The Gregeis toke thenne the feld; [folio 198a]
Line 13393
And thei of Troye that be-held
That thei were so to hem comande,
Thei ȝede a-ȝeyns hem faste ridande
Line 13396
Off gode aray & gode manere,
With many a spere and brod banere.
When thei come ner, to-gedur thei ran,
And sclow be-twene hem many a man;
Line 13400
Scheldes and helmes ȝede al to dust,
Thei toke ther many a sori crust.
BVt the douȝti Diomedes
Ful wondirly the Troiens sles:
Line 13404
He smot of hondis with alle the nayles,
He made hem greued—it was meruayles,—
He pared her chekes al aboute,
That al here tethe fellen oute.
Line 13408
He sclow and woundid & bar to erthe
Two & thre and so the fferthe,
¶ He smot of hedes, leg, & arme;
That day did he moche harme
Line 13412
To hem of Troye & her meygne.
Troyle knewe, that it was he
That did his men that vilony;
He vowed to god: "he scholde a-by;
Line 13416
Iff he myȝt ride as he hath ment,
On of hem scholde haue a dent."
¶ Diomedes he ascried,
And afftirward he him defied:
Line 13420
'War the wel'—seyde he—'fro me!
For thi dedis I defye the!'
'And I the!' seyde the knyght,
'Her my treuthe to the I plyght:
Line 13424
I wol the not certis refuse,
Ne thow schalt the fro me ascuse.'
