IV.
Reading edition
"Good morrow", says the lady, "ye are a careless sleeper to let one enter thus. 1208 "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde þat fayr lady, "Ȝe ar a sleper vn-slyȝe, þat mon may slyde hider; Now ar ȝe tan astyt, bot true vus may schape, I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure." I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be ȝe trayst:" 1212 Al laȝande þe lady lanced þo bourdeȝ. "Good morrow," says the knight, "I am well pleased to be at your service; "Goud moroun g[aye],"1 quod Gawayn þe blyþe, "Me schal worþe at your wille, & þat me wel lykeȝ, For I ȝelde me ȝederly, & ȝeȝe after grace, 1216 & þat is þe best, be my dome, for me by-houeȝ nede;" & þus he bourded a-ȝayn with mony a blyþe laȝter. but permit me to rise and dress myself." "Bot wolde ȝe, lady louely, þen leue me grante, & de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse, 1220 I wolde boȝe of þis bed, & busk me better, I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth." [Fol. 107b] "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one, "Nay, for soþe, beau sir," sayd þat swete, "Ȝe schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better, "I shall hold talk with you here. 1224 I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als, & syþen karp wyth my knyȝt þat I kaȝt haue; I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships. For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen ȝe are, Þat alle þe worlde worchipeȝ, quere-so ȝe ride; 1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed We are by ourselves; With lordeȝ, wyth ladyes, with alle þat lyf bere. & now ȝe ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one; My lord and his men are far off. "My lorde & his ledeȝ ar on lenþe faren, Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens. 1232 Oþer burneȝ in her bedde, & my burdeȝ als, The door is safely closed. Þe dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe; Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my time well while it lasts. & syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lykeȝ, I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit lasteȝ, 1236 with tale; Ye are welcome to my body. Ȝe ar welcum to my cors, Yowre awen won to wale, Me be-houeȝ of fyne force, I shall be your servant." 1240 Your seruaunt be & schale." 1 This word is illegible in the MS.