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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 ? e fyrst ? rast he ? ry3t to ? e er? e,
1444 & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,
[Ande ? ay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed
Haden horne3 to mou? e heterly rechated; [Fol. 110b. ]
[H] Mony wat3 ? e myry mouthe of men & of hounde3,
1448 ? at buskke3 after ? is bor, with bost & wyth noyse,
To quelle;
Ful oft he byde3 ? e baye,
& mayme3 ? e mute Inn-melle,
1452 [I] He hurte3 of ? e hounde3, & ? ay
Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.

[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once. ]
[Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff. ]
[Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,]
[Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes. ]
[Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,]
[Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground. ]
[Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him. ]
[Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and
yell. ]
[Footnote 1: fro (? ). ]

XIII.

[A] Schalke3 to schote at hym schowen to ? enne,
Haled to hym of her arewe3, hitten hym oft;
1456 Bot ? e poynte3 payred at ? e pyth ? at py3t in his schelde3,
& ? e barbe3 of his browe bite non wolde,
[B] ? a3 ? e schauen schaft schyndered in pece3,
? e hede hypped a3ayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;
1460 [C] Bot quon ? e dynte3 hym dered of her dry3e stroke3,
? en, brayn-wod for bate, on burne3 he rase3,
[D] Hurte3 hem ful heterly ? er he forth hy3e3,
& mony ar3ed ? erat, & on-lyte dro3en.
1464 Bot ? e lorde on a ly3t horce launces hym after,
[E] As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowe3,
He rechated, & r[ode][1] ? ur3 rone3 ful ? yk,
Suande ? is wy[ld]e swyn til ? e sunne schafted.
1468 [F] ? is day wyth ? is ilk dede ? ay dryuen on ? is wyse,
Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,
[G] Gawayn gray? ely at home, in gere3 ful ryche
of hewe;
1472 ? e lady no3t for3ate,
Com to hym to salue,
Ful erly ho wat3 hym ate,
His mode forto remwe.

[Sidenote A: The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,]
[Sidenote B: but they glide off shivered in pieces. ]
[Sidenote C: Enraged with the blows,]
[Sidenote D: he attacks the hunters. ]
[Sidenote E: The lord of the land blows his bugle,]
[Sidenote F: and pursues the boar. ]
[Sidenote G: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed. ]
[Footnote 1: The MS. is here almost illegible. ]

XIV.

1476 [A] Ho commes to ? e cortyn, & at ? e kny3t totes,
Sir Wawen her welcumed wor? y on fyrst,
& ho hym 3elde3 a3ayn, ful 3erne of hir worde3,
[B] Sette3 hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swy? ely ho la3e3,
1480 & wyth a luflych loke ho layde[1] hym ? yse worde3:
"Sir, 3if 3e be Wawen, wonder me ? ynkke3,
Wy3e ? at is so wel wrast alway to god,
& conne3 not of compaynye ? e coste3 vnder-take,
1484 & if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, 3e kest hom of your mynde;[Fol. ]
[C] ? ou hat3 for-3eten 3ederly ? at 3isterday I ta3tte [111]
alder-truest token of talk ? at I cow? e. "
"What is ? at? " quod ? e wyghe, "I-wysse I wot neuer,
1488 If hit be sothe ? at 3e breue, ? e blame is myn awen. "
[D] "3et I kende yow of kyssyng," quod ? e clere ? enne,
"Quere-so countenaunce is cou? e, quikly to clayme,
? at bicumes vche a kny3t, ? at cortaysy vses. "
1492 "Do way," quod ? at derf mon, "my dere, ? at speche,
[E] For ? at durst I not do, lest I denayed were,
If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, 3if I profered. "
"Ma fay," quod ? e mere wyf, "3e may not be werned,
1496 [F] 3e ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenk? e, 3if yow lyke3,
3if any were so vilanous ? at yow denaye[2] wolde. "
"3e, be God," quod Gawayn, "good is your speche,
Bot ? rete is vn-? ryuande in ? ede ? er I lende,
1500 [G] & vche gift ? at is geuen not with goud wylle;
I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lyke3,
3e may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow ? ynkke3,
in space. "
1504 [H] ? e lady loute3 a-doun,
& comlyly kysses his face,
Much speche ? ay ? er expoun,
Of druryes greme & grace.

[Sidenote A: The lady of the castle again visits Sir Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote B: Softly she sits by his side,]
[Sidenote C: and tells the knight that he has forgotten what she taught him
the day before. ]
[Sidenote D: "I taught you of kissing," she says, "that becomes every
knight. "]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne says that he must not take that which is forbidden. ]
[Sidenote F: He is told that he is strong enough to enforce it. ]
[Sidenote G: The knight replies that every gift is worthless that is not
given willingly. ]
[Sidenote H: The lady stoops down and kisses him. ]
[Footnote 1: sayde (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: de vaye, in MS. ]

XV.

1508 [A] "I woled[1] wyt at yow, wy3e," ? at wor? y ? er sayde,
"& yow wrathed not ?