XX.

The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir Gawayne, Þe lorde ful lowde with lote, & laȝed myry, 1624 When he seȝe sir G: with solace he spekeȝ; Þe goude ladyeȝ were geten, & gedered þe meyny, He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of its length and breadth. He scheweȝ hem þe scheldeȝ, & schapes hem þe tale, Of þe largesse, & þe lenþe, þe liþerneȝ alse, 1628 Of þe were of þe wylde swyn, in wod þer he fled. Þat oþer knyȝt ful comly comended his dedeȝ, & praysed hit as gret prys, þat he proued hade; Such a "brawn of a beast," Sir Gawayne says, he never has seen. For suche a brawne of a best, þe bolde burne sayde, 1632 Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are. Þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed, þe hende mon hit praysed, [Fol. 113.] & let lodly þerat þe lorde forte here: Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant, "Now Gawayn," quod þe god mon, "þis gomen is your awen, 1636 Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely ȝe knowe." "Hit is sothe," quod þe segge, "& as siker trwe; Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawþe." and in return kisses his host, He [hent] þe haþel aboute þe halse, & hendely hym kysses, 1640 & efter-sones of þe same he serued hym þere. "Now ar we euen," quod þe haþel, "in þis euen-tide, Of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt, syþen I com hider, bi lawe;" who declares his guest to be the best he knows. 1644 Þe lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile, ȝe ar þe best þat I knowe, Ȝe ben ryche in a whyle, Such chaffer & ȝe drowe."