Part 17

[Sidenote: [104 _b_]] “Leue Child, what may þis be, Þus þouȝtful as y the see? 524 And þ{o}u nouȝt al in feere, Þat þ{o}u makist þus sory chere, Or þ{o}u lykkest noȝt þis yn~?”

“Floriz,” he sede, “what mai þe beo, So þoȝtful ase ihc þe seo? 168 Me þincheþ bi þine chire, Þu nert noȝt glad of þi sop{er}e, Oþ{er} þe ne likeþ noȝt þis in.”

. . . . wat may þe be . . . . . þe i see . . . . . . . uoice al fere . . . . . . . . ele chere. [Sidenote: [_leaf 7, col. 2_]] . . . . . . . . þin in.”

Þan Floreys answered him~: 528 “Ȝis, s{ir}, by goddes ore, So good ne had y mony day ȝore: God let me abyde þat daye Þat y þe quyte wel may: 532

Þo floriz ansuerede him: 172 “Sire,” he sede, “bi godes ore, So god in nauede ihc wel ȝore, Vre lou{er}d me lete ibide þe day Þ{a}t ihc hit þe ȝulde may. 176

Bot floyres onswerede him, “Nay, sire, bi godes ore, So god nadde [I] wel ȝore. God lete me abide þane day Þ{a}t ich hit þe ȝelde May.

[Sidenote: Floris tells him, in veiled words, his real trouble.]

But y þenke on al wyse Most vppon~ my marchaundyse; [_No gap in MS._] And ȝit it is most woo, When y hit Fynde, y shal it forgoo.” 536

Ihc þenche, sire, on fele wise Nu vpon mi marchau{n}dise, Last ine finde noȝt atte frume Þ{a}t þing for whi ihc am hider icume. 180 And þeȝ ihc hit finde hit is mi wo Lest ihc schulle hit forgo.”

Ac ich þenche on alle wise Vppon mine Marchaundise Ware vore ich am hider icome, Lest ich ne feynde hit ate frome, {and} þ{a}t is ȝet mi meste wo, Ȝif ich hit finde {and} hit forgo.

[Sidenote: Daris bids him speak plainly, and Floris speaks out.]

[_No gap in MS._] “Childe, woldest þ{o}u telle me my gryf~, To hele þe, me were ful lyf~.”

Þo sede daris, þe freo burgeis, Þ{a}t was wel hende {and} curteis, 184 “Fain ihc wolde þe rede {and} lere, Þ{a}t þu muche þe bet{er}e were, Ȝef þu toldest me þi gref, To rede þe me were lef.” 188

Child, woldest þou telle me of þi gref To helpe þe me were lef.

[Headnote: _Floris tells his story to Daris._]

Eu{er}y word he haþ him tolde, How þe mayde was fro him solde, 540 And how he was of~ Spayn~ a kynges son{e}, For grete loue þider y-com{e}, To fonde, w{i}t{h} quantyse and w{i}t{h} gyn~, Blauncheflo{ur} for to wynne. 544

Þo floriz bigan his consail schewe, {And} to daris beon iknewe. Ord {and} ende he haþ him told, Hu blau{n}cheflur was isold, 192 And hu he was a kinges sune, For hire luue þider icume, To fonde þureȝ sume cu{n}nes ginne His le{m}ma{n} blau{n}cheflur biwinne. 196

And now floyres hi{m} haueþ itold Hou þ{a}t mayd from him wa sold, {and} hou he was of spayne one kinges sone, Vor hire loue þider icome.

[Headnote: _Daris begins to tell of the Admiral and the city._]

[Sidenote: Daris takes him to be a fool, and proceeds to tell the strength of the Admiral and the size of the city.]

“Now,” seith Dares, “þ{o}u art a Folt,”-- And For a Foole þe Childe he halt,-- “Now y woot how it gooth, Þ{o}u desirest þyn~ own~ death. 548 Þe Amyral haþ to his Iustinges Oþ{er} half~ hundred of ryche kinges; And þe Alder-rychest king~ Durst not begynne suche a þing~. 552

Daris þa{n}ne floriz bihalt, {And} for more þane fol him halt. “Floriz,” he sede, “iseo hu hit geþ; Þu ert abute þinoȝe deþ. 200 Þe Admiral haueþ to his gestninge Oþ{er} half hu{n}dred of riche kinges. Ne þ{er} nis no{n} so riche king Þ{a}t dorste ent{er}met{en} of eni such þing, 204 Þilke maide to awinne, Noþ{er} wiþ strengþe ne wiþ ginne,

Nou doyres þ{a}t chil[d] by halt, {and} for a fol he hine halt. “Child, nou ich wot al hou hit geþ; Iwis þou welnest þin owene deþ. Þe amirel haueþ to his iustninge Oþ{er} half hondert of riche kinge, Þe alre richeste kinge Ne dorste bi ginne swch a þing.

