blauncheflour and Florys, [ 813] [813 Both beg Claris not to betray them.] Boþ þese swete þinges ywys, Cryen her mercy, al wepyng, Þat she ne wrey hem to þe king. [ 816] [No gap in MS.] "Ne douȝt no more of me in alle, [817 Claris promises silence.] Þan it were myself byfalle. Wete ȝe wel weturly, Heele y wyl ȝoure drury." [ 820] [No gap in MS.] To a bedde þey ben brouȝt, Þat is of palle and of sylke wrouȝt; And þere þey sette hem doun̄ And drouȝ hem self al a room̄: [ 824] Þer was no man þat myȝt radde [825 The two rejoice together greatly.] Þe ioye þat þey twoo madde.

Florys þen to speke bygan̄, [ 827] And seide, "lord þat madest man, I it þonke goddes sone Þat al my care I haue ouercome; Now my leue I haue y-founde, Of al my care y am vnbounde." [ 832] Clarys hem seruyd al at wylle, Boþ dernlyche and stylle. c Larys with þe white syde Rose vp on morne tyde, [ 836] And cleped after Blaunchefloure To wende with him in to þe Toure: She seide "y am commaund"; But her answere was slepaund. [ 840] [No gap in MS.] Þe Amyral had such a woone, [841 Each morning two maidens went to the Admiral's tower to comb his hair and wash his hands,—] Þat euery day shulde come Twoo maydons of hur bour [ 108 b] Vp to him in to þe Toure, [ 844] [No gap in MS.] With water and clooth, and basyn̄, For to wesshe his hondes ynne: Þa day þey seruyd him feire; Anoþer day come another peire; [ 848]

But most were wonyd into þe Toure, [849 but especially often, Claris and Blauncheflur.] Clarys and Blauncheflour. Clarys come þenne aloon̄: [851 The next morning Claris calls Blauncheflur, but she falls asleep again.] Þe Amyral asked a-noon̄, [ 852] [No gap in MS.] "Where is Blauncheflour so free? Why comeþ she not heder with þe?" "Sir," she seide anoon̄ ryȝt, [855 Claris invents an ingenious excuse for her.] "She haþ wakyd al þis nyȝt, [ 856] And y-cryde and y-loke And y-redde on hur booke, And y-bede to god her orysoun Þat he geue þe his benysoun, [ 860] And þat he holde long þy lyf; And now þe mayde slepeþ swyth; She slepeþ so fast, þat mayde swete, Þat she may not com ȝete." [ 864] [No gap in MS.] "Certes," seide þe kyng, "Now is she a swete þing:

Wel auȝt me ȝerne her to wyf, Þat so preyeth for my lyf." [ 868] Anoþer day Clarys erly Aryst; [869 The following morning Claris again calls Blauncheflur in vain to go with her.] Þat Blauncheflour wełł wyst, [No gap in MS.] And seide, "y come anoon̄," When Clarys her clepe bygan̄, [ 872] And fel in a slepe newe. Sone after it made hem to rewe: Clarys to þe Pyler cam̄; [ 875] A basyn̄ of gold in hond she nam̄, And Cleped after Blaunchefloure To wende with hur in to þe Toure. [No gap in MS.] Þe Amyral asked after Blauncheflour, [No gap in MS.] "What! is she not come ȝet? [ 880] Now she me douteþ al to lyte."

Forþ he cleped his Chamburlayn̄, And bade him wende with his mayn̄ To wete why she wyl not come [ 109 b] As she was wonyd to doon̄. [ 885] Þe Chamburlayn̄ is forth noom̄; In to Chambre he is coom̄, And stondeþ byfore hur bedde, [ 888] And fyndeþ þere, nebbe to nebbe, Nebbe to nebbe, and mouþ to mouþ. To þe Amyral it was sone couþ; Vp in to þe Toure he steyȝ, [ 892] And told his lord al þat he seyȝ. Þe Amyral late him his swerd brynge, For wete he wolde of þat tydynge: [No gap in MS.] He went to hem þere þey lay: [ 896] [896 The Admiral then goes with drawn sword and finds the children.] Ȝit was she a-slepe þere ay. The Amyral lete þe clothes doun̄ cast A lytel by-nethe hur brest, And sone he knew anoon̄ Þat oon̄ was woman, & þat oþer groom̄. He quaked for tene þere he stood; Hem to sloon̄ was in his mood̄; [ 903]

Ȝit he þouȝt, or he hem quelde, [ 904] What þey were, þey shuld him telle, And seth he wyl with dome hem done. Þe Children wakyd swyth soone, And saw þe swerde ouer hem drawe; Þey ben adrad, and in awȝe. [ 909] Þan seide Florys to Blauncheflour, "Of oure lyf is no socour." But þey cryde him mercy swyth, [ 912] [912 They awake and cry for mercy.] For to length her lyue. Vp he bade hem sytte booth, And do on boþ her cloþ; Seþ he dide hem bynde fast, [ 916] And in prison̄ lete hem be cast. Now haþ he after his Barons sent, [918 The Admiral summons his counsellors and tells them the case.] To wreke him after Iugement, Now han þe Barons vndernome, [ 920] And to þe Amyral þey ben coome. [No gap in MS.]

He stood vp a-monge hem al, With semblant wroþ withalle, And seide: "Lordynges, with much honour, [ 109 b] [ 924] Ȝe herde speke of Blauncheflour, Þat y bouȝt hur dere a plyȝt For seuen sithes of golde hur wyȝt; For y wende with-out wene [ 928] Þat feire mayde to haue had to Quene. Among my maydons in my Toure I hur dide, with muche honoure; Byfore her bedde my self y coom̄; I fonde þeryn a naked man. [ 933] Þan were þey to me so looþ, I þouȝt to haue sleyn̄ hem booþ, I was so wroþ and so wood. [ 936] Ȝit y withdrowȝ myn̄ hoot blood Tyl y haue sende after ȝow, by assent, To wreke me with Iugement. Now ȝit ȝe woot how it is goon̄, [ 940] Wreke me soon̄ of my foon̄." Þan spake a kyng of þat londe, [942 One suggests that the children be heard before being judged.] "We haue herd al þis shame and shonde;

But, or we hem to deth deme, [ 944] Lat vs hem see, ȝif it þe Queeme, What þey wolde speke or sygge, Ȝif þey wyl auȝt ageyn̄ vs legge: Hit were nouȝt ryȝt iugement, [ 948] Without answere make acoupement. Til þis is herde of more and lasse, [950 The king of Nubia advises that they be instantly burned.] What myster is, to bere wytnesse?" [No gap in MS.] After þe Children haue þey sent,— To brenne hem was his entent;— [ 953] Two serieauntes hem gan brynge Toward hur al wepynge. Drery booþ þese children goo; [ 956] Ayther bemeneþ oþeris woo. Þan seide Florys to Blauncheflour, "Of oure lyf is no socour: [959 Floris reproaches himself to Blauncheflur.] [No gap in MS.] Yf kinde of man it þole myȝt, [ 960] Twyes y shuld dye with ryȝt,

Oones for my self, anoþer for the, For, þy deeþ þou hast for me.' Blauncheflour seyde þoo, [ 110 b] [ 964] "Þe gylt is myn̄, of oure woo." Florys drouȝ forþ þat ryng Þat his moder him gaff at her part∣yng: "Haue þis ryng, lemman myne; [ 968] [968 He gives her the ring, telling her of its properties.] Þou shalt not dye while it is þyne." Blaunchefloure seide þoo, [No gap in MS.] "So ne shal it neuer goo, Þat þis ryng shal help me, [ 972] And þe deed on þe see." Florys þat ryng hur rauȝt, And she it him agayn betauȝt, [975 She attempts to force the ring back on him; it falls to the ground and is picked up by an earl.] Nouther ne wyl other deed seene; Þey let it falle hem bytwene; A king com̄ after; a ryng he fonde, And brouȝt it forth in his honde. [No gap in MS.] Þus þe Children wepyng com̄ [ 980] To þe fire and hur doom̄. Byfore þe folk þey were brouȝt; Drery was her bothes þouȝt; Þere was noon̄ so sterne man [ 984] [984 The 'fairness' of the children excites compassion.] Þat þe Children loked oon̄, Þat þey ne wolde, al wel fawe, Her iugement haue withdrawe, And with grete Catel hem bygge, [ 988] Ȝif þey durst speke or sygge; For Flores was so feire a ȝonglyng, And Blaunchefloure so swete a þing, Þer wyst no man whor hem were woo, For no semblaunt þat þey made þoo.

