"Good sir," says Gawayne, "ask the high lord of this house to grant me a lodging."

"Gode sir," quod Gawan, "wolde3 þou go myn ernde,

812

To þe he3 lorde of þis hous, herber to craue?"

[Fol. 102.]

"3e, Peter," quod þe porter, "& purely I trowe,¹

"You are welcome to dwell here as long as you like," replied the porter.

Þat 3e be, wy3e, welcum to won quyle yow lyke3."

Þen 3ede þat wy3e a3ayn awyþe,

816

& folke frely hym wyth, to fonge þe kny3t;

The draw-bridge is let down,

Þay let doun þe grete dra3t, & derely out 3eden,

& kneled doun on her knes vpon þe colde erþe,

To welcum þis ilk wy3, as worþy hom þo3t;

and the gate is opened wide to receive him. 820

Þay 3olden hym þe brode 3ate, 3arked vp wyde,

& he hem raysed rekenly, & rod ouer þe brygge;

Sere segge3 hym sesed by sadel, quel² he ly3t,

His horse is well stabled.

& syþen stabeled his stede stif men in-no3e.

Knights and squires bring Gawayne into the hall. 824

Kny3te3 & swyere3 comen doun þenne,

For to bryng þis burne³ wyth blys in-to halle;

Many a one hastens to take his helmet and sword.

Quen he hef vp his helme, þer hi3ed in-noghe

For to hent hit at his honde, þe hende to seruen,

828

His bronde & his blasoun boþe þay token.

Þen haylsed he ful hendly þo haþele3 vch one,

& mony proud mon þer presed, þat prynce to honour;

Alle hasped in his he3 wede to halle þay hym wonnen,

832

Þer fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned.

The lord of the country bids him welcome,

Þenne þe lorde of þe lede loute3 fro his chambre,

For to mete wyth menske þe mon on þe flor;

He sayde, "3e ar welcum to welde as yow lyke3,

836

Þat here is, al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle

& welde."

"Graunt mercy," quod Gawayn,

"Þer Kryst hit yow for-3elde,"

and they embrace each other. 840

As freke3 þat semed fayn,

Ayþer oþer in arme3 con felde.

Gawayne looks on his host;

Gawayn gly3t on þe gome þat godly hym gret,

a big bold one he seemed.

& þu3t hit a bolde burne þat þe bur3 a3te,

844

A hoge haþel for þe none3, & of hyghe elde;¹

Beaver-hued was his broad beard,

Brode bry3t wat3 his berde, & al beuer hwed,

Sturne stif on þe stryþþe on stal-worth schonke3,

and his face as "fell as the fire."

Felle face as þe fyre, & fre of hys speche;

848

& wel hym semed for soþe, as þe segge þu3t,

To lede a lortschyp in lee of leude3 ful gode.

[Fol. 102b.]
The lord leads Gawayne to a chamber, and assigns him a page to wait upon him.

Þe lorde hym charred to a chambre, & chefly cumaunde3²

To delyuer hym a leude, hym lo3ly to serue;

852

& þere were boun at his bode burne3 in-no3e,

In this bright bower was noble bedding;

Þat bro3t hym to a bry3t boure, þer beddyng wat3 noble,

Of cortynes of clene sylk, wyth cler golde hemme3,

the curtains were of pure silk with golden hems;

& couertore3 ful curious, with comlych pane3,

856

Of bry3t blaunnier a-boue enbrawded bisyde3,

Rudele3 rennande on rope3, red golde rynge3,

Tarsic tapestries covered the walls and the floor.

Tapyte3 ty3t to þe wo3e, of tuly & tars,

& vnder fete, on þe flet, of fol3ande sute.

Here the knight doffed his armour, 860

Þer he wat3 dispoyled, wyth speche3 of myerþe,

Þe burn of his bruny, & of his bry3t wede3;

and put on rich robes,

Ryche robes ful rad renkke3 hem³ bro3ten,

For to charge, & to chaunge, & chose of þe best.

864

Sone as he on hent, & happed þer-inne,

Þat sete on hym⁴ semly, wyth saylande skyrte3,

which well became him.

Þe ver by his uisage verayly hit semed

Wel ne3 to vche haþel alle on hwes,

868

Lowande & lufly, alle his lymme3 vnder,

A more comely knight Christ never made.

Þat a comloker kny3t neuer Kryst made,

hem þo3t;

Wheþen in worlde he were,

872

Hit semed as he my3t

Be prynce with-outen pere,

In felde þer felle men fy3t.

A chair is placed for Sir Gawayne before the fireplace.

