A cheyer by-fore þe chemné, þer charcole brenned,

Watȝ grayþed for sir Gawan, grayþely with cloþeȝ,

Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, þa[t] koynt wer boþe;

& þenne a mere mantyle watȝ on þat mon cast,

Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche,

& fayre furred wyth-inne with felleȝ of þe best,

Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of þe same;

& he sete in þat settel semlych ryche,

& achaufed hym chefly,¹ & þenne his cher mended.

Sone watȝ telded vp a tapit, on tresteȝ ful fayre,

Clad wyth a clene cloþe, þat cler quyt schewed,

Sanap, & salure, & syluer-in sponeȝ;

Þe wyȝe wesche at his wylle, & went to his mete

Seggeȝ hym serued semly in-noȝe,

Wyth sere sewes & sete,² sesounde of þe best,

Double felde, as hit falleȝ, & fele kyn fischeȝ;

Summe baken in bred, summe brad on þe gledeȝ,

Summe soþen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces,

& ay sawes³ so sleȝeȝ, þat þe segge lyked.

Þe freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte,

Ful hendely, quen alle þe haþeles re-hayted hym at oneȝ

as hende;

"Þis penaunce now ȝe take,

& eft hit schal amende;"

Þat mon much merþe con make.

For wyn in his hed þat wende.

Þenne watȝ spyed & spured vpon spare wyse.

Bi preue poynteȝ of þat prynce, put to hym-seluen,

Þat he be-knew cortaysly of þe court þat he were,

Þat aþel Arthure þe hende haldeȝ hym one,

Þat is þe ryche ryal kyng of þe rounde table;

& hit watȝ Wawen hym-self þat in þat won sytteȝ,

Comen to þat krystmasse, as case hym þen lymped.

When þe lorde hade lerned þat he þe leude hade,

Loude laȝed he þerat, so lef hit hym þoȝt,

& alle þe men in þat mote maden much joye,

To apere in his presense prestly þat tyme,

Þat alle prys, & prowes, & pured þewes

Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,

By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is þe most.

Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,

"Now schal we semlych se sleȝteȝ of þeweȝ,

& þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble,

Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,

Syn we haf fonged þat fyne fader of nurture;

God hatȝ geuen vus his grace godly for soþe,

Þat such a gest as Gawan graunteȝ vus to haue,

When burneȝ blyþe of his burþe schal sitte

& synge.

In menyng of manereȝ mere,

Þis burne now schal vus bryng,

I hope þat may hym here,

Schal lerne of luf-talkyng."

Bi þat þe diner watȝ done, & þe dere vp,

Hit watȝ neȝ at þe niyȝt neȝed þe tyme;

Chaplayneȝ¹ to þe chapeles chosen þe gate,

Rungen ful rychely, ryȝt as þay schulden,

To þe hersum euensong of þe hyȝe tyde.

Þe lorde loutes þerto, & þe lady als,

In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entreȝ;

Gawan glydeȝ ful gay, & gos þeder sone;

Þe lorde laches hym by þe lappe, & ledeȝ hym to sytte,

& couþly hym knoweȝ, & calleȝ hym his nome,

& sayde he watȝ þe welcomest wyȝe of þe worlde;

& he hym þonkked þroly, & ayþer halched oþer.

& seten soberly samen þe seruise-quyle;

Þenne lyst þe lady to loke on þe knyȝt.

Þenne com ho of hir closet, with mony cler burdeȝ,

Ho watȝ þe fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre,

& of compas, & colour, & costes of alle oþer,

& wener þen Wenore, as þe wyȝe þoȝt.

He ches þurȝ þe chaunsel, to cheryche þat hende;

An oþer lady hir lad bi þe lyft honde,

Þat watȝ alder þen ho, an auncian hit semed,

& heȝly honowred with haþeleȝ aboute.

