XXI.
Arthur addresses the queen:
Þaȝ Arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder,
He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hyȝe
To þe comlych quene, wyth cortays speche,
"Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer;
Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse,
Laykyng of enterludeȝ, to laȝe & to syng.
Among þise, kynde caroles of knyȝteȝ & ladyeȝ;
Neuer-þe-lece to my mete I may me wel dres,
For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake."
He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde,
"Now sir, heng vp þyn ax, þat hatȝ in-nogh hewen."
& hit watȝ don abof þe dece, on doser to henge,
Þer alle men for meruayl myȝt on hit loke,
& bi trwe tytel þer-of to telle þe wonder.
Þenne þay boȝed to a borde þise burnes to-geder,
Þe kyng & þe gode knyȝt, & kene men hem serued
Of alle dayntyeȝ double, as derrest myȝt falle,
Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie boþe;
Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende,
in londe.
Now þenk wel, sir Gawan,
For woþe þat þou ne wonde,
Þis auenture forto frayn,
Þat þou hatȝ tan on honde.
[FYTTE THE SECOND.]
I.
This marvel serves to keep up a brisk conversation in Court.
This hanselle hatȝ Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,
In ȝonge ȝer, for he ȝerned ȝelpyng to here,
Thaȝ hym wordeȝ were wane, when þay to sete wenten;
Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.
Gawan watȝ glad to be-gynne þose gomneȝ in halle,
Bot þaȝ þe ende be heuy, haf ȝe no wonder;
For þaȝ men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk,
A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne, & ȝeldeȝ neuer lyke,
Þe forme to þe fynisment foldeȝ ful selden.
For-þi þis ȝol ouer-ȝede, & þe ȝere after,
& vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer;
After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun,
Þat fraysteȝ flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple
Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepeȝ,
Colde clengeȝ adoun, cloudeȝ vp-lyften,
Schyre schedeȝ þe rayn in schowreȝ ful warme,
Falleȝ vpon fayre flat, flowreȝ þere schewen,
Boþe groundeȝ & þe greueȝ grene ar her wedeȝ,
Bryddeȝ busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,
For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after,
bi bonk;
& blossumeȝ bolne to blowe,
Bi raweȝ rych & ronk,
Þen noteȝ noble in-noȝe,
Ar herde in wod so wlonk.