The knight, seeing the boar at bay,

Til þe kny3t com hym-self, kachande his blonk,

Sy3 hym byde at þe bay, his burne3 bysyde,

alights from his horse,

He ly3tes luflych¹ adoun, leue3 his corsour,

1584

Brayde3 out a bry3t bront, & bigly forth stryde3,

Founde3 fast þur3 þe forth, þer þe felle byde3,

and seeks to attack him with his sword.

Þe wylde wat3 war of þe wy3e with weppen in honde,

Hef hy3ly þe here, so hetterly he fnast,

1588

Þat fele ferde for þe freke3,² lest felle hym þe worre;

The "swine sets out" upon the man,

Þe swyn sette3 hym out on þe segge euen,

Þat þe burne & þe bor were boþe vpon hepe3,

In þe wy3t-est of þe water, þe worre hade þat oþer;

who, aiming well, 1592

For þe mon merkke3 hym wel, as þay mette fyrst,

Set sadly þe scharp in þe slot euen,

wounds him in the pit of the stomach.

Hit hym vp to þe hult, þat þe hert schyndered,

& he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun³ þe water,

1596

ful tyt;

[Fol. 112b.]

A hundreth hounde3 hym hent,

The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds.

Þat bremely con hym bite,

Burne3 him bro3t to bent,

1600

& dogge3 to dethe endite.

Then was there blowing of horns

There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,

He3e halowing on hi3e, with haþele3 þat my3t;

and baying of hounds.

Brachetes bayed þat best, as bidden þe maystere3,

1604

Of þat chargeaunt chace þat were chef huntes.

One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar.

Þenne a wy3e þat wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,

To vnlace þis bor lufly bigynne3;

First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back.

Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,

1608

& syþen rende3 him al roghe bi þe rygge after,

He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and therewith rewards his hounds.

Brayde3 out þe boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,

With bred blent þer-with his braches rewarde3;

Syþen he britne3 out þe brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,

Then the hastlets are removed. 1612

& hat3 out þe hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;

The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole.

& 3et hem halche3 al hole þe halue3 to-geder,

& syþen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.

Now with þis ilk swyn þay swengen to home;

The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home. 1616

Þe bores hed wat3 borne bifore þe burnes seluen,

Þat him for-ferde in þe forþe, þur3 forse of his honde,

so stronge;

Til he se3 sir Gawayne,

1620

In halle hym þo3t ful longe,

Gawayne is called to receive the spoil.

He calde, & he com gayn,

His fee3 þer for to fonge.

The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir Gawayne,

Þe lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,

1624

When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;

Þe goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered þe meyny,

He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of its length and breadth.

He schewe3 hem þe schelde3, & schapes hem þe tale,

Of þe largesse, & þe lenþe, þe liþerne3 alse,

1628

Of þe were of þe wylde swyn, in wod þer he fled.

Þat oþer kny3t ful comly comended his dede3,

& praysed hit as gret prys, þat he proued hade;

Such a "brawn of a beast," Sir Gawayne says, he never has seen.

For suche a brawne of a best, þe bolde burne sayde,

1632

Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.

Þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed, þe hende mon hit praysed,

[Fol. 113.]

& let lodly þerat þe lorde forte here:

Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant,

"Now Gawayn," quod þe god mon, "þis gomen is your awen,

1636

Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe."

"Hit is sothe," quod þe segge, "& as siker trwe;

Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawþe."

and in return kisses his host,

He [hent] þe haþel aboute þe halse, & hendely hym kysses,

1640

& efter-sones of þe same he serued hym þere.

"Now ar we euen," quod þe haþel, "in þis euen-tide,

Of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt, syþen I com hider,

bi lawe;"

who declares his guest to be the best he knows. 1644

Þe lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile,

3e ar þe best þat I knowe,

3e ben ryche in a whyle,

Such chaffer & 3e drowe."

Tables are raised aloft, 1648

Þenne þay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,

cloths cast upon them,

Kesten cloþe3 vpon, clere ly3t þenne

and torches are lighted.

Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches

Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute;

With much mirth and glee, 1652

Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne,

Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,

supper is served in the hall,

At þe soper & after, mony aþel songe3,

As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,

1656

With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.

and ever our lovely knight by the lady sits,

& euer oure luflych kny3t þe lady bi-syde;

Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,

who does all she can to please her companion.

Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,

1660

Þat al for-wondered wat3 þe wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,

Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,

Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer þe dede turned

to wrast;

When they had long played in the hall, 1664

Quen þay hade played in halle,

As longe as hor wylle hom last,

they proceeded "to chamber."

To chambre he¹ con hym calle,

& to þe chem-ne þay past.

There they drank and discoursed. 1668

Ande þer þay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe,

To norne on þe same note, on nwe3ere3 euen;

Gawayne begs leave to depart on the morrow.

Bot þe kny3t craued leue, to kayre on þe morn,

For hit wat3 ne3 at þe terme, þat he to¹ schulde.

[Fol. 113b.] 1672

Þe lorde hym letted of þat, to lenge hym resteyed,

His host swears to him,

& sayde, "as I am trwe segge, I siker my trawþe,

that he shall come to the Green Chapel on New Year's morn long before prime.

Þou schal cheue to þe grene chapel, þy charres to make,

Leude, on nw3ere3 ly3t, longe bifore pryme:

1676

For-þy þow lye in þy loft, & lach þyn ese,

& I schal hunt in þis holt, & halde þe towche3,

Chaunge wyth þe cheuisaunce, bi þat I charre hider;

For I haf fraysted þe twys, & faythful I fynde þe,

1680

Now þrid tyme þrowe best þenk on þe morne,

Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye,

For þe lur may mon lach, when so mon lyke3."

Þis wat3 grayþely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged,

Our knight consents to remain for another night. 1684

Bliþe bro3t wat3 hym drynk, & þay to bedde 3eden,

with li3t;

Full still and softly he sleeps all night.

Sir G: lis & slepes,

Ful stille & softe al ni3t;

Early in the morning the lord is up. 1688

Þe lorde þat his crafte3 kepes,

Ful erly he wat3 di3t.

After mass, a morsel he take with his men.

After messe a morsel¹ he & his men token,

Miry wat3 þe mornyng, his mounture he askes;

Then were all on their horses before the hall-gates. 1692

Alle þe haþeles þat on horse schulde helden hym after,

Were boun busked on hor blonkke3, bi-fore² þe halle 3ate3;

It was a clear frosty morning.

Ferly fayre wat3 þe folde, for þe forst clenged,

In rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne,

The hunters, dispersed by a wood's side, 1696

& ful clere coste3³ þe clowdes of þe welkyn.

Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,

Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;

come upon the track of a fox,

Summe fel in þe fute, þer þe fox bade,

1700

Trayle3 ofte a trayteres⁴, bi traunt of her wyles;

A kenet kryes þerof, þe hunt on hym calles,

His fela3es fallen hym to, þat fnasted ful þike,

which is followed up by the hounds.

Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ry3t fare;

1704

& he fyske3 hem by-fore, þay founden hym sone,

They soon get sight of the game,

& quen þay seghe hym with sy3t, þay sued hym fast,

Wre3ande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;

and pursue him through many a rough grove.

& he trantes & tornayee3 þur3 mony tene greue;

1708

Hamloune3, & herkene3, bi hegge3 ful ofte;

[Fol. 114.]
The fox at last leaps over a spinny,

At þe last bi a littel dich he lepe3 ouer a spenné,

Stele3 out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,

and by a rugged path seeks to get clear from the hounds.

Went haf wylt of þe wode, with wyle3 fro þe houndes,

1712

Þenne wat3 he went, er he wyst, to⁵ a wale tryster,

He comes upon one of the hunting stations, where he is attacked by the dogs.

Þer þre þro at a þrich þrat hym at ones,

al graye;

However, he slips them,

He blenched a3ayn bilyue,

1716

& stifly start onstray,

With alle þe wo on lyue,

and makes again for the wood.

To þe wod he went away.

Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,

Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list to lyþen þe hounde3,

1720

When alle þe mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,

Suche a sor3e at þat sy3t þay sette on his hede,

As alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;

and the hallooing of the hunters.

Here he wat3 halawed, when haþele3 hym metten,

1724

Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche;

There the fox was threatened and called a thief.

Þer he wat3 þreted, & ofte þef called,

& ay þe titleres at his tayl, þat tary he ne my3t;

Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked,

But Reynard was wily, 1728

& ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wylé.

and led them astray over mounts.