Ȝif~ Amyral myȝt it vnderstond{e}, He shulde be drawe in his owne londe, A-bout Babyloyne, y wene, Six longe myle and tene; 556 At eu{er}y myle is a walle þ{er}ate, Seuen sithes twenty ȝate; And .xx. toures þ{er} ben ynne, Þ{a}t eu{er}y day chepyng is ynne; 560

And þe Admiral hit miȝte iwite, Þ{a}t he n{er}e of his lif aquite. 208 And Babilloine, ihc vnderstonde, Dureþ abute furte{n}niȝt gonde. Abute þe walle þ{er} buþ ate, Seuesiþe tuenti ȝates. 212 And ine þe bureȝ amidde riȝt Beoþ twe tures ipiȝt.

And mihste þe amirayl hit vnder ȝete, Sone of his liue he were quite. Aboute babiloyne beþ to ȝonge wiþoute wene, Sixti longe Mile {and} tene, {and} ate walle þer beþ ate, Seuesiþe tuenti ȝate. And tueye toures þer beþ inne, Þ{a}t þe chepinge is eche day inne.

Eu{er}y day and nyȝt þrouȝ-out þe ȝere Þe Chepyng~ is y-lyche plenere; [Sidenote: [105 _a_]] And þauȝ al þe men þ{a}t ben bore, Had on hur lyf~ swore 564 To wynne þat maide feire and free, Al shul þey die, so moot y the.

Eche day in al þe ȝere Þe feire is þ{er} iliche plenere. 216 Seue hu{n}dred tures {and} two Beoþ in þe burȝ, biþute mo.

Nis þer day þoruh out þan ȝer, Þat þe chepinge is iliche plener. Seue hundred tures, wit oute{n} þan tuo, Þ[er] beþ in þan boruh {and} somdel mo. Þe alre febleste tour Nolde nouht duti þe amp{er}ur.

[Headnote: _Description of the maidens’ ‘tower.’_]

[Sidenote: Daris tells of the ‘towers,’ the spring, the wonderful carbuncle,]

In þ{a}t bo{ur}, in mydward pyȝt, Stondeþ a toure, y the plyȝt, 568 An hundryd fathum~ it is hye,-- Who-soo beholdeþ hit, fer or nere, An hundred fathum it is y-fere;-- It is made w{i}t{h}-out[en] pere, 572

And ine þe burȝ amidde riȝt, Beoþ twe t{ur}es ipiȝt, 220

Vor to come þer wiþ inne, No þ{er} wid stregþe ne wid ginne. [Sidenote: [_leaf 7, back_]] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . aȝen woo . schal to iwinne þat Mayd al so sone . . . . . þe so{n}ne {and} mone. . . . þe bor . . mid rift . . . . . . . . aplyft . . hondred teyse þe to{ur} is heie . . . . by halt fur {and} nei. {and} an hundret teyse hit is wid, {and} imaked wiþ muchel pruid.

Of lyme and of Marbulston{e}; In al þis world~ is suche noon{e}. Now is þe morter made so wele, Ne may it breke, iren ne steele. 576 Þe Pomel þat aboue is leide, It is made w{i}t{h} muche p{r}ide;

Of lym {and} of marbelston; In þe world nis swich t{ur} non. In þe tur þ{er} is a welle, Suþe cler hit is wiþ alle. 224 He vrneþ in o pipe of bras, Whider so hit ned was. Fra{m} flore in to flore Þe strimes vrneþ store, 228 Fram bure in to halle Þe st{ri}mes of þis welle. In þe tur is o kernel Of seluer {and} of crestel. 232 On þe tur anouenon Is a charbugleston Þ{a}t ȝiueþ leme day {and} niȝt, Ne bi hit neure so derk niȝt. 236

Of lym {and} of marbel ston; In cristiante nis swich non. Þ{a}t morter is i maked se wel, Ne May hit breke ire ne stel. And þe pomel about þe lede Is i wrouht mit so . . . . .

