XXXII.

The hunters then hasten home. & þenne þay helden to home, for hit watȝ nieȝ nyȝt, Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horneȝ; The lord at last alights at his dear home, 1924 Þe lorde is lyȝt at þe laste at hys lef home, Fyndeȝ fire vpon flet, þe freke þer by-side, Sir Gawayn þe gode, þat glad watȝ with alle, where he finds Gawayne amusing the ladies. Among þe ladies for luf he ladde much ioye, 1928 He were a bleaunt of blwe, þat bradde to þe erþe, His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe watȝ forred, & his hode of þat ilke henged on his schulder, The knight comes forward and welcomes his host, Blande al of blaunner were boþe al aboute. 1932 He meteȝ me þis god mon in myddeȝ þe flore, & al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde, "I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwardeȝ nouþe, [Fol. 117.] Þat we spedly han spoken, þer spared watȝ no drynk;" and according to covenant kisses him thrice. 1936 Þen acoles he [þe] knyȝt, & kysses hym þryes, (See l. 1868.) As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette couþe. "By Christ," says the other, "ye have had much bliss!" "Bi Kryst," quod þat oþer knyȝt, "ȝe cach much sele, In cheuisaunce of þis chaffer, ȝif ȝe hade goud chepeȝ." 1940 "Ȝe of þe chepe no charg," quod chefly þat oþer, "As is pertly payed þe chepeȝ þat I aȝte." "Mary," quod þat oþer mon, "myn is bi-hynde, I have hunted all day and have gotten nothing, For I haf hunted al þis day, & noȝt haf I geten, but the skin of this foul fox, 1944 Bot þis foule fox felle, þe fende haf þe godeȝ, a poor reward for three such kisses." & þat is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys þinges, As ȝe haf þryȝt me here, þro suche þre cosses, so gode." 1948 "I-noȝ," quod sir Gawayn, "I þonk yow, bi þe rode;" He then tells him how the fox was slain. & how þe fox watȝ slayn, He tolde hym, as þay stode.