Þenne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent laȝed.

& as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor wordeȝ:

"Now he þat spedeȝ vche spech, þis disport ȝelde yow!

Bot þat ȝe be Gawan, hit gotȝ in mynde."

"Quer-fore?" quod þe freke, & freschly he askeȝ,

Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;

Bot þe burde hym blessed, & bi þis skyl sayde,

"So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden,

& cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,

Couth not lyȝtly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,

Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,

Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum taleȝ ende."

Þen quod Wowen, "I-wysse, worþe as yow lykeȝ,

I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a knyȝt falleȝ,

& fire¹ lest he displese yow, so² plede hit no more."

Ho comes nerre with þat, & cacheȝ hym in armeȝ,

Louteȝ luflych adoun, & þe leude kysseȝ;

Þay comly bykennen to Kryst ayþer oþer;

Ho dos hir forth at þe dore, with-outen dyn more.

& he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,

Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,

Boȝeȝ forth, quen he watȝ boun, blyþely to masse,

& þenne he meued to his mete, þat menskly hym keped,

& made myry al day til þe mone rysed,

with game;

With³ neuer freke fayrer fonge,

Bitwene two so dyngne dame,

Þe alder & þe ȝonge,

Much solace set þay same.

And ay þe lorde of þe londe is lent on his gamneȝ,

To hunt in holteȝ & heþe, at hyndeȝ barayne,

Such a sowme he þer slowe bi þat þe sunne heldet,

Of dos & of oþer dere, to deme were wonder.

Þenne fersly þay flokked in folk at þe laste,

& quykly of þe quelled dere a querré þay maked;

Þe best boȝed þerto, with burneȝ in-noghe,

Gedered þe grattest of gres þat þer were,

& didden hem derely vndo, as þe dede askeȝ;

Serched hem at þe asay, summe þat þer were,

Two fyngeres þay fonde of þe fowlest of alle;

Syþen þay slyt þe slot, sesed þe erber,

Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, & þe schyre knitten;

Syþen rytte þay þe foure lymmes, & rent of þe hyde,

Þen brek þay þe bale, þe baleȝ out token,

Lystily forlancyng, & bere of þe knot;

Þay gryped to þe gargulun, & grayþely departed

Þe wesaunt fro þe wynt-hole, & walt out þe gutteȝ;

Þen scher þay out þe schuldereȝ with her scharp knyueȝ,

Haled hem by a lyttel hole, to haue hole sydes;

Siþen britned þay þe brest, & brayden hit in twynne,

& eft at þe gargulun bigyneȝ on þenne,

Ryueȝ hit vp radly, ryȝt to þe byȝt,

Voydeȝ out þe a-vanters, & verayly þerafter

Alle þe rymeȝ by þe rybbeȝ radly þay lance;

So ryde þay of by resoun bi þe rygge boneȝ,

Euenden to þe haunche, þat henged alle samen,

& heuen hit vp al hole, & hwen hit of þere,

& þat þayneme for þe noumbles, bi nome as I trowe,

bi kynde;

Bi þe byȝt al of þe þyȝes,

Þe lappeȝ þay lance bi-hynde,

To hewe hit in two þay hyȝes,

Bi þe bak-bon to vnbynde.

Boþe þe hede & þe hals þay hwen of þenne,

& syþen sunder þay þe sydeȝ swyft fro þe chyne,

& þe corbeles fee þay kest in a greue;¹

Þenn þurled þay ayþer þik side þurȝ, bi þe rybbe,

& henged þenne a[y]þer bi hoȝes of þe fourcheȝ,

Vche freke for his fee, as falleȝ forto haue.

Vpon a felle of þe fayre best, fede þay þayr houndes,

Wyth þe lyuer & þe lyȝteȝ, þe leþer of þe pauncheȝ,

& bred baþed in blod, blende þer amongeȝ;

Baldely þay blw prys, bayed þayr rachcheȝ,

Syþen fonge þay her flesche folden to home,

Strakande ful stoutly mony stif moteȝ.

Bi þat þe daylyȝt watȝ done, þe douthe watȝ al wonen

In-to þe comly castel, þer þe knyȝt bideȝ

ful stille;

Wyth blys & bryȝt fyr bette,

Þe lord is comen þer-tylle,

When Gawayn wyth hym mette,

Þer watȝ bot wele at wylle.

Thenne comaunded þe lorde in þat sale to samen alle þe meny,

Boþe þe ladyes on loghe to lyȝt with her burdes,

Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, frekeȝ he beddeȝ

Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;

& al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,

Techeȝ hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes,

Scheweȝ hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.

