Part 16

Lytel and muche loueden þe For þy goodnesse and þy beaute. 276 Ȝif deþ were dalt aryȝt, We shuld be deed boþ on oo nyȝt. On oo day born{e} we were; We shul be ded boþ in feere.” 280

& muchel {and} litel hit louede þe Vor þi fayr hede {and} þi bunte. Ȝif þat deþ were ideld ariȝt, We scholden habbe idiȝed boþe in ar niȝt. 84 Vor in one deye ibore we were; Mid riȝte we scholden deie ifere.”

[Sidenote: He apostrophizes death.]

[Sidenote: [101 _b_]] “Deeþ,” he seide, “ful of~ enuye, And of alle trechorye, Refte þ{o}u hast me my le{m}man.” “For soth,” he seide, “þ{o}u art to blame. 284 She wolde haue leuyd, and þu noldest, And fayn{e} wolde y dye, and þu woldest.

“Deþ,” he seyde, “vol of enuie, {and} vol of alle tricherie, 88 Mid t{ra}isu{n} þ{o}u me hast mi lef binome. To bi-t{ra}ie þat folk hit is þi wone; Heo wolde libbe {and} þu noldest. Þou nelt me slen {and} ihc wolde; 92

[_No gap in MS._]

Wiþ þere me wolde þat þou were. Nul tu no wiȝt come þere, {and} þer me wolde þ{a}t þou . . ne come, Þer þou wolt come Ilome. 96 Þilke þ{a}t buste best to libbe, Hem þou stikest under þe ribbe. {and} ȝif þer is eni forliued wrecche, Þat of is liue nouȝt ne recche, 100 Þat fawe wolde deie for sorewe & elde, On hem neltou nouȝht bi helde. No lengore ich nelle mi lef bileue, I chulle be mid hyre ere eue. 104

After deeþ clepe nomore y nylle, But slee my self~ now y wille.” 288

Nou after deþ clepie ich þe nulle, Ac mi sulue aslen ich wille.”

[Headnote: _He tries to stab himself, but is prevented by his mother._]

[Sidenote: He attempts to stab himself with a knife, but is prevented by his mother.]

His knyf~ he braide out of his sheth; Him self he wolde haue doo to deth. And to hert he had it smeten{e} Ne had his moder it vnder ȝeten{e}. 292 Þen þe Queene fel him vppon{e}, And þe knyf~ fro him noom{e}. She reft~ him of~ his lytel knyf~, And sauyd þere þe Childes lyf~. 296 Forþ þe Queene ranne, al wepyng~, Tyl she com{e} to þe kyng~.

Ase a mo{n} þat draȝh him sulue to þe deþe, His knif he draȝh out of his scheþe, 108 {and} to his herte hit wolde habbe ismite, Nadde his moder hit vnder gete. Ac þe quene his moder . . fel vpon, & þis knif heo him binom. 112 Heo bi nom him his atel knif. [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back, col. 2_]] Þat heo com bi . . . . . . .

[Headnote: _The queen discloses to Floris the deception._]

[Sidenote: The queen persuades the king to reveal the truth.]

Þan seide þe good lady, “For goddes loue, s{ir}, mercy! 300 Of .xii. children haue we noon{e} On lyue now but þis oon{e}. And better it were she were his make, Þan he were deed for hur sake.” 304

Þanne spac þe quene þe . . {and} seyde to þe kinge, “sire, mercy, 116 Sire, of þis children nabbe we non, Non aliue bote þis on, {and} bote hit were þ{a}t hit wer . . Þane eyþer deȝede vor oþer . . . 120

“Dame, þ{o}u seist soþ,” seide he; “Sen it may noon{e} other be, Leuer me were she were his wyf~, Þan y lost my sonnes lyf~.” 308 Of~ þis word þe Quene was fayn{e}, And to her soon{e} she ran agayn{e}.

“Dame, þou seist soþ,” þo seyde he, “Nu hit nele no{n} oþer bee. Leuere me were þ{a}t heo were Þane ihc for lore mine sone l[yf].” 124 Of þisse wordes þe quene w . . To floyres, hire sone, . . .

[Sidenote: They tell him the facts, and together open the grave and find it empty.]

“Floryes, soon{e}, glad make the, Þy lef þ{o}u schalt on lyue see. 312 Florys, son{e}, þrouȝ engynne Of~ þy Faders reed and myne, Þis graue let we make, Leue son{e}, for þy sake. 316 Ȝif~ þ{o}u þ{a}t maide forgete woldest, After oure reed wyf~ þ{o}u sholdest.”

