XXXII.
The hunters then hasten home.
& þenne þay helden to home, for hit watȝ nieȝ nyȝt,
Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horneȝ;
Þe lorde is lyȝt at þe laste at hys lef home,
Fyndeȝ fire vpon flet, þe freke þer by-side,
Sir Gawayn þe gode, þat glad watȝ with alle,
Among þe ladies for luf he ladde much ioye,
He were a bleaunt of blwe, þat bradde to þe erþe,
His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe watȝ forred,
& his hode of þat ilke henged on his schulder,
Blande al of blaunner were boþe al aboute.
He meteȝ me þis god mon in myddeȝ þe flore,
& al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde,
"I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwardeȝ nouþe,
Þat we spedly han spoken, þer spared watȝ no drynk;"
Þen acoles he [þe] knyȝt, & kysses hym þryes,
As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette couþe.
"Bi Kryst," quod þat oþer knyȝt, "ȝe cach much sele,
In cheuisaunce of þis chaffer, ȝif ȝe hade goud chepeȝ."
"Ȝe of þe chepe no charg," quod chefly þat oþer,
"As is pertly payed þe chepeȝ þat I aȝte."
"Mary," quod þat oþer mon, "myn is bi-hynde,
For I haf hunted al þis day, & noȝt haf I geten,
Bot þis foule fox felle, þe fende haf þe godeȝ,
& þat is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys þinges,
As ȝe haf þryȝt me here, þro suche þre cosses,
so gode."
"I-noȝ," quod sir Gawayn,
"I þonk yow, bi þe rode;"
& how þe fox watȝ slayn,
He tolde hym, as þay stode.