Þ{a}t man ne þar in þe Tour bern{e} Nouther torcher[FB-4] ne lantern{e}; 580 Suche a pomel was þ{er} bygo{n}e, Hit shyned a nyȝt so doþ þe soone.

[Footnote FB-4: MS. torther]

In þe bureȝ ne darf me berne Lampe ne torche ne lant{er}ne, Þ{a}t he ne ȝiueþ liȝt {and} leme As doþ a day þe su{n}ne beme. 240

Ne þarf me aniht . . . . . Nouþer torche . . . . . . . . . . . a pomel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[Headnote: _How the maidens are guarded._]

[Sidenote: the porter on guard,]

[_No gap in MS._]

Þ{e} port{er} is prud wiþalle; Eche day he goþ on þe walle. And ef þ{er} comeþ eniman Biþi{n}ne þilke barbecan, 244 Bute he him ȝeue leue, He wule him boþe bete {and} reue. Þe port{er} is culuart {and} felun; He wule him sette areisun. 248

[Sidenote: and the forty-four maidens kept in the ‘high tower.’]

Now arn~ in þat ilk~ Tour Twoo and fourty nobełł boure; 584 Wel were þat ilke man Þ{a}t myȝt woon{e} in þ{a}t oon~! Ne durst him neu{er} more ywys Couete after more blysse. 588

“Þer buþ in þe hiȝe tur Forti Maidenes {and} four. Wel were þ{a}t ilke mon Þ{a}t miȝte winne wiþ þ{a}t on. 252 Ne þorte he neure ful iwis Wilne more of p{ar}adis.

. . . . . beþ in þan . . Foure {and} fourti . . . . . [Þ]at wel were þ{a}t ilke . . . . . Mihte wonie . . . . . [_About twenty lines illegible here._]

Naw arn~ þer Seriauntes in þ{a}t stage Þ{a}t s{er}uen þe maydons of hyȝe p{ar}age; But no s{er}ieaunt may s{er}ue þ{er}ynne Þ{a}t bereþ in his breche þat gynne 592 To s{er}ue hem day and nyȝt, But he be as a Capou{n} dyȝt. At þe gate is a ȝateward~; He is not a Coward~; 596 He is wonder proude w{i}t{h} alle; Eu{er}y day he goþ in ryche palle.

Þ{er} buþ seriau{n}s in þe stage Þ{a}t s{er}ueþ þe maidenes of p{ar}age. 256 Ac ne mot þ{er} no{n} ben inne Þ{a}t one þe breche bereþ þe ginne, Noþ{er} bi daie ne biniȝt, Bute he also capun beo idiȝt. 260

[Sidenote: The Admiral takes a new wife each year.]

And þe Amyral haþ a wonder woon~, Þ{a}t he þ{a}t is com{e} of cristendom{e}, 600 Euery ȝere to haue a new wyf~, Þen he loueþ his Queene as his lyf~.

And þe Admiral is such a gume, In al þe world nis such a sune. Ne bu his wife neure so schene, Bute o ȝer ne schal heo beon his q{ue}ne. 264 Þeȝ heo luue him ase hire lif, Þ{a}t he nele habbe anoþ{er} wif. And, floriz, imai þe telle fore, Heo schal beon his quene icore. 268

Neuer . . [_leaf 7, back, col. 2_] To chesen hire . . . . . . Þeyȝ he louede is quene . . .

[Headnote: _Description of the wonderful orchard._]

[Sidenote: The maidens are brought down into a beautiful orchard in which is a marvellous spring and a wonderful tree.]

[Sidenote: [105 _b_]] Then shul men bryng{e} doun~ of þe Toure Al þe Maidens of grete honour, 604 And bryng{e} hem into an Orchard~, Þe feirest of al mydlerd~: Þeryn is mony fowles song~; Men myȝt leue þ{er}yn ful long~: 608 About þe Orchard is a walle,-- Þe fowlest stone is Cristall{e},--

Alle þe maidenes of p{ar}age Me schal bringe adu{n} of þe stage, And leden he{m} in to on orchard, Þe faireste of al þe Middellerd. 272 Abute þe orchard is a wal; Þe eþelikeste ston is cristal. Ho so wonede a moneþ in þ{a}t spray, Nolde him neure longe{n} away. 276 So m{er}ie is þ{er}i{n}ne þe foȝeles song, Þ{a}t ioie {and} blisse is eure among.

