Axynge, howe he myght destroy«e» the xij peres, That Mahounde gife hem myschaunce. Thay cowde no more ther-on̄, But late saile ayen̄ the toure. 2460 Witħ xx^{ti} thousande thai gan̄ gon̄, And bigo«n»ne a newe shoure A new assault begins, To breke down̄ the Walles, With mattok«es» and witħ pike, 2464 but the ditches Tille iiij hundred of hem alle are filled with Lay slayne in the dike. assailants, who were So stronge was the cast of stoone. slain by the showers The Saresyns drewe hem̄ abakke, 2468 of stones hurled down Tille it was at hye none; by the peers. The Tho go«n»ne thay ayen̄ to shake. Saracens retire. A Tho fayled hem cast, þat were w«i»t«h»-inne; second attack ensues. Tho cowde thai no rede, 2472 There being no stones, For stoone was ther noone to wy«n»ne. Tho were thay in grete drede. Than saide Florip, “beitħ not dismayde! Ye shalle be holpe anoon̄. 2476 Floripas gave Here is syluer vessel and now,”[165] she sayde, them her father’s “That shulle ye prove goode woon̄.” silver and gold to She set it forth, thay caste oute faste cast amongst the Alle that came to honde. 2480 assailants. [leaf 62] Off siluer and goolde vessel thay made waste That wast[166] down̄ vppon̄ the sonde. Whan̄ thai saugħ that roial sight, Thai leften alle here dede; 2484 And for the tresoure thay do fight, Who so myghte it awey lede. The soudan in alarm Tho the Sowdon̄ wexe nere wode, for his treasure Seinge this tresoure thus dispoyle[d+], 2488 gives up the assault. That was to him so dere and goode Laye in the dike thus defoule[d+]. He bade that thai shulde leue [p072 THE SOUDAN ASKS HIS GODS’ FORGIVENESS.]