Chapter VI

[A] Thus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng his-seluen,
108 Talkkande bifore þe hy3e table of trifles ful hende
[B] There gode Gawan wat3 grayþed, Gwenore bisyde
[C] & Agrauayn a la dure mayn on þat oþer syde sittes
Boþe þe kynges sister sunes, & ful siker kni3tes;
112 [D] Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gine3 þe table,
[E] & Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hym-seluen;
Þise were di3t on þe des, & derworþly serued,
& siþen mony siker segge at þe sidborde3.
116 [F] Þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes,
Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, þat þer-bi henged,
Nwe nakryn noyse with þe noble pipes,
Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote,
120 Þat mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches;
[G] Dayntes dryuen þer-wyth of ful dere metes,
Foysoun of þe fresche, & on so fele disches,
Þat pine to fynde þe place þe peple bi-forne
124 For to sette þe syluener,[1] þat sere sewes halden,
on clothe;
Iche lede as he loued hym-selue
Þer laght with-outen loþe,
128 [H] Ay two had disches twelue,
[I] Good ber, & bry3t wyn boþe.

[Sidenote A: The king talks with his knights.] [Sidenote B: Gawayne,] [Sidenote C: Agravayn,] [Sidenote D: Bishop Bawdewyn,] [Sidenote E: and Ywain sit on the dais.] [Sidenote F: The first course is served with cracking of trumpets.] [Sidenote G: It consisted of all dainties in season.] [Sidenote H: Each two had dishes twelve,] [Sidenote I: good beer and bright wine both.] [Footnote 1: svlueren (?) (dishes).]