“Floyres, sone, glad make þe . For ut þou schalt þi lef . . 128 Leue sone . . . . . . . . . . . fader rede {and} . . . . . . . wo . . . Leue sone so . . . . . . 132 Vor [_two lines illegible here_] . . . . . vre rede . . .

Now eu{er}y word{e} she haþ him tolde, How þ{a}t þey þ{a}t mayden solde. 320 [Sidenote: [102 _a_]] “Is þis soth, my moder dere?” “For soth,” she seide, “she is not here.” Þe rowȝ stoon{e} adoun{e} þey leyde, And sawe þ{a}t was not þe mayde. 324

. . . word {and} ende him . Hou hei habbeþ þat mayde, 136 “{and} is þis soþ, mi moder dere?” “Ȝe, for soþe,” heo nis not . Þane stond hii panne . . . . He isay þ{a}t þere nas . . . . 140

[Sidenote: Floris declares his resolve to find Blauncheflur.]

“Now, moder, y þink þ{a}t y leue may. Ne shal y rest nyȝt ne day, Nyȝt ne day ne no stound{e}, Tyl y haue my le{m}mon found{e}. 328

Nu me þencheþ . . . . . . . . ne schal ihc . . . . Niȝt ne da . . . . . . . . . ich . . . . . . 144

[_Some folios lost here. Continued at bottom of page 84._]

Hur to seken y wołł wend{e}, Þauȝ it were to þe worldes ende.” To þe king~ he goþ to take his leue, And his Fader bade him byleue. 332 “Sir, y wyl let for no wynne; Me to bydden it it were grete synne.” Þan seid þe king~, “seth it is soo, Seþ þ{o}u wylt noon{e} other doo, 336 Al þat þe nedeþ we shul þe fynde; Ih{es}u þe of~ care vnbynde.”

[Headnote: _Floris equips a company with which to search for Blauncheflur._]

[Sidenote: He describes to the king the retinue that he would like.]

“Leue Fader,” he seide, “y telle þe Al þ{a}t þ{o}u shalt fynde me. 340 Þ{o}u mast me fynde, at my deuyse, Seuen horses al of~ prys, And twoo y-charged vppon~ þe molde Boþ w{i}t{h} seluer and wyþ golde, 344 And two ycharged w{i}t{h} monay For to spenden by þe way, And þree w{i}t{h} clothes ryche, Þe best of~ al þe kyngryche, 348 Seuen horses and seuyn~ men, And þre knaues w{i}t{h}out hem, And þyn{e} own{e} Chamburlayn{e}, Þat is a wel nobel swayn{e}. 352 He can vs wyssħ and reede, As marchaundes we shułł vs lede.” His Fader was an hynde king~,

[Sidenote: The king gives him also the marvellous cup, and an elegantly caparisoned ‘palfray.’]

Þe Coupe of golde he dide him bryng~, 356 Þat ilke self~ Coupe of golde Þat was Blauncheflo{ur} for ȝolde. “Haue þis, soon{e},” seide þe king~, “Herew{i}t{h} þ{o}u may þ{a}t swete þing~, 360 [Sidenote: [102 _b_]] “Wynne so may betyde, Blauncheflo{ur} w{i}t{h} þe white syde, Blauncheflo{ur}, þ{a}t faire may.” Þe king let sadel a Palfray, 364 Þe oon{e} half so white so mylke, And þat other reed so sylk~. I ne can telle nouȝt How rychely þat sadel was wrouȝt. 368 Þe Arson~ was of gold{e} fyn{e}, Stones of v{er}tu stode þ{er}yne, Bygon{e} aboute wit orfreys.

[Sidenote: The queen gives him a magic ring.]

Þe Queene was kynde and curtays, 372 Cast hur toward þe kyng~ And of~ hur fynger she brayde a ryng~:

_Cambridge MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2._

Heo tok forþ a wel fair þing, Of hire finger a riche Ryng.

“Haue now þis ylke ryng~: While is it þyn{e}, douȝt no þyng~ 376 Of~ fire brennyng~ ne water in þe See; Ne yren~ ne steele shal dere thee.”

