Chapter III

[A] Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse,
With mony luflych lorde, lede3 of þe best,
[B] Rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer,
40 With rych reuel ory3t, & rechles merþes;
Þer tournayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony,
Iusted ful Iolilé þise gentyle kni3tes,
Syþen kayred to þe court, caroles to make.
44 [C] For þer þe fest wat3 ilyche ful fiften dayes,
With alle þe mete & þe mirþe þat men couþe a-vyse;
Such glaumande gle glorious to here,
Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on ny3tes,
48 [D] Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3,
With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest him þo3t;
With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen,
[E] Þe most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryste seluen,
52 & þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden,
& he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes;
For al wat3 þis fayre folk in her first age,
on sille;
56 [F] Þe hapnest vnder heuen,
Kyng hy3est mon of wylle,
Hit were[1] now gret nye to neuen
So hardy a here on hille.

[Sidenote A: Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast,] [Sidenote B: with all the knights of the Round Table,] [Sidenote C: full fifteen days.] [Sidenote D: All was joy in hall and chamber,] [Sidenote E: among brave knights and lovely ladies,] [Sidenote F: the happiest under heaven.] [Footnote 1: MS. werere.]