No More Learning

er,
288 I schal gif hym of my gyft ? ys giserne ryche,
[F] ? is ax, ? at is heue in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,
& I schal bide ? e fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95. ]
If any freke be so felle to fonde ? at I telle,
292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach ? is weppen,
I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,
[G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on ? is flet,
Elle3 ? ou wyl di3t me ? e dom to dele hym an o? er,
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. ]

XIV.

[A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were ? anne
Alle ? e hered-men in halle, ? e hy3 & ? e lo3e;
[B] ? e 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 ? is Ar? ures hous," quod ? e ha?