X.
[Fol. 109b.]
The lord commands all his household to assemble, 1372
Thenne comaunded þe lorde in þat sale to samen alle þe meny,
Boþe þe ladyes on loghe to lyȝt with her burdes,
Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, frekeȝ he beddeȝ
Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
& al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
Techeȝ hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes,
Scheweȝ hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
"How payeȝ yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen?
Haue I þryuandely þonk þurȝ my craft serued?"
"Ȝe I-wysse," quod þat oþer wyȝe, "here is wayth fayrest
Þat I seȝ þis seuen ȝere in sesoun of wynter."
"& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne,
"For by a-corde of couenaunt ȝe craue hit as your awen."
"Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke,
&1 I haf worthyly þis woneȝ wyth-inne,
I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþeȝ to ȝoureȝ."
He hasppeȝ his fayre hals his armeȝ wyth-inne,
& kysses hym as comlyly as he2 couþe awyse:
"Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
I wowche hit saf fynly, þaȝ feler hit were."
"Hit is god," quod þe god mon, "grant mercy þerfore,
Hit may be such, hit is þe better, &1 ȝe me breue wolde
Where ȝe wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor3 seluen?"
"Þat watȝ not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,
For ȝe haftan þat yow tydeȝ, traweȝe non oþer
ȝe mowe."
Þay laȝed, & made hem blyþe,
Wyth loteȝ þat were to lowe,
To soper þay ȝede asswyþe,
Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.
1 And = an. 2 ho, in MS. 3 your (?).