Part 7

XVII.

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, 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. 908 When þe lorde hade lerned þat he þe leude hade, Loude la3ed he þerat, so lef hit hym þo3t, & 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. Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere, 916 "Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of þewe3, & þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble, Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne, 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, Þis burne now schal vus bryng, [Fol. 103b.] I hope þat may hym here, Schal lerne of luf-talkyng."

XVIII.

928 Bi þat þe diner wat3 done, & þe dere vp, Hit wat3 ne3 at þe niy3t ne3ed þe tyme; Chaplayne3 to þe chapeles chosen þe gate, Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as þay schulden, 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; & he hym þonkked þroly, & ayþer halched oþer. 940 & seten soberly samen þe seruise-quyle; Þenne lyst þe lady to loke on þe kny3t. 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, & wener þen Wenore, as þe wy3e þo3t. He ches þur3 þe chaunsel, to cheryche þat hende; An oþer lady hir lad bi þe lyft honde, 948 Þat wat3 alder þen ho, an auncian hit semed, & he3ly honowred with haþele3 aboute. Bot yn-lyke on to loke þo ladyes were, For if þe 3onge wat3 3ep, 3ol3e wat3 þat oþer; 952 Riche red on þat on rayled ay quere, Rugh ronkled cheke3 þat oþer on rolled; Kerchofes of þat on wyth mony cler perle3 Hir brest & hir bry3t þrote bare displayed, 956 Schon schyrer þen snawe, þat scheder on hille3; Þat oþer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer þe swyre, Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles, Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere, 960 Toret & treieted with tryfle3 aboute, Þat no3t wat3 bare of þat burde bot þe blake bro3es. [Fol. 104.] 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; Hir body wat3 schort & þik. Hir buttoke3 bay & brode, 968 More lykker-wys on to lyk, Wat3 þat scho hade on lode.

XIX.

When Gawayn gly3t on þat gay, þat graciously loked, Wyth leue la3t of þe lorde he went hem a3aynes; 972 Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe, Þe loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3, He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3; Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3 976 To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked. Þay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden To chambre, to chemné, & chefly þay asken 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. Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged, 984 & wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of, Þat most myrþe my3t mene 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 tayt make3, For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle þat ny3t; Til þat hit wat3 tyme, 992 Þe kyng comaundet ly3t, Sir Gawen his leue con nyme, & to his bed hym di3t.

XX.

On þe morne, as vch mon myne3 þat tyme, 996 [Þ]at dry3tyn for oure destyné to de3e wat3 borne, Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake; So did hit þere on þat day, þur3 dayntes mony; Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt [Fol. 104b.] 1000 Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best. Þe olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3; Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe; 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, 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; 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; 1016 Trumpe3 & nakerys, Much pypyng þer repayres, Vche mon tented hys, & þay two tented þayres.

XXI.

1020 Much dut wat3 þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer, & þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter; 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; 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 chymné bysyde, & þere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym þonkke3, 1032 Of þe wynne worschip & 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, 1036 Þat Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest." [Fol. 105.] "Grant merci 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." Þe lorde fast can hym payne, To holde lenger þe kny3t, 1044 To hym answre3 Gawayn, Bi non way þat he my3t.

XXII.

Then frayned þe freke ful fayre at him-seluen, Quat derne 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? "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 wot 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, 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, 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, Naf I now to busy bot bare þre daye3, & me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde." 1068 Þenne la3ande quod þe lorde, "now leng þe by-houes, For I schal teche yow to þa 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, & cum to þat merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow like3 [Fol. 105b] in spenne; Dowelle3 whyle new 3eres daye, 1076 & rys, & rayke3 þenne, Mon schal yow sette in waye, Hit is not two myle henne."

XXIII.

Þenne wat3 Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he la3ed,-- 1080 "Now I þonk yow þryuandely þur3 alle oþer þynge, Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle Dowelle, & elle3 do quat 3e demen." Þenne sesed hym þe syre, & set hym bysyde, 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, "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 3owe hest." "For 3e haf trauayled," quod þe tulk, "towen fro ferre, & syþen waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst, Nauþer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, soþly I knowe; 1096 3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese, 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." Gauayn grante3 alle þyse, 1104 Hym heldande, as þe hende.

XXIV.

"3et firre," quod þe freke, "a forwarde we make; Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþe3 to youre3, & 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, & þat yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me þynkes. [Fol. 106.] 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, 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. 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, Cowþe wel halde layk a-lofte.

Ful erly bifore þe day þe folk vp-rysen, Gestes þat go wolde, hor grome3 þay calden, 1128 & þay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel, Tyffen he takles, trussen her males, Richen hem þe rychest, to ryde alle arayde, Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles, 1132 Vche wy3e on his way, þer hym wel lyked. Þe leue lorde of þe londe wat3 not þe last, A-rayed for þe rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony; Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse, 1136 With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue; By þat þat any day-ly3t lemed vpon erþe, He with his haþeles on hy3e horsses weren. Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe, cowpled hor hounde3, 1140 Vnclosed þe kenel dore, & calde hem þer-oute, Blwe bygly in bugle3 þre bare mote; Braches bayed þerfore, & breme noyse maked, & þay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng þat went; 1144 A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle, of þe best; To trystors vewters 3od, Couples huntes of kest, 1148 Þer ros for blaste3 gode, [Fol. 106b.] Gret rurd in þat forest.