“Mi sone,” heo sede, “haue þis ring. “Whil he is þin, ne dute noþing, 4 Þ{a}t fur þe bre{n}ne ne adrenche se, Ne ire ne steil ne mai þe sle. And to þi wil þu schalt habbe g{ra}ce, Late {and} rathe in eche place.” 8

[Headnote: _Floris and his company arrive at the haven._]

[Sidenote: Floris takes leave and comes to the haven, and lodges at the same house where Blauncheflur had been.]

He took~ his leue for to goo; Þ{er} was ful muche woo; 380 [_No gap in MS._] Þey made him noon~ other chere Þan her soon~ were leide in bere.

++Floris nimeþ nu his leue; No long{er} nolde he bileue. He custe he{m} wiþ softe muþe; Al wepinge hi dep{ar}teþ nuþe. 12 Ne makede his Moder no{n} oþ{er} chere, Bute also he were ileid on bere. For him ne wende hi neu{er}e mo Eft to sen; ne dude hi no. 16

Furþ he went w{i}t{h} al his mayn~; W{i}t{h} him went þe Chamberlayn~. 384 So haue þey her hauyn~ nome Þat þey ben to þe hauyn~ come Þere Blaunchefloure was alnyȝt, Wel rychely þey ben dyȝt; 388

Forþ he wende wiþ al his mein, And wiþ hi{m} his fader chau{m}berlein. Fort to þe hauene hi beoþ icume, And þ{er} habbeþ here in inome. 20 At þe selue huse hi buþ aliȝt Þ{a}t blau{n}cheflur was þ{a}t oþ{er} niȝt. Riche sop{er} þer was idiȝt,

[Sidenote: They find there good entertainment.]

Þe lord of~ þe ynne was welle hende; Þe Child~ he sette next þe ende, In al þe feirest seete

And m{ur}ie hi verde{n} þ{er} aniȝt. 24 Floriz ne let for ne feo To finden al þ{a}t neod beo,

[Sidenote: All make good cheer except Floris, who thinks ever on Blauncheflur.]

Alle þey dronken and al þey ȝete: 392 [_No gap in MS._] Ete ne drynke myȝt he nouȝt; On blauncheflour was al his þouȝt.

Of fless, of fiss, of tendre bred, Of whit win, {and} eke red. 28 Glad {and} bliþe hi weren alle Þ{a}t were{n} wiþ he{m} in þe halle, And pleide {and} gamenede ehc wiþ oþ{er}. Ac floriȝ þe{n}cheþ al on oþ{er}, 32 For he net ne dronk riȝt noȝt. On blau{n}cheflur was al his þoȝt.

[Headnote: _Floris mourns. He hears of Blauncheflur, and is glad._]

[Sidenote: The hostess observes his ‘mourning,’ and tells him that she is reminded of the mourning of Blauncheflur.]

Þe lady of þat vnderȝat Þ{at} þe Childe mornyng~ sat, 396 And seide to her lord w{i}t{h} styl dreme, “Sir, nym{e} now good{e} ȝeme How þe Child~ mo{ur}nyng syttes: Mete and drynke he forȝetes: 400 [Sidenote: [103 _a_]] Lytel he eteþ, and lasse he drynkeþ; He is a marchaund, as me þynkeþ.”

Þe lefdi of þer inne vnderȝat Þ{a}t he m{ur}ni{n}ge sat. 36 To hire lou{e}rd heo sede wiþ stille dreme, “Sire, nimestu no ȝeme Hu þis child m{ur}ni{n}ge sit? Mete ne drinke he nabit. 40 He net mete ne he ne drinkeþ; Nis he no marchau{n}t, ase me þinkeþ.”

To Flores þen seide she, “Al ful of~ mo{ur}nyng~ y the see. 404 Þ{er} sate þ{er} þis sender day, Blauncheflo{ur}, þ{a}t swete may. Heder was þ{a}t mayde brouȝt W{i}t{h} Marchaundes þ{a}t hur had bouȝt; 408 Heder þey brouȝt þ{a}t mayde swete; Þey wold haue solde hur for byȝete; To Babyloyn{e} þey wyll{e} hur bryng{e}, Boþ of semblant & of~ mornyng{e}.” 412

“Floriz,” heo sede, “what mai þe beo, Þus m{ur}ninge as ich þe seo? 44 Þus her inne þis oþ{er} day Sat blau{n}cheflur, þ{a}t faire may.” Ord {and} ende he haþ him told, Hu blau{n}cheflur was þari{n}ne isold. 48 [_No gap in MS._] “Þu art hire ilich of alle þinge, Boþe of semblau{n}t {and} of m{ur}ni{n}ge, Of fairnesse {and} of muchelhede, Bute þu ert a man {and} heo a maide.” 52

[Sidenote: Floris rejoices at the mention of the name. He gives the hostess a silver cup, etc., and inquires further about Blauncheflur.]