A cheyer by-fore þe chemné, þer charcole brenned,

876

Wat3 grayþed for sir Gawan, grayþely with cloþe3,

Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, þa[t] koynt wer boþe;

A mantle of fine linen, richly embroidered, is thrown over him.

& þenne a mere mantyle wat3 on þat mon cast,

Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche,

880

& fayre furred wyth-inne with felle3 of þe best,

Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of þe same;

& he sete in þat settel semlych ryche,

& achaufed hym chefly,¹ & þenne his cher mended.

A table is soon raised, 884

Sone wat3 telded vp a tapit, on treste3 ful fayre,

and the knight, having washed, proceeded to meat.

Clad wyth a clene cloþe, þat cler quyt schewed,

Sanap, & salure, & syluer-in spone3;

[Fol. 103.]

Þe wy3e wesche at his wylle, & went to his mete

888

Segge3 hym serued semly in-no3e,

He is served with numerous dishes;

Wyth sere sewes & sete,² sesounde of þe best,

Double felde, as hit falle3, & fele kyn fische3;

with fish baked and broiled,

Summe baken in bred, summe brad on þe glede3,

or boiled and seasoned with spices. 892

Summe soþen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces,

& ay sawes³ so sle3e3, þat þe segge lyked.

Þe freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte,

He calls it a full noble feast,

Ful hendely, quen alle þe haþeles re-hayted hym at one3

896

as hende;

"Þis penaunce now 3e take,

& eft hit schal amende;"

and much mirth he makes, for the wine is in his head.

Þat mon much merþe con make.

900

For wyn in his hed þat wende.

Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,

Þenne wat3 spyed & spured vpon spare wyse.

Bi preue poynte3 of þat prynce, put to hym-seluen,

Þat he be-knew cortaysly of þe court þat he were,

tells the prince that he is of Arthur's court. 904

Þat aþel Arthure þe hende halde3 hym one,

Þat is þe ryche ryal kyng of þe rounde table;

& hit wat3 Wawen hym-self þat in þat won sytte3,

Comen to þat krystmasse, as case hym þen lymped.

When this was made known, 908

When þe lorde hade lerned þat he þe leude hade,

Loude la3ed he þerat, so lef hit hym þo3t,

great was the joy in the hall.

& alle þe men in þat mote maden much joye,

To apere in his presense prestly þat tyme,

912

Þat alle prys, & prowes, & pured þewes

Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,

By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is þe most.

Each one said softly to his mate,

Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,

"Now we shall see courteous manners and hear noble speech, 916

"Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of þewe3,

& þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble,

Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,

for we have amongst us the 'father of nurture.'

Syn we haf fonged þat fyne fader of nurture;

920

God hat3 geuen vus his grace godly for soþe,

Þat such a gest as Gawan graunte3 vus to haue,

When burne3 blyþe of his burþe schal sitte

& synge.

924

In menyng of manere3 mere,

[Fol. 103b.]

Þis burne now schal vus bryng,

He that may him hear shall learn of love-talking."

I hope þat may hym here,

Schal lerne of luf-talkyng."

After dinner the company go to the chapel, 928

Bi þat þe diner wat3 done, & þe dere vp,

Hit wat3 ne3 at þe niy3t ne3ed þe tyme;

Chaplayne3¹ to þe chapeles chosen þe gate,

Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as þay schulden,

to hear the evensong of the great season. 932

To þe hersum euensong of þe hy3e tyde.

Þe lorde loutes þerto, & þe lady als,

In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entre3;

Gawan glyde3 ful gay, & gos þeder sone;

936

Þe lorde laches hym by þe lappe, & lede3 hym to sytte,

& couþly hym knowe3, & calle3 hym his nome,

& sayde he wat3 þe welcomest wy3e of þe worlde;

The lord of the castle and Sir Gawayne sit together during service.

& he hym þonkked þroly, & ayþer halched oþer.

940

& seten soberly samen þe seruise-quyle;

Þenne lyst þe lady to loke on þe kny3t.

His wife, accompanied by her maids, leaves her seat.

Þenne com ho of hir closet, with mony cler burde3,

Ho wat3 þe fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre,

944

& of compas, & colour, & costes of alle oþer,

She appeared even fairer than Guenever.

& wener þen Wenore, as þe wy3e þo3t.

He ches þur3 þe chaunsel, to cheryche þat hende;

An older lady (an ancient one she seemed) led her by the hand.

An oþer lady hir lad bi þe lyft honde,

948

Þat wat3 alder þen ho, an auncian hit semed,

& he3ly honowred with haþele3 aboute.

Very unlike were these two.

