VIII.

[Fol. 120.] Then he pursues his journey, 2160 Thenne gyrde3 he to Gryngolet, & gedere3 þe rake, Schowue3 in bi a schore, at a scha3e syde, rides through the dale, and looks about. Ride3 þur3 þe ro3e bonk, ry3t to þe dale; & þenne he wayted hym aboute, & wylde hit hym þo3t, He sees no sign of a resting-place, but only high and steep banks. 2164 & se3e no syngne of resette, bisyde3 nowhere, Bot hy3e bonkke3 & brent, vpon boþe halue, & ru3e knokled knarre3, with knorned stone3; Þe skwe3 of þe scowtes skayued¹ hym þo3t. 2168 Þenne he houed, & wyth-hylde his hors at þat tyde, & ofte chaunged his cher, þe chapel to seche; No chapel could he discern. He se3 non suche in no syde, & selly hym þo3t, Sone a lyttel on a launde, a lawe as hit we[re]; At last he sees a hill by the side of a stream; 2172 A bal3 ber3, bi a bonke, þe brymme by-syde, Bi a for3 of a flode, þat ferked þare; Þe borne blubred þer-inne, as hit boyled hade. thither he goes, Þe kny3t kache3 his caple, & com to þe lawe, alights and fastens his horse to a branch of a tree. 2176 Li3te3 doun luflyly, & at a lynde tache3 Þe rayne, & his riche, with a ro3e braunche; He walks around the hill, debating with himself what it might be, Þen[n]e he bo3e3 to þe ber3e, aboute hit he walke, D[e]batande with hym-self, quat hit be my3t. 2180 Hit hade a hole on þe ende, & on ayþer syde, & ouer-growen with gresse in glodes ay where, & al wat3 hol3 in-with, nobot an olde caue, and at last finds an old cave in the crag. Or a creuisse of an olde cragge, he couþe hit no3t deme 2184 with spelle, "We,² lorde," quod þe gentyle kny3t, "Wheþer þis be þe grene chapelle; He prays that about midnight he may tell his matins. He my3t aboute myd-ny3t, 2188 [Þ]e dele his matynnes telle!" ¹ skayned (?). ² wel (?).