XXI.
Tables are raised aloft, 1648
Þenne þay teldet tableȝ [on] trestes alofte,
Kesten cloþeȝ vpon, clere lyȝt þenne
Wakned bi woȝeȝ, waxen torches
Seggeȝ sette, & serued in sale al aboute;
Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne,
Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,
At þe soper & after, mony aþel songeȝ,
As coundutes of kryst-masse, & caroleȝ newe,
With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.
& euer oure luflych knyȝt þe lady bi-syde;
Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,
Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,
Þat al for-wondered watȝ þe wyȝe, & wroth with hym-seluen,
Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-ȝayneȝ,
Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer þe dede turned
to wrast;
Quen þay hade played in halle,
As longe as hor wylle hom last,
To chambre he1 con hym calle,
& to þe chem-ne þay past.
1 ho (?).