"How payeȝ yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen?

Haue I þryuandely þonk þurȝ my craft serued?"

"Ȝe I-wysse," quod þat oþer wyȝe, "here is wayth fayrest

Þat I seȝ þis seuen ȝere in sesoun of wynter."

"& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne,

"For by a-corde of couenaunt ȝe craue hit as your awen."

"Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke,

&¹ I haf worthyly þis woneȝ wyth-inne,

I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþeȝ to ȝoureȝ."

He hasppeȝ his fayre hals his armeȝ wyth-inne,

& kysses hym as comlyly as he² couþe awyse:

"Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,

I wowche hit saf fynly, þaȝ feler hit were."

"Hit is god," quod þe god mon, "grant mercy þerfore,

Hit may be such, hit is þe better, &¹ ȝe me breue wolde

Where ȝe wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor³ seluen?"

"Þat watȝ not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,

For ȝe haftan þat yow tydeȝ, traweȝe non oþer

ȝe mowe."

Þay laȝed, & made hem blyþe,

Wyth loteȝ þat were to lowe,

To soper þay ȝede asswyþe,

Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.

And syþen by þe chymné in chamber þay seten.

Wyȝeȝ þe walle wyn weȝed to hem oft,

& efte in her bourdyng þay bayþen in þe morn,

To fylle þe same forwardeȝ þat þay by-fore maden,

Þat chaunce so bytydeȝ hor cheuysaunce to chaunge,

What nweȝ so þay nome, at naȝt quen þay metten

Þay acorded of þe couenaunteȝ byfore þe court alle;

Þe beuerage watȝ broȝt forth in bourde at þat tyme;

Þenne þay louelych leȝten leue at þe last,

Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.

Bi þat þe coke hade croweȝ¹ & cakled bot þryse,

Þe lorde watȝ lopen of his bedde, [&] þe leudeȝ vch one,

So þat þe mete & þe masse watȝ metely delyuered;

Þe douthe dressed to þe wod, er any day sprenged,

to chace;

Heȝ with hunte & horneȝ,

Þurȝ playneȝ þay passe in space,

Vn-coupled among þo þorneȝ,

Racheȝ þat ran on race.

Sone þay calle of a quest in aker syde,

Þe hunt re-hayted þe houndeȝ, þat hit fyrst mynged,

Wylde wordeȝ hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;

Þe howndeȝ þat hit herde, hastid þider swyþe,

& fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones;

Þenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachcheȝ

Ros, þat þe rochereȝ rungen aboute;

Huntereȝ hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.

Þen al in a semblé sweyed to-geder,

Bitwene a flosche in þat fryth, & a foo cragge;

In a knot, bi a clyffe, at þe kerre syde,

Þer as þe rogh rocher vn-rydely watȝ fallen,

[Þay] ferden to þe fyndyng, & frekeȝ hem after;

Þay vmbe-kesten þe knarre & þe knot boþe.

Wyȝeȝ, whyl þay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,

Þe best þat þer breued watȝ wyth þe blod houndeȝ.

Þenne þay beten on þe buskeȝ, & bede hym vp ryse,

& he vnsoundyly out soȝt seggeȝ ouer-þwert,

On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere,

Long sythen for¹ þe sounder þat wiȝt for-olde,

For he watȝ b[este &] bor alþer grattest,

[And eue]re quen he gronyed, þenne greued mony,

For [þre a]t þe fyrst þrast he þryȝt to þe erþe,

& [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,

[Ande þay] halowed hyghe ful hyȝe & hay! hay! cryed

Haden horneȝ to mouþe heterly rechated;

Mony watȝ þe myry mouthe of men & of houndeȝ,

Þat buskkeȝ after þis bor, with bost & wyth noyse,

To quelle;

Ful oft he bydeȝ þe baye,

& maymeȝ þe mute Inn-melle,

He hurteȝ of þe houndeȝ, & þay

Ful ȝomerly ȝaule & ȝelle.

Schalkeȝ to schote at hym schowen to þenne,

Haled to hym of her areweȝ, hitten hym oft;

Bot þe poynteȝ payred at þe pyth þat pyȝt in his scheldeȝ,

& þe barbeȝ of his browe bite non wolde,

Þaȝ þe schauen schaft schyndered in peceȝ,

Þe hede hypped aȝayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;

Bot quon þe dynteȝ hym dered of her dryȝe strokeȝ,

Þen, brayn-wod for bate, on burneȝ he raseȝ,

Hurteȝ hem ful heterly þer he forth hyȝeȝ,

& mony arȝed þerat, & on-lyte droȝen.

