III.
Reading edition
On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's sake. 536 Ȝet quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges, & he made a fare on þat fest, for þe frekeȝ sake, With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table; Knyȝteȝ ful cortays & comlych ladies, 540 Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were, Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe, Mony ioyleȝ for þat ientyle iapeȝ þer maden. After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle: For aftter mete, with mournyng he meleȝ to his eme, 544 & spekeȝ of his passage, & pertly he sayde, "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you, "Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask; ȝe knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more To telle yow teneȝ þer-of neuer bot trifel; for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight." 548 Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne, To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse." Þenne þe best of þe burȝ boȝed to-geder, Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony, [Fol. 98b.] 552 Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence, Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode, Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe, Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him. & mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port. 556 Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre, For to counseyl þe knyȝt, with care at her hert; Much sorrow prevails in the hall. Þere watȝ much derue1 doel driuen in þe sale, Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde, 560 To dryȝe a delful dynt, & dele no more wyth bronde. Þe knyȝt mad ay god chere, & sayde, "quat schuld I wonde, Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear. 564 Of destines derf & dere, What may mon do bot fonde?" 1 derne (?).