e
corbeles
fee ?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
"]
[Sidenote E: The knight answers the lady's questions. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. ? at ? at. ]
[Footnote 2: louie or loune (? ). ]
VI.
[A] "Madame," quod ? e myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde,
1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,
& o? er ful much of o? er folk fongen hor dede3;
Bot ? e daynte ? at ? ay delen for my disert nysen,
Hit is ? e worchyp of your-self, ? at no3t hot wel conne3. "
1268 [B] "Bi Mary," quod ? e menskful, "me ? ynk hit ano? er;
For were I worth al ? e wone of wymmen alyue,
& al ? e wele of ? e worlde were in my honde,
[C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,
1272 For ? e costes ? at I haf knowen vpun ? e kny3t here,
Of bewte, & debonerte, & bly? e semblaunt,
[D] & ? at I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,
? er schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen. "
1276 "I-wysse, wor? y," quod ? e wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better,
[E] Bot I am proude of ? e prys ? at 3e put on me,
& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,
& yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde. "
1280 ? us ? ay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,
& ay ? e lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych;
[F] ? e freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.
? a3 I were burde bry3test, ? e burde in mynde hade,
1284 ? e lasse luf in his lode, for lur ? at he so3t,
boute hone;
? e dunte ? at schulde[2] hym deue,
& nede3 hit most be done;
1288 [G] ? e lady ? enn spek of leue.
He granted hir ful sone.
[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that
of all others. ]
[Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,]
[Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,]
[Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and
faithful servant. ]
[Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of
love. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne. ]
[Footnote 1: and (? )]
[Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS. ]
VII.
[A] ? enne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed.
& as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3:
1292 [B] "Now he ? at spede3 vche spech, ? is disport 3elde yow!
Bot ? at 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde. "
"Quer-fore? " quod ? e freke, & freschly he aske3,
Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;
1296 Bot ? e burde hym blessed, & bi ? is skyl sayde,
"So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden, [Fol. 108b. ]
& cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,
[C] Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,
1300 Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,
Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende. "
[D] ? en quod Wowen, "I-wysse, wor? e as yow lyke3,
I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3,
1304 & fire[1] lest he displese yow, so[2] plede hit no more. "
[E] Ho comes nerre with ? at, & cache3 hym in arme3,
Loute3 luflych adoun, & ? e leude kysse3;
? ay comly bykennen to Kryst ay? er o? er;
1308 Ho dos hir forth at ? e dore, with-outen dyn more.
& he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,
[F] Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,
Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, bly? ely to masse,
1312 & ? enne he meued to his mete, ? at menskly hym keped,
[G] & made myry al day til ? e mone rysed,
with game;
With[3] neuer freke fayrer fonge,
1316 [H] Bitwene two so dyngne dame,
? e alder & ? e 3onge,
Much solace set ? ay same.
[Sidenote A: With a laughing glance, she says,]
[Sidenote B: "I am doubtful whether ye be Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote C: Were it he, surely, ere this, he would have craved a kiss. "]
[Sidenote D: "I shall kiss," says the knight, "at your commandment. "]
[Sidenote E: With that the lady catches him in her arms and kisses him. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne then rises and goes to mass. ]
[Sidenote G: He makes mirth all day till the moon rises,]
[Sidenote H: between the "two dames," the older and the younger. ]
[Footnote 1: fere (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: fo, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: Was (? ) Nas (? ). ]
VIII.
[A] And ay ? e lorde of ? e londe is lent on his gamne3,
1320 To hunt in holte3 & he? e, at hynde3 barayne,
Such a sowme he ? er slowe bi ? at ? e sunne heldet,
Of dos & of o? er dere, to deme were wonder.
