XVII.

Gawayne rises, hears mass, and then dines.

Then ruþes hym þe renk, & ryses to þe masse,

& siþen hor diner watȝ dyȝt & derely serued.

Þe lede with þe ladyeȝ layked alle day,

Bot þe lorde ouer þe londeȝ launced ful ofte,

Sweȝ his vncely swyn, þat swyngeȝ bi þe bonkkeȝ,

& bote þe best of his bracheȝ þe bakkeȝ in sunder;

Þer he bode in his bay, tel¹ bawe-men hit breken,

& made² hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter;

So felle floneȝ per flete, when þe folk gedered;

Bot ȝet þe styffest to start bi stoundeȝ he made,

Til at þe last he watȝ so mat, he myȝt no more renne,

Bot in þe hast þat he myȝt, he to a hole wynneȝ,

Of a rasse, bi a rokk, þer renneȝ þe boerne,

He gete þe bonk at his bak, bigyneȝ to scrape,

Þe froþe femed³ at his mouth vnfayre bi þe wykeȝ,

Whetteȝ his whyte tuscheȝ; with hym þen irked

Alle þe burneȝ so bolde, þat hym by stoden,

To nye hym on-ferum, bot neȝe hym non durst

for woþe;

He hade hurt so mony byforne,

Þat al þuȝt⁴ þenne ful loþe,

Be more wyth his tuscheȝ torne,

Þat breme watȝ [&] brayn-wod bothe.

¹ til (?). ² madee, in MS. ³ fomed (?). ⁴ þoȝt (?).