Þe Admyral was so wood, [ 994] [994 But the Admiral is very wroth.] Ne myȝt he nouȝt kele his hoot blood; He bade þe Children fast be bound, And in to þe fire slong. [No gap in MS.] Þat ilke king þat þe ryng fond, [998 The earl with the ring steps forward and speaks in behalf of the children.] To Amyral he spake and round, And wolde hem saue to þe lyf, [ 1000] And told how for þe ryng þey gon̄ stryf. Þe Amyral lete hem ageyn̄ clepe, For he wolde here hem speke, [[110 b]] And asked Florys what he heete: And he tolde him ful skeete: "Sir," he seide, "yf it were þy wylle, [1006 Floris asks clemency for the maiden, and the maiden prays for him.] Þou ne getest not þat maide to spylle; But, good sir, quel þou me, [ 1008] And lete þat maide on lyue be." [No gap in MS.] Blauncheflour seide byne, "Þe gilt of oure dedes is moyne." [No gap in MS.] Þe Admyral seide þoo [ 1012] "I-wys ȝe shul dye boo." His swerd he breide out of his sheeth, Þe Children to haue done to deeth. Blaunchefloure put forþ hur swire, And Florys dide her agayn̄ to tyre, And seide, "I am man; I shal byfore, With wrong hast þou þy lyf loore." Florys forth his swerd putte, [ 1020] And Blauncheflour agayn̄ him tytte. Þe king seide, "dredry mot ȝe be, [1022 The Admiral is at length touched with pity.] Þis rouþ by þis Children to see."

Þe king þat þe ryng hadde, [ 1024] For routh of hem sone he radde, And at þe Amyral wyl he spede, Þe Children fro þe deþ to lede. [ 1027] [No gap in MS.] "Sir," he seide, "it is lytel prys, [1028 The earl with the ring speaks for the children.] Þese Children for to slee y-wys; And it is wel more worship, Florys counsel þat ȝe weete, Who him tauȝt þat ilke gynne, [ 1032] Þy toure for to come ynne, And who him brouȝt þare, And other, þat ȝe may be ware." Þan seide þe Amyral, "as god me saue, Florys shal his lyf haue, [ 1037] Ȝif he me telle who him tauȝt þerto, Of Florys, þat shal y neuer doo." Now þey bydden al y-wys [ 1040] Þat þe Admyral graunted þis, To forȝeue þat trespas [1042 Floris refuses to tell how he gained entry to the tower until pardon has been promised the porter.] Ȝif Florys told how it was. [No gap in MS.] [[110 a]] Now euery word he haþ him tolde, [1044 He then tells his story.] How þat maide was for him solde, And how he was of spayn̄ a kynges sone, For grete loue þeder y-come, For to fonde, with sum gynne, [ 1048] Þat feire maide for to wynne, And how þe porter was his man by∣come, For his gold and for his warysoun̄,

And how he was in þe Florys borne. Alle þe lordinges lowȝ þerforne: [ 1053] Now þe Admyral wol him tyde; [1054 The Admiral lifts them up, dubs Floris knight, and causes them to be married in church with a ring.] Florys setteþ next his syde, And efte he made him stonde vpryȝt, And dubbed him þere knyȝt, [ 1057] And bade he shulde with him be, Þe furthermost of his meyne. Florys falleþ doun̄ to his feet, [ 1060] And prayeþ geue him his sweet. Þe Amyral gaf him his lemman̄: Al þat þere were, þankyd him þanne. To a Chirche he let hem brynge, And dede let wed hem with a rynge. Boþ þese twoo swete þinges y-wys Fel his feet for to kysse; [ 1067] And þrouȝ consel of Blauncheflour, Clarys was fet doun̄ of þe Toure, And Amyral wedded hur to queene. [1070 The Admiral takes Claris to be his queen.] Þere was fest swythe breeme; I can not telle al þe sonde, [ 1072] But rycher fest was neuer in londe. Was it nouȝt longe after þan̄, [1074 Messen∣gers come to Floris announcing his father's death.] Þat to Florys tydyng cam̄, [ 1075] Þat þe king his Fader was deed. Þe Baronage gaf him reed [1077 The Admiral tries in vain to induce him to remain.] Þat he shuld wende hoom̄, And fonge his feire kyngdoom̄. At þe Amyral þey toke leue, [ 1080] And he byddeþ þem byleue. Home he went with royal array, And was crownyd with-in a short day. [No gap in MS.]

(Follows. The batełł of Troye, sithe þat god þis world wrouȝt Heuen and erthe made of nouȝt leaves 111-134. Then Amys and Amylion, leaves 134-147. MS. ends with one leaf of Sir Eglamour.)

MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III., 6 a, col. 1. The 3 leaves of this MS. are burnt and shrunk, and are hardly legible.

(196) . . . . . [[MS. note. See Introduction; also Floris et Blanch., Paris 1856, p. 28, l. 673.]] so dere . . . . wiþ þoute wene. . . þat maide to his quene. . his maidenes vp in is tur, [ 4] (200) . hire wiþ muchel honur . . marchans þis maide forlete, . . . bliþe mid here by-ȝete. . . . . we blancheflur be. [ 8] (204) . . floires in his cuntre. . burgeys to þe king icome. . . . gold and þisse garisome. . . . þan king i ȝolde. [ 12] (208) . . þo cupe of golde. . . . let at one chiriche. . . . . les wereche, . . . [þ]at anouen . . [ 16] (212) . . pointe stonde . . . . bi write.

. . . . . hele worþsipe (215) . . . þe letters rede. [ 20] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (219) . . [h]aueþ vnder-nome [ 24] (220) . . faderlonde he is icome . . . halle he is alyȝt . . . . he grette anonryȝt [ 27] (223) . . þe quene he grette also . . . haueþ his gretinge ido, . . . askeþ war þat maide beo . . . were nou targeþ heo. [ 31] . . . res hit haueþ vnder nome (228) . . boure & a is icome . . . to hire anonriȝt . [bl]ancheflur mi suete wiȝt . . . . . . ful iwis [ 36] (232) . . . . . war heo is [leaf 6, col. 2] Þine gabbinge deþ me wo; Tel me war my lemmon beo. Al wepinge onsuerede heo, [ 40] "Sire," heo seyde, "ded." "ded!" quad he. "Sire," heo seyde, "for soþe ȝe, Alas, wenne deide my suete wyȝt?" "Sire," heo seyde, "wiþ inne þis seue∣niȝt Þat vrþe hire was leyd aboue, And ded heo is for þine loue. [ 46] Floyres þat was so fayr and gent, He fel iswoue vp on þe pauement. And þe cristene wimmon gon to crie

To crist and to seyntemarie. [ 50] Þe king & þe quene iherdde þat cri; In to þe bure þo vrne hy. And þe quene ate frome By wepeþ hire dere sone. [ 54] And þe kinges herte is ful of care Þat he sikþ is sone vor loue so fare. Anon he of swoninge awok and speke miste. Sore he wep and sore he syȝte, [ 58] And on his moder he by siþt. "Dame," he sayde, "led me þar þat mayde lyþ." Þider heo hine broute wel suþe, [ 61] Vor care a[n]d sorwe of hire deþe. Anon þat he to þe burles com, Wel ȝerne he bi-hul þer-on, And letteres bigon to rede. Þus spek and þus sede [ 66] Þat þar lay suete blancheflur. [Þat] floyres louede par amur. Þ . . . . swouneþ nouþe And asone ase he speke myȝte. [ 70] Sore he wep and sore he syȝte, And gon blancheflur bi mene Wit teres riue ase a scur of r[e]ne. "Blancheflur," he seide, "blancheflur, So sute þing nas ner in bur, [[leaf 6/3]] Vor þou were ibore of gode cunne, Vor in worle nes nere non [ 77] Þine imake of no wimmon. Inouȝ þou cuþest of clergie And of alle curteysie. [ 80] & muchel and litel hit louede þe Vor þi fayr hede and þi bunte.