Bot yn-lyke on to loke þo ladyes were,

if the young one was fair the other was yellow,

For if þe 3onge wat3 3ep, 3ol3e wat3 þat oþer;

952

Riche red on þat on rayled ay quere,

and had rough and wrinkled cheeks.

Rugh ronkled cheke3 þat oþer on rolled;

Kerchofes of þat on wyth mony cler perle3

The younger had breast and throat "bare displayed."

Hir brest & hir bry3t þrote bare displayed,

956

Schon schyrer þen snawe, þat scheder² on hille3;

Þat oþer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer þe swyre,

Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles,

The ancient one exposed only her "black brows," her two eyes,

Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere,

960

Toret & treieted with tryfle3 aboute,

[Fol. 104.]
nose, and naked lips, all sour and bleared.

Þat no3t wat3 bare of þat burde bot þe blake bro3es.

Þe tweyne y3en, & þe nase, þe naked lyppe3,

& þose were soure to se, & sellyly blered;

964

A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,

for gode;

Her body was short and thick;

Hir body wat3 schort & þik.

her buttocks broad and round.

Hir buttoke3 bay & brode,

968

More lykker-wys on to lyk,

Wat3 þat scho hade on lode.

With permission of the lord,

When Gawayn gly3t on þat gay, þat graciously loked,

Wyth leue la3t of þe lorde he went hem a3aynes;

Sir Gawayne salutes the elder, 972

Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,

Þe loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,

but the younger he kisses,

He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;

Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3

and begs to be her servant. 976

To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.

Þay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden

To chamber all go,

To chambre, to chemné, & chefly þay asken

where spices and wine are served.

Spyce3, þat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,

980

& þe wynne-lych wyne þer-with vche tyme.

Þe lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,

Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþe3.

The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear.

Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,

984

& wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of,

He who makes most mirth is to win it.

Þat most myrþe my3t mene¹ þat crystenmas whyle;

"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth þe best,

Er me wont þe wede3, with help of my frende3."

988

Þus wyth la3ande lote3 þe lorde hit tayt² make3,

Night approaches, and then

For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle

þat ny3t;

Til þat hit wat3 tyme,

992

Þe kyng comaundet ly3t,

Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest.

Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,

& to his bed hym di3t.

On Christmas morn,

On þe morne, as vch mon myne3 þat tyme,

joy reigns in every dwelling in the world. 996

[Þ]at dry3tyn for oure destyné to de3e wat3 borne,

Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;

So did it in the castle where our knight abode.

So did hit þere on þat day, þur3 dayntes mony;

[Fol. 104b.]

Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt

1000

Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best.

The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together.

Þe olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3;

Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;

Gawayne sits by the wife of his host.

Gawan & þe gay burde to-geder þay seten,

1004

Euen in-mydde3, as þe messe metely come;

& syþen þur3 al þe sale, as hem best semed,

It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the joy that abounded everywhere.

Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely wat3 serued.

Þer wat3 mete, þer wat3 myrþe, þer wat3 much ioye,

1008

Þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were,

& to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture;

Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from each other's conversation.

Bot 3et I wot þat Wawen & þe wale burde

Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder,

1012

Þur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3,

Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fylþe;

& hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen,

in vayres;

Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds. 1016

Trumpe3 & nakerys,

Much pypyng þer repayres,

Vche mon tented hys,

& þay two tented þayres.

Great was the joy for three days. 1020

Much dut wat3 þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer,

& þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter;

St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival.

Þe ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here,

& wat3 þe last of þe layk, leude3 þer þo3ten.

1024

Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne,

For-þy wonderly þay woke, & þe wyn dronken,

Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3;

On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the castle.

At þe last, when hit wat3 late, þay lachen her leue,

1028

Vchon to wende on his way, þat wat3 wy3e stronge.

Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachche3,

Ledes hym to his awen chambre, þ[e] chymné bysyde,

Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure of his visit.

& þere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym þonkke3,

1032

Of þe wynne worschip &¹ he hym wayned hade,

As to honour his hous on þat hy3e tyde,

& enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere.

"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþe3 þe better,

[Fol. 105.] 1036

Þat Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest."

"Grant merci² sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3,

Al þe honour is your awen, þe he3e kyng yow 3elde;

& I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest,

1040

As I am halden þer-to, in hy3e & in lo3e,

bi ri3t."

He endeavours to keep the knight at his court.

Þe lorde fast can hym payne,

To holde lenger þe kny3t,

1044

To hym answre3 Gawayn,

Bi non way þat he my3t.

He desires to know what had driven Sir Gawayne from Arthur's court before the end of the Christmas holidays.

