XXI.

Great was the joy for three days. 1020

Much dut watȝ þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer,

& þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter;

Þe ioye of sayn Ioneȝ day watȝ gentyle to here,

& watȝ þe last of þe layk, leudeȝ þer þoȝten.

Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne,

For-þy wonderly þay woke, & þe wyn dronken,

Daunsed ful dreȝly wyth dere caroleȝ;

At þe last, when hit watȝ late, þay lachen her leue,

Vchon to wende on his way, þat watȝ wyȝe stronge.

Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachcheȝ,

Ledes hym to his awen chambre, þ[e] chymné bysyde,

& þere he draȝeȝ hym on-dryȝe, & derely hym þonkkeȝ,

Of þe wynne worschip &¹ he hym wayned hade,

As to honour his hous on þat hyȝe tyde,

& enbelyse his burȝ with his bele chere.

"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþeȝ þe better,

Þat Gawayn hatȝ ben my gest, at Goddeȝ awen fest."

"Grant merci² sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowreȝ,

Al þe honour is your awen, þe heȝe kyng yow ȝelde;

& I am wyȝe at your wylle, to worch youre hest,

As I am halden þer-to, in hyȝe & in loȝe,

bi riȝt."

Þe lorde fast can hym payne,

To holde lenger þe knyȝt,

To hym answreȝ Gawayn,

Bi non way þat he myȝt.

¹ þat (?). ² nerci, in MS.