ȝif þat deþ were ideld ariȝt, We scholden habbe idiȝed boþe in ar niȝt. Vor in one deye ibore we were; Mid riȝte we scholden deie ifere." [ 86] "Deþ," he seyde, "vol of enuie, and vol of alle tricherie, Mid traisun þou me hast mi lef binome. To bi-traie þat folk hit is þi wone; Heo wolde libbe and þu noldest. [ 91] Þou nelt me slen and ihc wolde; Wiþ þere me wolde þat þou were. Nul tu no wiȝt come þere, [ 94] and þer me wolde þat þou . . ne come, Þer þou wolt come Ilome. Þilke þat buste best to libbe, Hem þou stikest under þe ribbe. [ 98] and ȝif þer is eni forliued wrecche, Þat of is liue nouȝt ne recche, Þat fawe wolde deie for sorewe & elde, On hem neltou nouȝht bi helde. No lengore ich nelle mi lef bileue, I chulle be mid hyre ere eue. [ 104] Nou after deþ clepie ich þe nulle, Ac mi sulue aslen ich wille." Ase a mon þat draȝh him sulue to þe deþe, His knif he draȝh out of his scheþe, and to his herte hit wolde habbe ismite, Nadde his moder hit vnder gete. [ 110] Ac þe quene his moder . . fel vpon, & þis knif heo him binom. Heo bi nom him his atel knif. [ 113] [leaf 6, back, col. 2] Þat heo com bi. . . . . . .

Þanne spac þe quene þe . . [ 115] and seyde to þe kinge, "sire, mercy, Sire, of þis children nabbe we non, Non aliue bote þis on, [ 118] and bote hit were þat hit wer . . Þane eyþer deȝede vor oþer . . . "Dame, þou seist soþ," þo seyde he, "Nu hit nele non oþer bee. [ 122] Leuere me were þat heo were Þane ihc for lore mine sone l[yf]." Of þisse wordes þe quene w . . To floyres, hire sone, . . . [ 126] "Floyres, sone, glad make þe . For ut þou schalt þi lef . . Leue sone . . . . . . . . . . . fader rede and . . [ 130] . . . . . wo . . . Leue sone so . . . . . . Vor [two lines illegible here] . . . . . vre rede . . . [ 134] . . . word and ende him . Hou hei habbeþ þat mayde, "and is þis soþ, mi moder dere?" "Ȝe, for soþe," heo nis not . [ 138] Þane stond hii þanne. . . . He isay þat þere nas . . . . Nu me þencheþ . . . . . . . . ne schal ihc. . . . [ 142] Niȝt ne da . . . . . . . . . ich . . . . . .

[Some folios lost here. Continued at bottom of page 84.]

. . . . by souht [leaf 7] . . . . . mid al his mauht . . frend in babiloyne hadde . . wisede and wel radde . . . he mihte mid eni ginne . . . blancheflour iwinne . . one longe brugge þou schalt come . . . ngere finde þer ate frome. . . . c is ate brugge ende . . . mon he is and hende . . . breþeren and treweþe ipliht . . . wisi and reden wel riht. . . . bere him neseno [[?]] ring . . . . . . to toking . . . . . elpe on eche halue . . . . . and takeþ is leue . . . . . . þer by sene

. . . . . . ondarne heyȝ . . . . . [bru]gge suiþe neyȝ . . . . . þane brugge icome . . . . . bruggere ate frome . . . . . . . a Marbreston . . . . . mon he was on . . . . . was of Muchel pris . . . . . . him sulf iwis . . . . . ys was i hote doyre . . . . . s him grette wel fayre . . . . . him þane ring arauht . . . [d] ayre hine him bi tauht . . . . þe tockne of þe ringe . hadde þer aniht wel gode gistinge . . . . b of fles of tendre bred . . . . t win and eke of red . . . . re floyres sike and colde . . . . gon þat chil by holde . . . . wat may þe be . . . . . þe i see . . . . . . . uoice al fere . . . . . . . . ele chere. [leaf 7, col. 2] . . . þin in." Bot floyres onswerede him,

"Nay, sire, bi godes ore, So god nadde [I] wel ȝore. God lete me abide þane day Þat ich hit þe ȝelde May. Ac ich þenche on alle wise Vppon mine Marchaundise Ware vore ich am hider icome, Lest ich ne feynde hit ate frome, and þat is ȝet mi meste wo, Ȝif ich hit finde and hit forgo. Child, woldest þou telle me of þi gref To helpe þe me were lef. And now floyres him haueþ itold Hou þat mayd from him wa sold, and hou he was of spayne one kinges sone, Vor hire loue þider icome.

Nou doyres þat chil[d] by halt, and for a fol he hine halt. "Child, nou ich wot al hou hit geþ; Iwis þou welnest þin owene deþ. Þe amirel haueþ to his iustninge Oþer half hondert of riche kinge, Þe alre richeste kinge Ne dorste bi ginne swch a þing. And mihste þe amirayl hit vnder ȝete, Sone of his liue he were quite. Aboute babiloyne beþ to ȝonge wiþ∣oute wene, Sixti longe Mile and tene, and ate walle þer beþ ate, Seuesiþe tuenti ȝate. And tueye toures þer beþ inne, Þat þe chepinge is eche day inne. Nis þer day þoruh out þan ȝer, Þat þe chepinge is iliche plener. Seue hundred tures, wit outen þan tuo, Þ[er] beþ in þan boruh and somdel mo.

Þe alre febleste tour Nolde nouht duti þe amperur. Vor to come þer wiþ inne, No þer wid stregþe ne wid ginne. [leaf 7, back] . . . . . . . . . . . . . aȝen woo . schal to iwinne þat Mayd al so sone . . . . . þe sonne and mone. . . . þe bor . . mid rift . . . . . . . . aplyft . . hondred teyse þe tour is heie . . . . by halt fur and nei. and an hundret teyse hit is wid, and imaked wiþ muchel pruid. Of lym and of marbel ston; In cristiante nis swich non. Þat morter is i maked se wel, Ne May hit breke ire ne stel. And þe pomel about þe lede. Is i wrouh mit so . . . . .

Ne þarf me aniht . . . . . Nouþer torche . . . . . . . . . . . a pomel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . beþ in þan . . Foure and fourti . . . . . [Þ]at wel were þat ilke . . . . . Mihte wonie . . . . .

[Aboute twenty lines illegible here.]

Neuer . . [leaf 7, back, col. 2] To chesen hire . . . . . . Þeyȝ he louede is quene . . . Me schul fecche adoun of þe. . Alle þe maydenes of parage. and bringe hem in on orcharde Þe fayreste of þe middel[erd]. Þer is fowelene song Ne mihte wel libbe hem a[mong] Abute þan orchard is a wa[l] . Summe of þe stones be . . . Þer me may ise uppon a . . . I write muchel of þe w . . . And a welle þat springeþ. . . Þat is i mad mid muchel. . . Þis welle is . . Muchel Þat grauel bi þe . . . . . And of v . eu . . . . Of safir . . and of . . . Of omcie and of . . . . . Þe welle is al . . . . . .

Ȝif þer come. . . . . . . . . ho . . . . . . . For . . . . . . . . . . . w . . wele . . . . . . come al so . . . . . . . wlyche w . . . . . Wel sone . . . . . . . Alle þat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wole . . . . . .

[About nine more lines illegible. Several folios lost here.]

