XIII.

[A] "Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I þe telle, 280 [B] Hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdle3 chylder; If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede, [C] Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so[1] wayke. For-þy I craue in þis court a crystmas gomen, 284 [D] For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony; If any so hardy in þis hous holde3 hym-seluen, [E] Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede, Þat dar stifly strike a strok for an oþer, 288 I schal gif hym of my gyft þys giserne ryche, [F] Þis ax, þat is heué in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes, & I schal bide þe fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95.] If any freke be so felle to fonde þat I telle, 292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach þis weppen, I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen, [G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on þis flet, Elle3 þou wyl di3t me þe dom to dele hym an oþer, 296 barlay; & 3et gif hym respite, [H] A twelmonyth & a day;-- Now hy3e, & let se tite 300 Dar any her-inne o3t say."

[Sidenote A: "I seek no fight," says the knight.] [Sidenote B: "'Here are only beardless children.'] [Sidenote C: Here is no man to match me.] [Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,] [Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,'] [Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;] [Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return] [Sidenote H: within a twelvemonth and a day."] [Footnote 1: MS. fo.]