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 lyȝt with her burdes, and the venison to be brought before him. Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, frekeȝ he beddeȝ Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne; He calls Gawayne, 1376 & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called, Techeȝ hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes, Scheweȝ hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes. and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his success in the chase. "How payeȝ yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen? 1380 Haue I þryuandely þonk þurȝ my craft serued?" "Ȝe I-wysse," quod þat oþer wyȝe, "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 seȝ þis seuen ȝere in sesoun of wynter." "& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne, 1384 "For by a-corde of couenaunt ȝe craue hit as your awen." "Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke, &1 I haf worthyly þis woneȝ wyth-inne, Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return. I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþeȝ to ȝoureȝ." 1388 He hasppeȝ his fayre hals his armeȝ wyth-inne, & kysses hym as comlyly as he2 couþe awyse: "Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more, I wowche hit saf fynly, þaȝ 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 ȝe me breue wolde Where ȝe wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor3 seluen?" As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to his question. "Þat watȝ not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more, 1396 For ȝe haftan þat yow tydeȝ, traweȝe non oþer ȝe mowe." Þay laȝed, & made hem blyþe, They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and enough. Wyth loteȝ þat were to lowe, 1400 To soper þay ȝede asswyþe, Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe. 1 And = an. 2 ho, in MS. 3 your (?).