X.
Reading edition
[Fol. 109b.] The lord commands all his household to assemble, 1372 Thenne comaunded þe lorde in þat sale to samen alle þe meny, Boþe þe ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes, and the venison to be brought before him. Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, freke3 he bedde3 Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne; He calls Gawayne, 1376 & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called, Teche3 hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes, Schewe3 hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes. and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his success in the chase. "How paye3 yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen? 1380 Haue I þryuandely þonk þur3 my craft serued?" "3e I-wysse," quod þat oþer wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take the whole according to a former agreement between them. Þat I se3 þis seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter." "& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne, 1384 "For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen." "Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke, &1 I haf worthyly þis wone3 wyth-inne, Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return. I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþe3 to 3oure3." 1388 He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne, & kysses hym as comlyly as he2 couþe awyse: "Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more, I wowche hit saf fynly, þa3 feler hit were." 1392 "Hit is god," quod þe god mon, "grant mercy þerfore, His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal. Hit may be such, hit is þe better, &1 3e me breue wolde Where 3e wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor3 seluen?" As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to his question. "Þat wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more, 1396 For 3e haftan þat yow tyde3, trawe3e non oþer 3e mowe." Þay la3ed, & made hem blyþe, They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and enough. Wyth lote3 þat were to lowe, 1400 To soper þay 3ede asswyþe, Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe. 1 And = an. 2 ho, in MS. 3 your (?).