XXI.

Great was the joy for three days. 1020

Much dut wat3 þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer,

& þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter;

Þe ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here,

& wat3 þe last of þe layk, leude3 þer þo3ten.

Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne,

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

Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3;

At þe last, when hit wat3 late, þay lachen her leue,

Vchon to wende on his way, þat wat3 wy3e stronge.

Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachche3,

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

& þere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym þonkke3,

Of þe wynne worschip &¹ he hym wayned hade,

As to honour his hous on þat hy3e tyde,

& enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere.

"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþe3 þe better,

Þat Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest."

"Grant merci² sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3,

Al þe honour is your awen, þe he3e kyng yow 3elde;

& I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest,

As I am halden þer-to, in hy3e & in lo3e,

bi ri3t."

Þe lorde fast can hym payne,

To holde lenger þe kny3t,

To hym answre3 Gawayn,

Bi non way þat he my3t.

¹ þat (?). ² nerci, in MS.