Chapter XXI

1020 [A] Much dut wat3 þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer,
& þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter;
[B] 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;
[C] 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[e] chymné bysyde,
[D] & þere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym þonkke3,
1032 Of þe wynne worschip &[1] 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[2] 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."
[E] Þe lorde fast can hym payne,
To holde lenger þe kny3t,
1044 To hym answre3 Gawayn,
Bi non way þat he my3t.

[Sidenote A: Great was the joy for three days.] [Sidenote B: St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival.] [Sidenote C: On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the castle.] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure of his visit.] [Sidenote E: He endeavours to keep the knight at his court.] [Footnote 1: þat (?).] [Footnote 2: nerci, in MS.]