Octovian (Cambridge, University Library, MS Ff.2.38)

Lines 1301 through 1400

whych ys hardy man and kene Line 1301 we may no lenger byde Line 1302 the folke seyde they were blythe Line 1303 to wynde to the batell swythe Line 1304 in herte ys noght to hyde Line 1305 a ryche clothe on borde was spradde Line 1306 to make the chylde blythe & gladd Line 1307 a kynge on aythur syde Line 1308

Line 1308 on the morne when hyt was daylyght Line 1309 the folke can them to batell dyght Line 1310 all that wepyn myght welde Line 1311 there men myght see many a knyght Line 1312 wyth helmys & wyth hawberkys bryght Line 1313 wyth sperys and wyth schylde Line 1314 wyth trumpys and wyth moche pryde Line 1315 boldely owt of the borowe þey ryde Line 1316 into a brode fylde Line 1317 the downe was bothe longe & brode Line 1318 there bothe partyes odur abode Line 1319 and eyther on odur behelde Line 1320 marsabelle the maydyn fre Line 1321 was broght the batell for to see Line 1322 to mountmertrous ouyr seyn Line 1323 florent hur sleue bare on hys spere Line 1324 in the batell he wolde hyt were Line 1325 and rode forthe yn the playne Line 1326 for that men schulde see by than Line 1327 that he was that ylke man Line 1328 that had the gyaunt slayne Line 1329 and also for the maydyn free Line 1330 that sche schulde hys dede see Line 1331 therof sche was fayne Line 1332 that whyle was moche sorowe yn fyȝt Line 1333 when þe batell began to smyte Line 1334 wyth many a greuys wounde Line 1335 fro þe morne þat day was lyght Line 1336 tyll hyt was euyn derke nyght Line 1337 or eythur party wolde fownde Line 1338 florent can euyr among þem ryde Line 1339 and made þere many a sore syde Line 1340 that afore were softe & sownde Line 1341 so moche people to dethe yode Line 1342 that the stedys dud wade yn blode Line 1343 that stremyd on the grounde Line 1344

Line 1344 there men myght see helmys bare Line 1345 hedys þat full feyre ware Line 1346 lay to grounde lyght Line 1347 the crystyn party become so than Line 1348 that þe fylde þey myȝt not wynne Line 1349 all arewyd hyt kynge and knyght Line 1350 florent smote wyth herte gode Line 1351 thorow helme ynto þe hed hyt wode Line 1352 so moche he was of myght Line 1353 thorow godys grace & florent there Line 1354 the crysten men þe bettur were Line 1355 that day yn the fyght Line 1356 the partyes were ydrawe away Line 1357 and takyn was anodur day Line 1358 that þe batell schulde bee Line 1359 florent rode toward borough larayn Line 1360 be the watur banke of seyne Line 1361 moo auenturs for to see Line 1362 the maydyn whyte as lylly flowre Line 1363 lay yn a corner of hur towre Line 1364 that was ferly feyre and free Line 1365 florent sche sye on fylde fare Line 1366 be the sleue that he bare Line 1367 sche knewe that hyt was he Line 1368 then spekyth þe mayde wyth mylde mode Line 1369 to olyuan that be hur stode Line 1370 and knewe hur preuyte Line 1371 olyuan how were beste to do Line 1372 a worde þat y myȝt speke hym to Line 1373 iwysse then wele were me Line 1374 sche seyde lady we two Line 1375 allone wyll be the reuer go Line 1376 there as he may yow see Line 1377 yf he yow loue wyth herte gode Line 1378 he wyll not let for the flode Line 1379 for a full gode stede hath he Line 1380

Line 1380 forthe went the maydyns two Line 1381 be the reuer syde can they goo Line 1382 themselfe allone that tyde Line 1383 when florent sawe þat swete wyght Line 1384 he sprange as fowle dothe yn flyght Line 1385 no lenger wolde he byde Line 1386 the stede was so wondur gode Line 1387 he bare the chylde ouyr the flode Line 1388 hymselfe well cowde ryde Line 1389 grete yoye hyt was to see þem meete Line 1390 wyth clyppyng & wyth kyssyng swete Line 1391 in herte ys not hyde Line 1392 lady he seyde well ys me Line 1393 a worde þat y may speke wyth the Line 1394 so bryght þou art of hewe Line 1395 in all þys worlde ys noon so fre Line 1396 why ne wyll ye crystenyd be Line 1397 and syth of herte be trewe Line 1398 sche seyde yf þat ye myght me wynne Line 1399 i wolde forsake all hethyn kynne Line 1400