I.

New Year's Day approaches. Now ne3e3 þe nw3ere, & þe ny3t passe3, Þe day dryue3 to þe derk, as dry3tyn bidde3; The weather is stormy. 2000 Bot wylde wedere3 of þe worlde wakned þeroute, Clowdes kesten kenly þe colde to þe erþe, Wyth ny3e¹ in-noghe of þe norþe, þe naked to tene; Snow falls. Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde; 2004 Þe werbelande wynde wapped fro þe hy3e, The dales are full of drift. & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete. Þe leude lystened ful wel, þat le3 in his bedde, Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows. Þa3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes; 2008 Bi vch kok þat crue, he knwe wel þe steuen. [Fol. 118.] De-liuerly he dressed vp, er þe day sprenged, For þere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, þat lemed in his chambre; He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his armour. He called to his chamberlayn, þat cofly hym swared, 2012 & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel; Þat oþer ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3, & grayþe3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse. Fyrst he clad hym in his cloþe3, þe colde for to were; 2016 & syþen his oþer harnays, þat holdely wat3 keped, Boþe his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene, Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon. Þe rynge3² rokked of þe roust, of his riche bruny; & al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn þenne 2020 to þonk; He hade vpon vche pece, Wypped ful wel & wlonk; The knight then calls for his steed. Þe gayest in to Grece, 2024 Þe burne bede bryng his blonk. ¹ nywe (?). ² rynke3 (?).