Chapter II

516 [A] After þe sesoun of somer wyth þe soft wynde3,
Quen 3eferus syfle3 hym-self on sede3 & erbe3,
[B] Wela-wynne is þe wort þat woxes þer-oute.
When þe donkande dewe drope3 of þe leue3,
520 To bide a blysful blusch of þe bry3t sunne.
[C] Bot þen hy3es heruest, & hardenes hym sone.
Warne3 hym for þe wynter to wax ful rype;
[D] He dryues wyth dro3t þe dust for to ryse.
524 Fro þe face of þe folde to fly3e ful hy3e;
Wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrastele3 with þe sunne,
[E] Þe leue3 lancen fro þe lynde, & ly3ten on þe grounde,
[F] & al grayes þe gres, þat grene wat3 ere;
528 Þenne al rype3 & rote3 þat ros vpon fyrst,
& þus 3irne3 þe 3ere in 3isterdaye3 mony,
[G] & wynter wynde3 a3ayn, as þe worlde aske3
no sage.
532 Til me3el-mas mone,
Wat3 cumen wyth wynter wage;
[H] Þen þenkke3 Gawan ful sone,
Of his anious uyage.

[Sidenote A: Then the soft winds of summer,] [Sidenote B: beautiful are the flowers wet with dew-drops.] [Sidenote C: But harvest approaches soon,] [Sidenote D: and drives the dust about.] [Sidenote E: The leaves drop off the trees,] [Sidenote F: the grass becomes gray, and all ripens and rots.] [Sidenote G: Winter winds round again,] [Sidenote H: and then Sir Gawayne thinks of his dread journey.]