VI.

Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that of all others. "Madame," quod þe myry mon, "Mary yow ȝelde, 1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele, & oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dedeȝ; Bot þe daynté þat þay delen for my disert nysen, Hit is þe worchyp of your-self, þat noȝt hot wel conneȝ." The lady declares by Mary, 1268 "Bi Mary," quod þe menskful, "me þynk hit anoþer; For were I worth al þe wone of wymmen alyue, & al þe wele of þe worlde were in my honde, that were she about to choose her a lord, & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde, 1272 For þe costes þat I haf knowen vpun þe knyȝt here, Of bewté, & debonerté, & blyþe semblaunt, she would select Gawayne before any man on earth. & þat I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee, Þer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen." 1276 "I-wysse, worþy," quod þe wyȝe, "ȝe haf waled wel better, Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and faithful servant. Bot I am proude of þe prys þat ȝe put on me, & soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow, & yowre knyȝt I be-com, & Kryst yow for-ȝelde." 1280 Þus þay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste, & ay þe lady let lyk, a¹ hym loued mych; The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of love. Þe freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre. Þaȝ I were burde bryȝtest, þe burde in mynde hade, 1284 Þe lasse luf in his lode, for lur þat he soȝt, boute hone; Þe dunte þat schulde² hym deue, & nedeȝ hit most be done; The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne. 1288 Þe lady þenn spek of leue. He granted hir ful sone. ¹ and (?) ² sclulde, in MS.