XIV.

"Good sir," says Gawayne, "ask the high lord of this house to grant me a lodging."

"Gode sir," quod Gawan, "woldeȝ þou go myn ernde,

To þe heȝ lorde of þis hous, herber to craue?"

"ȝe, Peter," quod þe porter, "& purely I trowe,¹

Þat ȝe be, wyȝe, welcum to won quyle yow lykeȝ."

Þen ȝede þat wyȝe aȝayn awyþe,

& folke frely hym wyth, to fonge þe knyȝt;

Þay let doun þe grete draȝt, & derely out ȝeden,

& kneled doun on her knes vpon þe colde erþe,

To welcum þis ilk wyȝ, as worþy hom þoȝt;

Þay ȝolden hym þe brode ȝate, ȝarked vp wyde,

& he hem raysed rekenly, & rod ouer þe brygge;

Sere seggeȝ hym sesed by sadel, quel² he lyȝt,

& syþen stabeled his stede stif men in-noȝe.

Knyȝteȝ & swyereȝ comen doun þenne,

For to bryng þis burne³ wyth blys in-to halle;

Quen he hef vp his helme, þer hiȝed in-noghe

For to hent hit at his honde, þe hende to seruen,

His bronde & his blasoun boþe þay token.

Þen haylsed he ful hendly þo haþeleȝ vch one,

& mony proud mon þer presed, þat prynce to honour;

Alle hasped in his heȝ wede to halle þay hym wonnen,

Þer fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned.

Þenne þe lorde of þe lede louteȝ fro his chambre,

For to mete wyth menske þe mon on þe flor;

He sayde, "ȝe ar welcum to welde as yow lykeȝ,

Þat here is, al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle

& welde."

"Graunt mercy," quod Gawayn,

"Þer Kryst hit yow for-ȝelde,"

As frekeȝ þat semed fayn,

Ayþer oþer in armeȝ con felde.

¹ trowoe, MS. ² quyle (?) or quen (?). ³ buurne, MS.