? enne fersly ? ay flokked in folk at ? e laste,
1324 [B] & quykly of ? e quelled dere a querre ? ay maked;
? e best bo3ed ? erto, with burne3 in-noghe,
[C] Gedered ? e grattest of gres ? at ? er were,
& didden hem derely vndo, as ? e dede aske3;
1328 [D] Serched hem at ? e asay, summe ? at ? er were,
Two fyngeres ? ay fonde of ? e fowlest of alle;
[E] Sy? en ? ay slyt ? e slot, sesed ? e erber,
[F] Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, & ? e schyre knitten;
1332 Sy? en rytte ? ay ? e foure lymmes, & rent of ? e hyde,
[G] ? en brek ? ay ? e bale, ? e bale3 out token,
[H] Lystily forlancyng, & bere of ? e knot; [Fol. 109. ]
? ay gryped to ? e gargulun, & gray? ely departed
1336 [I] ? e wesaunt fro ? e wynt-hole, & walt out ? e gutte3;
? en scher ? ay out ? e schuldere3 with her scharp knyue3,
[J] Haled hem by a lyttel hole, to haue hole sydes;
Si? en britned ? ay ? e brest, & brayden hit in twynne,
1340 & eft at ? e gargulun bigyne3 on ? enne,
[K] Ryue3 hit vp radly, ry3t to ? e by3t,
Voyde3 out ? e a-vanters, & verayly ? erafter
Alle ? e ryme3 by ? e rybbe3 radly ? ay lance;
1344 So ryde ? ay of by resoun bi ? e rygge bone3,
Euenden to ? e haunche, ? at henged alle samen,
& heuen hit vp al hole, & hwen hit of ? ere,
& ? at ? ayneme for ? e noumbles, bi nome as I trowe,
1348 bi kynde;
[L] Bi ? e by3t al of ? e ? y3es,
? e lappe3 ? ay lance bi-hynde,
[M] To hewe hit in two ? ay hy3es,
1352 Bi ? e bak-bon to vnbynde.
[Sidenote A: Meanwhile the lord of the land and his men hunt in woods and
heaths. ]
[Sidenote B: Quickly of the killed a "quarry" they make. ]
[Sidenote C: Then they set about breaking the deer. ]
[Sidenote D: They take away the assay or fat,]
[Sidenote E: then they slit the slot and remove the erber. ]
[Sidenote F: They afterwards rip the four limbs and rend off the hide. ]
[Sidenote G: They next open the belly]
[Sidenote H: and take out the bowels. ]
[Sidenote I: They then separate the weasand from the windhole and throw out
the guts. ]
[Sidenote J: The shoulders are cut out, and the breast divided into
halves. ]
[Sidenote K: The numbles are next removed. ]
[Sidenote L: By the fork of the thighs,]
[Sidenote M: the flaps are hewn in two by the backbone. ]
IX.
[A] Bo? e ? e hede & ? e hals ? ay hwen of ? enne,
& sy? en sunder ? ay ? e syde3 swyft fro ? e chyne,
& ?
e corbeles fee ? ay kest in a greue;[1]
1356 ? enn ? urled ? ay ay? er ? ik side ? ur3, bi ? e rybbe,
& henged ? enne a[y]? er bi ho3es of ? e fourche3,
Vche freke for his fee, as falle3 forto haue.
Vpon a felle of ? e fayre best, fede ? ay ? ayr houndes,
1360 [B] Wyth ? e lyuer & ? e ly3te3, ? e le? er of ? e paunche3,
& bred ba? ed in blod, blende ? er amonge3;
Baldely ? ay blw prys, bayed ? ayr rachche3,
[C] Sy? en fonge ? ay her flesche folden to home,
1364 Strakande ful stoutly mony stif mote3.
Bi ? at ? e dayly3t wat3 done, ? e douthe wat3 al wonen
In-to ? e comly castel, ? er ? e kny3t bide3
ful stille;
1368 Wyth blys & bry3t fyr bette,
? e lord is comen ? er-tylle,
[D] When Gawayn wyth hym mette,
? er wat3 bot wele at wylle.
[Sidenote A: After this the head and neck are cut off, and the sides
severed from the chine. ]
[Sidenote B: With the liver, lights and paunches, they feed the hounds. ]
[Sidenote C: Then they make for home. ]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne goes out to meet his host. ]
[Footnote 1: grene (? ). ]
X.
1372 [A] Thenne comaunded ? e lorde in ? at sale to samen alle ? e meny,[Fol. ]
Bo? e ? e ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes, [109b. ]
[B] Bi-fore alle ? e folk on ? e flette, freke3 he bedde3
Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
1376 [C] & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
Teche3 hym to ? e tayles of ful tayt bestes,
Schewe3 hym ? e schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
[D] "How paye3 yow ? is play? haf I prys wonnen?
