Chapter IV

1208 [A] "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde þat fayr lady,
"3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, þat mon may slyde hider;
Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape,
[B] I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be 3e trayst:"
1212 Al la3ande þe lady lanced þo bourde3.
[C] "Goud moroun g[aye],"[1] quod Gawayn þe blyþe,
"Me schal worþe at your wille, & þat me wel lyke3,
For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace,
1216 & þat is þe best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;"
& þus he bourded a-3ayn with mony a blyþe la3ter.
[D] "Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, þen leue me grante,
& de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse,
1220 I wolde bo3e of þis bed, & busk me better,
I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth."
[E] "Nay, for soþe, beau sir," sayd þat swete, [Fol. 107b]
"3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,
1224 [F] I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als,
& syþen karp wyth my kny3t þat I ka3t haue;
[G] For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are,
Þat alle þe worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride;
1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed
[H] With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle þat lyf bere.
& now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;
[I] "My lorde & his lede3 ar on lenþe faren,
1232 [J] Oþer burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als,
[K] Þe dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;
[L] & syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lyke3,
I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3,
1236 with tale;
[M] 3e ar welcum to my cors,
Yowre awen won to wale,
Me be-houe3 of fyne force,
1240 [N] Your seruaunt be & schale."

[Sidenote A: "Good morrow", says the lady, "ye are a careless sleeper to let one enter thus.] [Sidenote B: I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure."] [Sidenote C: "Good morrow," says the knight, "I am well pleased to be at your service;] [Sidenote D: but permit me to rise and dress myself."] [Sidenote E: "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one,] [Sidenote F: "I shall hold talk with you here.] [Sidenote G: I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships.] [Sidenote H: We are by ourselves;] [Sidenote I: My lord and his men are far off.] [Sidenote J: Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens.] [Sidenote K: The door is safely closed.] [Sidenote L: Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my time well while it lasts.] [Sidenote M: Ye are welcome to my body.] [Sidenote N: I shall be your servant."] [Footnote 1: This word is illegible in the MS.]