XX.

444

For þe hede in his honde he haldeȝ vp euen,

To-ward þe derrest on þe dece he dresseȝ þe face,

& hit lyfte vp þe yȝe-lyddeȝ, & loked ful brode,

& meled þus much with his muthe, as ȝe may now here.

"Loke, Gawan, þou be grayþe to go as þou hetteȝ,

& layte as lelly til þou me, lude, fynde,

As þou hatȝ hette in þis halle, herande þise knyȝtes;

To þe grene chapel þou chose, I charge þe to fotte,

Such a dunt as þou hatȝ dalt disserued þou habbeȝ,

To be ȝederly ȝolden on nw ȝeres morn;

Þe knyȝt of þe grene chapel men knowen me mony;

For-þi me forto fynde if þou fraysteȝ, fayleȝ þou neuer,

Þer-fore com, oþer recreaunt be calde þe be-houeus."

With a runisch rout þe rayneȝ he torneȝ,

Halled out at þe hal-dor, his hed in his hande,

Þat þe fyr of þe flynt flaȝe fro fole houes.

To quat kyth he be-com, knwe non þere,

Neuermore þen þay wyste fram queþen he watȝ wonnen;

what þenne?

Þe kyng & Gawen þare,

At þat grene þay laȝe & grenne,

ȝet breued watȝ hit ful bare,

A meruayl among þo menne.