(43)

Torrent the letter be-gan⁾ to Red, 480

The kyng lestyned & nere yed,

Ase he yt nevyr ad sene.

‘Syr,’ he seyd, ‘what may thys be,

Loo, lord, come ner⁾ and see,

A-bowght a facon⁾ schene? 485

I ne wot, so god me sped,

In what lond that they bred.’

The kyng answerd: ‘I wene,

from the Forest of Magdalen.

In the forrest of Mavdeleyn⁾,

Ther be hawkes, ase I herd seyne, 490

That byn of lenage clen⁾.’

482. syne MS.

487. that] so F. I; om. MS.
they] ne add. (!) MS.

489. Mavd.] so F. I; Mavdlen MS.

491. clen⁾] gene MS.