Þan Ector was one, as aunter befelle,
ffro the parties of payeme present at home,
By comaundement of þe kyng þat was his kynd fader.
And when þe sons all somyn were the Syre vmbe,
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Euyn stondyng full still, as þaire astate askyt,
Thus carpes the kyng to his clene childur,
With weping and wo, wateryng of ene,
Sobbyng and sikyng, Syling of terys.— [folio 36a]
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"Now synkes not in your sowle þe sorow of your graunser,
And the dulfull dethe of your dere fryndes,
The seruage of Exina, þat is in syn holdyn,
And hade in horedam for hethyng of vs;
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And we so mighty on molde & of mayne strenght?
Hit is lure of our lyues, and we let sholde
ffor to wreke vs of wrathe for any wegh oute.
And ye þat are ȝepe knightes, & in yowthe alse,
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Shuld highly take hede in hert for to venge
The slaght of þe souerayne, þat was my sure fader;
And my wille for to wirke, as ye wele aw.
Þat greuys me full gretly, & to ground bringes,
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Hit shuld come you by course, as of kynd childer,
To be sory for my sake, & soner þen I;
And part-taker of my payne with prickyng in hert.
And þou my son, for sothe, sonest of other.
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TO ECTOR.
Ector the eldist, and heire to my selfe,—
Antrus in armys, ablist of person,—
Boldest in batell, and best of þi hondes;—
Thou shuld hede to my harmes, herkon my wille,
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