& 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, þe lorde & his meyny;

On þis maner bi þe mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder,

Meanwhile the knight at home soundly sleeps within his comely curtains.

Whyle þe hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3,

1732

With-inne þe comly cortynes, on þe colde morne.

Bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe,

Ne þe purpose to payre, þat py3t in hir hert,

Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir þeder,

The lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle, 1736

In a mery mantyle, mete to þe erþe,

Þat wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured,

No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot þe ha3er stones

Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;

her throat and bosom all bare, 1740

Hir þryuen face & hir þrote þrowen al naked,

Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.

comes to Gawayne's chamber,

Ho come3 with-inne þe chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,

opens a window, and says,

Wayne3¹ vp a wyndow, & on þe wy3e calle3,

1744

& radly þus re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3,

with² chere;

"Ah! man, how canst thou sleep,

"A! mon, how may þou slepe,

[Fol. 114b.]
this morning is so clear?"

Þis morning is so clere?"

1748

He wat3 in drowping depe,

Bot þenne he con hir here.

The knight was then dreaming of his forthcoming adventure at the Green Chapel.

In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble,

As mon þat wat3 in mornyng of mony þro þo3tes,

1752

How þat destiné schulde þat day [dy3t] his wyrde,

At þe grene chapel, when he þe gome metes,

& bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more;

He awakes and speaks to his fair visitor,

Bot quen þat comly he keuered his wyttes,

1756

Swenges out of þe sweuenes, & sware3 with hast.

Þe lady luflych com la3ande swete,

who sweetly kisses him.

Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed;

He welcume3 hir worþily, with a wale chere;

1760

He se3 hir so glorious, & gayly atyred,

So fautles of hir fetures, & of so fyne hewes,

Great joy warms the heart of Sir Gawayne,

Wi3t wallande Ioye warmed his hert;

With smoþe smylyng & smolt þay smeten in-to merþe,

1764

Þat al wat3 blis & bonchef, þat breke hem bi-twene,

& wynne,

Þay lanced wordes gode,

Much wele þen wat3 þer-inne,

and "great peril between them stood." 1768

Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,

Nif mare of hir kny3t mynne.

The knight is sorely pressed.

For þat prynce of pris de-presed hym so þikke.

Nurned hym so ne3e þe þred, þat nede hym bi-houed,

1772

Oþer lach þer hir luf, oþer lodly re-fuse;

He cared for his cortaysye, lest craþayn he were,

He fears lest he should become a traitor to his host.

& more for his meschef, 3if he schulde make synne,

& be traytor to þat tolke, þat þat telde a3t.

1776

"God schylde," quod þe schalk, "þat schal not be-falle!"

With luf-la3yng a lyt, he layd hym by-syde

Alle þe speche3 of specialté þat sprange of her mouthe.

Quod þat burde to þe burne, "blame 3e disserue,

1780

3if 3e luf not þat lyf þat 3e lye nexte,

Bifore alle þe wy3e3 in þe worlde, wounded in hert,

The lady inquire whether he has a mistress that he loves better than her.

Bot if 3e haf a lemman, a leuer, þat yow lyke3 better,

& folden fayth to þat fre, festned so harde,

[Fol. 115.] 1784

Þat yow lausen ne lyst, & þat I leue nouþe;

And þat 3e telle me þat, now trwly I pray yow,

For alle þe lufe3 vpon lyue, layne not þe soþe,

for gile."

Sir Gawayne swears by St. John that he neither has nor desires one. 1788

Þe kny3t sayde, "be sayn Ion,"

& smeþely con he smyle,

"In fayth I welde ri3t non,

Ne non wil welde þe quile."

1792

"Þat is a worde," quod þat wy3t, "þat worst is of alle,

Bot I am swared for soþe, þat sore me þinkke3;

She then kisses him, sighing for sorrow.

Kysse me now coraly, & I schal cach heþen,

I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may þat much louyes."

1796

Sykande ho swe3e doun, & semly hym kyssed,

& siþen ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes,

"Now, dere, at þis de-partyng, do me þis ese,

She desires some gift,

Gif me sumquat of þy gifte, þi gloue if¹ hit were,

by which to remember him. 1800

Þat I may mynne on þe mon, my mournyng to lassen."