When Florys herd speke of~ his le{m}man, Was he neuer so glad a man, And in his hert bygan to lyȝt; Þe Coupe he let fulle anoon~ ryȝt: 416

Þo floriz iherde his le{m}ma{n} ne{m}pne, So blisful him þuȝte þilke steuene, He let fulle a cupe of win.

“Dame,” he seide, “þe fessel is þyn{e}, Boþ þe Coupe and þe wyn{e}, Þe wyn{e} and þe gold eke, For þ{o}u of my leman speke: 420 On hur y þouȝt, for hur y syȝt; I ne wyst where I hur fynde myȝt; Wynde ne weder shal me assoyn{e}, Þat y ne shal seche hur in Babyloyn{e}.” 424

“Dame,” he sede, “þis hail is þin, 56 Þ{a}t win {and} þ{a}t gold eke, For þu of mi le{m}ma{n} speke. For hire iþoȝte, for hire isiȝte, For inot wher hire seche miȝte. 60 Hire to seche ihc wille i wende, Þeȝ heo beo at þe wordles ende.”

Now Florys resteþ him al a nyȝt.

Floriz geȝ to his rest; On blau{n}cheflur he þoȝte mest. 64 Ac rest ne miȝte he nabbe none, Fort þe dide slep hi{m} nome.

[Sidenote: Floris sets sail once more.]

At morn{e}, when it was day lyȝt, He dide him in-to þe wylde flood~. Wynde and weder w{i}t{h} him stood; 428 Sone so Florys com{e} to londe, Þ{er}e he þanked goddes sonde

A moreȝe so sone so hit was day He tok his leue {and} we{n}te his way, 68 And dude him i{n}to þe salte flod; He hadde wind {and} weder ful god. Þe Marin{er} he ȝaf largeliche, Þ{a}t broȝte hi{m} ou{er} bluþeliche. 72

[Headnote: _Floris reaches the land where his Leman is._]

[Sidenote: He arrives in the country where his leman is.]

To þe londe þ{er} his lyf~ ynne is: Him þouȝt he was in paradyse. 432

Þ{er} hi wolde{n} he{m} self alonde, For hi fu{n}de{n} he{m} so hende, To þe lond þ{er} his le{m}ma{n} is; Hi{m} þuȝte he was i{n} p{ar}ais. 76

Sone to Florys tydyng men tolde Þ{a}t þe Amyral wold~ Fest holde; His Erls, Barons, comyn~ sholde, And al þ{a}t wold~ of him lond holde, 436 For to herkyn~ his hest And for to honoure his Feest.

Ano{n} me hi{m} tiþi{n}ge tolde Þ{a}t þe admiral wolde feste h[olde]. Erles, baruns þ{er} come sch[olde], And þat wolden of hi{m} h[olde]. 80

Glad was Florys of þ{a}t tydyng~; He hoped to com{e} to þ{a}t gestyng~, 440 Ȝif~ he myȝt, in þ{a}t halle, His le{m}man see among hem alle.

Bliþe was floriz of þe tiþinge; He hopede come to þ{a}t gesni{n}ge. Wel he hopede among he{m} alle His le{m}ma{n} sen in þe halle. 84

[Sidenote: [103 _b_]] ++nOW to þ{a}t Citee Florys is com{e}; Feire he hath his ynne y-noom{e} 444 At a palaise; was non{e} it lyche; Þe lord of þ{a}t ynne was fulle ryche; He hadde ben ferre and wyde.

To a riche Cite hi buþ icume; Vaire hi habbeþ here i{n} inome, At one paleis suþe riche; Þe lord of þ{er} i{n}ne nas no{n} his liche. 88 Him feol gold inoȝ to honde, Boþe in water {and} in londe.

[Sidenote: At the inn there is good cheer, and Floris enters into conversation with the host.]