. . . . wel muchel of art . woldest ȝeue þer of eny part. . . . de blancheflur to clarise . . min owene leue floyres . . . . þis ilke swete þinges . . . . clarisse merci . . Vnto þe amyrayl noȝt ne wreye . . . . scholden deȝe . . . . . namore mid alle . . . hit were to me by falle . . . . . wel wytterli . . . . . beyre drewori . . bedde heo hem haueþ ibrouȝt . . selk and pal i wrouht . . heo sette hem þer adoun . . . . . . wende aroum . . . more bote cluppe and cusse . . . blancheflur hit wiste

. . . . formest speke bigon . . . d þat makedest mon . . . . nou godes sone . . . . he is ouer [c]ome . . . . habbe ifounde . . . . . am vnbounde . . . . . oþer haueþ told . . . . . kare ful cold . . . . . me wel stronge . . . . . rt so longe . . . . . serueþ al to wille . . . . [dern]eliche and stille . . . . heo noȝh longe wite . . . . eren vnder ȝete

. . . . wel hire mote bi tide . . . . . amorewe tide . . . . . ed blanche flur . . . . hire in to þan tour . . . . ich am cominge . . . . . was slepinge . . . . . . ane wine . . . . . . . . come . . . . of herd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [leaf 8, col. 2] . . . . . . . . . . . Þe amiral askede blanche[flur] and clarisse seyde anonriȝht, "Sire, he haueþ i waked al niȝht, and iwaked and iloked, and irad on hire boke, and ibede to god hire orison, Þat ȝeue þe his beniscun, and god þe holde longe aliue. and nou þat mayde slepeþ so suiþe, Heo slepeþ so faste, þat mayde suete, Þat heo ne may nouȝt come ȝete." and þo bi spak him þe king Iwis heo is a swete þing.

Wel auȝhte ich wilny habbe hire to wiue So ȝerne heo bit for mine liue. Clarisse a noþer day arist, and haueþ blancheflur at wist Þat heo haueþ so longe de mere, "Aris vp nou and g[on]e ifere." Þer heo seyde ich come anon . . . floyres hire . . . . Abode þe children ase don wise. Vell aslepe on þisse wise On þisse wise hey . . . . . Sone þer . . . . . . . . Clarise to þe piler wende anon A basin of gold þer heo nom, and haueþ ycleped [blanchef]lur To wende . . . . . . . Heo ne . . uerede ȝe ne . . Þo wende clarisse þat heo were ago. Þo clarisse com in to þe tur, Þe amiral askede blanchefl[ur], and askede whi heo ne come, Also heo was woned to done. "Heo was arise are ich were, Ich wende hire habbe ifunde þere. What nis heo . . icome . . Wod heo . . . me to . . .

. . . . . . . chaumberlen . . . . . . . his . . . . . . . . . . . . . So heo was . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [leaf 8, back] . . . . . a ȝe . . . . . . his louerd wat he i aȝheþ Þe amirayl bed his swerd him bringe W[i]te he wolde of þisse tiþinge. Vorþ he wende mid al his mayn, Þat he com þer hei boþe leie. Þe ȝet was þe slep in here eȝe. Þe amiral het here cloþes adoun caste A lutel bi neþe here breste. Þo iseih he wel anon Þon was may and þoþer mon. Þe amirayl quakede, for angys þe astod, Hem to quelle, hit was on his mod.

and ȝet he þouhte, are he hem quelle, Wat he were hui scholden telle. and seþþe he þoute hem to deþe don. Þe children a woken vnder soon (?) And seȝen þat swerd ouer hem a drawe, Hij weren agr . . and eþe hui mawe. . . . . . . . . belami Who makede þe so hardi . . . . . . . in my tour . . . . . . . blancheflur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . þe . . . . fore. Þo seyde floyres to blancheflur, "Of vre liue nis no socur." Ak hei crieþ him merci so suiþe Þat he ȝaf hem furst of here liue. Vp he bad hem sitte boþe, and don on here beyre cloþe, and þo he bad hem binde faste, and in to one prisun he het hem cast. . . . he . . after his barenage . . . . he him . . . . . . . barenage . . . . . Þat to nan amyrayl abeþ nome. . . . . . . . . . ibuld . . . . . . . . was ifuld.

Þe amiral stod up among hem alle . . . . . . wreþ mid [alle] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [leaf 8, back, col. 2] . . . . . . wiþoute w[ene] To habben hire to mi quene . . . hire bedde miself ich co[me] . . . hire ane naked grome . . . . . . . me wel loþe . . . . . . . hem boþe. and ich was so wroþ and wod and ȝet ihc wiþ drou . . . . Þat ich hadde after . . . . To wreke me þoruh iugem[ent]. Nou ȝe habbeþ iherd hou it is. Awrekeþ me of mine fon." ¶ Þo spak a king of þulk . . "Ȝe habbeþ iherd þis. . . .

Ak are we hem to deþe . . . We schullen i heren þe . . . What huy wolleþ speke . . . and ȝif huy wolleþ ou . . . Hit nis no riȝht iugem[ent]." Wiþ oute onsuere . . . . . ¶ Þe king of nubie . . . . "Sire, so ne schal hit. . . . Traitour þat is nome hond . . Hit is riȝht þoru alle þ . . . To beo for don oþer i sch . . Wiþ outen oni here of . . . Al þis ihc . . and lag . . and bereþ him þer of w . . . After þes childeren . . . . Hem to for berne þer. . . . Twene seriauns hem forþ bringe To fonge here dom sore wepin[ge] Dreri weren þo chyldren . . Her eyþer by wepeþ oþer . . ¶ Þo seyde floyres to blanche[flur] Of vre liue nis no soc[ur].

Cambridge MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2.

Heo tok forþ a wel fair þing, Of hire finger a riche Ryng. "Mi sone," heo sede, "haue þis ring. Whil he is þin, ne dute noþing, [ 4] Þat fur þe brenne ne adrenche se, Ne ire ne steil ne mai þe sle. And to þi wil þu schalt habbe grace, Late and rathe in eche place." [ 8] Floris nimeþ nu his leue; No longer nolde he bileue. He custe hem wiþ softe muþe; Al wepinge hi departeþ nuþe. [ 12] Ne makede his Moder non oþer chere, Bute also he were ileid on bere. For him ne wende hi neuere mo Eft to sen; ne dude hi no. [ 16] Forþ he wende wiþ al his mein, And wiþ him his fader chaumberlein. Fort to þe hauene hi beoþ icume, And þer habbeþ here in inome. [ 20] At þe selue huse hi buþ aliȝt Þat blauncheflur was þat oþer niȝt. Riche soper þer was idiȝt, And murie hi verden þer aniȝt. [ 24] Floriz ne let for ne feo To finden al þat neod beo, Of fless, of fiss, of tendre bred, Of whit win, and eke red. [ 28] Glad and bliþe hi weren alle Þat weren wiþ hem in þe halle, And pleide and gamenede ehc wiþ oþer. Ac floriȝ þencheþ al on oþer, For he net ne dronk riȝt noȝt. [ 33]

On blauncheflur was al his þoȝt. [ 34] Þe lefdi of þer inne vnderȝat Þat he murninge sat. To hire louerd heo sede wiþ stille dreme, "Sire, nimestu no ȝeme Hu þis child murninge sit? Mete ne drinke he nabit. [ 40] He net mete ne he ne drinkeþ; Nis he no marchaunt, ase me þinkeþ." "Floriz," heo sede, "what mai þe beo, Þus murninge as ich þe seo? [ 44] Þus her inne þis oþer day Sat blauncheflur, þat faire may." Ord and ende he haþ him told, Hu blauncheflur was þarinne isold. [No gap in MS.] "Þu art hire ilich of alle þinge, [ 49] Boþe of semblaunt and of murninge, Of fairnesse and of muchelhede, Bute þu ert a man and heo a maide." Þo floriz iherde his lemman nempne, So blisful him þuȝte þilke steuene, He let fulle a cupe of win. [ 55] "Dame," he sede, "þis hail is þin, Þat win and þat gold eke, For þu of mi lemman speke. For hire iþoȝte, for hire isiȝte, For inot wher hire seche miȝte. [ 60] Hire to seche ihc wille i wende, Þeȝ heo beo at þe wordles ende." [No gap in MS.] Floriz geȝ to his rest; On blauncheflur he þoȝte mest. [ 64] Ac rest ne miȝte he nabbe none, Fort þe dide slep him nome.

