XXXII.
The hunters then hasten home.
& þenne þay helden to home, for hit wat3 nie3 ny3t,
Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horne3;
Þe lorde is ly3t at þe laste at hys lef home,
Fynde3 fire vpon flet, þe freke þer by-side,
Sir Gawayn þe gode, þat glad wat3 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 wat3 forred,
& his hode of þat ilke henged on his schulder,
Blande al of blaunner were boþe al aboute.
He mete3 me þis god mon in mydde3 þe flore,
& al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde,
"I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwarde3 nouþe,
Þat we spedly han spoken, þer spared wat3 no drynk;"
Þen acoles he [þe] kny3t, & kysses hym þryes,
As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette couþe.
"Bi Kryst," quod þat oþer kny3t, "3e cach much sele,
In cheuisaunce of þis chaffer, 3if 3e hade goud chepe3."
"3e of þe chepe no charg," quod chefly þat oþer,
"As is pertly payed þe chepe3 þat I a3te."
"Mary," quod þat oþer mon, "myn is bi-hynde,
For I haf hunted al þis day, & no3t haf I geten,
Bot þis foule fox felle, þe fende haf þe gode3,
& þat is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys þinges,
As 3e haf þry3t me here, þro suche þre cosses,
so gode."
"I-no3," quod sir Gawayn,
"I þonk yow, bi þe rode;"
& how þe fox wat3 slayn,
He tolde hym, as þay stode.