THEY CAN FEED ON THE SIGHT OF FLOWERS.
19
476Þere as lem is of loft · & lisse to gode;
We observe the sun and the seven stars, Þe sonne set in his cours · & þe seue sterres,
And alle þat seggeus mowe sen · siþen on þe skiuus,
Þat to hure schappere hem schewen · schining rede,
480& siþen liht fro þe loft · to þe land caste.
Þe side se we mow sen · set vp-on erþe,
Þat in kinde colour · a-cordeþ to purpre;
But whan þe watur wiþ þe wind · þe wawus vp casteþ,
484& þouh hit turne any time · to tempest of windus
which has no waves. Hit ne a wecheþ no wawe · nor no watur rereth,
As hit amongus ȝou men · is many tiime founde
488 Þat stiue stormus of þe wind haþ · his hugeste blastus,
Þe clere watur he bi-clipth · & closeþ hit inne.
Þer-inne soþli we sen · selcouþe kindus
Of þe fletinge fihs · þat in þe fom lepen.
492We see therein dolphins and other fish. Þere maken dolfinus dine · & diuerce fihches,
Þat þere swimmen ful swiþe · & swangen aboute.
We han mirthe ful miche · in medus & feldus,
Þere faire placus & plain · han plente of flourus,
496We can feed on the scent of flowers Þat sote sauouron til us; · & wiþ þe siht clene
We ben as fulsom i-founde · as þouȝ we fed were.
Vs is likful and lef · in landus to walke,
Þere won walloþ of watur · in þe well-springus.
500 We love the woods, Miche wilne we wende · in þe wodus thikke,
For to rom vndur ris · þat rig is of leuus;
Þere we mowe graspen on þe grene · & gret ioie here
and the songs of the birds. Of brem briddene song · [in] þe braunchus a-lofte.
504Þis is oure costom of kinde · þat we kyþen alle,
& deliten in no dede · þat doþ men to sinne.
These are our customs. Sire emperour alixandre · þis arn oure lawes,
We observe the sun and the seven stars, Þe sonne set in his cours · & þe seue sterres,
And alle þat seggeus mowe sen · siþen on þe skiuus,
Þat to hure schappere hem schewen · schining rede,
480& siþen liht fro þe loft · to þe land caste.
Þe side se we mow sen · set vp-on erþe,
Þat in kinde colour · a-cordeþ to purpre;
But whan þe watur wiþ þe wind · þe wawus vp casteþ,
484& þouh hit turne any time · to tempest of windus
which has no waves. Hit ne a wecheþ no wawe · nor no watur rereth,
As hit amongus ȝou men · is many tiime founde
488 Þat stiue stormus of þe wind haþ · his hugeste blastus,
Þe clere watur he bi-clipth · & closeþ hit inne.
Þer-inne soþli we sen · selcouþe kindus
Of þe fletinge fihs · þat in þe fom lepen.
492We see therein dolphins and other fish. Þere maken dolfinus dine · & diuerce fihches,
Þat þere swimmen ful swiþe · & swangen aboute.
We han mirthe ful miche · in medus & feldus,
Þere faire placus & plain · han plente of flourus,
496We can feed on the scent of flowers Þat sote sauouron til us; · & wiþ þe siht clene
We ben as fulsom i-founde · as þouȝ we fed were.
Vs is likful and lef · in landus to walke,
Þere won walloþ of watur · in þe well-springus.
500 We love the woods, Miche wilne we wende · in þe wodus thikke,
For to rom vndur ris · þat rig is of leuus;
Þere we mowe graspen on þe grene · & gret ioie here
and the songs of the birds. Of brem briddene song · [in] þe braunchus a-lofte.
504Þis is oure costom of kinde · þat we kyþen alle,
& deliten in no dede · þat doþ men to sinne.
These are our customs. Sire emperour alixandre · þis arn oure lawes,
splendet et calet. Mare purpureum semper videmus; Et quando tempestate mouetur non dissipat vicinam terram, sicut accidit in partibus vestris. Illud vt sororem amplectimur et congirat (sic), et ibi varia genera piscium contemplamur. Delectamur etiam videre florigeros campos ex quibus in nostros nares suauissimus odor intrat. Delectamur etiam in optimis locis siluarum et fontium in quibus iocundissimas