Bot yn-lyke on to loke þo ladyes were,

For if þe ȝonge watȝ ȝep, ȝolȝe watȝ þat oþer;

Riche red on þat on rayled ay quere,

Rugh ronkled chekeȝ þat oþer on rolled;

Kerchofes of þat on wyth mony cler perleȝ

Hir brest & hir bryȝt þrote bare displayed,

Schon schyrer þen snawe, þat scheder² on hilleȝ;

Þat oþer wyth a gorger watȝ gered ouer þe swyre,

Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles,

Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere,

Toret & treieted with tryfleȝ aboute,

Þat noȝt watȝ bare of þat burde bot þe blake broȝes.

Þe tweyne yȝen, & þe nase, þe naked lyppeȝ,

& þose were soure to se, & sellyly blered;

A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,

for gode;

Hir body watȝ schort & þik.

Hir buttokeȝ bay & brode,

More lykker-wys on to lyk,

Watȝ þat scho hade on lode.

When Gawayn glyȝt on þat gay, þat graciously loked,

Wyth leue laȝt of þe lorde he went hem aȝaynes;

Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,

Þe loueloker he lappeȝ a lyttel in armeȝ,

He kysses hir comlyly, & knyȝtly he meleȝ;

Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk askeȝ

To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.

Þay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden

To chambre, to chemné, & chefly þay asken

Spyceȝ, þat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,

& þe wynne-lych wyne þer-with vche tyme.

Þe lorde luflych aloft lepeȝ ful ofte,

Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþeȝ.

Hent heȝly of his hode, & on a spere henged,

& wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of,

Þat most myrþe myȝt mene¹ þat crystenmas whyle;

"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth þe best,

Er me wont þe wedeȝ, with help of my frendeȝ."

Þus wyth laȝande loteȝ þe lorde hit tayt² makeȝ,

For to glade sir Gawayn with gomneȝ in halle

þat nyȝt;

Til þat hit watȝ tyme,

Þe kyng comaundet lyȝt,

Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,

& to his bed hym diȝt.

On þe morne, as vch mon myneȝ þat tyme,

[Þ]at dryȝtyn for oure destyné to deȝe watȝ borne,

Wele waxeȝ in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;

So did hit þere on þat day, þurȝ dayntes mony;

Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt

Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best.

Þe olde auncian wyf heȝest ho sytteȝ;

Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;

Gawan & þe gay burde to-geder þay seten,

Euen in-myddeȝ, as þe messe metely come;

& syþen þurȝ al þe sale, as hem best semed,

Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely watȝ serued.

Þer watȝ mete, þer watȝ myrþe, þer watȝ much ioye,

Þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were,

& to poynte hit ȝet I pyned me parauenture;

Bot ȝet I wot þat Wawen & þe wale burde

Such comfort of her compaynye caȝten to-geder,

Þurȝ her dere dalyaunce of her derne wordeȝ,

Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fylþe;

& hor play watȝ passande vche prynce gomen,

in vayres;

Trumpeȝ & nakerys,

Much pypyng þer repayres,

Vche mon tented hys,

& þay two tented þayres.

Much dut watȝ þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer,

& þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter;

Þe ioye of sayn Ioneȝ day watȝ gentyle to here,

& watȝ þe last of þe layk, leudeȝ þer þoȝten.

Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne,

For-þy wonderly þay woke, & þe wyn dronken,

Daunsed ful dreȝly wyth dere caroleȝ;

At þe last, when hit watȝ late, þay lachen her leue,

Vchon to wende on his way, þat watȝ wyȝe stronge.

Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachcheȝ,

Ledes hym to his awen chambre, þ[e] chymné bysyde,

& þere he draȝeȝ hym on-dryȝe, & derely hym þonkkeȝ,

Of þe wynne worschip &¹ he hym wayned hade,

As to honour his hous on þat hyȝe tyde,

& enbelyse his burȝ with his bele chere.

"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþeȝ þe better,

Þat Gawayn hatȝ ben my gest, at Goddeȝ awen fest."

"Grant merci² sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowreȝ,

Al þe honour is your awen, þe heȝe kyng yow ȝelde;

& I am wyȝe at your wylle, to worch youre hest,

As I am halden þer-to, in hyȝe & in loȝe,

bi riȝt."

