Chapter IX

[A] Boþe þe hede & þe hals þay hwen of þenne,
& syþen sunder þay þe syde3 swyft fro þe chyne,
& þe corbeles fee þay kest in a greue;[1]
1356 Þenn þurled þay ayþer þik side þur3, bi þe rybbe,
& henged þenne a[y]þer bi ho3es of þe fourche3,
Vche freke for his fee, as falle3 forto haue.
Vpon a felle of þe fayre best, fede þay þayr houndes,
1360 [B] Wyth þe lyuer & þe ly3te3, þe leþer of þe paunche3,
& bred baþed in blod, blende þer amonge3;
Baldely þay blw prys, bayed þayr rachche3,
[C] Syþen fonge þay her flesche folden to home,
1364 Strakande ful stoutly mony stif mote3.
Bi þat þe dayly3t wat3 done, þe douthe wat3 al wonen
In-to þe comly castel, þer þe kny3t bide3
ful stille;
1368 Wyth blys & bry3t fyr bette,
Þe lord is comen þer-tylle,
[D] When Gawayn wyth hym mette,
Þer wat3 bot wele at wylle.

[Sidenote A: After this the head and neck are cut off, and the sides severed from the chine.] [Sidenote B: With the liver, lights and paunches, they feed the hounds.] [Sidenote C: Then they make for home.] [Sidenote D: Gawayne goes out to meet his host.] [Footnote 1: grene (?).]