III.
On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's sake. 536
Ȝet quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges,
& he made a fare on þat fest, for þe frekeȝ sake,
With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table;
Knyȝteȝ ful cortays & comlych ladies,
Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were,
Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe,
Mony ioyleȝ for þat ientyle iapeȝ þer maden.
For aftter mete, with mournyng he meleȝ to his eme,
& spekeȝ of his passage, & pertly he sayde,
"Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask;
ȝe knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more
To telle yow teneȝ þer-of neuer bot trifel;
Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne,
To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse."
Þenne þe best of þe burȝ boȝed to-geder,
Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony,
Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence,
Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode,
Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe,
& mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port.
Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre,
For to counseyl þe knyȝt, with care at her hert;
Þere watȝ much derue1 doel driuen in þe sale,
Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde,
To dryȝe a delful dynt, & dele no more
wyth bronde.
Þe knyȝt mad ay god chere,
& sayde, "quat schuld I wonde,
Of destines derf & dere,
What may mon do bot fonde?"
1 derne (?).