1380 Haue I ? ryuandely ? onk ? ur3 my craft serued? "
"3e I-wysse," quod ? at o? er wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest
[E] ? at I se3 ? is seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter. "
"& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod ? e gome ? enne,
1384 "For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen. "
"? is is soth," quod ? e segge, "I say yow ? atilke,
&[1] I haf worthyly ? is wone3 wyth-inne,
[F] I-wysse with as god wylle hit wor? e3 to 3oure3. "
1388 He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne,
& kysses hym as comlyly as he[2] cou? e awyse:
"Tas yow ? ere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
I wowche hit saf fynly, ? a3 feler hit were. "
1392 "Hit is god," quod ? e god mon, "grant mercy ? erfore,
[G] Hit may be such, hit is ? e better, &[1] 3e me breue wolde
Where 3e wan ? is ilk wele, biwytte of hor[3] seluen? "
[H] "? at wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,
1396 For 3e haftan ? at yow tyde3, trawe3e non o? er
3e mowe. "
? ay la3ed, & made hem bly? e,
[I] Wyth lote3 ? at were to lowe,
1400 To soper ? ay 3ede asswy? e,
Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.
[Sidenote A: The lord commands all his household to assemble,]
[Sidenote B: and the venison to be brought before him. ]
[Sidenote C: He calls Gawayne,]
[Sidenote D: and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his
success in the chase. ]
[Sidenote E: On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take
the whole according to a former agreement between them. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return. ]
[Sidenote G: His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal. ]
[Sidenote H: As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to
his question. ]
[Sidenote I: They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and
enough. ]
[Footnote 1: And _n. ]
[Footnote 2: ho, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: your (? ). ]
XI.
[A] And sy? en by ? e chymne in chamber ? ay seten.
[B] Wy3e3 ? e walle wyn we3ed to hem oft,
1404 & efte in her bourdyng ? ay bay? en in ? e morn,
To fylle ? e same forwarde3 ? at ? ay by-fore maden,
[C] ? at chaunce so bytyde3 hor cheuysaunce to chaunge,
What nwe3 so ? ay nome, at na3t quen ? ay metten
1408 ? ay acorded of ? e couenaunte3 byfore ? e court alle;
? e beuerage wat3 bro3t forth in bourde at ? at tyme; [Fol. 110. ]
[D] ? enne ? ay louelych le3ten leue at ? e last,
Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.
1412 [E] Bi ? at ? e coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot ? ryse,
? e lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] ? e leude3 vch one,
So ? at ? e mete & ? e masse wat3 metely delyuered;
? e douthe dressed to ? e wod, er any day sprenged,
1416 to chace;
[F] He3 with hunte & horne3,
? ur3 playne3 ? ay passe in space,
Vn-coupled among ? o ? orne3,
1420 Rache3 ? at ran on race.
[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit. ]
[Sidenote B: Wine is carried round. ]
[Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement. ]
[Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed. ]
[Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up. ]
[Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase. ]
[Footnote 1: crowed (? ). ]
XII.
[A] Sone ? ay calle of a quest in aker syde,
? e hunt re-hayted ? e hounde3, ? at hit fyrst mynged,
[B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;
1424 ? e hownde3 ? at hit herde, hastid ? ider swy? e,
& fellen as fast to ? e fuyt, fourty at ones;
? enne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3
Ros, ? at ? e rochere3 rungen aboute;
1428 Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.
[C] ? en al in a semble sweyed to-geder,
Bitwene a flosche in ? at fryth, & a foo cragge;
In a knot, bi a clyffe, at ? e kerre syde,
1432 ? er as ? e rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen,
[? ay] ferden to ? e fyndyng, & freke3 hem after;
[D] ? ay vmbe-kesten ? e knarre & ? e knot bo? e.
Wy3e3, whyl ? ay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,
1436 ? e best ? at ? er breued wat3 wyth ? e blod hounde3.
[E] ? enne ? ay beten on ? e buske3, & bede hym vp ryse,
& he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-? wert,
[F] On ? e sellokest swyn swenged out ? ere,
1440 Long sythen for[1] ? e sounder ? at wi3t for-olde,
For he wat3 b[este &] bor al? er grattest,
[And eue]re quen he gronyed, ? enne greued mony,
[G] For [? re a]t ?