Þe lorde fast can hym payne,

To holde lenger þe knyȝt,

To hym answreȝ Gawayn,

Bi non way þat he myȝt.

Then frayned þe freke ful fayre at him-seluen,

Quat derne¹ dede had hym dryuen, at þat dere tyme,

So kenly fro þe kyngeȝ kourt to kayre al his one,

Er þe halidayeȝ holly were halet out of toun?

"For soþe sir," quod þe segge, "ȝe sayn bot þe trawþe

A heȝe ernde & a hasty me hade fro þo woneȝ,

For I am sumned my selfe to sech to a place,

I wot² in worlde wheder warde to wende, hit to fynde;

I nolde, bot if I hit negh myȝt on nwȝeres morne,

For alle þe londe in-wyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!

For-þy, sir, þis enquest I require yow here,

Þat ȝe me telle with trawþe, if euer ȝe tale herde

Of þe grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stondeȝ,

& of þe knyȝt þat hit kepes, of colour of grene?

Þer watȝ stabled bi statut a steuen vus by-twene,

To mete þat mon at þat mere, ȝif I myȝt last;

& of þat ilk nwȝere hot neked now wonteȝ,

& I wolde loke on þat lede, if God me let wolde,

Gladloker, bi Goddeȝ sun, þen any god welde!

For-þi, I-wysse, bi ȝowre wylle, wende me bi-houes,

Naf I now to busy bot bare þre dayeȝ,

& me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde."

Þenne laȝande quod þe lorde, "now leng þe by-houes,

For I schal teche yow to þa[t] terme bi þe tymeȝ ende,

Þe grene chapayle vpon grounde, greue yow no more;

Bot ȝe schal be in yowre bed, burne, at þyn ese,

Quyle forth dayej, & ferk on pe fyrst of pe ȝere,

& cum to þat merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow likeȝ

in spenne;

Dowelleȝ whyle new ȝeres daye,

& rys, & raykeȝ þenne,

Mon schal yow sette in waye,

Hit is not two myle henne."

Þenne watȝ Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he laȝed,—

"Now I þonk yow þryuandely þurȝ alle oþer þynge,

Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle

Dowelle, & elleȝ do quat ȝe demen."

Þenne sesed hym þe syre, & set hym bysyde,

Let þe ladieȝ be fette, to lyke hem þe better;

Þer watȝ seme solace by hem-self stille;

Þe lorde let for luf loteȝ so myry,

As wyȝ þat wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he myȝt.

Þenne he carped to þe knyȝt, criande loude,

"Ȝe han demed to do þe dede þat I bidde;

Wyl ȝe halde þis hes here at þys oneȝ?"

"Ȝe sir, for-soþe," sayd þe segge trwe,

"Whyl I byde in yowre borȝe, be bayn to ȝow[r]e hest."

"For ȝe haf trauayled," quod þe tulk, "towen fro ferre,

& syþen waked me wyth, ȝe arn not wel waryst,

Nauþer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, soþly I knowe;

Ȝe schal lenge in your lofte, & lyȝe in your ese,

To morn quyle þe messe-quyle, & to mete wende,

When ȝe wyl, wyth my wyf, þat wyth yow schal sitte,

& comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,

ȝe lende;

& I schal erly ryse,

On huntyng wyl I wende."

Gauayn granteȝ alle þyse,

Hym heldande, as þe hende.

"Ȝet firre," quod þe freke, "a forwarde we make;

Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþeȝ to youreȝ,

& quat chek so ȝe acheue, chaunge me þer-forne;

Swete, swap we so, sware with trawþe,

Queþer, leude, so lymp lere oþer better."

"Bi God," quod Gawayn þe gode, "I grant þer-tylle,

& þat yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me þynkes.

"Who bringeȝ vus þis beuerage, þis bargayn is maked:"

So sayde þe lorde of þat lede; þay laȝed vchone,

Þay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vntyȝtel,¹

Þise lordeȝ & ladyeȝ, quyle þat hem lyked;

& syþen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre loteȝ

Þay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,

Kysten ful comlyly, & kaȝten her leue.

