III.

Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast,

Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse,

With mony luflych lorde, lede3 of þe best,

Rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer,

With rych reuel ory3t, & rechles merþes;

Þer tournayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony,

Iusted ful Iolilé þise gentyle kni3tes,

Syþen kayred to þe court, caroles to make.

For þer þe fest wat3 ilyche ful fiften dayes,

With alle þe mete & þe mirþe þat men couþe a-vyse;

Such glaumande gle glorious to here,

Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on ny3tes,

Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3,

With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest him þo3t;

With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen,

Þe most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryste seluen,

& þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden,

& he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes;

For al wat3 þis fayre folk in her first age,

on sille;

Þe hapnest vnder heuen,

Kyng hy3est mon of wylle,

Hit were¹ now gret nye to neuen

So hardy a here on hille.

¹ MS. werere.