'Lo! lorde,' quo� �e leude, and �e lace hondeled,
'�is is �e bende of �is blame I bere in my nek,
�is is �e la�e and �e losse �at I lat haue
Of couardise and couetyse �at I haf cat �are;
�is is �e token of vntraw�e �at I am tan inne,
And I mot nedez hit were wyle I may last;
For mon may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit,
For �er hit onez is tachched twynne wil hit neuer.'
�e kyng comfortez �e knyt, and alle �e court als
Laen loude �erat, and luflyly acorden
�at lordes and ladis �at longed to �e Table,
Vche burne of �e bro�erhede, a bauderyk schulde haue,
A bende abelef hym aboute of a bryt grene,
And �at, for sake of �at segge, in swete to were.
For �at watz acorded �e renoun of �e Rounde Table,
And he honoured �at hit hade euermore after,
As hit is breued in �e best boke of romaunce.
�us in Arthurus day �is aunter bitidde,
�e Brutus bokez �erof beres wyttenesse;
Syphen Brutus, �e bolde burne, boed hider fyrst,
After �e segge and �e asaute watz sesed at Troye,
iwysse,
Mony aunterez here-biforne
Haf fallen suche er �is.
Now �at here �e croun of �orne,
He bryng vus to his blysse! AMEN.
HONY SOYT QUI MAL PENCE.