& þat he schuld þat ich day
Serue wele þat feir may.
Gij him answerd freliche: [C line 159]
'Sir, ichil wel bleþeliche.'
Line 210
In a kirtel of silk he gan him schrede,
Into chaumber wel sone he ȝede.
Þe kirtel bicom him swiþe wel,
To Amenden þer on was neuer a del;
Þe maidens biheld him feir & wel,
Line 215
For þat he was so gentil.
Gij on his knes sone him sett, [C line 161]
& on hir fader half he hir grett,
& seyd he was þider sent
To serue hir to hir talent.
Line 220
Felice answerd þan to Gij [folio 108b:1] [C line 167]
'Bieus amis, molt gramerci.'
& seþþe sche asked him in þe plas
Whennes he cam, & what he was.
'Mi fader,' he seyd, 'hat Suward,
Line 225
þat is þi fader steward,
þat wiþ him me haþ y-held
& forþ y-brouȝt, God him for-ȝeld!'
'Artow,' sche seyd, 'Suward sone,
þat of al godenes haþ þe wone?'
Line 230
Gij stode stille & seyd nouȝt.
Wiþ þat was the water forþ brouȝt:
þai sett hem to mete anon,
Erl, baroun, sweyn & grom.
¶ Gij was bisy þat ich day
Line 235
To serue wele þat feir may.
þat day Gij dede his miȝt
To serue þritti maidens briȝt;
Al an-amourd on him þai were,
& loued Gij for his feir chere.
Line 240
þer of no ȝaf he riȝt nouȝt,
Al anoþer it was his þouȝt:
