III.
Reading edition
Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast, Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse, With mony luflych lorde, ledeȝ of þe best, with all the knights of the Round Table, Rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer, 40 With rych reuel oryȝt, & rechles merþes; Þer tournayed tulkes bi-tymeȝ ful mony, Iusted ful Iolilé þise gentyle kniȝtes, Syþen kayred to þe court, caroles to make. full fifteen days. 44 For þer þe fest watȝ ilyche ful fiften dayes, With alle þe mete & þe mirþe þat men couþe a-vyse; Such glaumande gle glorious to here, Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on nyȝtes, All was joy in hall and chamber, 48 Al watȝ hap vpon heȝe in halleȝ & chambreȝ, With lordeȝ & ladies, as leuest him þoȝt; With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen, among brave knights and lovely ladies, Þe most kyd knyȝteȝ vnder kryste seluen, 52 & þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden, & he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes; For al watȝ þis fayre folk in her first age, on sille; the happiest under heaven. 56 Þe hapnest vnder heuen, Kyng hyȝest mon of wylle, Hit were1 now gret nye to neuen So hardy a here on hille. 1 MS. werere.