XX.
Reading edition
On Christmas morn, On þe morne, as vch mon myne3 þat tyme, joy reigns in every dwelling in the world. 996 [Þ]at dry3tyn for oure destyné to de3e wat3 borne, Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake; So did it in the castle where our knight abode. So did hit þere on þat day, þur3 dayntes mony; [Fol. 104b.] Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt 1000 Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best. The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together. Þe olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3; Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe; Gawayne sits by the wife of his host. Gawan & þe gay burde to-geder þay seten, 1004 Euen in-mydde3, as þe messe metely come; & syþen þur3 al þe sale, as hem best semed, It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the joy that abounded everywhere. Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely wat3 serued. Þer wat3 mete, þer wat3 myrþe, þer wat3 much ioye, 1008 Þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were, & to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture; Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from each other's conversation. Bot 3et I wot þat Wawen & þe wale burde Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder, 1012 Þur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3, Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fylþe; & hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen, in vayres; Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds. 1016 Trumpe3 & nakerys, Much pypyng þer repayres, Vche mon tented hys, & þay two tented þayres.