bi riȝt."

Þe lorde fast can hym payne,

To holde lenger þe knyȝt,

To hym answreȝ Gawayn,

Bi non way þat he myȝt.

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,