Chapter VII

[A] Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more,
For vch wyȝe may wel wit no wont þat þer were;
132 [B] An oþer noyse ful newe ne3ed biliue,
Þat þe lude my3t haf leue lif-lode to cach.
For vneþe wat3 þe noyce not a whyle sesed,
& þe fyrst cource in þe court kyndely serued,
136 [C] Þer hales in at þe halle dor an aghlich mayster,
On þe most on þe molde on mesure hyghe;
Fro þe swyre to þe swange so sware & so þik,
[D] & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete,
140 Half etayn in erde I hope þat he were. [Fol. 93.]
[E] Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene,
& þat þe myriest in his muckel þat my3t ride;
[F] For of bak & of brest al were his bodi sturne,
144 [G] Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale,
& alle his fetures fol3ande, in forme þat he hade,
ful clene;
For wonder of his hwe men hade,
148 Set in his semblaunt sene;
He ferde as freke were fade,
& ouer-al enker grene.

[Sidenote A: There was no want of anything.] [Sidenote B: Scarcely had the first course commenced,] [Sidenote C: when there rushes in at the hall-door a knight;] [Sidenote D: the tallest on earth] [Sidenote E: he must have been.] [Sidenote F: His back and breast were great,] [Sidenote G: but his belly and waist were small.]