Chapter III

536 [A] 3et quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges,
& he made a fare on þat fest, for þe freke3 sake,
With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table;
Kny3te3 ful cortays & comlych ladies,
540 Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were,
Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe,
Mony ioyle3 for þat ientyle iape3 þer maden.
[B] For aftter mete, with mournyng he mele3 to his eme,
544 & speke3 of his passage, & pertly he sayde,
[C] "Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask;
3e knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more
To telle yow tene3 þer-of neuer bot trifel;
548 [D] Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne,
To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse."
Þenne þe best of þe bur3 bo3ed to-geder,
Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony,
552 Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence, [Fol. 98b.]
Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode,
Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe,
[E] & mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port.
556 Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre,
For to counseyl þe kny3t, with care at her hert;
[F] Þere wat3 much derue[1] doel driuen in þe sale,
Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde,
560 To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more
wyth bronde.
Þe kny3t mad ay god chere,
& sayde, "quat schuld I wonde,
564 [G] Of destines derf & dere,
What may mon do bot fonde?"

[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's sake.] [Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:] [Sidenote C: "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,] [Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight."] [Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him.] [Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall.] [Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear.] [Footnote 1: derne (?).]