XIX.

With permission of the lord,

When Gawayn glyȝt on þat gay, þat graciously loked,

Wyth leue laȝt of þe lorde he went hem aȝaynes;

Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,

Þe loueloker he lappeȝ a lyttel in armeȝ,

He kysses hir comlyly, & knyȝtly he meleȝ;

Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk askeȝ

To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.

Þay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden

To chambre, to chemné, & chefly þay asken

Spyceȝ, þat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,

& þe wynne-lych wyne þer-with vche tyme.

Þe lorde luflych aloft lepeȝ ful ofte,

Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþeȝ.

Hent heȝly of his hode, & on a spere henged,

& wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of,

Þat most myrþe myȝt mene¹ þat crystenmas whyle;

"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth þe best,

Er me wont þe wedeȝ, with help of my frendeȝ."

Þus wyth laȝande loteȝ þe lorde hit tayt² makeȝ,

For to glade sir Gawayn with gomneȝ in halle

þat nyȝt;

Til þat hit watȝ tyme,

Þe kyng comaundet lyȝt,

Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,

& to his bed hym diȝt.

¹ meue (?). ² layt (?).