X.

[A] Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contraye3 straunge, Fer floten fro his frende3 fremedly he ryde3; [B] At vche warþe oþer water þer þe wy3e passed, 716 He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were, & þat so foule & so felle, þat fe3t hym by-hode; [C] So mony meruayl hi mount þer þe mon fynde3, Hit were to tore for to telle of þe tenþe dole. 720 [D] Sumwhyle wyth worme3 he werre3, & with wolues als, Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, þat woned in þe knarre3, [E] Boþe wyth bulle3 & bere3, & bore3 oþer-quyle, & etayne3, þat hym a-nelede, of þe he3e felle; 724 [F] Nade he ben du3ty & dry3e, & dry3tyn had serued, Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte. [G] For werre wrathed hym not so much, þat wynter was wors, When þe colde cler water fro þe cloude3 schadden, 728 & fres er hit falle my3t to þe fale erþe; Ner slayn wyth þe slete he sleped in his yrnes, Mo ny3te3 þen in-noghe in naked rokke3, Þer as claterande fro þe crest þe colde borne renne3, 732 & henged he3e ouer his hede in hard ÿsse-ikkles. [H] Þus in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde, Bi contray carye3 þis kny3t, tyl kryst-masse euen, al one; 736 Þe kny3t wel þat tyde, [I] To Mary made his mone. Þat ho hym red to ryde, & wysse hym to sum wone. [Fol. 101.]

[Sidenote A: Many a cliff he climbed over;] [Sidenote B: many a ford and stream he crossed, and everywhere he found a foe.] [Sidenote C: It were too tedious to tell the tenth part of his adventures] [Sidenote D: with serpents, wolves, and wild men;] [Sidenote E: with bulls, bears, and boars.] [Sidenote F: Had he not been both brave and good, doubtless he had been dead.] [Sidenote G: The sharp winter was far worse than any war that ever troubled him.] [Sidenote H: Thus in peril he travels till Christmas-eve.] [Sidenote I: To the Virgin Mary he prays to guide him to some abode.]