Chapter XVII

[A] 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 [B] 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 [C] When þe lorde hade lerned þat he þe leude hade,
Loude la3ed he þerat, so lef hit hym þo3t,
[D] & 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.
[E] Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,
916 [F] "Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of þewe3,
& þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble,
Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,
[G] 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.]
[H] I hope þat may hym here,
Schal lerne of luf-talkyng."

[Sidenote A: Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,] [Sidenote B: tells the prince that he is of Arthur's court.] [Sidenote C: When this was made known,] [Sidenote D: great was the joy in the hall.] [Sidenote E: Each one said softly to his mate,] [Sidenote F: "Now we shall see courteous manners and hear noble speech,] [Sidenote G: for we have amongst us the 'father of nurture.'] [Sidenote H: He that may him hear shall learn of love-talking."]