I.

This marvel serves to keep up a brisk conversation in Court. This hanselle hatȝ Arthur of auenturus on fyrst, 492 In ȝonge ȝer, for he ȝerned ȝelpyng to here, Thaȝ hym wordeȝ were wane, when þay to sete wenten; Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond. Gawan watȝ glad to be-gynne þose gomneȝ in halle, 496 Bot þaȝ þe ende be heuy, haf ȝe no wonder; For þaȝ men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk, The year passes full quickly and never returns. A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne, & ȝeldeȝ neuer lyke, Þe forme to þe fynisment foldeȝ ful selden. 500 For-þi þis ȝol ouer-ȝede, & þe ȝere after, & vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer; After Christmas comes the "crabbed Lenten." After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun, Þat fraysteȝ flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple 504 Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepeȝ, Spring sets in and warm showers descend; Colde clengeȝ adoun, cloudeȝ vp-lyften, Schyre schedeȝ þe rayn in schowreȝ ful warme, Falleȝ vpon fayre flat, flowreȝ þere schewen, the groves become green, 508 Boþe groundeȝ & þe greueȝ grene ar her wedeȝ, birds build and sing, Bryddeȝ busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen, for joy of the summer that follows; For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after, bi bonk; blossoms begin to bloom, 512 & blossumeȝ bolne to blowe, Bi raweȝ rych & ronk, and noble notes are heard in the woods Þen noteȝ noble in-noȝe, [Fol. 98] Ar herde in wod so wlonk.