[Sidenote: He attempts to stab himself with a knife, but is prevented by his mother.]
His knyf~ he braide out of his sheth; Him self he wolde haue doo to deth. And to hert he had it smeten{ e} Ne had his moder it vnder ȝeten{ e}. 292 Þen þe Queene fel him vppon{ e}, And þe knyf~ fro him noom{ e}. She reft~ him of~ his lytel knyf~, And sauyd þere þe Childes lyf~. 296 Forþ þe Queene ranne, al wepyng~, Tyl she com{ e} to þe kyng~.
Ase a mo{ n} þat draȝh him sulue to þe deþe, His knif he draȝh out of his scheþe, 108 { and} to his herte hit wolde habbe ismite, Nadde his moder hit vnder gete. Ac þe quene his moder . . fel vpon, & þis knif heo him binom. 112 Heo bi nom him his atel knif. [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back, col. 2_]] Þat heo com bi . . . . . . .
[Headnote: _The queen discloses to Floris the deception._]
[Sidenote: The queen persuades the king to reveal the truth.]
Þan seide þe good lady, “For goddes loue, s{ ir}, mercy! 300 Of .xii. children haue we noon{ e} On lyue now but þis oon{ e}. And better it were she were his make, Þan he were deed for hur sake.” 304
Þanne spac þe quene þe . . { and} seyde to þe kinge, “sire, mercy, 116 Sire, of þis children nabbe we non, Non aliue bote þis on, { and} bote hit were þ{ a}t hit wer . . Þane eyþer deȝede vor oþer . . . 120
“Dame, þ{ o}u seist soþ,” seide he; “Sen it may noon{ e} other be, Leuer me were she were his wyf~, Þan y lost my sonnes lyf~.” 308 Of~ þis word þe Quene was fayn{ e}, And to her soon{ e} she ran agayn{ e}.
“Dame, þou seist soþ,” þo seyde he, “Nu hit nele no{ n} oþer bee. Leuere me were þ{ a}t heo were Þane ihc for lore mine sone l[yf].” 124 Of þisse wordes þe quene w . . To floyres, hire sone, . . .
[Sidenote: They tell him the facts, and together open the grave and find it empty.]
“Floryes, soon{ e}, glad make the, Þy lef þ{ o}u schalt on lyue see. 312 Florys, son{ e}, þrouȝ engynne Of~ þy Faders reed and myne, Þis graue let we make, Leue son{ e}, for þy sake. 316 Ȝif~ þ{ o}u þ{ a}t maide forgete woldest, After oure reed wyf~ þ{ o}u sholdest.”
“Floyres, sone, glad make þe . For ut þou schalt þi lef . . 128 Leue sone . . . . . . . . . . . fader rede { and} . . . . . . . wo . . . Leue sone so . . . . . . 132 Vor [_two lines illegible here_] . . . . . vre rede . . .