"Now Iwysse," quod þat wy3e, "I wolde I hade here

Þe leuest þing for þy luf, þat I in londe welde,

Gawayne tells her that she is worthy of a better gift than he can bestow.

For 3e haf deserued, forsoþe, sellyly ofte

1804

More rewarde bi resoun, þen I reche my3t,

Bot to dele yow for drurye, þat dawed bot neked;

Hit is not your honour to haf at þis tyme

A gloue for a garysoun, of Gawayne3 gifte3,

1808

& I am here [on] an erande in erde3 vncouþe,

He has no men with mails containing precious things.

& haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful þinge3;

Þat mislyke3 me, ladé, for luf at þis tyme,²

Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille,

1812

ne pine."

Then says that lovesome,

"Nay, hende of hy3e honours,"

Quod þat lufsum vnder lyne,

"Though I had nought of yours, yet should ye have of mine."

"Þa3 I hade o3t³ of youre3,

1816

3et schulde 3e haue of myne."

She offers him a gold ring,

Ho ra3t hym a riche rynk¹ of red golde werke3,

Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,

Þat bere blusschande beme3 as þe bry3t sunne;

1820

Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge.

but he refuses to accept it,

Bot þe renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,

[Fol. 115b.]

"I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at þis tyme;

as he has none to give in return.

I haf none yow to norne, ne no3t wyl I take."

1824

Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,

& swere swyftel[y] his sothe, þat he hit sese nolde;

Very sorrowful was that fair one on account of his refusal.

& ho sore þat he forsoke, & sayde þer-after,

"If 3e renay my rynk, to ryche for hit seme3,

1828

3e wolde not so hy3ly halden be to me,

I schal gif yow my girdel, þat gaynes yow lasse."

Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, þat² leke vmbe hir syde3,

She takes off her "girdle,"

Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder þe clere mantyle,

1832

Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,

No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3;

& þat ho bede to þe burne, & blyþely bi-so3t

and beseeches him to take it.

Þa3 hit vn-worþi were, þat he hit take wolde.

1836

& he nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse,

Gawayne again refuses to accept anything,

Nauþer golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende,

To acheue to þe chaunce þat he hade chosen þere.

"& þerfore, I pray yow, displese yow no3t,

1840

& lette3 be your bisinesse, for I bayþe hit yow neuer

to graunte;

I am derely to yow biholde,

Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,

but promises, "ever in hot and in cold, to be her true servant." 1844

& euer in hot & colde

To be your trwe seruaunt.

"Do you refuse it," says the lady, because it is simple?

"Now forsake 3e þis silke." sayde þe burde þenne,

"For hit is symple in hit-self. & so hit wel seme3?

1848

Lo! so hit is littel, & lasse hit is worþy;

Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses, would highly prize it.

Bot who-so knew þe costes þat knit ar þer-inne,

He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture;

For he who is girded with this green lace,

For quat gome so is gorde with þis grene lace,

1852

While he hit hade hemely halched aboute,

Þer is no haþel vnder heuen to-hewe hym þat my3t;

cannot be wounded or slain."

For he my3t not he slayn, for sly3t vpon erþe."

Þen kest þe kny3t, & hit come to his hert,

The knight thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel. 1856

Hit were a Iuel for þe Iopardé, þat hym iugged were,

When he acheued to þe chapel, his chek forto fech;

The lady presses him to accept the lace.

My3¹ he haf slypped to þe vn-slayn, þe sle3t were noble.

[Fol. 116.]

Þenne ho þulged with hir þrepe, & þoled hir to speke,

1860

& ho bere on hym þe belt, & bede hit hym swyþe,

He consents not only to take the girdle, but to keep the possession of it a secret.

& he granted, & [ho] hym gafe with a goud wylle,

& biso3t hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer,

Bot to lelly layne for² hir lorde; þe leude hym acorde3.

1864

Þat neuer wy3e schulde hit wyt, Iwysse, bot þay twayne,

for no3te;

He þonkked hir oft ful swyþe,

Ful þro with hert & þo3t.

By that time the lady has kissed him thrice. 1868

Bi þat on þrynne syþe,

He hat3 kyst þe kny3t so to3t.

Then she takes her leave.

