But that I will seche reynbrown the free.
Thow shalte here dwell, be myne [e in myne altered from d.] hand,
And kepe my good and my lande;
For well I wot, when I am gone,
Line 8960
Myn Ennemyes wyll come anone,
And be-sett the with bateyle:
Defende the well, with-owte fayle.'
'Sir,' he seyd, 'so god me amende,
Yf they come we will vs defende.'
Line 8965
NOw wendith herrawd from the cite, [C line 8683]
And toke leve of hys meyne.
He hyed hym faste from that contre:
A full carefull man was he.
A shyp he found and passed yare,
Line 8970
And sowght reynbrowne wyd whare:
In Denmarke and in Irelonde,
In northwey and in scotlonde,
In allmayne and in russye,
In Sisoyne and in tu[r]kye
Line 8975
Euer his lordis son he sought,
But, for-soth, he found hym nouȝt.
When he myght not founden be
In all this ylke straunge contre, [Caius MS. 107 page 201]
To constantyne the noble than wold he.
Line 8980
Tho come there a tempeste in the se,
And hem chasyd full blyve:
At Awferyke they gun aryve.
He saw be-sydys hym on the lond
A ryght fayer Cite stonde,
Line 8985
But, for-soth, the wallis of that town
To the erth were brokyn down.
'Lord,' quod than a marynere,
'Moche sorrow we shall get here.
We be now faste a-ryvand
Line 8990
Into the kyng Argus land.
He ys a ryght rich kyng
