III.

[Fol. 118b.] Then was Gringolet arrayed, Thenne watȝ Gryngolet grayþe, þat gret watȝ & huge, 2048 & hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse, full ready to prick on. Hym lyst prik for poynt, þat proude hors þenne; Þe wyȝe wynneȝ hym to, & wyteȝ on his lyre, & sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swereȝ, 2052 "Here is a meyny in þis mote, þat on menske þenkkeȝ, Gawayne returns thanks for the honour and kindness shown to him by all. Þe mon hem maynteines, ioy mot þay haue; Þe leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde; Ȝif þay for charyté cherysen a gest, 2056 & halden honour in her honde, þe haþel hem ȝelde, Þat haldeȝ þe heuen vpon hyȝe, & also yow alle! & ȝif I myȝt lyf vpon londe lede any quyle, I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I myȝt." He then steps into his saddle, 2060 Þenn steppeȝ he in-to stirop, & strydeȝ alofte; His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit laȝt, Gordeȝ to Gryngolet, with his gilt heleȝ, and "starts on the stone" without more delay. & he starteȝ on þe ston, stod he no lenger, 2064 to praunce; His haþel on hors watȝ þenne, Þat bere his spere & launce. "This castle to Christ I commend; may he give it ever good chance!" "Þis kastel to Kryst I kenne, 2068 He gef hit ay god chaunce!"