XIV.

[A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were þanne Alle þe hered-men in halle, þe hy3 & þe lo3e; [B] Þe renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel, 304 & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute, [C] Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene, [D] Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse. When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e, 308 Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke: [E] "What, is þis Arþures hous," quod þe haþel þenne, "Þat al þe rous rennes of, þur3 ryalmes so mony? Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes, 312 Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes? [F] Now is þe reuel & þe renoun of þe rounde table Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche; For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed!" 316 Wyth þis he la3es so loude, þat þe lorde greued; [G] Þe blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face & lere; [H] He wex as wroth as wynde, 320 So did alle þat þer were Þe kyng as kene bi kynde, Þen stod þat stif mon nere.

[Sidenote A: Fear kept all silent.] [Sidenote B: The knight rolled his red eyes about,] [Sidenote C: and bent his bristly green brows.] [Sidenote D: Waving his beard awhile, he exclaimed:] [Sidenote E: "What! is this Arthur's court?] [Sidenote F: Forsooth the renown of the Round Table is overturned 'with a word of one man's speech.'"] [Sidenote G: Arthur blushes for shame.] [Sidenote H: He waxes as wroth as the wind.]