V.

[A] "For I haf wonnen yow hider, wy3e, at þis tyme, 2092 & now nar 3e not fer fro þat note place, [B] Þat 3e han spied & spuryed so specially after; Bot I schal say yow for soþe, syþen I yow knowe, & 3e ar a lede vpon lyue, þat I wel louy, 2096 Wolde 3e worch bi my wytte, 3e worþed þe better. [C] Þe place þat 3e prece to, ful perelous is halden; [D] Þer wone3 a wy3e in þat waste, þe worst vpon erþe; For he is stiffe, & sturne, & to strike louies, 2100 & more he is þen any mon vpon myddelerde, [E] & his body bigger þen þe best fowre. Þat ar in Arþure3 hous, Hestor[1] oþer oþer. He cheue3 þat chaunce at þe chapel grene; 2104 [F] Þer passes non bi þat place, so proude in his armes, Þat he ne dynne3 hym to deþe, with dynt of his honde; For he is a mon methles, & mercy non vses, [G] For be hit chorle, oþer chaplayn, þat bi þe chapel rydes, 2108 Monk, oþer masse-prest, oþer any mon elles, Hym þynk as queme hym to quelle, as quyk go hym seluen. For-þy I say þe as soþe as 3e in sadel sitte, Com 3e þere, 3e be kylled, [I] may þe kny3t rede, 2112 Trawe 3e me þat trwely, þa3 3e had twenty lyues to spende; [H] He hat3 wonyd here ful 3ore, On bent much baret bende, 2116 [I] A3ayn his dynte3 sore, 3e may not yow defende."

[Sidenote A: "I have brought you hither,] [Sidenote B: ye are not now far from the noted place.] [Sidenote C: Full perilous is it esteemed.] [Sidenote D: The lord of that 'waste' is stiff and stern.] [Sidenote E: His body is bigger 'than the best four in Arthur's house.'] [Sidenote F: None passes by the Green Chapel, 'that he does not ding to death with dint of his hand.'] [Sidenote G: For be it churl or chaplain, monk, mass-priest, 'or any man else,' he kills them all.] [Sidenote H: He has lived there full long.] [Sidenote I: Against his dints sore ye may not defend you.] [Footnote 1: Hector (?).]