'Now telle what maner a man is he,'
Line 1730
Seid the Sowdon, 'that is of suche powre;
And sey me now the very certente.' [folio 9b]
To hym anon thanne seid the Massenger,
Line 1733
'If it please yow to wete, that ye shall here:
Belen the bold his name is ouer all,
And kyng of kyngges now men do hym calle;
Line 1736
His loggyng is vppon a fayre Ryuer,
Line 1737
Callid teger, not ferre owt of this cost;
And there he lith with right a grete powre,
his owne persone and also all his oste;
Line 1740
he will that it be knowen to litill [MS. likill.] And most,
That fro that grownde he will nott part Away,
Till he haue redy word what ye [MS. he.] will saye.'
Line 1743
The Sowdon thanne gave Answere furth with all,
Line 1744
And in this wise seid to the massanger;
'Of my doughter, as for the principall,
I lete yow wete, for pleasur nee for fere
Line 1747
Think not ther on, for she shall not come ther,
Nother in no nother place I yow ensure,
The whiche myght sownne onto here dishonour.
Line 1750
As for the Remenaunte of your message,
Line 1751
Be cause I will not lette yow of your waye,
Whanne euer ye will ye may take your viage,
ffor your Answere I will that ye shall sey,
Line 1754
I will send word withynne a moneth day
Vnto your prince, where euer he be present,
All vtterly the fyne of myn entent.'
Line 1757
The massanger anon he toke his leve,
Line 1758
And furth he went whanne he hadde his answer.
The Sowdon anon he ganne his councell to meve
