his displeasur withoute eny fayle,
Line 1698
hough he myght best to his entente prevaile;
And sodenly, among them euerychone,
ffurth with ther came a massanger anon,
Line 1701
In hast[y] wise as fast as he cowde ride,
Line 1702
And to the Sowdon he seid, right in this wise:
'I am not come my massage for to hide,
But boldly for to telle you myn avise.
Line 1705
Ther is a kyng not ferre from thise partise,
In all contres ther as men riden and goon,
Vnder hevyn so grete ther levith non.
Line 1708
Kyng of Egipte he is, the soth to saye,
Line 1709
And haue mervell, sithe ye be hold soo wise,
That ye so long haue putte it in delaye,
And come not furth to offer your seruice;
Line 1712
Wherefore he will that ye in eny wise
Yeld vppe your land att his comaund[e]ment,
And vtterly obey to his entent:
Line 1715
And for to take avise in this mater,
Line 1716
he grauntith yow a moneth day of space,
And by that day to geve a playn answere,
As ye will be demeanyd in this case;
Line 1719
And your doughter also clarionas,
I councell yow to send hir to the kyng,
ffor your ease and welefare in tyme comyng.'
Line 1722
Whanne he hadde seid his massage all in feere,
Line 1723
The Sowdon was displeasid for certayn;
And furth with all he chargid Anasar,
To take with hym Generydes ayeyn,
Line 1726
And ther to kepe hym suerly on A payn,
ffor he myght not procede furmabely,
Because the tidyngez came so hastely.
Line 1729
