I

Syr Gawayn and the Grene Knyȝt.

[Fytte the First.]

Siþen þe sege & þe assaut watȝ sesed at Troye,

Þe borȝ brittened & brent to brondeȝ & askeȝ,

Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt,

Watȝ tried for his tricherie, þe trewest on erthe;

Hit watȝ Ennias þe athel, & his highe kynde,

Þat siþen depreced prouinces, & patrounes bicome

Welneȝe of al þe wele in þe west iles,

Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swyþe,

With gret bobbaunce þat burȝe he biges vpon fyrst,

& neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat;

Ticius to Tuskan [turnes,] & teldes bigynnes;

Langaberde in Lumbardie lyftes vp homes;

& fer ouer þe French flod Felix Brutus

On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he setteȝ,

wyth wynne;
Where werre, & wrake, & wonder,
Bi syþeȝ hatȝ wont þer-inne,
& oft boþe blysse & blunder
Ful skete hatȝ skyfted synne.