XII.

Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot þrye, 764 Er he wat3 war in þe wod of a won in a mote. when he saw a dwelling in the wood, set on a hill, Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder bo3e3, Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi þe diches; the comeliest castle that knight ever owned. A castel þe comlokest þat euer kny3t a3te, 768 Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute, With a pyked palays, pyned ful þik, Þat vmbe-te3e mony tre mo þen two myle. Þat holde on þat on syde þe haþel auysed, It shone as the sun through the bright oaks. 772 As hit schemered & schon þur3 þe schyre oke3; Þenne hat3 he hendly of his helme, & he3ly he þonke3 Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, þat gentyle ar boþe, [Fol. 101b.] Þat cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened. 776 "Now bone hostel," coþe þe burne, "I be-seche yow 3ette!" Þenne gedere3 he to Gryngolet with þe gilt hele3, Sir Gawayne goes to the chief gate, & he ful chauncely hat3 chosen to þe chef gate, Þat bro3t bremly þe burne to þe bryge ende, 780 in haste; and finds the draw-bridge raised, and the gates shut fast. Þe bryge wat3 breme vp-brayde, Þe 3ate3 wer stoken faste, Þe walle3 were wel arayed, 784 Hit dut no wynde3 blaste.