Chapter X

1372 [A] Thenne comaunded þe lorde in þat sale to samen alle þe meny,[Fol.]
Boþe þe ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes, [109b.]
[B] Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, freke3 he bedde3
Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
1376 [C] & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
Teche3 hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes,
Schewe3 hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
[D] "How paye3 yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen?
1380 Haue I þryuandely þonk þur3 my craft serued?"
"3e I-wysse," quod þat oþer wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest
[E] Þat I se3 þis seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter."
"& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne,
1384 "For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen."
"Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke,
&[1] I haf worthyly þis wone3 wyth-inne,
[F] I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþe3 to 3oure3."
1388 He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne,
& kysses hym as comlyly as he[2] couþe awyse:
"Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
I wowche hit saf fynly, þa3 feler hit were."
1392 "Hit is god," quod þe god mon, "grant mercy þerfore,
[G] Hit may be such, hit is þe better, &[1] 3e me breue wolde
Where 3e wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor[3] seluen?"
[H] "Þat wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,
1396 For 3e haftan þat yow tyde3, trawe3e non oþer
3e mowe."
Þay la3ed, & made hem blyþe,
[I] Wyth lote3 þat were to lowe,
1400 To soper þay 3ede asswyþe,
Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.

[Sidenote A: The lord commands all his household to assemble,] [Sidenote B: and the venison to be brought before him.] [Sidenote C: He calls Gawayne,] [Sidenote D: and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his success in the chase.] [Sidenote E: On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take the whole according to a former agreement between them.] [Sidenote F: Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return.] [Sidenote G: His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal.] [Sidenote H: As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to his question.] [Sidenote I: They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and enough.] [Footnote 1: And = an.] [Footnote 2: ho, in MS.] [Footnote 3: your (?).]