XII.

Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot þrye, 764 Er he watȝ 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 boȝeȝ, Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi þe diches; the comeliest castle that knight ever owned. A castel þe comlokest þat euer knyȝt aȝte, 768 Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute, With a pyked palays, pyned ful þik, Þat vmbe-teȝe 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 þurȝ þe schyre okeȝ; Þenne hatȝ he hendly of his helme, & heȝly he þonkeȝ 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 ȝette!" Þenne gedereȝ he to Gryngolet with þe gilt heleȝ, Sir Gawayne goes to the chief gate, & he ful chauncely hatȝ chosen to þe chef gate, Þat broȝt bremly þe burne to þe bryge ende, 780 in haste; and finds the draw-bridge raised, and the gates shut fast. Þe bryge watȝ breme vp-brayde, Þe ȝateȝ wer stoken faste, Þe walleȝ were wel arayed, 784 Hit dut no wyndeȝ blaste.