The vertu of the ring, if ye wol here,
Is this; that, if hir lust it for to were
Up-on hir thombe, or in hir purs it bere, (140)
Ther is no foul that fleeth under the hevene
That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene, 150
And knowe his mening openly and pleyn,
And answere him in his langage ageyn.
And every gras that groweth up-on rote
She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do bote,
Al be his woundes never so depe and wyde. 155
This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde,
Swich vertu hath, that what man so ye smyte,
Thurgh-out his armure it wol kerve and byte, (150)
Were it as thikke as is a branched ook;
And what man that is wounded with the strook 160
Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace,
To stroke him with the platte in thilke place
Ther he is hurt: this is as muche to seyn,
Ye mote with the platte swerd ageyn
Stroke him in the wounde, and it wol close; 165
This is a verray sooth, with-outen glose,
[466: T. 10481-10516.]
It failleth nat whyl it is in your hold.’
158. E. wol hym; _rest omit_ hym. 160. E. a; Cm. that; _rest_ the.
162. Hn. platte; _rest_ plat (see 164). E. Cm. that; _rest_ thilke.
164. E. Cm. Pt. plat; _rest_ platte. 165. E. Cm. Strike; _rest_
Stroke.
And whan this knight hath thus his tale told, (160)
He rydeth out of halle, and doun he lighte.
His stede, which that shoon as sonne brighte, 170
Stant in the court, as stille as any stoon.
This knight is to his chambre lad anon,
And is unarmed and to mete y-set.