Þe Childe he set next his syde, 448 In al þe feirest seete. Alle þey dronken and ete, Al þat þ{er}ynne were, Al þey made good chere, 452 Þey ete and dronke echoon~ w{i}t{h} other; But Florys þouȝt al another, Ete ne drynke he myȝt noȝt, On Blauncheflo{ur} was al his þouȝt. 456

He hadde ilad his lif ful wide; Þis child he sette next his side. 92 Glad {and} bliþe hi weren alle, So fele so were in þe halle. [_No gap in MS._] Ac floriz net ne dronk noȝt; Of blau{n}cheflur was al his þoȝt. 96

Þan spake þe Burgays Þat was hende and Curtays: “Ow, child~, me þynkeþ welle Þ{a}t muche þ{o}u þynkest on my catell{e}.” 460 “Nay, s{ir}, on Catel þenke y nouȝt,” (On Blauncheflo{ur} was al his þouȝt,) “But y þynke on al wyse For to fynde my marchaundise; 464 And ȝit it is þe most woo, When y it fynd, y shal it forgoo.”

Þe lord of þ{er}inne vnderȝat Þ{a}t þis child m{ur}ninge sat. “Floriz,” he sede, “what mai þe beo, Þus m{ur}ni{n}ge þ{a}t ihc þe seo? 100

Þan spak~ þe lord of~ þ{a}t ynne, “Þis sender day, þ{er} sate hereyn{e} 468 Þat faire Maide Blauncheflo{ur}, boþ in halle and in boure. Eu{er} she made mornyng chere, And bement Florys, her lyf~ fere; 472 Ioye ne blis made she noon~, But for Florys she made her moon~.”

[Þ]us heri{n}ne þis oþ{er} day [S]at blau{n}cheflur þ{a}t faire may. [I]n halle ne in bur ne at bord, [O]f hire ne herde we neure a word. 104 [B]ute of floriz was hire mone; [Heo] nadde in herte ioie none.”

Florys toke a Coupe of~ syluer clere, A mantyl of~ Scarlet w{i}t{h} menyuere: 476 “Houe þis, s{ir}, to þyn~ hono{ur}; Þ{o}u may þonke it Blauncheflo{ur}. He myȝt make myn~ hert glade, Þ{a}t couþ me tel wheder she is ladde.” 480

[Whanne] herde he ne{m}pnen his le{m}man, [Bliþe] he was iwis for þan. 108 [He lat] bringe a cupe of seluer [And eke] a pane of menuuer. [Þanne] he sede, “haue þis to þin honur, [So þ]u speke of blau{n}cheflur. 112 [Þu mi]ȝtest make min heorte ful glad; [Þu tel]le me wuder heo were ilad.” [Þanne] sede þe burgeis, [Þat was] wel hende {and} c{ur}tais, 116

[Headnote: _The innkeeper tells Floris how the Admiral bought Blauncheflur._]

[Sidenote: The host tells him that Blauncheflur has been sold to the Admiral at Babylon.]

“Child~, to Babyloyne she is brouȝt; Þe Amyral hur haþ bouȝt: [Sidenote: [104 _a_]] He gaf~ for hur, as she stood vpryȝt, Seuen sithes of~ gold hur wyȝt; 484 For he þenkeþ w{i}t{h}-out weene, Þat faire may haue to Queene. Among~ his maydons in his toure He hur dide, w{i}t{h} much honoure.” 488

[“To Babi]lloigne he was ibroȝt; [Þe adm]iral hire haȝ iboȝt.”

Now Flores resteþ him þ{er}e al nyȝt, Tyl on þe morrow þe day was lyȝt; He roos on þe morownyng~, He gaf~ his Ost an hundryd shelyng~, 492 To his ost and to his Ostesse, And toke his leue, and feire dide kysse;

[Floriz go]þ to his rest; [On Blaunch]eflur he þoȝte mest. 120 Ac reste ne miȝte he habbe none; Fort þe dide slep him nome. Amoreȝe so sone so hit was day, He nem his liue, {and} we{n}de his way. 124

[Sidenote: Floris gives the host a hundred shillings, and asks his assistance.]

And ȝerne his ost he besouȝt, Þat he him help, ȝif he myȝt ouȝt, 496 Ȝif~ he myȝt~, w{i}t{h} any gynne, Þat feire may to him wynne.

