VI.

Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that of all others.

"Madame," quod þe myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde,

For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,

& oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dede3;

Bot þe daynté þat þay delen for my disert nysen,

Hit is þe worchyp of your-self, þat no3t hot wel conne3."

"Bi Mary," quod þe menskful, "me þynk hit anoþer;

For were I worth al þe wone of wymmen alyue,

& al þe wele of þe worlde were in my honde,

& I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,

For þe costes þat I haf knowen vpun þe kny3t here,

Of bewté, & debonerté, & blyþe semblaunt,

& þat I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,

Þer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen."

"I-wysse, worþy," quod þe wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better,

Bot I am proude of þe prys þat 3e put on me,

& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,

& yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde."

Þus þay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,

& ay þe lady let lyk, a¹ hym loued mych;

Þe freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.

Þa3 I were burde bry3test, þe burde in mynde hade,

Þe lasse luf in his lode, for lur þat he so3t,

boute hone;

Þe dunte þat schulde² hym deue,

& nede3 hit most be done;

Þe lady þenn spek of leue.

He granted hir ful sone.

¹ and (?) ² sclulde, in MS.