[Footnote FB-1: first ‘mey,’ then alterd]
[Sidenote: Floris says that he cannot learn unless Blauncheflur is with him.]
“Ne schal not Blancheflo{ ur} lerne w{ i}t{ h} me? Ne can y noȝt to scole goon{ e} W{ i}t{ h}-out Blanchefloure,” he seide þan{ e}. 20 “Ne can y in no scole syng~ ne rede W{ i}t{ h}-out Blancheflo{ ur},” he seide. Þe king~ seide to his soon{ e}, “She shal lerne for þy loue.” 24
[Sidenote: The two are put to school together, and make good progress.]
To scole þey were put; Boþ þey were good of~ wytte. Wonder it was of~ hur lore, And of~ her loue wel þe more. 28 Þe Children louyd to-geder soo, Þey myȝt neu{ er} p{ ar}te a twoo. When þey had .v. ȝere to scoole goon{ e} So wel þey had lerned þoo, 32 Inowȝ þey couþ of latyne, And wel wryte on p{ ar}chemyn{ e}. Þe kyng~ vnderstod þe grete Amoure Bytwene his son{ e} and Blanchefloure, 36 And þouȝt when þey were of Age Þat her loue wolde noȝt swage; Nor he myȝt noȝt her loue w{ i}t{ h}drawe When Florys shuld~ wyfe after þe lawe. 40 [Sidenote: [98 _b_]] Þe king~ to þe Queene seide þoo, And tolde hur of~ his woo, Off~ his þouȝt and of his care, How it wolde of~ Floreys fare. 44
[Sidenote: The king begins to devise to separate the two, and proposes to put the maiden to death.]
“Dame,” he seide, “y tel þe my reed{ e}, I wyl þat Blaunchefloure be do to deed{ e}. When þat maide is y-slawe, And brouȝt of her lyf~ dawe, 48 As sone as Florys may it vnder ȝete, Rathe he wylle hur forȝete. Þan may he wyfe after reed{ e}.” Þe Queene answerde þen and seid{ e}, 52 And þouȝt w{ i}t{ h} hur reed{ e} Saue þe mayde fro þe deed{ e}. “Sir,” she seide, “we auȝt to fond{ e} Þat Florens lyf~ wit menske in lond{ e}, 56 And þat he lese not his hono{ u}r For þe mayden Blauncheflo{ u}r. Who so myȝt þat mayde clene, Þat she were brouȝt to deþ bydene, 60 Hit were muche more hono{ u}r Þan slee þ{ a}t mayde Blancheflo{ u}r.” Vnneþes þe king~ g[{ r}a]unt þ{ a}t it be soo. “Dame, rede vs what is to doo.” 64
[Headnote: _Floris is sent to Mountargis to school._]
[Sidenote: The queen suggests that Floris be sent away.]
“Sir, we shul oure soon{ e} Florys Sende into þe londe of Mountargis. Blythe wyl my suster be Þat is lady of~ þat Contree. 68 And when she woot for whoom~ Þ{ a}t we have sent him vs froom~, She wyl doo al hur myȝt, Boþ by day and by nyȝt, 72 To make hur loue so vndoo As it had neu{ er} ben soo. And, s{ ir},” she seide, “y rede eke Þat þe maydens moder make hur seek~. 76 Þat may be þat other resoun~ For þat ylk~ enchesou{ n}, Þat she may not fro hur moder goo.” Now ben þese Children swyþ woo, 80 [Sidenote: [99 _a_]] Now þey may not goo in fere Drewryer þinges neu{ er} noon{ e} were. Florys wept byfore þe kyng~, And seide, “S{ ir}, w{ i}t{ h}-out lesyng~, 84 For my harme out ȝe me sende, Now she ne myȝt w{ i}t{ h} me wende. Now we ne mot to-geder goo, Al my wele is turned to woo.” 88 Þe king~ seide to his soon{ e} aplyȝt, “Sone, w{ i}t{ h}ynne þis fourtenyȝt, Be her moder quykke or deed{ e},” “Sekerly,” he him seide, 92 “Þat mayde shal com{ e} þe too.”