With mony leude ful lyȝt, & lemande torches,

Vche burne to his bed watȝ broȝt at þe laste,

ful softe;

To bed ȝet er þay ȝede,

Recorded couenaunteȝ ofte;

Þe olde lorde of þat leude,²

Cowþe wel halde layk a-lofte.

Ful erly bifore þe day þe folk vp-rysen,

Gestes þat go wolde, hor gromeȝ þay calden,

& þay busken vp bilyue, blonkkeȝ to sadel,

Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,

Richen hem þe rychest, to ryde alle arayde,

Lepen vp lyȝtly, lachen her brydeles,

Vche wyȝe on his way, þer hym wel lyked.

Þe leue lorde of þe londe watȝ not þe last,

A-rayed for þe rydyng, with renkkeȝ ful mony;

Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,

With bugle to bent felde he buskeȝ by-lyue;

By þat þat any day-lyȝt lemed vpon erþe,

He with his haþeles on hyȝe horsses weren.

Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe, cowpled hor houndeȝ,

Vnclosed þe kenel dore, & calde hem þer-oute,

Blwe bygly in bugleȝ þre bare mote;

Braches bayed þerfore, & breme noyse maked,

& þay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng þat went;

A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,

of þe best;

To trystors vewters ȝod,

Couples huntes of kest,

Þer ros for blasteȝ gode,

Gret rurd in þat forest.

At þe fyrst quethe of þe quest quaked þe wylde;

Der drof in þe dale, doted for drede,

Hiȝed to þe hyȝe, bot heterly þay were

Restayed with þe stablye, þat stoutly ascryed;

Þay let þe hertteȝ haf þe gate, with þe hyȝe hedes,

Þe breme bukkeȝ also, with hor brode paumeȝ;

For þe fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme,

Þat þer schulde no mon mene¹ to þe male dere.

Þe hindeȝ were halden in, with hay & war,

Þe does dryuen with gret dyn to þe depe sladeȝ;

Þer myȝt mon se, as þay slypte, slentyng of arwes,

At vche [þat] wende vnder wande wapped a flone,

Þat bigly bote on þe broun, with ful brode hedeȝ,

What! þay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkkeȝ þay deȝen.

& ay rachches in a res radly hem folȝes,

Huntereȝ wyth hyȝe horne hasted hem after,

Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten;

What wylde so at-waped wyȝes þat schotten,

Watȝ al to-raced & rent, at þe resayt.

Bi þay were tened at þe hyȝe, & taysed to þe wattreȝ,

Þe ledeȝ were so lerned at þe loȝe trysteres,

& þe gre-houndeȝ so grete, þat geten hem bylyue,

& hem to fylched, as fast as frekeȝ myȝt loke,

þer ryȝt.

Þe lorde for blys abloy

Ful oft con launce & lyȝt,

& drof þat day wyth Ioy

Thus to þe derk nyȝt.

Þus laykeȝ þis lorde by lynde wodeȝ eueȝ,

& G. þe god mon, in gay bed lygeȝ,

Lurkkeȝ quyl þe day-lyȝt lemed on þe wowes,

Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;

& as in slomeryng he slode, sleȝly he herde

A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;

& he heueȝ vp his hed out of þe cloþes,

A corner of þe cortyn he caȝt vp a lyttel,

& wayteȝ warly þider-warde, quat hit be myȝt.

Hit watȝ þe ladi, loflyest to be-holde,

Þat droȝ þe dor after hir ful dernly¹ & stylle,

& boȝed to-warde þe bed; & þe burne schamed.

& layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte.

& ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde,

Kest vp þe cortyn, & creped with-inne,

& set hir ful softly on þe bed-syde,

& lenged þere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.

Þe lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,

Compast in his concience to quat þat cace myȝt

Mene oþer amount, to meruayle hym þoȝt;

Bot ȝet he sayde in hym-self, "more semly hit were

To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde."

þen he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned,

& vn-louked his yȝe-lyddeȝ, & let as hym wondered,

& sayned hym, as bi his saȝe þe sauer to worthe,

with hande;

Wyth chynne & cheke ful swete,

Boþe quit & red in-blande,

Ful lufly con ho lete,

Wyth lyppeȝ smal laȝande.

