XX.
On Christmas morn,
On þe morne, as vch mon myne3 þat tyme,
[Þ]at dry3tyn for oure destyné to de3e wat3 borne,
Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;
So did hit þere on þat day, þur3 dayntes mony;
Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt
Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best.
Þe olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3;
Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;
Gawan & þe gay burde to-geder þay seten,
Euen in-mydde3, as þe messe metely come;
& syþen þur3 al þe sale, as hem best semed,
Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely wat3 serued.
Þer wat3 mete, þer wat3 myrþe, þer wat3 much ioye,
Þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were,
& to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture;
Bot 3et I wot þat Wawen & þe wale burde
Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder,
Þur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3,
Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fylþe;
& hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen,
in vayres;
Trumpe3 & nakerys,
Much pypyng þer repayres,
Vche mon tented hys,
& þay two tented þayres.