XXI.
Arthur addresses the queen:
Þa3 Arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder,
He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e
To þe comlych quene, wyth cortays speche,
"Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer;
Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse,
Laykyng of enterlude3, to la3e & to syng.
Among þise, kynde caroles of kny3te3 & ladye3;
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 hat3 in-nogh hewen."
& hit wat3 don abof þe dece, on doser to henge,
Þer alle men for meruayl my3t on hit loke,
& bi trwe tytel þer-of to telle þe wonder.
Þenne þay bo3ed to a borde þise burnes to-geder,
Þe kyng & þe gode kny3t, & kene men hem serued
Of alle dayntye3 double, as derrest my3t 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 hat3 tan on honde.
[FYTTE THE SECOND.]
I.
This marvel serves to keep up a brisk conversation in Court.
This hanselle hat3 Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,
In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here,
Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when þay to sete wenten;
Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.
Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne þose gomne3 in halle,
Bot þa3 þe ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder;
For þa3 men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk,
A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke,
Þe forme to þe fynisment folde3 ful selden.
For-þi þis 3ol ouer-3ede, & þe 3ere after,
& vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer;
After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun,
Þat frayste3 flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple
Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepe3,
Colde clenge3 adoun, cloude3 vp-lyften,
Schyre schede3 þe rayn in schowre3 ful warme,
Falle3 vpon fayre flat, flowre3 þere schewen,
Boþe grounde3 & þe greue3 grene ar her wede3,
Brydde3 busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,
For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after,
bi bonk;
& blossume3 bolne to blowe,
Bi rawe3 rych & ronk,
Þen note3 noble in-no3e,
Ar herde in wod so wlonk.