'O frend,' a seide, 'ich bidde þe lete,
For it is meche foly to þrete
Eni man aliue.'
& he ascorn bad him lete,
And a sterte vpon is fete
Line 5
Hasteliche and bliue.
Haslak smot Reinbroun anon,
Þat to þe bokel þe schel[d] chon:
Neȝ a gan doun driue.
Strong and gode hii wer boþe:
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Eiþer kedde þat hii wer wroþe
To bringe oþer of liue.
¶ Betwene hem strong fiȝt þer is:
Swich ne herde [ȝe] neuer, iwis,
Siþe þat ȝe wer bore.
So miȝte nouȝt longe be:
Þat [on] moste þat oþer sle
Line 5
Of þe kniȝtes kende i-core.
Heraud be-held þat bataile,
How aiþer gan oþer asaile:
Wo was him þer-fore.
A gret harm him þouȝte it were
Line 10
Ȝif aiþer slouȝ oþer þere:
For hem a wep wel sore.
¶ Wiþ þat amonges hem com he,
And seide, 'kniȝt, for godes pite,
Herkne to me a stounde. [folio 175a:a]
Let now ben al ȝour fiȝt,
And aȝild þe to þis kniȝt
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Þat þou hast her y-founde.
For he is man of gret power:
In al þis world þer nis is per,
Ne of so meche mounde.
In is merci, y rede, þow [þe] do,
Line 10
Er þan be mad betwene ȝow to
Eni mo harde wounde.'
