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 ly3t with her burdes,
Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, freke3 he bedde3
Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
& al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
Teche3 hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes,
Schewe3 hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
"How paye3 yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen?
Haue I þryuandely þonk þur3 my craft serued?"
"3e I-wysse," quod þat oþer wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest
Þat I se3 þis seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter."
"& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne,
"For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen."
"Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke,
&1 I haf worthyly þis wone3 wyth-inne,
I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþe3 to 3oure3."
He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne,
& kysses hym as comlyly as he2 couþe awyse:
"Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
I wowche hit saf fynly, þa3 feler hit were."
"Hit is god," quod þe god mon, "grant mercy þerfore,
Hit may be such, hit is þe better, &1 3e me breue wolde
Where 3e wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor3 seluen?"
"Þat wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,
For 3e haftan þat yow tyde3, trawe3e non oþer
3e mowe."
Þay la3ed, & made hem blyþe,
Wyth lote3 þat were to lowe,
To soper þay 3ede asswyþe,
Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.
1 And = an. 2 ho, in MS. 3 your (?).