[Sidenote E: The knight answers the lady's questions. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. ? at ? at. ]
[Footnote 2: louie or loune (? ). ]
VI.
[A] "Madame," quod ? e myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde,
1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,
& o? er ful much of o? er folk fongen hor dede3;
Bot ? e daynte ? at ? ay delen for my disert nysen,
Hit is ? e worchyp of your-self, ? at no3t hot wel conne3. "
1268 [B] "Bi Mary," quod ? e menskful, "me ? ynk hit ano? er;
For were I worth al ? e wone of wymmen alyue,
& al ? e wele of ? e worlde were in my honde,
[C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,
1272 For ? e costes ? at I haf knowen vpun ? e kny3t here,
Of bewte, & debonerte, & bly? e semblaunt,
[D] & ? at I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,
? er schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen. "
1276 "I-wysse, wor? y," quod ? e wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better,
[E] Bot I am proude of ? e prys ? at 3e put on me,
& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,
& yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde. "
1280 ? us ? ay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,
& ay ? e lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych;
[F] ? e freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.
? a3 I were burde bry3test, ? e burde in mynde hade,
1284 ? e lasse luf in his lode, for lur ? at he so3t,
boute hone;
? e dunte ? at schulde[2] hym deue,
& nede3 hit most be done;
1288 [G] ? e lady ? enn spek of leue.
He granted hir ful sone.
[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that
of all others. ]
[Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,]
[Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,]
[Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and
faithful servant. ]
[Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of
love. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne. ]
[Footnote 1: and (? )]
[Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS. ]
VII.
[A] ? enne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed.
& as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3:
1292 [B] "Now he ? at spede3 vche spech, ? is disport 3elde yow!
Bot ? at 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde. "
"Quer-fore? " quod ? e freke, & freschly he aske3,
Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;
1296 Bot ? e burde hym blessed, & bi ? is skyl sayde,
"So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden, [Fol. 108b. ]
& cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,
[C] Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,
1300 Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,
Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende. "
[D] ? en quod Wowen, "I-wysse, wor? e as yow lyke3,
I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3,
1304 & fire[1] lest he displese yow, so[2] plede hit no more. "
[E] Ho comes nerre with ? at, & cache3 hym in arme3,
Loute3 luflych adoun, & ? e leude kysse3;
? ay comly bykennen to Kryst ay? er o? er;
1308 Ho dos hir forth at ? e dore, with-outen dyn more.
& he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,
[F] Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,
Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, bly? ely to masse,
1312 & ? enne he meued to his mete, ? at menskly hym keped,
[G] & made myry al day til ? e mone rysed,
with game;
With[3] neuer freke fayrer fonge,
1316 [H] Bitwene two so dyngne dame,
? e alder & ? e 3onge,
Much solace set ? ay same.
[Sidenote A: With a laughing glance, she says,]
[Sidenote B: "I am doubtful whether ye be Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote C: Were it he, surely, ere this, he would have craved a kiss. "]
[Sidenote D: "I shall kiss," says the knight, "at your commandment. "]
[Sidenote E: With that the lady catches him in her arms and kisses him. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne then rises and goes to mass. ]
[Sidenote G: He makes mirth all day till the moon rises,]
[Sidenote H: between the "two dames," the older and the younger. ]
[Footnote 1: fere (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: fo, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: Was (? ) Nas (? ). ]
VIII.
[A] And ay ? e lorde of ? e londe is lent on his gamne3,
1320 To hunt in holte3 & he? e, at hynde3 barayne,
Such a sowme he ? er slowe bi ? at ? e sunne heldet,
Of dos & of o? er dere, to deme were wonder.
