XXI.
Wild ways now Gawayne rides.
Wylde wayeȝ in þe worlde Wowen now rydeȝ,
On Gryngolet, þat þe grace hade geten of his lyue;
Ofte he herbered in house, & ofte al þeroute,
& mony a-venture in vale, & venquyst ofte,
Þat I ne tyȝt, at þis tyme, in tale to remene.
Þe hurt watȝ hole, þat he hade hent in his nek,
& þe blykkande belt he bere þeraboute,
A belef as a bauderyk, bounden bi his syde,
Loken vnder his lyfte arme, þe lace, with a knot,
In tokenyng he watȝ tane in tech of a faute;
& þus he commes to þe court, knyȝt al in sounde.
Þer wakned wele in þat wone, when wyst þe grete,
Þat gode G: watȝ commen, gayn hit hym þoȝt;
Þe kyng kysseȝ þe knyȝt, & þe whene alce,
& syþen mony syker knyȝt, þat soȝt hym to haylce,
Of his fare þat hym frayned, & ferlyly he telles;
Biknowoȝ alle þe costes of care þat he hade,—
Þe chaunce of þe chapel, þe chere of þe knyȝt,
Þe luf of þe ladi, þe lace at þe last.
Þe nirt in þe nek he naked hem schewed,
Þat he laȝt for his vnleute at þe leudes hondes,
for blame;
He tened quen he schulde telle,
He groned for gref & grame;
Þe blod in his face con melle,
When he hit schulde schewe, for schame.