XVII.
Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,
Þenne watȝ spyed & spured vpon spare wyse.
Bi preue poynteȝ of þat prynce, put to hym-seluen,
Þat he be-knew cortaysly of þe court þat he were,
Þat aþel Arthure þe hende haldeȝ hym one,
Þat is þe ryche ryal kyng of þe rounde table;
& hit watȝ Wawen hym-self þat in þat won sytteȝ,
Comen to þat krystmasse, as case hym þen lymped.
When þe lorde hade lerned þat he þe leude hade,
Loude laȝed he þerat, so lef hit hym þoȝt,
& alle þe men in þat mote maden much joye,
To apere in his presense prestly þat tyme,
Þat alle prys, & prowes, & pured þewes
Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,
By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is þe most.
Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,
"Now schal we semlych se sleȝteȝ of þeweȝ,
& þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble,
Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,
Syn we haf fonged þat fyne fader of nurture;
God hatȝ geuen vus his grace godly for soþe,
Þat such a gest as Gawan graunteȝ vus to haue,
When burneȝ blyþe of his burþe schal sitte
& synge.
In menyng of manereȝ mere,
Þis burne now schal vus bryng,
I hope þat may hym here,
Schal lerne of luf-talkyng."