To holde lenger þe kny3t,

To hym answre3 Gawayn,

Bi non way þat he my3t.

1 þat (?). 2 nerci, in MS.

XXII.

He desires to know what had driven Sir Gawayne from Arthur's court before the end of the Christmas holidays.

Then frayned þe freke ful fayre at him-seluen,

Quat derne1 dede had hym dryuen, at þat dere tyme,

So kenly fro þe kynge3 kourt to kayre al his one,

Er þe halidaye3 holly were halet out of toun?