IV.
They celebrate the New Year with great joy. 60
Wyle nw 3er wat3 so 3ep þat hit wat3 nwe cummen,
Þat day doubble on þe dece wat3 þe douth serued,
Fro þe kyng wat3 cummen with kny3tes in to þe halle,
Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende;
Loude crye wat3 þer kest of clerke3 & oþer,
Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte;
& syþen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle,
3e3ed 3eres 3iftes on hi3, 3elde hem bi hond,
Debated busyly aboute þo giftes;
Ladies la3ed ful loude, þo3 þay lost haden,
& he þat wan wat3 not wrothe, þat may 3e 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 my3t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye,
in daye;
Þe comlokest to discrye,
Þer glent with y3en gray,
A semloker þat euer he sy3e,
Soth mo3t no mon say.