XVI.

A chair is placed for Sir Gawayne before the fireplace.

A cheyer by-fore þe chemné, þer charcole brenned,

Watȝ grayþed for sir Gawan, grayþely with cloþeȝ,

Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, þa[t] koynt wer boþe;

& þenne a mere mantyle watȝ on þat mon cast,

Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche,

& fayre furred wyth-inne with felleȝ of þe best,

Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of þe same;

& he sete in þat settel semlych ryche,

& achaufed hym chefly,¹ & þenne his cher mended.

Sone watȝ telded vp a tapit, on tresteȝ ful fayre,

Clad wyth a clene cloþe, þat cler quyt schewed,

Sanap, & salure, & syluer-in sponeȝ;

Þe wyȝe wesche at his wylle, & went to his mete

Seggeȝ hym serued semly in-noȝe,

Wyth sere sewes & sete,² sesounde of þe best,

Double felde, as hit falleȝ, & fele kyn fischeȝ;

Summe baken in bred, summe brad on þe gledeȝ,

Summe soþen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces,

& ay sawes³ so sleȝeȝ, þat þe segge lyked.

Þe freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte,

Ful hendely, quen alle þe haþeles re-hayted hym at oneȝ

as hende;

"Þis penaunce now ȝe take,

& eft hit schal amende;"

Þat mon much merþe con make.

For wyn in his hed þat wende.

¹ MS. cefly. ² swete (?). ³ sewes (?).