XXI.

Great was the joy for three days. 1020 Much dut wat3 þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer, & þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter; St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival. Þe ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here, & wat3 þe last of þe layk, leude3 þer þo3ten. 1024 Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne, For-þy wonderly þay woke, & þe wyn dronken, Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3; On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the castle. At þe last, when hit wat3 late, þay lachen her leue, 1028 Vchon to wende on his way, þat wat3 wy3e stronge. Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachche3, Ledes hym to his awen chambre, þ[e] chymné bysyde, Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure of his visit. & þere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym þonkke3, 1032 Of þe wynne worschip &¹ he hym wayned hade, As to honour his hous on þat hy3e tyde, & enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere. "I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþe3 þe better, [Fol. 105.] 1036 Þat Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest." "Grant merci² sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3, Al þe honour is your awen, þe he3e kyng yow 3elde; & I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest, 1040 As I am halden þer-to, in hy3e & in lo3e, bi ri3t." He endeavours to keep the knight at his court. Þe lorde fast can hym payne, To holde lenger þe kny3t, 1044 To hym answre3 Gawayn, Bi non way þat he my3t. ¹ þat (?). ² nerci, in MS.