Me schul fecche adoun of þe . . Alle þe maydenes of parage. {and} bringe hem in on orcharde Þe fayreste of þe middel[erd]. Þer is fowelene song Ne mihte wel libbe hem a[mong] Abute þan orchard is a wa[l] . Su{m}me of þe stones be . . . Þ{er} me may ise uppon a . . . I write muchel of þe w . . .

And a wełł spryngeþ þ{er}ynne, Þ{a}t is made w{i}t{h} muche gynne; 612 Þe wel is of~ muche prys, Þe stremes com froo P{ar}adyse; Þe grauel of~ þe ground is p{re}cious stoones, And al of v{er}tu for þe noones. 616 Now is þe wełł of much{e} auȝt;

In þe orchard is a welle Þ{a}t is suþe cler wiþ alle. 280 Ihc mai seggen iwis, Þe st{ri}mes comeþ f{ra}m p{ar}adis. For in þe st{ri}mes þe smale stones, Hi beoþ þ{er} funden eurech one, 284

And a welle þ{a}t springeþ . . . Þ{a}t is i mad mid muchel . . . Þis welle is . . Muchel Þ{a}t grauel bi þe . . . . . And of v . eu . . . . Of safir . . {and} of . . . Of omcie {and} of . . . . . Þe welle is al . . . . . .

[Headnote: _The marvellous spring and marvellous tree._]

[Sidenote: If any maiden, who is not a virgin, approach the spring, the water boils up as if mad.]

Ȝif a woman com þ{a}t is for-lauȝt, And she be doo to þe streeme For to wesshe her honndes clene, 620 Þe wat{er} wylle ȝelle as it were wood~, And bycom{e} red as blood~. On what maide þe water fareþ soo, Sone she shal to deþ be doo. 624 Þoo þat ben maidens clene, Þey may wessh{e} þ{er}yn, y wene; Þe water wołł stonde feire and clere; To hem makeþ it no daungere. 628 At þe walles hed stondeþ a tree, Þe feirest þat on erthe may be; It is cleped þe tree of loue: Flowers and blossomes spryngen aboue; 632

[Sidenote: The maiden upon whom first falls a blossom from this tree is chosen queen.]

Þen þey þat maydons clene bene, Þei shul be brouȝt vnder þe tren{e}, And whicħ so falleþ þe floure, Shal be queene w{i}t{h} muche hono{ur}. 636

Boþe saphirs {and} sardoines, And suþþe riche cassidoines, And Iacinctes and topaces, And onicle of muchel g{ra}ce, 288 And mani on oþ{er} direwerþe ston Þ{a}t ich nu ne{m}pne ne can. Aboue þe walle stant atreo Þ{a}t faireste þ{a}t miȝte in erþe beo. 292 Hit is ihote þe treo of luue, For lef {and} blosme beoþ þ{er} buue. So sone so þe olde beoþ idon, Þer sp{ri}ngeþ niwe riȝt anon. 296 Alle þilke þ{a}t clene maidenes beo, Schulle sitte arewe vnder þat treo; And which falleþ on þ{a}t furste flur Schal beo q{ue}ne {and} fonge þonur. 300 Ȝef þ{er} is eni maide forleie, Þe wal is of so muchel eie, An heo stepe to þe gru{n}de, For to wassche hire honde, 304 Ha bulmeþ vp so he were wod, {And} chau{n}geþ f{ra}m wat{er} in to blod. On wuche þe welle fareþ so, Also suiþe he wurþ fordo. 308

Ȝif þer come . . . . . . . . . . ho . . . . . . . For . . . . . . . . . . . w . . wele . . . . . . come al so . . . . . . . wlyche w . . . . . Wel sone . . . . . . . Alle þ{a}t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wole . . . . . .

[_About nine more lines illegible. Several folios lost here._]

[_No gap in MS._] Ȝif~ any mayden þ{er} is Þat þe Amyral telleþ of~ more p{r}is, Þe flour shal be to her sent Þrouȝ art of~ enchauntement. 640

Ac ȝef þ{er} eni maide{n} is, Þ{at} þe Admiral luueþ mest of pris, On hire schal beo þ{at} flur i went, Þureȝ c{on}iureson {and} chau{n}tem{en}t. 312

Þe Amyral cheseþ hem by þe flo{ur}, And euer he herkeneþ after Blauncheflo{ur}. [Sidenote: [106 _a_]] Thre sithes Flores sownyd anoon~ Riȝt byfore hem eu{er}ychoon~: 644 When he awoke, and speke myȝt~, Sore he wept, and sore he syȝt,

Þus he cheoseþ his wif þureȝ þe flur; Alle weneþ hit schulle beo blau{n}cheflur.” Ihc wene ne darf me axi noȝt If floriz were of dreri þoȝt. 316

[Headnote: _Daris suggests to Floris a plan._]

[Sidenote: Floris implores the aid of Daris.]

