XXI.
Tables are raised aloft, 1648
Þenne þay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,
Kesten cloþe3 vpon, clere ly3t þenne
Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches
Segge3 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 songe3,
As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,
With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.
& euer oure luflych kny3t þe lady bi-syde;
Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,
Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,
Þat al for-wondered wat3 þe wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,
Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,
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 (?).