A moreȝe so sone so hit was day He tok his leue and wente his way, And dude him into þe salte flod; [ 69] He hadde wind and weder ful god. Þe Mariner he ȝaf largeliche, Þat broȝte him ouer bluþeliche. [ 72] Þer hi wolden hem self alonde, For hi funden hem so hende, To þe lond þer his lemman is; Him þuȝte he was in parais. [ 76] Anon me him tiþinge tolde Þat þe admiral wolde feste h[olde]. Erles, baruns þer come sch[olde], And þat wolden of him h[olde]. [ 80] [No gap in MS.] Bliþe was floriz of þe tiþinge; He hopede come to þat gesninge. Wel he hopede among hem alle His lemman sen in þe halle. [ 84] To a riche Cite hi buþ icume; Vaire hi habbeþ here in inome, At one paleis suþe riche; Þe lord of þer inne nas non his liche. Him feol gold inoȝ to honde, [ 89] Boþe in water and in londe. He hadde ilad his lif ful wide; Þis child he sette next his side. [ 92] Glad and bliþe hi weren alle, So fele so were in þe halle. [No gap in MS.] Ac floriz net ne dronk noȝt; Of blauncheflur was al his þoȝt. [ 96] Þe lord of þerinne vnderȝat Þat þis child murninge sat.

"Floriz," he sede, "what mai þe beo, Þus murninge þat ihc þe seo? [ 100] [Þ]us herinne þis oþer day [S]at blauncheflur þat faire may. [I]n halle ne in bur ne at bord, [O]f hire ne herde we neure a word. [B]ute of floriz was hire mone; [ 105] [Heo] nadde in herte ioie none." [Whanne] herde he nempnen his lem∣man, [Bliþe] he was iwis for þan. [He lat] bringe a cupe of seluer [ 109] [And eke] a pane of menuuer. [Þanne] he sede, "haue þis to þin honur, [So þ]u speke of blauncheflur. [Þu mi]ȝtest make min heorte ful glad; [Þu tel]le me wuder heo were ilad." [Þanne] sede þe burgeis, [ 115] [Þat was] wel hende and curtais, [No gap in MS.] ["To Babi]lloigne he was ibroȝt; [Þe adm]iral hire haȝ iboȝt." [ 118] [Floriz go]þ to his rest; [On Blaunch]eflur he þoȝte mest. Ac reste ne miȝte he habbe none; Fort þe dide slep him nome. [ 122] Amoreȝe so sone so hit was day, He nem his liue, and wende his way. [No gap in MS.] And for his niȝtes gestinge [ 125] He ȝaf his oste an hundred schillinge. [No gap in MS.]

And ȝerne he haþ his oste bisoȝt Þat he him helpe wiþ al his þoȝt, In Babilloine, oþer wher a beo, Þat he miȝte hire iseo, [ 130] Hu he miȝte mid sume ginne, His lemman blauncheflur awinne. Þanne sede þe burgeis, Þat was hende and curtais, [ 134] At babilloine atte frume, To one brigge þu schalt cume. Whane þu comest to þe ȝate, Þe porter þu schalt find þarate. [ 138] Wel hende man and fair he is; He is icluped sire daris. Mi felaȝe he is þureȝ truþe ipliȝt, And he kan rede þe ariȝt. [ 142] Haue and ber him þis ring, On mine halue to tokning, Þat he þe helpe in alle halue, Ase he wolde me selue." [ 146] Floriz herof was wel bliþe, And þonkede his oste wel suiþe. Feire of him he nimeþ leue; No lengur nolde he bileue. [ 150]

Biþat hit was middai hiȝ, Floriz was þe brigge niȝ. [ 152] Þe he com to þe gate Þe porter he fond anon þerate, Sittinde one a marbelston, Suþe fair and hende mon, [ 156] And so him sede child floriz, "Rest þe murie, sire daris," And tok him to tokne þis ring; [ 159] And þerfore he hauede wel fair gest∣ning. Glade and bliþe hi weren alle, So fele so weren in þe halle, Ac floriz net ne dronk noȝt; [ 163] On blauncheflur was al his þoȝt. Sire daris vnderȝet Þat floriz murninge set. [ 166] "Floriz," he sede, "what mai þe beo, So þoȝtful ase ihc þe seo? Me þincheþ bi þine chire, Þu nert noȝt glad of þi sopere, [ 170] Oþer þe ne likeþ noȝt þis in." Þo floriz ansuerede him:

"Sire," he sede, "bi godes ore, So god in nauede ihc wel ȝore, [ 174] Vre louerd me lete ibide þe day Þat ihc hit þe ȝulde may. Ihc þenche, sire, on fele wise Nu vpon mi marchaundise, [ 178] Last ine finde noȝt atte frume Þat þing for whi ihc am hider icume. And þeȝ ihc hit finde hit is mi wo Lest ihc schulle hit forgo." [ 182] Þo sede daris, þe freo burgeis, Þat was wel hende and curteis, "Fain ihc wolde þe rede and lere, Þat þu muche þe betere were, [ 186] Ȝef þu toldest me þi gref, To rede þe me were lef." Þo floriz bigan his consail schewe, And to daris beon iknewe. [ 190] Ord and ende he haþ him told, Hu blauncheflur was isold, And hu he was a kinges sune, For hire luue þider icume, [ 194] To fonde þureȝ sume cunnes ginne His lemman blauncheflur biwinne.

Daris þanne floriz bihalt, [ 197] And for more þane fol him halt. "Floriz," he sede, "iseo hu hit geþ; Þu ert abute þinoȝe deþ. [ 200] Þe Admiral haueþ to his gestninge Oþer half hundred of riche kinges. Ne þer nis non so riche king [ 203] Þat dorste entermeten of eni such þing, Þilke maide to awinne, Noþer wiþ strengþe ne wiþ ginne, And þe Admiral hit miȝte iwite, Þat he nere of his lif aquite. [ 208] And Babilloine, ihc vnderstonde, Dureþ abute furtenniȝt gonde. Abute þe walle þer buþ ate, Seuesiþe tuenti ȝates. [ 212] And ine þe bureȝ amidde riȝt Beoþ twe tures ipiȝt. Eche day in al þe ȝere Þe feire is þer iliche plenere. [ 216] Seue hundred tures and two Beoþ in þe burȝ, biþute mo.

[No gap in MS.] And ine þe burȝ amidde riȝt, Beoþ twe tures ipiȝt, [ 220] [No gap in MS.] Of lym and of marbelston; In þe world nis swich tur non. In þe tur þer is a welle, Suþe cler hit is wiþ alle. [ 224] He vrneþ in o pipe of bras, Whider so hit ned was. Fram flore in to flore Þe strimes vrneþ store, [ 228] Fram bure in to halle Þe strimes of þis welle. In þe tur is o kernel Of seluer and of crestel. [ 232] On þe tur anouenon Is a charbugleston Þat ȝiueþ leme day and niȝt, Ne bi hit neuere so derk niȝt. [ 236]

In þe bureȝ ne darf me berne Lampe ne torche ne lanterne, Þat he ne ȝiueþ liȝt and leme As doþ a day þe sunne beme. [ 240] Þe porter is prud wiþalle; Eche day he goþ on þe walle. And ef þer comeþ eniman Biþinne þilke barbecan, [ 244] Bute he him ȝeue leue, He wule him boþe bete and reue. Þe porter is culuart and felun; He wule him sette areisun. [ 248] "Þer buþ in þe hiȝe tur Forti Maidenes and four. Wel were þat ilke mon Þat miȝte winne wiþ þat on. [ 252] Ne þorte he neure ful iwis Wilne more of paradis. Þer buþ seriauns in þe stage [ 255] Þat serueþ þe maidenes of parage. Ac ne mot þer non ben inne Þat one þe breche bereþ þe ginne, Noþer bi daie ne biniȝt, Bute he also capun beo idiȝt. [ 260] [No gap in MS.] And þe Admiral is such a gume, In al þe world nis such a sune.