Then frayned þe freke ful fayre at him-seluen,

Quat derne¹ dede had hym dryuen, at þat dere tyme,

1048

So kenly fro þe kynge3 kourt to kayre al his one,

Er þe halidaye3 holly were halet out of toun?

The knight replies that "a high errand and a hasty one" had forced him to leave the court.

"For soþe sir," quod þe segge, "3e sayn bot þe trawþe

A he3e ernde & a hasty me hade fro þo wone3,

1052

For I am sumned my selfe to sech to a place,

I wot² in worlde wheder warde to wende, hit to fynde;

I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,

For alle þe londe in-wyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!

1056

For-þy, sir, þis enquest I require yow here,

He asks his host whether he has ever heard of the Green Chapel,

Þat 3e me telle with trawþe, if euer 3e tale herde

Of þe grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stonde3,

& of þe kny3t þat hit kepes, of colour of grene?

1060

Þer wat3 stabled bi statut a steuen vus by-twene,

for he has to be there on New Year's-day.

To mete þat mon at þat mere, 3if I my3t last;

& of þat ilk nw3ere hot neked now wonte3,

& I wolde loke on þat lede, if God me let wolde,

1064

Gladloker, bi Godde3 sun, þen any god welde!

For-þi, I-wysse, bi 3owre wylle, wende me bi-houes,

He wonld as lief die as fail in his errand.

Naf I now to busy bot bare þre daye3,

& me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde."

The prince tells Sir Gawayne that he will teach him the way. 1068

Þenne la3ande quod þe lorde, "now leng þe by-houes,

For I schal teche yow to þa[t] terme bi þe tyme3 ende,

Þe grene chapayle vpon grounde, greue yow no more;

Bot 3e schal be in yowre bed, burne, at þyn ese,

1072

Quyle forth dayej, & ferk on pe fyrst of pe 3ere,

[Fol. 105b]

& cum to þat merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow like3

in spenne;

Dowelle3 whyle new 3eres daye,

1076

& rys, & rayke3 þenne,

The Green chapel is not more than two miles from the castle.

Mon schal yow sette in waye,

Hit is not two myle henne."

Then was Gawayne glad,

Þenne wat3 Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he la3ed,—

1080

"Now I þonk yow þryuandely þur3 alle oþer þynge,

and consents to tarry awhile at the castle.

Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle

Dowelle, & elle3 do quat 3e demen."

Þenne sesed hym þe syre, & set hym bysyde,

The ladies are brought in to solace him. 1084

Let þe ladie3 be fette, to lyke hem þe better;

Þer wat3 seme solace by hem-self stille;

Þe lorde let for luf lote3 so myry,

As wy3 þat wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he my3t.

1088

Þenne he carped to þe kny3t, criande loude,

The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one request;

"3e han demed to do þe dede þat I bidde;

Wyl 3e halde þis hes here at þys one3?"

"3e sir, for-soþe," sayd þe segge trwe,

1092

"Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest."

"For 3e haf trauayled," quod þe tulk, "towen fro ferre,

& syþen waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,

That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,

Nauþer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, soþly I knowe;

1096

3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,

and then go to meat with his hostess.

To morn quyle þe messe-quyle, & to mete wende,

When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, þat wyth yow schal sitte,

& comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,

1100

3e lende;

& I schal erly ryse,

On huntyng wyl I wende."

Gawayne accedes to his request.

Gauayn grante3 alle þyse,

1104

Hym heldande, as þe hende.

"Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be yours,

"3et firre," quod þe freke, "a forwarde we make;

Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþe3 to youre3,

and what check you achieve shall be mine."

& quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me þer-forne;

1108

Swete, swap we so, sware with trawþe,

Queþer, leude, so lymp lere oþer better."

"Bi God," quod Gawayn þe gode, "I grant þer-tylle,

[Fol. 106.]

& þat yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me þynkes.

A bargain is made between them. 1112

"Who bringe3 vus þis beuerage, þis bargayn is maked:"

So sayde þe lorde of þat lede; þay la3ed vchone,

Þay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,¹

Þise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle þat hem lyked;

1116

& syþen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3

Þay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,

Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.

Night approaches and each "to his bed was brought at the last."

With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,

1120

Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at þe laste,

ful softe;

To bed 3et er þay 3ede,

Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;

1124

Þe olde lorde of þat leude,²

Cowþe wel halde layk a-lofte.

