VI.
Reading edition
The king talks with his knights. Thus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng his-seluen, 108 Talkkande bifore þe hy3e table of trifles ful hende Gawayne, There gode Gawan wat3 grayþed, Gwenore bisyde Agravayn, & Agrauayn a la dure mayn on þat oþer syde sittes Boþe þe kynges sister sunes, & ful siker kni3tes; Bishop Bawdewyn, 112 Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gine3 þe table, and Ywain sit on the dais. & Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hym-seluen; Þise were di3t on þe des, & derworþly serued, & siþen mony siker segge at þe sidborde3. The first course is served with cracking of trumpets. 116 Þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes, Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, þat þer-bi henged, Nwe nakryn noyse with þe noble pipes, Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote, 120 Þat mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches; It consisted of all dainties in season. Dayntes dryuen þer-wyth of ful dere metes, Foysoun of þe fresche, & on so fele disches, Þat pine to fynde þe place þe peple bi-forne 124 For to sette þe syluener,1 þat sere sewes halden, on clothe; Iche lede as he loued hym-selue Þer laght with-outen loþe, Each two had dishes twelve, 128 Ay two had disches twelue, good beer and bright wine both. Good ber, & bry3t wyn boþe. 1 svlueren (?) (dishes).