Ne bu his wife neure so schene, [ 263] Bute o ȝer ne schal heo beon his quene. Þeȝ heo luue him ase hire lif, Þat he nele habbe anoþer wif. And, floriz, imai þe telle fore, Heo schal beon his quene icore. [ 268] Alle þe maidenes of parage Me schal bringe adun of þe stage, And leden hem in to on orchard, Þe faireste of al þe Middellerd. [ 272] Abute þe orchard is a wal; Þe eþelikeste ston is cristal. Ho so wonede a moneþ in þat spray, Nolde him neure longen away. [ 276] So merie is þerinne þe foȝeles song, Þat ioie and blisse is eure among. In þe orchard is a welle Þat is suþe cler wiþ alle. [ 280] Ihc mai seggen iwis, Þe strimes comeþ fram paradis. For in þe strimes þe smale stones, Hi beoþ þer funden eurech one, [ 284]

Boþe saphirs and sardoines, And suþþe riche cassidoines, [ 286] And Iacinctes and topaces, And onicle of muchel grace, And mani on oþer direwerþe ston Þat ich nu nempne ne can. Aboue þe walle stant atreo [ 291] Þat faireste þat miȝte in erþe beo. Hit is ihote þe treo of luue, For lef and blosme beoþ þer buue. So sone so þe olde beoþ idon, Þer springeþ niwe riȝt anon. [ 296] Alle þilke þat clene maidenes beo, Schulle sitte arewe vnder þat treo; And which falleþ on þat furste flur Schal beo quene and fonge þonur. Ȝef þer is eni maide forleie, [ 301] Þe wal is of so muchel eie, An heo stepe to þe grunde, For to wassche hire honde, Ha bulmeþ vp so he were wod, [ 305] And chaungeþ fram water in to blod. On wuche þe welle fareþ so, Also suiþe he wurþ fordo. Ac ȝef þer eni maiden is, [ 309] Þat þe Admiral luueþ mest of pris, On hire schal beo þat flur i went, Þureȝ coniureson and chauntement.

Þus he cheoseþ his wif þureȝ þe flur; Alle weneþ hit schulle beo blaunche∣flur." Ihc wene ne darf me axi noȝt If floriz were of dreri þoȝt. [ 316] [No gap in MS.] "Daris," he sede, "ihc wurthe ded Bute if þu do me summe red." Þanne se Daris, þe freo burgeis, Þat was wel hende and curteis, [ 320] "Floriz," he sede, "leue man, Þe beste red þat ihc þe can, Wend tomoreȝe to þe Tur, Also þu were a gud ginnur. [ 324] Ber wiþ þe squire and schauntillun, Also þu were a gud Mascun. Bihold of þe ture þe hiȝhede, And wiþ þi fot met þe brede. [ 328] Þe porter is culuert and felun; Forþ he wule setten his resun, And bere vpon þe felonie, And segge þat þu art a spie. [ 332] Ansuare him wel hendeliche, And spek wiþ him wel sueteliche, And seie þert icome fram ferren londe, For to seche and for to fonde, [ 336] If mi lif so longe ilast, To makie atur after þis cast, In þine londe ate frume Whanne þu ert hom icume. [ 340] Whane he þe hireþ speke so hende∣liche, And ansuerie so sueteliche, Þenne he wule come þe nier, And bidde þe pleie at þe escheker. Whane þescheker is forþ ibroȝt [ 345] Biþute panes ne plei þu noȝt.

Þu most habbe redi mitte Twenti Marc ine þi slitte. [ 348] Þeȝ þu biwinne oȝt of his, Hold hit of wel litel pris. If he biwinneþ oȝt of þe, Ȝif him of þine suche þre. [ 352] Muche he wule þonki þe And of þe suþe iwundred beo, For he is suþe couetus, And at þescheker enuius. [ 356] Ȝerne he wile þe bidde and preie Þat þu come amoreȝe and pleie. Grante him þat þu wilt so, [ 359] And tak mid amoreȝe suche two. And wel þi nedes for to do Þat þridde day þu wend him to, And ber wiþ þe forti pund, And þine cupe hol and sund. [ 364] Whanne þu lest lest him þe cupe iseo, Wel angussus he wile beo. He wile beo wel coveitus, And hire to bigge suþe fus. [ 368] Muchel he þe wule beode If him miȝte þe betere spede. Ihc wot he wille þilke day Honure þe so muche so he may. [ 372] He wule þe lede to his inne Þe cupe of þe to biwinne. Ȝerne he wule þe bidde and preie Þat þu legge þe cupe to pleie. [ 376] Þu him ansuere atte furste, Þat no leng pleie þe ne luste. Ansuere him wel hendeliche, [ 379] 'Þin beo þe cupe,' seie bluþeliche. For his gode compaygnie A wunne he haþ þi druerie. [ 382]

Ihc wot þat he mai alrebest Of þine neode helpe þe mest. Þu miȝt segge, 'þe ne faileþ non Gold ne seluer ne riche won.' [ 386] Seie þu wilt parte wiþ him of þan, Þat he schal eure beo riche man. Whanne he hereþ þe speke so riche∣liche, And ansuerie so hendeliche, Þanne he wile beo wel bliþe, [ 391] And biginne to luuie þe suiþe, And falle he wile to þi fote, And bicome þi man, if he mote. [ 394] His manrede þu schalt fonge, And his truþe of his honde, Þat he þe bere al þe helde [ 397] Þat man schal to his louerd ȝelde. And þus þureȝ þe cupe and his ginne Þu miȝt þi lemman best awinne. [ 400] Þanne þu miȝt beon iknewe, And þi cunsail to him schewe." And alþus floris hath iwroȝt, As daris him haþ itaȝt. [ 404] Ac þureþ (sic) þe cupe and þureȝ gersume, Þe porter is his man bicume. [No gap in MS.] ¶ Nu quaþ floriz, "þu art mi man; Al mi trest is þe vpon. [ 408] Þeruore þu most me helpe nede; Biþute þe ne mai me spede." Ord and ende he haþ him told, [ 411] Hu þat maide was isold, And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sune, For hire luue he was þider icume, To fonde mid sume kunnes ginne, Hu he miȝte hire awinne. [ 416]

Þo þe porter iherde þis, he siȝte, "Ihc am," he sede, "bitraid wiþ riȝte, Þat þureȝ þis cupe and þis gersume Ihc am nu þi man bicume. [ 420] Nu ihc seo hu hit geþ; For þe ihc drede þolien deþ. Noȝt for þan while ihc mai go, I ne schal þe failli neure mo. [ 424] What me bitide oþer bifalle, Ihc schal þe foreward holden alle. I-wend nu, floriz, to þin inne, While i biþenche of sume ginne. [ 428] Ihc wulle fonde what ido may Bituene þis and þe þridde day." Floriz siȝte and weop among Þulke terme him þuȝte long. [ 432] ÞE porter þoȝte what to rede; He let flures gadere on þe mede. Cupen he let fulle of flures, [ 435] To strawen in þe maidenes bures. Þat was his red to helpe him so; He let floriz-on þat on cupe go. Tuei gegges þe cupe bere, And for heuie wroþ hi were. [ 440] Hi beden God ȝiue him vuel fin, Þat so manie flures dude þerin. To þe chaumbre þer hi scholde go, Ne ȝeden hi ariȝt no. [ 444] To anoþer chaumbre hi beoþ agon, To blauncheflures chaumbre non. [No gap in MS.] Þe cupe hi sette to þe grunde, [ 447] And goþ forþ and leteȝ hire stonde. O maiden com and wolde Þe flures handlen and biholde.

