Chapter XXI

1648 [A] Þenne þay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,
[B] Kesten cloþe3 vpon, clere ly3t þenne
[C] Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches
Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute;
1652 [D] Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne,
Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,
[E] At þe soper & after, mony aþel songe3,
As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,
1656 With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.
[F] & euer oure luflych kny3t þe lady bi-syde;
Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,
[G] Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,
1660 Þat al for-wondered wat3 þe wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,
Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,
Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer þe dede turned
to wrast;
1664 [H] Quen þay hade played in halle,
As longe as hor wylle hom last,
[I] To chambre he[1] con hym calle,
& to þe chem-ne þay past.

[Sidenote A: Tables are raised aloft,] [Sidenote B: cloths cast upon them,] [Sidenote C: and torches are lighted.] [Sidenote D: With much mirth and glee,] [Sidenote E: supper is served in the hall,] [Sidenote F: and ever our lovely knight by the lady sits,] [Sidenote G: who does all she can to please her companion.] [Sidenote H: When they had long played in the hall,] [Sidenote I: they proceeded "to chamber."] [Footnote 1: ho (?).]