IV.
They celebrate the New Year with great joy. 60
Wyle nw ȝer watȝ so ȝep þat hit watȝ nwe cummen,
Þat day doubble on þe dece watȝ þe douth serued,
Fro þe kyng watȝ cummen with knyȝtes in to þe halle,
Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende;
Loude crye watȝ þer kest of clerkeȝ & oþer,
Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte;
& syþen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle,
Ȝeȝed ȝeres ȝiftes on hiȝ, ȝelde hem bi hond,
Debated busyly aboute þo giftes;
Ladies laȝed ful loude, þoȝ þay lost haden,
& he þat wan watȝ not wrothe, þat may ȝe wel trawe.
Alle þis mirþe þay maden to þe mete tyme;
When þay had waschen, worþyly þay wenten to sete,
Þe best burne ay abof, as hit best semed;
Whene Guenore ful gay, grayþed in þe myddes.
Dressed on þe dere des, dubbed al aboute,
Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer
Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites in-noghe,
Þat were enbrawded & beten wyth þe best gemmes,
Þat myȝt be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye,
in daye;
Þe comlokest to discrye,
Þer glent with yȝen gray,
A semloker þat euer he syȝe,
Soth moȝt no mon say.