III.
Reading edition
Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast, Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse, With mony luflych lorde, lede3 of þe best, with all the knights of the Round Table, Rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer, 40 With rych reuel ory3t, & rechles merþes; Þer tournayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony, Iusted ful Iolilé þise gentyle kni3tes, Syþen kayred to þe court, caroles to make. full fifteen days. 44 For þer þe fest wat3 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 ny3tes, All was joy in hall and chamber, 48 Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3, With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest him þo3t; With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen, among brave knights and lovely ladies, Þe most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryste seluen, 52 & þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden, & he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes; For al wat3 þis fayre folk in her first age, on sille; the happiest under heaven. 56 Þe hapnest vnder heuen, Kyng hy3est mon of wylle, Hit were1 now gret nye to neuen So hardy a here on hille. 1 MS. werere.