Floriz wende hit were his swete wiȝt; Vt of þe cupe he lep ariȝt; [ 452] And þat maide, for þe drede, Bigan to crie and to grede. Þo nuste floriz what to rede, For þe ferlich þat he hadde. [ 456] Into þe cupe he sterte aȝen, And wiþ þe flures he hudde him. Þis maide þoȝte anon riȝt [ 459] Þat hit was floriz, þat suete wiȝt, For here chaumbres niȝ were; Selde was þat hi togadere nere; And ofte blauncheflur hire hadde itold Hu heo was fram him isold. [ 464] Nu Maidenes comeþ in to hire lepe, Wel fiftene in on hepe, And axede hire what hire were, And whi heo makede suche bere. Wel heo was biþoȝt and whare, [ 469] To finden hem ansuare. [No gap in MS.] "To þe cupe," heo sede, "ihc com and wolde Þis flures handlen and biholde, [ 472] Þer fliste vt a buterfliȝe, Are ihc wiste, on min iȝe. So sore ihc was offerd of þan, Þat ihc crie bigan." [ 476] Þis oþere loȝen and hadde gleo, And goþ aȝen and leteþ beo. CLarice hatte þat maide hende: To blauncheflures chaumbre heo gan wende, [ 480] And sede, "suete blauncheflur, Wiltu seo a wel fair flur?

Hit ne greu noȝt on þis londe, [ 483] Þat flur þat ihc bringe þe to honde." "Away, Clariz," quaþ blancheflur; "Ho þat luueþ þar amur [ 486] And haþ þer of ioye, mai luue flures; Ac ic libbe in soreȝe in þis tures, For ihc wene bithute gabbe, Þat þe Admiral me wule habbe. [ 490] Ac þilke day ne schal neure be; Ne schal me neure at-wite me, Þat ihc beo of luue vntrewe, Ne chaunge luue for no newe, [ 494] Ne lete þe olde for no newe be, So doþ floriz on his Contre. Ac þeȝ floriz forȝe me, Ne schal ihc neure forȝete þe." [ 498] Clariz iherde þes ille reuþe, Of trewnesse and of trewþe. Þe terres glide of hire lere; [ 501] "Blauncheflur," he sede, "go we ifere, Leue suete blauncheflur, Cum and se a well fair flur." To gedere hi goþ nu iwis, And floriz haþ iherd al þis. [ 506] Vt of þe cupe he lep anon, And to blauncheflur he gan gon. Eiþer oþer sone ikneu; Boþe nuþe hi chaungeþ heu. [ 510] To gadere wiþute word hi lepen, Klepte and keste and eke weopen Here kessinge ileste a mile; And þat hem þuȝte litel while. [ 514] Clarice biheold al þis, Here cuntenaunce and here blis.

Seide Clarice to blauncheflur, "Knowestu oȝt ȝete þis flur? [ 518] A litel er þu noldest hit se; Nu ne miȝte hit lete fram þe. He moste kunne muchel of art [ 521] Þat þu woldest ȝeue þer of part." "Certes," quaþ blauncheflur to Clariz, "Þis is min oȝene suete floriz." Nu boþe tuo, þes suete þinges, Crieþ hire merci, al wepinge, [ 526] To þe Admiral þat hem ne wreie, For þenne were here soreȝe niwe. Clarice hadde of hem pite; [ 529] "Noþing," heo sede, "ne dute ȝe, Ne dute ȝe nammore wiþ alle, Þat hit were to me bifalle. Hele ihc wulle and noþing wreie, Ower beire cumpaignie." [ 534] Clarice hem haþ to bedde ibroȝt, Þat was of pal and selc iwroȝt. In bedde heo broȝte hem adun, An hure self wende hem fram. [ 538] [No gap in MS.]

Þo floriz furst speke bigan. "Vre louerd," he sede, "þat makedest man, Þe ihc þonki, godes sune, Þat ihc am to mi leof icume. [ 542] Mi leof, nu ihc habbe þe ifunde, Of al mi care ihc am vnbunde." Nu aiþer haþ oþer itold Of here soreȝe and care cold, [ 546] Þat hi hadde ifunde bo Suþþe hi were ideld atuo. Nu hi cluppeþ and cusseþ [ 549] And makeþ togadere muchel blisse. If þer was aȝt bute custe, Swete blauncheflur hit wiste. Non oþer heuene hi ne bede, Bute eure swich lif to lede. [ 554] Ac longe ne miȝte hi hem wite Þat hi neren vnderȝete. Vor þe Admiral hadde such a wune, Ehc moretid þer moste cume [ 558] Tuo maidenes wiþ muchel honur Into þe heȝeste Tur, Þat were feire and suþe hende, Þat on his heued for to kembe, [ 562] Þat [oþer] bringe towaille and bacin, For to wasse his honden in. Swiche him serueþ a day so faire; Amoreȝe moste anoþer peire. [ 566]

Ac mest were iwuned in to þe tur Maide Clariz and blauncheflur. Clarice, ioie mote hire bitide, Aros vp in þe moreȝentide, [ 570] And haþ icluped blauncheflur To go wiþ hire in to þe tur. Quaþ blauncheflur, "ihc am com∣inge." Ac heo hit sede al slepinge. [ 574] Clariz com in to þe Tur; Þe Admiral axede blauncheflur. "Sire, Alniȝt heo set at hire boke, And haþ þeron irad and loke, [ 578] And þeron ibede hire oresun, Þat god, þat þolede passiun, Þe holde, sire, longe aliue; And nu heo is asleped suiþe, [ 582] [No gap in MS.] Þat heo ne mai come to þe." "Is þat soþ?" sede he. [ 584] Heo sede, "ȝe, sire, withute lesing." "Heo is," he sede, "a suete þing;

Wel aȝte ihc willen hire to wif, Þat so ȝerne biddeþ mi lif." Amoreȝe, þo Clariz arist, Blauncheflur heo atwist [ 590] Þat he makede so longe demure. "Aris," heo sede, "and go we ifere." Quaþ blauncheflur, "ich come anon." Ac floriz cleppen hire bigon, [ 594] And he him also vnwise And feolle aslepe one þis wise. Þo Clarice to þe piler com, And þe bacin of golde nom, [ 598] To bere wiþ into þe Tur, Heo lokede after blauncheflur. Þo Clarice com into þe tur, He axede after blauncheflur. [ 602] "Sire, ihc wende hire finde here; He was arise are ihc were. Nis heo noȝt icume ȝete?" [ 605] Quaþ he, "heo duteþ me to lite."

He clupede to him his chaumberlayn, And het him go wiþ alle mayn, For to wite whi heo ne come To his heste suthe sone. [ 610] Forþ he wende sone anon To hire chaumbre þat he com. In hire bedde he fond tuo, Wel faste iclupt, aslepe bo, [ 614] Neb to neb and muþ to muþ; Sone were here soreȝeren cuþ. [T]o þe Admiral sone he teȝ [A]nd tolde him what he iseȝ. [ 618] [Þe] Admiral het his suerd bringe; [Iw]ite he wolde of þus þinge. [Fo]rþ he wende wiþ al his mayn, [He] and his chaumberlayn. [ 622] [In] þe bed heo fond tueie; [Ȝit] was þe slep in here eie. [He] let Adun þe cloþes caste [Bin]eþen here breste. [ 626] Bi here breste he kneu anon Þat on was maide and þat oþer a mon. [No gap in MS.]

[No gap in MS.] Þe children awoke þo anon [ 629] And seȝe þe Admiral biuore hem gon, Wiþ his suerd al adraȝe; Sore hi beoþ offerd and wel maȝe. "Seie," quaþ þe Admiral, "belamy, Ho makede þe so hardy, [ 634] For to come in to mi Tur And to ligge bi blauncheflur?" Hi crieȝ him "merci," boþe suiþe, Þat he ȝiue hem furst of liue. [ 638] After his barnage he haþ isend, To awreke him wiþ iugement. And let hem þe while binde faste, And in to prison ben icaste. [ 642] His palais þat was so faire ibuld, Of Erles and barons hit was ifuld.