And seide, “Dares, y worth now deed~, But þ{a}t y hope of þe som reed~.” 648 “Leue soon~, wyl ȝe see Þat þy trust is muche on me; Þen is þe best~ reed þat y can~-- Other reed ne can y noon~-- 652

“Daris,” he sede, “ihc wurthe ded Bute if þu do me summe red.” Þa{n}ne se Daris, þe freo burgeis, Þ{a}t was wel he{n}de {and} c{ur}teis, 320 “Floriz,” he sede, “leue man, Þe beste red þ{a}t ihc þe can,

[Sidenote: Daris bids him go, disguised as a mason, to the tower,]

Wende to-morn~ to þe toure As þ{o}u were a good gynoure; Take on þy honde squyer and scantlon~ As þ{o}u were a free mason~; 656 Behold~ þe to{ur} vp and doun~, Þe porter is cruel and Feloun~; Wel sone he wyl com{e} to the, And aske what man{er} man þ{o}u be, 660 And bere on þe, Felonye, And sey þ{o}u art com{e} to be a spye.

Wend tomoreȝe to þe Tur, Also þu were a gud ginnur. 324 Ber wiþ þe sq{ui}re {and} schau{n}tillun, Also þu were a gud Mascun. Bihold of þe ture þe hiȝhede, And wiþ þi fot met þe brede. 328 Þe port{er} is culuert {and} felun; Forþ he wule sette{n} his resun, And bere vpon þe felonie, And segge þ{a}t þu art a spie. 332

And þow shalt~ answere swetlych{e}, And sey to him myldelych{e}, 664 Sey þ{o}u art a gynoure, To beholde þat feire Toure, For to loke and for to fonde To make suche another in þy londe. 668

Ansuare him wel hendeliche, And spek wiþ him wel sueteliche, And seie þert icome fra{m} ferre{n} lo{n}de, For to seche {and} for to fonde, 336

[Sidenote: and induce the porter to play at draughts.]

[_No gap in MS._] Wel sone he wyl com þe nere, And wyl byd þe play at þe chekere. When þ{o}u art at cheker brouȝt, W{i}t{h}out seluer [be] þ{o}u nouȝt; 672 Þou shalt haue redy w{i}t{h} the XX. Marke beside þy knee;

If mi lif so longe ilast, To makie atur aft{er} þis cast, In þine londe ate frume Wha{n}ne þu ert hom icume. 340 Whane he þe hireþ speke so he{n}deliche, And ansuerie so sueteliche, Þe{n}ne he wule come þe nier, And bidde þe pleie at þe escheker. 344 Whane þescheker is forþ ibroȝt Biþute panes ne plei þu noȝt. Þu most habbe redi mitte Twenti Marc ine þi slitte. 348

Ȝif~ þou wynne ouȝt of~ his, Þow tel þ{er}of~ lytel prys; 676 And yf~ he wynne ouȝt of~ þyn~, loke þow leue it with hym~; So þ{o}u shalt, al w{i}t{h} gynne, Þe porters loue forsoth wynne, 680 Þ{a}t he þe help on þis day: But he þe help{e}, no man may.

Þeȝ þu biwi{n}ne oȝt of his, Hold hit of wel litel pris. If he biwi{n}neþ oȝt of þe, Ȝif hi{m} of þine suche þre. 352 Muche he wule þonki þe And of þe suþe iwu{n}dred beo, For he is suþe couet{us}, And at þescheker enuius. 356

[Headnote: _Details of the plan._]

[Sidenote: Manage him so as to secure an invitation for the morrow.]