? enne fersly ? ay flokked in folk at ? e laste,
1324 [B] & quykly of ? e quelled dere a querre ? ay maked;
? e best bo3ed ? erto, with burne3 in-noghe,
[C] Gedered ? e grattest of gres ? at ? er were,
& didden hem derely vndo, as ? e dede aske3;
1328 [D] Serched hem at ? e asay, summe ? at ? er were,
Two fyngeres ? ay fonde of ? e fowlest of alle;
[E] Sy? en ? ay slyt ? e slot, sesed ? e erber,
[F] Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, & ? e schyre knitten;
1332 Sy? en rytte ? ay ? e foure lymmes, & rent of ? e hyde,
[G] ? en brek ? ay ? e bale, ? e bale3 out token,
[H] Lystily forlancyng, & bere of ? e knot; [Fol. 109. ]
? ay gryped to ? e gargulun, & gray? ely departed
1336 [I] ? e wesaunt fro ? e wynt-hole, & walt out ? e gutte3;
? en scher ? ay out ? e schuldere3 with her scharp knyue3,
[J] Haled hem by a lyttel hole, to haue hole sydes;
Si? en britned ? ay ? e brest, & brayden hit in twynne,
1340 & eft at ? e gargulun bigyne3 on ? enne,
[K] Ryue3 hit vp radly, ry3t to ? e by3t,
Voyde3 out ? e a-vanters, & verayly ? erafter
Alle ? e ryme3 by ? e rybbe3 radly ? ay lance;
1344 So ryde ? ay of by resoun bi ? e rygge bone3,
Euenden to ? e haunche, ? at henged alle samen,
& heuen hit vp al hole, & hwen hit of ? ere,
& ? at ? ayneme for ? e noumbles, bi nome as I trowe,
1348 bi kynde;
[L] Bi ? e by3t al of ? e ? y3es,
? e lappe3 ? ay lance bi-hynde,
[M] To hewe hit in two ? ay hy3es,
1352 Bi ? e bak-bon to vnbynde.
[Sidenote A: Meanwhile the lord of the land and his men hunt in woods and
heaths. ]
[Sidenote B: Quickly of the killed a "quarry" they make. ]
[Sidenote C: Then they set about breaking the deer. ]
[Sidenote D: They take away the assay or fat,]
[Sidenote E: then they slit the slot and remove the erber. ]
[Sidenote F: They afterwards rip the four limbs and rend off the hide. ]
[Sidenote G: They next open the belly]
[Sidenote H: and take out the bowels. ]
[Sidenote I: They then separate the weasand from the windhole and throw out
the guts. ]
[Sidenote J: The shoulders are cut out, and the breast divided into
halves. ]
[Sidenote K: The numbles are next removed. ]
[Sidenote L: By the fork of the thighs,]
[Sidenote M: the flaps are hewn in two by the backbone. ]
IX.
[A] Bo? e ? e hede & ? e hals ? ay hwen of ? enne,
& sy? en sunder ? ay ? e syde3 swyft fro ? e chyne,
& ?
e corbeles fee ? ay kest in a greue;[1]
1356 ? enn ? urled ? ay ay? er ? ik side ? ur3, bi ? e rybbe,
& henged ? enne a[y]? er bi ho3es of ? e fourche3,
Vche freke for his fee, as falle3 forto haue.
Vpon a felle of ? e fayre best, fede ? ay ? ayr houndes,
1360 [B] Wyth ? e lyuer & ? e ly3te3, ? e le? er of ? e paunche3,
& bred ba? ed in blod, blende ? er amonge3;
Baldely ? ay blw prys, bayed ? ayr rachche3,
[C] Sy? en fonge ? ay her flesche folden to home,
1364 Strakande ful stoutly mony stif mote3.
Bi ? at ? e dayly3t wat3 done, ? e douthe wat3 al wonen
In-to ? e comly castel, ? er ? e kny3t bide3
ful stille;
1368 Wyth blys & bry3t fyr bette,
? e lord is comen ? er-tylle,
[D] When Gawayn wyth hym mette,
? er wat3 bot wele at wylle.
[Sidenote A: After this the head and neck are cut off, and the sides
severed from the chine. ]
[Sidenote B: With the liver, lights and paunches, they feed the hounds. ]
[Sidenote C: Then they make for home. ]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne goes out to meet his host. ]
[Footnote 1: grene (? ). ]
X.
1372 [A] Thenne comaunded ? e lorde in ? at sale to samen alle ? e meny,[Fol. ]
Bo? e ? e ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes, [109b. ]
[B] Bi-fore alle ? e folk on ? e flette, freke3 he bedde3
Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
1376 [C] & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
Teche3 hym to ? e tayles of ful tayt bestes,
Schewe3 hym ? e schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
[D] "How paye3 yow ? is play? haf I prys wonnen?