Bot þe lorde on a lyȝt horce launces hym after,

As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he bloweȝ,

He rechated, & r[ode]¹ þurȝ roneȝ ful þyk,

Suande þis wy[ld]e swyn til þe sunne schafted.

Þis day wyth þis ilk dede þay dryuen on þis wyse,

Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,

Gawayn grayþely at home, in gereȝ ful ryche

of hewe;

Þe lady noȝt forȝate,

Com to hym to salue,

Ful erly ho watȝ hym ate,

His mode forto remwe.

Ho commes to þe cortyn, & at þe knyȝt totes,

Sir Wawen her welcumed worþy on fyrst,

& ho hym ȝeldeȝ aȝayn, ful ȝerne of hir wordeȝ,

Setteȝ hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swyþely ho laȝeȝ,

& wyth a luflych loke ho layde¹ hym þyse wordeȝ:

"Sir, ȝif ȝe be Wawen, wonder me þynkkeȝ,

Wyȝe þat is so wel wrast alway to god,

& conneȝ not of compaynye þe costeȝ vnder-take,

& if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, ȝe kest hom of your mynde;

Þou hatȝ for-ȝeten ȝederly þat ȝisterday I taȝtte

alder-truest token of talk þat I cowþe."

"What is þat?" quod þe wyghe, "I-wysse I wot neuer,

If hit be sothe þat ȝe breue, þe blame is myn awen."

"Ȝet I kende yow of kyssyng," quod þe clere þenne,

"Quere-so countenaunce is couþe, quikly to clayme,

Þat bicumes vche a knyȝt, þat cortaysy vses."

"Do way," quod þat derf mon, "my dere, þat speche,

For þat durst I not do, lest I denayed were,

If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, ȝif I profered."

"Ma fay," quod þe mere wyf, "ȝe may not be werned,

Ȝe ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenkþe, ȝif yow lykeȝ,

Ȝif any were so vilanous þat yow denaye² wolde."

"Ȝe, be God," quod Gawayn, "good is your speche,

Bot þrete is vn-þryuande in þede þer I lende,

& vche gift þat is geuen not with goud wylle;

I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lykeȝ,

Ȝe may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow þynkkeȝ,

in space."

Þe lady louteȝ a-doun,

& comlyly kysses his face,

Much speche þay þer expoun,

Of druryes greme & grace.

"I woled¹ wyt at yow, wyȝe," þat worþy þer sayde,

"& yow wrathed not þer-wyth, what were þe skylle,

Þat so ȝong & so ȝepe, as ȝe [ar] at þis tyme,

So cortayse, so knyȝtyly, as ȝe ar knowen oute,

& of alle cheualry to chose, þe chef þyng a-losed,

Is² þe lel layk of luf, þe lettrure of armes;

F[or] to telle of þis tenelyng of þis trwe knyȝteȝ,

Hit is þe tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkkeȝ,

How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyueȝ han auntered,

Endured for her drury dulful stoundeȝ,

& after wenged with her walour & voyded her care,

& broȝt blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen.

& ȝe ar knyȝt com-lokest kyd of your elde,

Your worde & your worchip walkeȝ ay quere,

& I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,

Ȝet herde I neuer of your hed helde no wordeȝ

Þat euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;

& ȝe, þat ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,

Oghe to a ȝonke þynk ȝern to schewe,

& teche sum tokeneȝ of trweluf craftes.

Why ar ȝe lewed, þat alle þe los weldeȝ,

Oþer elles ȝe demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken?

for schame!

I com hider sengel, & sitte,

To lerne at yow sum game,

Dos, techeȝ me of your wytte,

Whil my lorde is fro hame."

"In goud fayþe," quod Gawayn, "God yow forȝelde,

Gret is þe gode gle, & gomen to me huge,

Þat so worþy as ȝe wolde wynne hidere,

& pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your knyȝt,

With any skynneȝ countenaunce, hit keuereȝ me ese;

Bot to take þe toruayle¹ to my-self, to trwluf expoun,

& towche þe temeȝ of tyxt, & taleȝ of armeȝ,

To yow þat, I wot wel, weldeȝ more slyȝt

Of þat art, bi þe half, or a hundreth of seche

As I am, oþer euer schal, in erde þer I leue,

Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my trawþe.

