XVII.

[Fol. 96.]

Þen comaunded þe kyng þe kny3t for to ryse;

& he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,

Kneled doun bifore þe kyng, & cache3 þat weppen;

& he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,

& gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes

Þat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boþe.

"Kepe þe cosyn," quod þe kyng, "þat þou on kyrf sette,

& if þou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe,

Þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after.

Gawan got3 to þe gome, with giserne in honde,

& he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer þe helder

Þen carppe3 to sir Gawan þe kny3t in þe grene,

"Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe.

Fyrst I eþe þe, haþel, how þat þou hattes,

Þat þou me telle truly, as I tryst may?"

"In god fayth," quod þe goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte,

Þat bede þe þis buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after,

& at þis tyme twelmonyth take at þe anoþer,

Wyth what weppen so¹ þou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3,

on lyue."

Þat oþer on-sware3 agayn,

"Sir Gawan, so mot I þryue,

As I am ferly fayn.

Þis dint þat þou schal dryue."

¹ MS. fo.