1380 Haue I ? ryuandely ? onk ? ur3 my craft serued? "
"3e I-wysse," quod ? at o? er wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest
[E] ? at I se3 ? is seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter. "
"& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod ? e gome ? enne,
1384 "For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen. "
"? is is soth," quod ? e segge, "I say yow ? atilke,
&[1] I haf worthyly ? is wone3 wyth-inne,
[F] I-wysse with as god wylle hit wor? e3 to 3oure3. "
1388 He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne,
& kysses hym as comlyly as he[2] cou? e awyse:
"Tas yow ? ere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
I wowche hit saf fynly, ? a3 feler hit were. "
1392 "Hit is god," quod ? e god mon, "grant mercy ? erfore,
[G] Hit may be such, hit is ? e better, &[1] 3e me breue wolde
Where 3e wan ? is ilk wele, biwytte of hor[3] seluen? "
[H] "? at wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,
1396 For 3e haftan ? at yow tyde3, trawe3e non o? er
3e mowe. "
? ay la3ed, & made hem bly? e,
[I] Wyth lote3 ? at were to lowe,
1400 To soper ? ay 3ede asswy? e,
Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.
[Sidenote A: The lord commands all his household to assemble,]
[Sidenote B: and the venison to be brought before him. ]
[Sidenote C: He calls Gawayne,]
[Sidenote D: and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his
success in the chase. ]
[Sidenote E: On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take
the whole according to a former agreement between them. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return. ]
[Sidenote G: His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal. ]
[Sidenote H: As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to
his question. ]
[Sidenote I: They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and
enough. ]
[Footnote 1: And _n. ]
[Footnote 2: ho, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: your (? ). ]
XI.
[A] And sy? en by ? e chymne in chamber ? ay seten.
[B] Wy3e3 ? e walle wyn we3ed to hem oft,
1404 & efte in her bourdyng ? ay bay? en in ? e morn,
To fylle ? e same forwarde3 ? at ? ay by-fore maden,
[C] ? at chaunce so bytyde3 hor cheuysaunce to chaunge,
What nwe3 so ? ay nome, at na3t quen ? ay metten
1408 ? ay acorded of ? e couenaunte3 byfore ? e court alle;
? e beuerage wat3 bro3t forth in bourde at ? at tyme; [Fol. 110. ]
[D] ? enne ? ay louelych le3ten leue at ? e last,
Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.
1412 [E] Bi ? at ? e coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot ? ryse,
? e lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] ? e leude3 vch one,
So ? at ? e mete & ? e masse wat3 metely delyuered;
? e douthe dressed to ? e wod, er any day sprenged,
1416 to chace;
[F] He3 with hunte & horne3,
? ur3 playne3 ? ay passe in space,
Vn-coupled among ? o ? orne3,
1420 Rache3 ? at ran on race.
[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit. ]
[Sidenote B: Wine is carried round. ]
[Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement. ]
[Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed. ]
[Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up. ]
[Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase. ]
[Footnote 1: crowed (? ). ]
XII.
[A] Sone ? ay calle of a quest in aker syde,
? e hunt re-hayted ? e hounde3, ? at hit fyrst mynged,
[B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;
1424 ? e hownde3 ? at hit herde, hastid ? ider swy? e,
& fellen as fast to ? e fuyt, fourty at ones;
? enne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3
Ros, ? at ? e rochere3 rungen aboute;
1428 Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.
[C] ? en al in a semble sweyed to-geder,
Bitwene a flosche in ? at fryth, & a foo cragge;
In a knot, bi a clyffe, at ? e kerre syde,
1432 ? er as ? e rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen,
[? ay] ferden to ? e fyndyng, & freke3 hem after;
[D] ? ay vmbe-kesten ? e knarre & ? e knot bo? e.
Wy3e3, whyl ? ay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,
1436 ? e best ? at ? er breued wat3 wyth ? e blod hounde3.
[E] ? enne ? ay beten on ? e buske3, & bede hym vp ryse,
& he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-? wert,
[F] On ? e sellokest swyn swenged out ? ere,
1440 Long sythen for[1] ? e sounder ? at wi3t for-olde,
For he wat3 b[este &] bor al? er grattest,
[And eue]re quen he gronyed, ? enne greued mony,
[G] For [? re a]t ?