I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my myȝt,

As I am hyȝly bihalden, & euer-more wylle

Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dryȝtyn!"

Þus hym frayned þat fre, & fondet hym ofte,

Forto haf wonnen hym to woȝe, what-so scho þoȝt elleȝ,

Bot he de fended hym so fayr, þat no faut semed,

Ne non euel on nawþer halue, nawþer þay wysten,

bot blysse;

Þay laȝed & layked longe,

At þe last scho con hym kysse,

Hir leue fayre con scho fonge,

& went hir waye Iwysse.

Then ruþes hym þe renk, & ryses to þe masse,

& siþen hor diner watȝ dyȝt & derely serued.

Þe lede with þe ladyeȝ layked alle day,

Bot þe lorde ouer þe londeȝ launced ful ofte,

Sweȝ his vncely swyn, þat swyngeȝ bi þe bonkkeȝ,

& bote þe best of his bracheȝ þe bakkeȝ in sunder;

Þer he bode in his bay, tel¹ bawe-men hit breken,

& made² hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter;

So felle floneȝ per flete, when þe folk gedered;

Bot ȝet þe styffest to start bi stoundeȝ he made,

Til at þe last he watȝ so mat, he myȝt no more renne,

Bot in þe hast þat he myȝt, he to a hole wynneȝ,

Of a rasse, bi a rokk, þer renneȝ þe boerne,

He gete þe bonk at his bak, bigyneȝ to scrape,

Þe froþe femed³ at his mouth vnfayre bi þe wykeȝ,

Whetteȝ his whyte tuscheȝ; with hym þen irked

Alle þe burneȝ so bolde, þat hym by stoden,

To nye hym on-ferum, bot neȝe hym non durst

for woþe;

He hade hurt so mony byforne,

Þat al þuȝt⁴ þenne ful loþe,

Be more wyth his tuscheȝ torne,

Þat breme watȝ [&] brayn-wod bothe.

Til þe knyȝt com hym-self, kachande his blonk,

Syȝ hym byde at þe bay, his burneȝ bysyde,

He lyȝtes luflych¹ adoun, leueȝ his corsour,

Braydeȝ out a bryȝt bront, & bigly forth strydeȝ,

Foundeȝ fast þurȝ þe forth, þer þe felle bydeȝ,

Þe wylde watȝ war of þe wyȝe with weppen in honde,

Hef hyȝly þe here, so hetterly he fnast,

Þat fele ferde for þe frekeȝ,² lest felle hym þe worre;

Þe swyn setteȝ hym out on þe segge euen,

Þat þe burne & þe bor were boþe vpon hepeȝ,

In þe wyȝt-est of þe water, þe worre hade þat oþer;

For þe mon merkkeȝ hym wel, as þay mette fyrst,

Set sadly þe scharp in þe slot euen,

Hit hym vp to þe hult, þat þe hert schyndered,

& he ȝarrande hym ȝelde, & ȝedoun³ þe water,

ful tyt;

A hundreth houndeȝ hym hent,

Þat bremely con hym bite,

Burneȝ him broȝt to bent,

& doggeȝ to dethe endite.

There watȝ blawyng of prys in mony breme home,

Heȝe halowing on hiȝe, with haþeleȝ þat myȝt;

Brachetes bayed þat best, as bidden þe maystereȝ,

Of þat chargeaunt chace þat were chef huntes.

Þenne a wyȝe þat watȝ wys vpon wod crafteȝ,

To vnlace þis bor lufly bigynneȝ;

Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hiȝe setteȝ,

& syþen rendeȝ him al roghe bi þe rygge after,

Braydeȝ out þe boweles, brenneȝ hom on glede,

With bred blent þer-with his braches rewardeȝ;

Syþen he britneȝ out þe brawen in bryȝt brode [s]cheldeȝ,

& hatȝ out þe hastletteȝ, as hiȝtly bisemeȝ;

& ȝet hem halcheȝ al hole þe halueȝ to-geder,

& syþen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.

Now with þis ilk swyn þay swengen to home;

Þe bores hed watȝ borne bifore þe burnes seluen,

Þat him for-ferde in þe forþe, þurȝ forse of his honde,

so stronge;

Til he seȝ sir Gawayne,

In halle hym þoȝt ful longe,

He calde, & he com gayn,

His feeȝ þer for to fonge.

