XI.

On the morn Sir Gawayne finds himself in a deep forest, 740 Bi a mounte on þe morne meryly he rydes, Into a forest ful dep, þat ferly wat3 wylde, Hi3e hille3 on vche a halue, & holt wode3 vnder, where were old oaks many a hundred. Of hore oke3 fill hoge a hundreth to-geder; 744 Þe hasel & þe ha3-þorne were harled al samen, With ro3e raged mosse rayled ay-where, Many sad birds upon bare twigs piped piteously for the cold. With mony brydde3 vnblyþe vpon bare twyges, Þat pitosly þer piped for pyne of þe colde. 748 Þe gome vpon Gryngolet glyde3 hem vnder, Through many a mire he goes, that he may celebrate the birth of Christ. Þur3 mony misy & myre, mon al hym one, Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde, To se þe seruy¹ of þat syre, þat on þat self ny3t 752 Of a burde wat3 borne, oure baret to quelle; He beseeches the Virgin Mary to direct him to some lodging where he may hear mass. & þerfore sykyng he sayde, "I be-seche þe, lorde, & Mary, þat is myldest moder so dere. Of sum herber, þer he3ly I my3t here masse. 756 Ande þy matyne3 to-morne, mekely I ask, & þer-to prestly I pray my pater & aue, & crede." He rode in his prayere, 760 & cryed for his mysdede, Blessing himself, he says, "Cross of Christ, speed me!" He sayned hym in syþes sere, & sayde "cros Kryst me spede!" ¹ seruyce (?).