Before day-break folks uprise,

Ful erly bifore þe day þe folk vp-rysen,

Gestes þat go wolde, hor grome3 þay calden,

saddle their horses, and truss their mails. 1128

& þay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel,

Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,

Richen hem þe rychest, to ryde alle arayde,

Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles,

Each goes where it pleases him best. 1132

Vche wy3e on his way, þer hym wel lyked.

The noble lord of the land arrays himself for riding.

Þe leue lorde of þe londe wat3 not þe last,

A-rayed for þe rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony;

He eats a sop hastily and goes to mass.

Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,

1136

With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue;

Before day-light he and his men are on their horses.

By þat þat any day-ly3t lemed vpon erþe,

He with his haþeles on hy3e horsses weren.

Then the hounds are called out and coupled.

Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe, cowpled hor hounde3,

1140

Vnclosed þe kenel dore, & calde hem þer-oute,

Three short notes are blown by the bugles.

Blwe bygly in bugle3 þre bare mote;

Braches bayed þerfore, & breme noyse maked,

A hundred hunters join in the chase.

& þay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng þat went;

1144

A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,

of þe best;

To the stations the "fewters" go,

To trystors vewters 3od,

Couples huntes of kest,

[Fol. 106b.] 1148

Þer ros for blaste3 gode,

and the dogs are cast off.

Gret rurd in þat forest.

Roused by the clamour the deer rush to the heights,

At þe fyrst quethe of þe quest quaked þe wylde;

Der drof in þe dale, doted for drede,

1152

Hi3ed to þe hy3e, bot heterly þay were

but are soon driven back.

Restayed with þe stablye, þat stoutly ascryed;

The harts and bucks are allowed to pass,

Þay let þe hertte3 haf þe gate, with þe hy3e hedes,

Þe breme bukke3 also, with hor brode paume3;

1156

For þe fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme,

Þat þer schulde no mon mene¹ to þe male dere.

but the hinds and does are driven back to the shades.

Þe hinde3 were halden in, with hay & war,

Þe does dryuen with gret dyn to þe depe slade3;

1160

Þer my3t mon se, as þay slypte, slentyng of arwes,

As they fly they are shot by the bowmen.

At vche [þat] wende vnder wande wapped a flone,

Þat bigly bote on þe broun, with ful brode hede3,

The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in pursuit.

What! þay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 þay de3en.

1164

& ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es,

Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after,

Those that escaped the arrows are killed by the hounds.

Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten;

What wylde so at-waped wy3es þat schotten,

1168

Wat3 al to-raced & rent, at þe resayt.

Bi þay were tened at þe hy3e, & taysed to þe wattre3,

Þe lede3 were so lerned at þe lo3e trysteres,

& þe gre-hounde3 so grete, þat geten hem bylyue,

1172

& hem to fylched, as fast as freke3 my3t loke,

þer ry3t.

The lord waxes joyful in the chase,

Þe lorde for blys abloy

Ful oft con launce & ly3t,

which lasted till the approach of night. 1176

& drof þat day wyth Ioy

Thus to þe derk ny3t.

All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.

Þus layke3 þis lorde by lynde wode3 eue3,

& G. þe god mon, in gay bed lyge3,

under "coverture full clear". 1180

Lurkke3 quyl þe day-ly3t lemed on þe wowes,

Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;

& as in slomeryng he slode, sle3ly he herde

He hears a noise at his door.

A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;

1184

& he heue3 vp his hed out of þe cloþes,

[Fol. 107.]

A corner of þe cortyn he ca3t vp a lyttel,

& wayte3 warly þider-warde, quat hit be my3t.

A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly.

Hit wat3 þe ladi, loflyest to be-holde,

1188

Þat dro3 þe dor after hir ful dernly¹ & stylle,

She approaches the bed.

& bo3ed to-warde þe bed; & þe burne schamed.

& layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte.

Gawayne pretends to be asleep.

& ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde,

The lady casts up the curtain and sits on the bedside. 1192

Kest vp þe cortyn, & creped with-inne,

& set hir ful softly on þe bed-syde,

& lenged þere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.

Þe lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,

Gawayne has much wonder thereat. 1196

Compast in his concience to quat þat cace my3t

Mene oþer amount, to meruayle hym þo3t;

Bot 3et he sayde in hym-self, "more semly hit were

To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde."

He rouses himself up, 1200

þen he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned,

unlocks his eyes, and looks as if he were astonished.

& vn-louked his y3e-lydde3, & let as hym wondered,

& sayned hym, as bi his sa3e þe sauer to worthe,

with hande;

1204

Wyth chynne & cheke ful swete,

Boþe quit & red in-blande,

Ful lufly con ho lete,

Wyth lyppe3 smal la3ande.