XIX.

With permission of the lord,

When Gawayn gly3t on þat gay, þat graciously loked,

Wyth leue la3t of þe lorde he went hem a3aynes;

Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,

Þe loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,

He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;

Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3

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

Spyce3, þat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,

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

Þe lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,

Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþe3.

Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,

& wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of,

Þat most myrþe my3t mene¹ þat crystenmas whyle;

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

Er me wont þe wede3, with help of my frende3."

Þus wyth la3ande lote3 þe lorde hit tayt² make3,

For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle

þat ny3t;

Til þat hit wat3 tyme,

Þe kyng comaundet ly3t,

Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,

& to his bed hym di3t.

¹ meue (?). ² layt (?).