dürfen daher vielleicht eine west-mittelländische Grafschaft als Geburts|stätte dieses Liedes ansehen.
Th. Wright, Pol. Songs of England, pag. 246; Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry II, pag. 5 (Tauchnitz Edition).
[folio 73a] Alle þat beoþ of huerte trewe,
a stounde herkneþ to my song
of duel, þat deþ haþ diht vs newe
(pat makeþ me syke ant sorewe among!)
of a knyht, þat wes so strong,
Line 5
of wham god haþ don ys wille;
me þuncheþ þat deþ haþ don vs wrong,
þat he so sone shal ligge stille.
al englond ahte forte knowe
of wham þat song is, þat y synge;
Line 10
of edward kyng, þat liþ so lowe,
ȝent al þis world is nome con springe;
trewest mon of alle þinge, [of alle þinge ist die übliche Verstärkung des Superlativs.]
ant in werre war and wys,
for him we ahte oure honden wrynge,
Line 15
of cristendome he ber þe pris.
byfore þat oure kyng wes ded,
he spek ase mon þat wes in care:
"Clerkes, knyhtes, barouns," he sayde,
"y charge ou by oure sware, [oure: der Buchstabe "u" ist konsonantisch zu sprechen.]
Line 20
þat ȝe to engelonde be trewe.
y deȝe, y ne may lyuen namore;
helpeþ mi sone, & crouneþ him newe,
for he is nest to buen ycore."
Ich biqueþe myn herte aryht,
Line 25
þat hit be write at mi deuys,
