For thilke spouse, that she took but now
Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth here,
As meke as ever was any lamb, to yow!’
And with that worde, anon ther gan appere 200
An old man, clad in whyte clothes clere,
That hadde a book with lettre of golde in honde,
And gan biforn Valerian to stonde.
197. E. Hl. right; _rest_ but. 203. E. bifore; Hl. to-forn; _rest_
biforn, biforne, beforne.
Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
Whan he him saugh, and he up hente him tho, 205
And on his book right thus he gan to rede—
[516: T. 15675-15706.]
‘Oo Lord, oo feith, oo god with-outen mo,
Oo Cristendom, and fader of alle also,
Aboven alle and over al everywhere’—
Thise wordes al with gold y-writen were. 210