"God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde þat fayr lady,

"Ȝe ar a sleper vn-slyȝe, þat mon may slyde hider;

Now ar ȝe tan astyt, bot true vus may schape,

I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be ȝe trayst:"

Al laȝande þe lady lanced þo bourdeȝ.

"Goud moroun g[aye],"¹ quod Gawayn þe blyþe,

"Me schal worþe at your wille, & þat me wel lykeȝ,

For I ȝelde me ȝederly, & ȝeȝe after grace,

& þat is þe best, be my dome, for me by-houeȝ nede;"

& þus he bourded a-ȝayn with mony a blyþe laȝter.

"Bot wolde ȝe, lady louely, þen leue me grante,

& de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse,

I wolde boȝe of þis bed, & busk me better,

I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth."

"Nay, for soþe, beau sir," sayd þat swete,

"Ȝe schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,

I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als,

& syþen karp wyth my knyȝt þat I kaȝt haue;

For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen ȝe are,

Þat alle þe worlde worchipeȝ, quere-so ȝe ride;

Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed

With lordeȝ, wyth ladyes, with alle þat lyf bere.

& now ȝe ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;

"My lorde & his ledeȝ ar on lenþe faren,

Oþer burneȝ in her bedde, & my burdeȝ als,

Þe dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;

& syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lykeȝ,

I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit lasteȝ,

with tale;

Ȝe ar welcum to my cors,

Yowre awen won to wale,

Me be-houeȝ of fyne force,

Your seruaunt be & schale."

"In god fayth," quod Gawayn, "gayn hit me þynkkeȝ,

Þaȝ I be not now he þat ȝe of speken;

To reche to such reuerence as ȝe reherce here

I am wyȝe vn-worþy, I wot wel my-seluen;

Bi God, I were glad, & yow god þoȝt,

At saȝe oþer at seruyce þat I sette myȝt

To þe plesaunce of your prys, hit were a pure ioye."

"In god fayth, sir Gawayn," quod þe gay lady,

"Þe prys & þe prowes þat pleseȝ al oþer,

If I hit lakked, oþer set at lyȝt, hit were littel daynté;

Bot hit ar ladyes in-noȝe, þat leuer wer nowþe

Haf þe hende in hor holde, as I þe habbe here,

To daly witt derely your daynté wordeȝ,

Keuer hem comfort, & colen her careȝ,

Þen much of þe garysourn oþer golde þat¹ þay hauen;

Bot I louue² þat ilk lorde þat þe lyfte haldeȝ,

I haf hit holly in my honde þat al desyres,

þurȝe grace."

Scho made hym so gret chere,

Þat watȝ so fayr of face,

Þe knyȝt with speches skere,

A[n]swared to vche a cace.

"Madame," quod þe myry mon, "Mary yow ȝelde,

For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,

& oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dedeȝ;

Bot þe daynté þat þay delen for my disert nysen,

Hit is þe worchyp of your-self, þat noȝt hot wel conneȝ."

"Bi Mary," quod þe menskful, "me þynk hit anoþer;

For were I worth al þe wone of wymmen alyue,

& al þe wele of þe worlde were in my honde,

& I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,

For þe costes þat I haf knowen vpun þe knyȝt here,

Of bewté, & debonerté, & blyþe semblaunt,

& þat I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,

Þer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen."

"I-wysse, worþy," quod þe wyȝe, "ȝe haf waled wel better,

Bot I am proude of þe prys þat ȝe put on me,

& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,

& yowre knyȝt I be-com, & Kryst yow for-ȝelde."

Þus þay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,

& ay þe lady let lyk, a¹ hym loued mych;

Þe freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.

Þaȝ I were burde bryȝtest, þe burde in mynde hade,

Þe lasse luf in his lode, for lur þat he soȝt,

boute hone;

Þe dunte þat schulde² hym deue,

& nedeȝ hit most be done;

Þe lady þenn spek of leue.

He granted hir ful sone.