'Now truly, ser,' quod he, 'if it were so
Line 2517
That they were men with whom we haue a do,
We wold not dowte to mete them on be on,
But suerly they be fendez euerychone.
Line 2520
Ther wepons be suche ther may no man abide,
Line 2521
Wherefore this is now myn avise,' quod [MS. now q d.] he,
'Vs to with drawe a litell owt aside,
That our enmys perseyue not that we fle.'
Line 2524
The Sowdon saw it wold non other be,
Butt nedis he must geve his assent ther to,
And yet he was full loth so for to do.
Line 2527
They drewe softely to the Citee Ward,
Line 2528
The Sowdon blow his horn that thei myght here,
The lordes and the knyghtez of his garde,
Whanne thei it hard anon thei drew hym nyere,
Line 2531
As as they rode to geder all in feer,
Ther enmys made on them a newe afraye,
That vnnethe myght the Sowdon skape a waye.
Line 2534
V. hunderyd of his men he lost also,
Line 2535
And of horsis a thowsand atte lest
Among them All thei lost withoute moo,
And some lordes and knyghtez of the best;
Line 2538
The day passid, the sonne drewe to the rest,
And be that tyme his felisshepe and he
Were come to Mountoner the riche Citee.
Line 2541
And of all this wist not Generides,
Line 2542
Nor anasor, to say yow certeynly,
ffor thei were allway fightyng still opece
Ayenst Galad the kyng of Asirye;
Line 2545
And whanne they had knowlage vtterly,
Of the Sowdon and of his distresse,
Thanne were they bothe in right grete hevynesse.
Line 2548