Vp he stod among hem alle, [ 645] Bi semblaunt wel wroþ wiþ alle. "Lordinges," he sede, "wiþ muchel honur, Ȝe habbeþ iherd of blauncheflur, [ 648] Hu ihc hire boȝte apliȝt, For seuesiþe of gold hire wiȝt. To hire was mi meste wene, For to habbe to mi quene. [ 652] [No gap in MS.] Nis noȝt ȝore þat i ne com And fond hire wiþ hordom, Me to schame and deshonur, In hire bedde on mi Tur. [ 656] [No gap in MS.] Ihc habbe ȝou told hu hit is went; A wrekeþ me wiþ Jugement." [ 658] [No gap in MS.] Þanne spak a freo burgeis, Þat was hende and curt[eis], [ 660]

"Sire, are hi beo to diþe awreke, We mote ihere þe children speke. [No gap in MS.] Hit nere noȝt elles rist iugement, Biþuten ansuare to acupement." [ 664] Þe king of Nubie sede þo, "For soþ, ne schal hit noȝt go so. Hit is riȝt þureȝ alle þing Felons inome hond habbing, [ 668] For to suffre Jugement Biþute ansuere oþer acupement." After þe children nu me sendeþ; Hem to berne fir me tendeþ. [ 672] [No gap in MS.] Seide floriz to blauncheflur, [ 673] "Of vre lif nis no sucur; Ac min is þe guld and þe vnmeþ, Þat þu for me schalt þolie deþ. Ac if cunde hit þolie miȝte, Ihc oȝte deie tuye wiþ riȝte. [ 678]

O deþ for þe, on oþer for me; For þis þu þolest nu for me. For if i nere in to þis tur icume, [ 681] Wiþ mireȝþe þu miȝtest her inne wune." He droȝ forþ a riche ring, His moder him ȝaf at his parting. "Haue þis ring, lemman min, Þu me miȝt noȝt deie þe while he is þin." Þe ring he haueþ forþ araȝt [ 687] And to blauncheflur bitaȝt. "Þe ring ne schal neure aredde me; For deþ ne mai ihc se on þe." [ 690] Þe ring heo wolde aȝe reche, And to floriz him biteche. Ac for al þat heo miȝte do, He him nolde aȝen ifo. [ 694] And þe ring bi one stunde, Fel adun to þe grunde. A duc stupede and him vp nom, And was þer of wel bliþe mon. [ 698] Nu þes childre forþ me bringeþ To here dom, al wepinge. [No gap in MS.] Ac þer nas non so sturne mon, Þat hem lokede vpon, [ 702] Þat nolde þo suþe saȝe Þat iugement were wiþdraȝe. [No gap in MS.] For floriz was so fair ȝongling, And blauncheflur so suete þing, [ 706] Of men and wimmen þat buþ nuþe, Þat goþ and seoþ and spekeþ wiþ muþe,

Ne buþ so faire in here gladnesse, So hi were in here sorinesse. [ 710] Ac þe admiral was so wroþ and wod, He quakede for grame þer he stod. And het hem binde wel faste And in to þe fire caste. [ 714] Þe duc þat þe ring funde, Com to þe Admiral and runde, And al to gadere he gan him schewe; Of þat þe children were biknewe. Þe Admiral let hem aȝen clepe, [ 719] For he wolde wiþ floriz speke. [No gap in MS.] "Sire," quaþ floriz, "forsoþ ihc telle, [ 721] Þu noȝtest noȝt þat maide quelle. Of al þis gilt ihc am to wite; Ihc oȝte deie and he go quite." Quaþ blauncheflur, "aquel þu me, And let floriz aliue be. [ 726] Ȝef hit nere for mi luue, He nere noȝt fram his londe icome." Quaþ þe Admiral, "so ihc mote go, Ȝe schulle deie togadere bo. [ 730] Miself ihc wulle me awreke; Ne schulle ȝe neure go ne speke." Floriz forþ his nekke bed, [ 733] And blauncheflur wiþdraȝe him ȝet. Blauncheflur bid forþ hire suere, And floriz aȝen hire gan tire. Neiþer ne miȝte þere þole Þat oþer deide bifore. [ 738] Þo þe Admiral, þeȝ he wroþ were, Þer he chaungede his chere.

For he seȝ þat eyþer wolde for oþer deie, And for he seȝ mani wepinde eie, And for he luuede so muche þat mai, Al wepinge he turnde away. [ 744] His swerd fel of his hond to grunde; Ne miȝte he hit holde þulke stunde. Þe duc þat here ring hadde, [ 747] For hem to speke wille he hadde. "Sire Admiral," he sede, "iwis Hit is þe wel litel pris [ 750] Þis feire children for to quelle. Ac betere hit is þat hi þe telle Hu he com in to þi tur, To ligge þer bi blauncheflur. [ 754] His engin whan þu hit wite, Þe betere wiþ oþere þu miȝt þe wite." Alle þat herde wordes his, Bisecheþ þat he granti þis. [ 758] He het him telle his engin, Hu he to blauncheflur com in, And to him radde and help þarto. "þat," quaþ he, "nelle ihc neure do, For þing þat me mai me do, [ 763] Bute hit hem beo forȝiue also. Alle þoþere bisecheþ þis, And of þe Admiral igranted is. [ 766] Nu ord and ende he haþ hem itold, Hu bla[un]cheflur was fram him isold, And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sone, For hire luue þuder icume, [ 770] To fonden wiþ sume gīnne, Hu he miȝte hure awinne, And hu þureȝ þe cupe and þureȝ þe gersume, Þe porter was his man bicume, [ 774]

And hu he was in a cupe ibore; Alle þes oþere lowe þeruore. [ 776] Þe Admiral þo, wel him bitide, Þat Child he sette bi his side, And haþ forȝiue his wraþþe bo, Floriz and blauncheflur also. And sede wiþ him hi scholde be, Þe beste of al his maine. [ 782] And floriz he makeþ stonde vpriȝt, And þer he dubbede him to kniȝt. Nu boþe togadere þes childre for blisse Falleþ to his fet hem to kisse. [ 786] He let hem to one Chirche bringe, And spusen hem wiþ one gold ringe. [No gap in MS.] Þureȝ þe red of blauncheflur, Me fette Clariz adun of þe Tur. [ 790] Þe Admiral hire nam to quene. Þilke feste was wel breme, For þer was alle kunnes gleo, Þat miȝte at eni briddale beo. [ 794] Hit nas þer after noþing longe Þat þer com floriz writ and sonde, Þat þe king his fader was ded, [ 797] And þat he scholde nimen his red. Þanne seide þe Admiral, "If þu dost bi mi consail, Bilef wiþ me; ne wend naȝt hom, Ihc wulle ȝeue þe a kinedom [ 802] Also long and also brod, Also eure ȝet þi fader ibod." Ac floriz nolde for no winne; Leuere him were wiþ his kinne. [ 806]

Þe Admiral he bid god day, And þonkede Clariz þat faire may, And to hire he haþ iȝolde [809 Floris makes rich presents in parting, and comes home, where he and Blauncheflur reign as king and queen.] Twenti pond of ride golde. [ 810] And to Daris þat him so taȝte, Twenti pund he araȝte. And alle þat for him duden eidel, He ȝeld here while suþe wel. [ 814] He bitaȝte hem alle godalmiȝte And com hom whane he miȝte. He was king wiþ Muchel honur, And heo his quene blauncheflur. [ 818] Nu ȝe habbeþ iherd þane ende Of floriz and his lemman hende, Hu after bale comeþ bote; God leue þat vs so mote, [ 822] Þat we him mote louie so, Þat we mote to heuene go.

AMEN.

E-X-PLI-C-IT.