Thenne lachche3 ho hir leue, & leue3 hym þere,

For more myrþe of þat mon mo3t ho not gete;

Gawayne then dresses himself, 1872

When ho¹ wat3 gon, sir G. gere3 hym sone,

Rises, & riches hym in araye noble,

and conceals the love-lace about his person.

Lays vp þe luf-lace, þe lady hym ra3t,

Hid hit ful holdely, þer he hit eft fonde;

1876

Syþen cheuely to þe chapel choses he þe waye,

He then hies to mass,

Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym þere

Þat he wolde lyfte² his lyf, & lern hym better,

How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye heþen.

and shrives him of his misdeeds. 1880

Þere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdede3,

Of þe more & þe mynne, & merci beseche3,

and prays for absolution.

& of absolucioun he on þe segge calles;

& he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene,

He returns to the hall, and makes himself so merry among the ladies, 1884

As dome3-day schulde haf ben di3t on þe morn.

& syþen he mace hym as mery among þe fre ladyes,

with comely carols,

With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye,

As neuer he did bot þat daye, to þe derk ny3t,

1888

with blys;

Vche mon hade daynte þare,

that they said,

Of hym, & sayde Iwysse,

"Thus merry was he never before since hither he came."

Þus myry he wat3 neuer are,

1892

Syn he com hider, er þis.

Gawayne's host is still in the field.

Now hym lenge in þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde;

3et is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes,

He has destroyed the fox.

He hat3 forfaren þis fox, þat he fol3ed longe;

1896

As he sprent ouer a spenné, to spye þe schrewe,

[Fol. 116b.]

Þer as he herd þe howndes, þat hasted hym swyþe,

He spied Reynard coming through a "rough grove,"

Renaud com richchande þur3 a ro3e greue,

& alle þe rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.

and tried to hit him with his sword. 1900

Þe wy3e wat3 war of þe wylde, & warly abides,

& brayde3 out þe bry3t bronde, & at þe best caste3;

& he schunt for þe scharp, & schulde haf arered,

The fox "shunts," and is seized by one of the dogs.

A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,

1904

& ry3t bifore þe hors fete þay fel on hym alle,

& woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse.

The lord takes him out of the hound's mouth.

Þe lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by¹ sone,

Rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes,

1908

Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,

& þer bayen hym mony bray² hounde3;

Hunters hasten thither with horns full many.

Huntes hy3ed hem þeder, with horne3 ful mony,

Ay re-chatande ary3t til þay þe renk se3en;

1912

Bi þat wat3 comen his compeyny noble,

Alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones,

It was the merriest meet that ever was heard.

& alle þise oþer halowed, þat hade no hornes,

Hit wat3 þe myriest mute þat euer men herde,

1916

Þe rich rurd þat þer wat3 raysed for renaude saule,

with lote;

The hounds are rewarded,

Hor hounde3 þay þer rewarde,

Her³ hede3 þay fawne & frote,

and then they take Reynard and "turn off his coat." 1920

& syþen þay tan reynarde,

& tyrnen of his cote.

The hunters then hasten home.

& þenne þay helden to home, for hit wat3 nie3 ny3t,

Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horne3;

The lord at last alights at his dear home, 1924

Þe lorde is ly3t at þe laste at hys lef home,

Fynde3 fire vpon flet, þe freke þer by-side,

Sir Gawayn þe gode, þat glad wat3 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 wat3 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 mete3 me þis god mon in mydde3 þe flore,

& al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde,

"I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwarde3 nouþe,

[Fol. 117.]

Þat we spedly han spoken, þer spared wat3 no drynk;"

and according to covenant kisses him thrice. 1936

Þen acoles he [þe] kny3t, & 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 kny3t, "3e cach much sele,

In cheuisaunce of þis chaffer, 3if 3e hade goud chepe3."

1940

"3e of þe chepe no charg," quod chefly þat oþer,

"As is pertly payed þe chepe3 þat I a3te."

"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, & no3t haf I geten,

but the skin of this foul fox, 1944

Bot þis foule fox felle, þe fende haf þe gode3,

a poor reward for three such kisses."

& þat is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys þinges,

As 3e haf þry3t me here, þro suche þre cosses,

so gode."

1948

"I-no3," quod sir Gawayn,

"I þonk yow, bi þe rode;"

He then tells him how the fox was slain.

& how þe fox wat3 slayn,

He tolde hym, as þay stode.