Þe lorde ful lowde with lote, & laȝed myry,

When he seȝe sir G: with solace he spekeȝ;

Þe goude ladyeȝ were geten, & gedered þe meyny,

He scheweȝ hem þe scheldeȝ, & schapes hem þe tale,

Of þe largesse, & þe lenþe, þe liþerneȝ alse,

Of þe were of þe wylde swyn, in wod þer he fled.

Þat oþer knyȝt ful comly comended his dedeȝ,

& praysed hit as gret prys, þat he proued hade;

For suche a brawne of a best, þe bolde burne sayde,

Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.

Þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed, þe hende mon hit praysed,

& let lodly þerat þe lorde forte here:

"Now Gawayn," quod þe god mon, "þis gomen is your awen,

Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely ȝe knowe."

"Hit is sothe," quod þe segge, "& as siker trwe;

Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawþe."

He [hent] þe haþel aboute þe halse, & hendely hym kysses,

& efter-sones of þe same he serued hym þere.

"Now ar we euen," quod þe haþel, "in þis euen-tide,

Of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt, syþen I com hider,

bi lawe;"

Þe lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile,

ȝe ar þe best þat I knowe,

Ȝe ben ryche in a whyle,

Such chaffer & ȝe drowe."

Þenne þay teldet tableȝ [on] trestes alofte,

Kesten cloþeȝ vpon, clere lyȝt þenne

Wakned bi woȝeȝ, waxen torches

Seggeȝ sette, & serued in sale al aboute;

Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne,

Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,

At þe soper & after, mony aþel songeȝ,

As coundutes of kryst-masse, & caroleȝ newe,

With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.

& euer oure luflych knyȝt þe lady bi-syde;

Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,

Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,

Þat al for-wondered watȝ þe wyȝe, & wroth with hym-seluen,

Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-ȝayneȝ,

Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer þe dede turned

to wrast;

Quen þay hade played in halle,

As longe as hor wylle hom last,

To chambre he¹ con hym calle,

& to þe chem-ne þay past.

Ande þer þay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe,

To norne on þe same note, on nweȝereȝ euen;

Bot þe knyȝt craued leue, to kayre on þe morn,

For hit watȝ neȝ at þe terme, þat he to¹ schulde.

Þe lorde hym letted of þat, to lenge hym resteyed,

& sayde, "as I am trwe segge, I siker my trawþe,

Þou schal cheue to þe grene chapel, þy charres to make,

Leude, on nwȝereȝ lyȝt, longe bifore pryme:

For-þy þow lye in þy loft, & lach þyn ese,

& I schal hunt in þis holt, & halde þe towcheȝ,

Chaunge wyth þe cheuisaunce, bi þat I charre hider;

For I haf fraysted þe twys, & faythful I fynde þe,

Now þrid tyme þrowe best þenk on þe morne,

Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye,

For þe lur may mon lach, when so mon lykeȝ."

Þis watȝ grayþely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged,

Bliþe broȝt watȝ hym drynk, & þay to bedde ȝeden,

with liȝt;

Sir G: lis & slepes,

Ful stille & softe al niȝt;

Þe lorde þat his crafteȝ kepes,

Ful erly he watȝ diȝt.

After messe a morsel¹ he & his men token,

Miry watȝ þe mornyng, his mounture he askes;

Alle þe haþeles þat on horse schulde helden hym after,

Were boun busked on hor blonkkeȝ, bi-fore² þe halle ȝateȝ;

Ferly fayre watȝ þe folde, for þe forst clenged,

In rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne,

& ful clere costeȝ³ þe clowdes of þe welkyn.

Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,

Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;

Summe fel in þe fute, þer þe fox bade,

Trayleȝ ofte a trayteres⁴, bi traunt of her wyles;

A kenet kryes þerof, þe hunt on hym calles,

His felaȝes fallen hym to, þat fnasted ful þike,

Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ryȝt fare;

& he fyskeȝ hem by-fore, þay founden hym sone,

& quen þay seghe hym with syȝt, þay sued hym fast,

Wreȝande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;

& he trantes & tornayeeȝ þurȝ mony tene greue;

Hamlouneȝ, & herkeneȝ, bi heggeȝ ful ofte;

At þe last bi a littel dich he lepeȝ ouer a spenné,

Steleȝ out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,

Went haf wylt of þe wode, with wyleȝ fro þe houndes,

Þenne watȝ he went, er he wyst, to⁵ a wale tryster,

Þer þre þro at a þrich þrat hym at ones,

al graye;

He blenched aȝayn bilyue,

& stifly start onstray,

With alle þe wo on lyue,

To þe wod he went away.