XIX.
Reading edition
With permission of the lord, When Gawayn gly3t on þat gay, þat graciously loked, Wyth leue la3t of þe lorde he went hem a3aynes; Sir Gawayne salutes the elder, 972 Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe, Þe loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3, but the younger he kisses, He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3; Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3 and begs to be her servant. 976 To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked. Þay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden To chamber all go, To chambre, to chemné, & chefly þay asken where spices and wine are served. Spyce3, þat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng, 980 & þe wynne-lych wyne þer-with vche tyme. Þe lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte, Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþe3. The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear. Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged, 984 & wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of, He who makes most mirth is to win it. Þat most myrþe my3t mene1 þat crystenmas whyle; "& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth þe best, Er me wont þe wede3, with help of my frende3." 988 Þus wyth la3ande lote3 þe lorde hit tayt2 make3, Night approaches, and then For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle þat ny3t; Til þat hit wat3 tyme, 992 Þe kyng comaundet ly3t, Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest. Sir Gawen his leue con nyme, & to his bed hym di3t. 1 meue (?). 2 layt (?).