XVIII.

"Nay, forsooth," says Gawayne,

"Nay, for soþe," quod þe segge, & sesed hys helme,

& hat3 hit of hendely, & þe haþel þonkke3,

"I haf soiorned sadly, sele yow bytyde,

& he 3elde hit yow 3are, þat 3arkke3 al menskes!

& comaunde3 me to þat cortays, your comlych fere,

Boþe þat on & þat oþer, myn honoured ladye3.

Þat þus hor kny3t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled.

Bot hit is no ferly, þa3 a fole madde,

& þur3 wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor3e;

For so wat3 Adam in erde with one bygyled,

& Salamon with fele sere, & Samson eft sone3,

Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde, & Dauyth þer-after

Wat3 blended with Barsabe, þat much bale þoled.

Now þese were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne huge,

To luf hom wel, & leue hem not, a leude þat couþe,

For þes wer forne¹ þe freest þat fol3ed alle þe sele,

Ex-ellently of alle þyse oþer, vnder heuen-ryche,

þat mused;

& alle þay were bi-wyled,

With² wymmen þat þay vsed,

Þa3 I be now bigyled,

Me þink me burde be excused."

¹ forme (?) ² with wyth, in MS.