[Sidenote: [106 _b_]] Wel ȝerne he wyl þe bydde and p{ra}y Com{e} anoþer day to playe: 684 Þ{o}u shalt seye þ{o}u wylt soo; Þ{o}u shalt take w{i}t{h} þe suche twoo;

Ȝerne he wile þe bidde {and} p{re}ie Þ{a}t þu come amoreȝe {and} pleie. G{ra}nte hi{m} þ{a}t þu wilt so, And tak mid amoreȝe suche two. 360

[_No gap in MS._] Þe þrydde day take an hundred pound~,

And wel þi nedes for to do Þ{a}t þridde day þu wend hi{m} to, And ber wiþ þe forti pund,

[Sidenote: Show him your cup, and he will be greedy for it.]

And þy Coupe hool and sound~: 688 Ȝeue him markes & pound{es} of þy male; Of~ þy tresour tel þ{o}u no tale; Wel ȝerne he wyl þe bydde and p{ra}y To lay þy Coupe, and to play. 692 Þ{o}u shalt answere alþ{er}first, Lenger to play þe ne lyst. Ful muche he wylle for þe Coupe bede, Ȝif~ he myȝt þe better spede; 696

And þine cupe hol {and} sund. 364 Wha{n}ne þu lest lest him þe cupe iseo, Wel angussus he wile beo. He wile beo wel coveitus, And hire to bigge suþe fus. 368 Muchel he þe wule beode If him miȝte þe bet{er}e spede. Ihc wot he wille þilke day Hon{ur}e þe so muche so he may. 372

[Sidenote: At length give him the cup.]

Þ{o}u shalt it blethly ȝeue him Ȝif it be of~ gold fyne; And he wol ful moche loue þe, And to þe bowe also, p{ar}de, 700

He wule þe lede to his i{n}ne Þe cupe of þe to biwi{n}ne. Ȝerne he wule þe bidde and p{re}ie Þ{a}t þu legge þe cupe to pleie. 376 Þu hi{m} ansuere atte furste, Þ{a}t no leng pleie þe ne luste. Ansuere hi{m} wel he{n}deliche, ‘Þin beo þe cupe,’ seie bluþeliche. 380 For his gode co{m}paygnie A wu{n}ne he haþ þi druerie.

[_No gap in MS._]

Ihc wot þ{a}t he mai alrebest Of þine neode helpe þe mest. 384 Þu miȝt segge, ‘þe ne faileþ non Gold ne selu{er} ne riche won.’ Seie þu wilt p{ar}te wiþ him of þan, Þ{a}t he schal eure beo riche man. 388 Whanne he hereþ þe speke so richeliche, And ansuerie so hendeliche, Þa{n}ne he wile beo wel bliþe, And bigi{n}ne to luuie þe suiþe, 392

[Sidenote: Promise him unlimited gold and silver if he will aid you. He will then fall at your feet and be your man.]

Þat he wyl falle to þy foote, And become þyn~, ȝif~ he moote. And homage þ{o}u shalt fonge, And þe trouþ of his honde.” 704

And falle he wile to þi fote, And bicome þi man, if he mote. His ma{n}rede þu schalt fonge, And his truþe of his ho{n}de, 396 Þ{a}t he þe bere al þe helde Þ{a}t man schal to his lou{er}d ȝelde. And þus þureȝ þe cupe and his gi{n}ne Þu miȝt þi le{m}man best awi{n}ne. 400 Þa{n}ne þu miȝt beon iknewe, And þi cu{n}sail to hi{m} schewe.”

[Headnote: _By this plan Floris wins over the ‘porter.’_]

As he seide, he dide ywys; And as he ordeynd, so it is: Þe Porter ys Florys man bycom{e}, For his gold~ and his waryson{e}. 708

And alþus floris hath iwroȝt, As daris hi{m} haþ itaȝt. 404 Ac þureþ (_sic_) þe cupe {and} þureȝ g{er}sume, Þe port{er} is his man bicume.

[Sidenote: Then reveal to him your wishes.]

Florys seide, “now art þ{o}u my moon~, Al my trust is þe vppon~; Now my consel y wyl þe shewe; Rede me ryȝt, ȝif~ þ{o}u be trew.” 712

¶ Nu quaþ floriz, “þu art mi man; Al mi trest is þe vpon. 408 Þ{er}uore þu most me helpe nede; Biþute þe ne mai me spede.”

[Sidenote: Floris acts as advised, and discloses his identity.]

Now eu{er}y word he haþ him tolde, How þe mayde was fro him sholde, And how he was of~ Spayn~ a kynges soon~, For grete loue þeder ycoom~ 716 To fonden, w{i}t{h} som{e} gynne, Þat feire mayde for to wynne.