XI.
Reading edition
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 watȝ wylde, Hiȝe hilleȝ on vche a halue, & holt wodeȝ vnder, where were old oaks many a hundred. Of hore okeȝ fill hoge a hundreth to-geder; 744 Þe hasel & þe haȝ-þorne were harled al samen, With roȝe raged mosse rayled ay-where, Many sad birds upon bare twigs piped piteously for the cold. With mony bryddeȝ vnblyþe vpon bare twyges, Þat pitosly þer piped for pyne of þe colde. 748 Þe gome vpon Gryngolet glydeȝ hem vnder, Through many a mire he goes, that he may celebrate the birth of Christ. Þurȝ 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 nyȝt 752 Of a burde watȝ 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 heȝly I myȝt here masse. 756 Ande þy matyneȝ 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 (?).