XX.
On Christmas morn,
On þe morne, as vch mon myneȝ þat tyme,
[Þ]at dryȝtyn for oure destyné to deȝe watȝ borne,
Wele waxeȝ in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;
So did hit þere on þat day, þurȝ dayntes mony;
Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt
Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best.
Þe olde auncian wyf heȝest ho sytteȝ;
Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;
Gawan & þe gay burde to-geder þay seten,
Euen in-myddeȝ, as þe messe metely come;
& syþen þurȝ al þe sale, as hem best semed,
Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely watȝ serued.
Þer watȝ mete, þer watȝ myrþe, þer watȝ much ioye,
Þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were,
& to poynte hit ȝet I pyned me parauenture;
Bot ȝet I wot þat Wawen & þe wale burde
Such comfort of her compaynye caȝten to-geder,
Þurȝ her dere dalyaunce of her derne wordeȝ,
Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fylþe;
& hor play watȝ passande vche prynce gomen,
in vayres;
Trumpeȝ & nakerys,
Much pypyng þer repayres,
Vche mon tented hys,
& þay two tented þayres.