II.

While he clothed himself in his rich weeds,

Whyle þe wlonkest wedes he warp on hym-seluen;

His cote, wyth be conysaunce of þe clere werkeȝ,

Ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus¹ stoneȝ,

Aboute beten, & bounden, enbrauded semeȝ,

& fayre furred with-inne wyth fayre pelures.

Ȝet laft he not þe lace, þe ladieȝ gifte,

Þat for-gat not Gawayn, for gode of hym-seluen;

Bi he hade belted þe bronde vpon his balȝe hauncheȝ,

Þenn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute;

Swyþe sweþled vmbe his swange swetely, þat knyȝt,

Þe gordel of þe grene silke, þat gay wel bisemed,

Vpon þat ryol red cloþe, þat ryche watȝ to schewe.

Bot wered not þis ilk wyȝe for wele þis gordel,

For pryde of þe pendaunteȝ, þaȝ polyst þay were,

& þaȝ þe glyterande golde glent vpon endeȝ,

Bot forto sauen hym-self, when suffer hym by-houed,

To byde bale with-oute dabate, of bronde hym to were,

oþer knyffe;

Bi þat þe bolde mon boun,

Wynneȝ þeroute bilyue,

Alle þe meyny of renoun,

He þonkkeȝ ofte ful ryue.

¹ vertuous (?).