XXI.

Great was the joy for three days. 1020 Much dut watȝ 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 Ioneȝ day watȝ gentyle to here, & watȝ þe last of þe layk, leudeȝ þer þoȝten. 1024 Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne, For-þy wonderly þay woke, & þe wyn dronken, Daunsed ful dreȝly wyth dere caroleȝ; On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the castle. At þe last, when hit watȝ late, þay lachen her leue, 1028 Vchon to wende on his way, þat watȝ wyȝe stronge. Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachcheȝ, 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 draȝeȝ hym on-dryȝe, & derely hym þonkkeȝ, 1032 Of þe wynne worschip &¹ he hym wayned hade, As to honour his hous on þat hyȝe tyde, & enbelyse his burȝ with his bele chere. "I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþeȝ þe better, [Fol. 105.] 1036 Þat Gawayn hatȝ ben my gest, at Goddeȝ awen fest." "Grant merci² sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowreȝ, Al þe honour is your awen, þe heȝe kyng yow ȝelde; & I am wyȝe at your wylle, to worch youre hest, 1040 As I am halden þer-to, in hyȝe & in loȝe, bi riȝt." He endeavours to keep the knight at his court. Þe lorde fast can hym payne, To holde lenger þe knyȝt, 1044 To hym answreȝ Gawayn, Bi non way þat he myȝt. ¹ þat (?). ² nerci, in MS.