XXIV.
"Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be yours,
"3et firre," quod þe freke, "a forwarde we make;
Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþe3 to youre3,
& quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me þer-forne;
Swete, swap we so, sware with trawþe,
Queþer, leude, so lymp lere oþer better."
"Bi God," quod Gawayn þe gode, "I grant þer-tylle,
& þat yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me þynkes.
"Who bringe3 vus þis beuerage, þis bargayn is maked:"
So sayde þe lorde of þat lede; þay la3ed vchone,
Þay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,1
Þise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle þat hem lyked;
& syþen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3
Þay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,
Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.
With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,
Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at þe laste,
ful softe;
To bed 3et er þay 3ede,
Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;
Þe olde lorde of þat leude,2
Cowþe wel halde layk a-lofte.
1 vntyl ny3te (?). 2 lede (?).
[FYTTE THE THIRD.]
I.
Before day-break folks uprise,
Ful erly bifore þe day þe folk vp-rysen,
Gestes þat go wolde, hor grome3 þay calden,
& þay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel,
Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,
Richen hem þe rychest, to ryde alle arayde,
Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles,
Vche wy3e on his way, þer hym wel lyked.
Þe leue lorde of þe londe wat3 not þe last,
A-rayed for þe rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony;
Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,
With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue;
By þat þat any day-ly3t lemed vpon erþe,
He with his haþeles on hy3e horsses weren.
Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe, cowpled hor hounde3,
Vnclosed þe kenel dore, & calde hem þer-oute,
Blwe bygly in bugle3 þre bare mote;
Braches bayed þerfore, & breme noyse maked,
& þay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng þat went;
A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,
of þe best;
To trystors vewters 3od,
Couples huntes of kest,
Þer ros for blaste3 gode,
Gret rurd in þat forest.