And for his niȝtes gestinge He ȝaf his oste an hundred schillinge. [_No gap in MS._] And ȝerne he haþ his oste bisoȝt Þ{a}t he him helpe wiþ al his þoȝt, 128 In Babilloine, oþ{er} wher a beo, Þ{a}t he miȝte hire iseo, Hu he miȝte mid sume ginne, His le{m}man blau{n}cheflur awinne. 132 Þa{n}ne sede þe burgeis, Þ{a}t was hende {and} curtais,

_MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III._

[Sidenote: [_leaf 7_]] . . . . . . . by souht . . . . . mid al his mauht . . frend in babiloyne hadde . . wisede {and} wel radde . . . he mihte mid eni ginne . . . blancheflour iwinne

[Headnote: _The innkeeper gives Floris instructions._]

“Childe,” he seide, “to a brygge þ{o}u shalt com{e}, The Senpere fynde at hoom{e}: 500 He woneth at þe brygges ende; Curtays man he is, and hende; We arn~ bretheren, and trouthes plyȝt: He can þe wyssh and rede a-ryȝt; 504

At babilloine atte frume, To one brigge þu schalt cume. 136 Whane þu comest to þe ȝate, Þe port{er} þu schalt find þarate. Wel hende man {and} fair he is; He is icluped sire daris. 140 Mi felaȝe he is þureȝ truþe ipliȝt, And he kan rede þe ariȝt.

. . one longe brugge þou schalt come . . . ngere finde þer ate frome. . . . c is ate brugge ende . . . mon he is {and} hende . . . breþeren {and} treweþe ipliht . . . wisi {and} reden wel riht.

[Sidenote: The innkeeper sends him with a ring of introduction to the bridge porter at Babylon.]

Þ{o}u shalt bere him a rynge Fro my-self~ to tokenynge, Þat he help þe in boure and halle As it were my self~ befalle.” 508 [_No gap in MS._] Florys takeþ þe ryng~, and nemeþ leue, For long~ wold~ he nouȝt beleue.

Haue {and} ber him þis ring, On mine halue to tokning, 144 Þ{a}t he þe helpe in alle halue, Ase he wolde me selue.” Floriz herof was wel bliþe, And þonkede his oste wel suiþe. 148 Feire of him he nimeþ leue; No lengur nolde he bileue.

. . . bere him neseno[FB-3] ring . . . . . . to toking . . . . . elpe on eche halue . . . . . {and} takeþ is leue . . . . . . þer by sene

[Footnote FB-3: ?]

[Sidenote: Floris takes leave, and by midday reaches the bridge and finds the porter.]

By þ{a}t it was vndern~ hyȝe, Þe Brygge com{e} he swyth nye. 512 Þe Senperes name was Darys. Florys gret him wel feire ywys, And he him þe ryng~ arauȝt, And ful feire it him betauȝt. 516

Biþ{a}t hit was middai hiȝ, Floriz was þe brigge niȝ. 152 Þe he com to þe gate Þe port{er} he fond anon þ{er}ate, Sittinde one a marbelston, Suþe fair {and} hende mon, 156 And so him sede child floriz, “Rest þe m{ur}ie, sire daris,”

. . . . . . ondarne heyȝ . . . . . [bru]gge suiþe neyȝ . . . . . þane brugge icome . . . . . bruggere ate frome . . . . . . . a Marbreston . . . . . mon he was on . . . . . was of Muchel p{ri}s . . . . . . him sulf iwis . . . . . ys was i hote doyre . . . . . s him grette wel fayre . . . . . him þane ri{n}g arauht . . . [d] ayre hine him bi tauht

[Headnote: _Floris presents his ring of introduction to Daris._]

[Sidenote: Floris presents the ring, and is hospitably received.]

Þrouȝ þe token of þ{a}t ilk~ ryng~ Florys had ful faire gestnyng~ Off~ Fyssħ and flessh and tender breed~, Of~ wyn~, both white and reed~: 520

And tok him to tokne þis ring; And þ{er}fore he hauede wel fair gestni{n}g. 160 Glade {and} bliþe hi weren alle, So fele so weren in þe halle,

. . . . þe tockne of þe ringe . hadde þ{er} aniht wel gode gistinge . . . . b of fles of tendre bred . . . . t win {and} eke of red

[Sidenote: Floris sits mourning.]

And eu{er} Florys sate ful colde, And Dares bygan þe Childe beholde:

Ac floriz net ne dronk noȝt; On blau{n}cheflur was al his þoȝt 164 Sire daris vnderȝet Þ{a}t floriz m{ur}ni{n}ge set.

. . . . re floyres sike {and} colde . . . . gon þ{a}t chil by holde

[Sidenote: Daris asks if he is not pleased with his entertainment.]