II.

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 Restayed with þe stablye, þat stoutly ascryed; 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 mene to þe male dere. 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, At vche [þat] wende vnder wande wapped a flone, Þat bigly bote on þe broun, with ful brode hede3, What! þay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 þay de3en. 1164 & ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es, Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after, 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. Þe lorde for blys abloy Ful oft con launce & ly3t, 1176 & drof þat day wyth Ioy Thus to þe derk ny3t.

III.

Þus layke3 þis lorde by lynde wode3 eue3, & G. þe god mon, in gay bed lyge3, 1180 Lurkke3 quyl þe day-ly3t lemed on þe wowes, Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute; & as in slomeryng he slode, sle3ly he herde A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon; 1184 & he heue3 vp his hed out of þe cloþes, A corner of þe cortyn he ca3t vp a lyttel, [Fol. 107.] & wayte3 warly þider-warde, quat hit be my3t. Hit wat3 þe ladi, loflyest to be-holde, 1188 Þat dro3 þe dor after hir ful dernly & stylle, & bo3ed to-warde þe bed; & þe burne schamed. & layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte. & ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde, 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, 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 space quat ho wolde." 1200 þen he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned, & 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.

IV.

1208 "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde þat fayr lady, "3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, þat mon may slyde hider; Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape, I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be 3e trayst:" 1212 Al la3ande þe lady lanced þo bourde3. "Goud moroun g," quod Gawayn þe blyþe, "Me schal worþe at your wille, & þat me wel lyke3, For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace, 1216 & þat is þe best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;" & þus he bourded a-3ayn with mony a blyþe la3ter. "Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, þen leue me grante, & de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse, 1220 I wolde bo3e of þis bed, & busk me better, I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth." "Nay, for soþe, beau sir," sayd þat swete, [Fol. 107b] "3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better, 1224 I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als, & syþen karp wyth my kny3t þat I ka3t haue; For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are, Þat alle þe worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride; 1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle þat lyf bere. & now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one; "My lorde & his lede3 ar on lenþe faren, 1232 Oþer burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als, Þe dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe; & syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lyke3, I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3, 1236 with tale; 3e ar welcum to my cors, Yowre awen won to wale, Me be-houe3 of fyne force, 1240 Your seruaunt be & schale."

"In god fayth," quod Gawayn, "gayn hit me þynkke3, Þa3 I be not now he þat 3e of speken; To reche to such reuerence as 3e reherce here 1244 I am wy3e vn-worþy, I wot wel my-seluen; Bi God, I were glad, & yow god þo3t, At sa3e oþer at seruyce þat I sette my3t To þe plesaunce of your prys, hit were a pure ioye." 1248 "In god fayth, sir Gawayn," quod þe gay lady, "Þe prys & þe prowes þat plese3 al oþer, If I hit lakked, oþer set at ly3t, hit were littel daynté; Bot hit ar ladyes in-no3e, þat leuer wer nowþe 1252 Haf þe hende in hor holde, as I þe habbe here, To daly witt derely your daynté worde3, Keuer hem comfort, & colen her care3, Þen much of þe garysourn oþer golde þat þay hauen; 1256 Bot I louue þat ilk lorde þat þe lyfte halde3, I haf hit holly in my honde þat al desyres, þur3e grace." Scho made hym so gret chere, 1260 Þat wat3 so fayr of face, [Fol. 108.] Þe kny3t with speches skere, Aswared to vche a cace.

VI.

"Madame," quod þe myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde, 1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele, & oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dede3; Bot þe daynté þat þay delen for my disert nysen, Hit is þe worchyp of your-self, þat no3t hot wel conne3." 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, & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde, 1272 For þe costes þat I haf knowen vpun þe kny3t here, Of bewté, & debonerté, & blyþe semblaunt, & 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 wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better, Bot I am proude of þe prys þat 3e put on me, & soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow, & yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde." 1280 Þus þay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste, & ay þe lady let lyk, a hym loued mych; Þe freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre. Þa3 I were burde bry3test, þe burde in mynde hade, 1284 Þe lasse luf in his lode, for lur þat he so3t, boute hone; Þe dunte þat schulde hym deue, & nede3 hit most be done; 1288 Þe lady þenn spek of leue. He granted hir ful sone.

VII.

Þenne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed. & as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3: 1292 "Now he þat spede3 vche spech, þis disport 3elde yow! Bot þat 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde." "Quer-fore?" quod þe freke, & freschly he aske3, Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes; 1296 Bot þe burde hym blessed, & bi þis skyl sayde, "So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden, [Fol. 108b.] & cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen, Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady, 1300 Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye, Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende." Þen quod Wowen, "I-wysse, worþe as yow lyke3, I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3, 1304 & fire lest he displese yow, so plede hit no more." Ho comes nerre with þat, & cache3 hym in arme3, Loute3 luflych adoun, & þe leude kysse3; Þay comly bykennen to Kryst ayþer oþer; 1308 Ho dos hir forth at þe dore, with-outen dyn more. & he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone, Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede, Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, blyþely to masse, 1312 & þenne he meued to his mete, þat menskly hym keped, & made myry al day til þe mone rysed, with game; With neuer freke fayrer fonge, 1316 Bitwene two so dyngne dame, Þe alder & þe 3onge, Much solace set þay same.