XXIII.

Then was Gawayne glad, Þenne watȝ Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he laȝed,— 1080 "Now I þonk yow þryuandely þurȝ alle oþer þynge, and consents to tarry awhile at the castle. Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle Dowelle, & elleȝ do quat ȝe demen." Þenne sesed hym þe syre, & set hym bysyde, The ladies are brought in to solace him. 1084 Let þe ladieȝ be fette, to lyke hem þe better; Þer watȝ seme solace by hem-self stille; Þe lorde let for luf loteȝ so myry, As wyȝ þat wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he myȝt. 1088 Þenne he carped to þe knyȝt, criande loude, The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one request; "Ȝe han demed to do þe dede þat I bidde; Wyl ȝe halde þis hes here at þys oneȝ?" "Ȝe sir, for-soþe," sayd þe segge trwe, 1092 "Whyl I byde in yowre borȝe, be bayn to ȝow[r]e hest." "For ȝe haf trauayled," quod þe tulk, "towen fro ferre, & syþen waked me wyth, ȝe arn not wel waryst, That he will stay in his chamber during mass time, Nauþer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, soþly I knowe; 1096 Ȝe schal lenge in your lofte, & lyȝe in your ese, and then go to meat with his hostess. To morn quyle þe messe-quyle, & to mete wende, When ȝe wyl, wyth my wyf, þat wyth yow schal sitte, & comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne, 1100 ȝe lende; & I schal erly ryse, On huntyng wyl I wende." Gawayne accedes to his request. Gauayn granteȝ alle þyse, 1104 Hym heldande, as þe hende.