. . . . . beþ in þan . . Foure {and} fourti . . . . . [Þ]at wel were þ{a}t ilke . . . . . Mihte wonie . . . . . [_About twenty lines illegible here._] Naw arn~ þer Seriauntes in þ{a}t stage Þ{a}t s{er}uen þe maydons of hyȝe p{ar}age; But no s{er}ieaunt may s{er}ue þ{er}ynne Þ{a}t bereþ in his breche þat gynne 592 To s{er}ue hem day and nyȝt, But he be as a Capou{n} dyȝt. At þe gate is a ȝateward~; He is not a Coward~; 596 He is wonder proude w{i}t{h} alle; Eu{er}y day he goþ in ryche palle. Þ{er} buþ seriau{n}s in þe stage Þ{a}t s{er}ueþ þe maidenes of p{ar}age. 256 Ac ne mot þ{er} no{n} ben inne Þ{a}t one þe breche bereþ þe ginne, Noþ{er} bi daie ne biniȝt, Bute he also capun beo idiȝt. 260 [Sidenote: The Admiral takes a new wife each year.] And þe Amyral haþ a wonder woon~, Þ{a}t he þ{a}t is com{e} of cristendom{e}, 600 Euery ȝere to haue a new wyf~, Þen he loueþ his Queene as his lyf~. And þe Admiral is such a gume, In al þe world nis such a sune. Ne bu his wife neure so schene, Bute o ȝer ne schal heo beon his q{ue}ne. 264 Þeȝ heo luue him ase hire lif, Þ{a}t he nele habbe anoþ{er} wif. And, floriz, imai þe telle fore, Heo schal beon his quene icore. 268 Neuer . . [_leaf 7, back, col. 2_] To chesen hire . . . . . . Þeyȝ he louede is quene . . . [Headnote: _Description of the wonderful orchard._] [Sidenote: The maidens are brought down into a beautiful orchard in which is a marvellous spring and a wonderful tree.] [Sidenote: [105 _b_]] Then shul men bryng{e} doun~ of þe Toure Al þe Maidens of grete honour, 604 And bryng{e} hem into an Orchard~, Þe feirest of al mydlerd~: Þeryn is mony fowles song~; Men myȝt leue þ{er}yn ful long~: 608 About þe Orchard is a walle,-- Þe fowlest stone is Cristall{e},-- Alle þe maidenes of p{ar}age Me schal bringe adu{n} of þe stage, And leden he{m} in to on orchard, Þe faireste of al þe Middellerd. 272 Abute þe orchard is a wal; Þe eþelikeste ston is cristal. Ho so wonede a moneþ in þ{a}t spray, Nolde him neure longe{n} away. 276 So m{er}ie is þ{er}i{n}ne þe foȝeles song, Þ{a}t ioie {and} blisse is eure among. Me schul fecche adoun of þe . . Alle þe maydenes of parage. {and} bringe hem in on orcharde Þe fayreste of þe middel[erd]. Þer is fowelene song Ne mihte wel libbe hem a[mong] Abute þan orchard is a wa[l] . Su{m}me of þe stones be . . . Þ{er} me may ise uppon a . . . I write muchel of þe w . . .