Sayes, "Christ thee save, thou proud porter," 175 Sayes, "Christ thee save and see:" "Nowe you be welcome," sayd the porter, "Of what land soever ye bee." "We been harpers," sayd Adler yonge, "Come out of the northe countree; 180 We beene come hither untill this place, This proud weddinge for to see." Sayd, "And your color were white and redd, As it is blacke and browne, Ild saye king Estmere and his brother 185 Were comen untill this towne." Then they pulled out a ryng of gold,[L187] Layd itt on the porters arme: "And ever we will thee, proud porter, Thow wilt saye us no harme." 190 Sore he looked on kyng Estmere, And sore he handled the ryng, Then opened to them the fayre hall yates, He lett for no kind of thyng. Kyng Estmere he light off his steede, 195 Up att the fayre hall board; The frothe that came from his brydle bitte Light on kyng Bremors beard. Sayes, "Stable thy steede, thou proud harper, Go stable him in the stalle; 200 Itt doth not beseeme a proud harper To stable him in a kyngs halle." "My ladd he is so lither," he sayd, "He will do nought that's meete; And aye that I cold but find the man, 205 Were able him to beate." "Thou speakst proud words," sayd the paynim king, "Thou harper, here to mee; There is a man within this halle, That will beate thy lad and thee." 210 "O lett that man come downe," he sayd, "A sight of him wold I see; And whan hee hath beaten well my ladd, Then he shall beate of mee." Downe then came the kemperye man, 215 And looked him in the eare; For all the gold that was under heaven, He durst not neigh him neare. "And how nowe, kempe," sayd the kyng of Spayne, "And how what aileth thee?" 220 He sayes, "Itt is written in his forhead, All and in gramarye, That for all the gold that is under heaven, I dare not neigh him nye." Kyng Estmere then pulled forth his harpe, 225 And played thereon so sweete: Upstarte the ladye from the kynge, As hee sate at the meate. "Now stay thy harpe, thou proud harper, Now stay thy harpe, I say; 230 For an thou playest as thou beginnest, Thou'lt till my bride awaye." He strucke upon his harpe agayne, And playd both fayre and free; The ladye was so pleasde theratt, 235 She laught loud laughters three.