IX.

Gaily was the knight attired. Wel gay wat3 þis gome gered in grene, 180 & þe here of his hed of his hors swete; Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes; His great beard, like a bush, hung on his breast. A much berd as¹ a busk ouer his brest henges, Þat wyth his hi3lich here, þat of his hed reches, 184 Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes, Þat half his armes þer vnder were halched in þe wyse Of a kynge3 capados, þat closes his swyre. The horse's mane was decked with golden threads. Þe mane of þat mayn hors much to hit lyke, 188 Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony, Folden in wyth fildore aboute þe fayre grene, Ay a herle of þe here, an oþer of golde; Its tail was bound with a green band. Þe tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute, 192 & bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bry3t grene, Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as þe dok lasted, Syþen þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte, Þer mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen. Such a foal nor a knight were never before seen. 196 Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke þat hym rydes, Wat3 neuer sene in þat sale wyth sy3t er þat tyme, with y3e; He loked as layt so ly3t, 200 So sayd al þat hym sy3e, It seemed that no man might endure his dints. Hit semed as no mon my3t, Vnder his dyntte3 dry3e. ¹ as as, in MS.