XXX.

Then she takes her leave. Thenne lachcheȝ ho hir leue, & leueȝ hym þere, For more myrþe of þat mon moȝt ho not gete; Gawayne then dresses himself, 1872 When ho¹ watȝ gon, sir G. gereȝ hym sone, Rises, & riches hym in araye noble, and conceals the love-lace about his person. Lays vp þe luf-lace, þe lady hym raȝt, Hid hit ful holdely, þer he hit eft fonde; 1876 Syþen cheuely to þe chapel choses he þe waye, He then hies to mass, Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym þere Þat he wolde lyfte² his lyf, & lern hym better, How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye heþen. and shrives him of his misdeeds. 1880 Þere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdedeȝ, Of þe more & þe mynne, & merci besecheȝ, and prays for absolution. & of absolucioun he on þe segge calles; & he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene, He returns to the hall, and makes himself so merry among the ladies, 1884 As domeȝ-day schulde haf ben diȝt on þe morn. & syþen he mace hym as mery among þe fre ladyes, with comely carols, With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye, As neuer he did bot þat daye, to þe derk nyȝt, 1888 with blys; Vche mon hade daynte þare, that they said, Of hym, & sayde Iwysse, "Thus merry was he never before since hither he came." Þus myry he watȝ neuer are, 1892 Syn he com hider, er þis. ¹ he, in MS. ² lyste (?).