Chapter I

[A] Now ne3e3 þe nw3ere, & þe ny3t passe3,
Þe day dryue3 to þe derk, as dry3tyn bidde3;
2000 [B] Bot wylde wedere3 of þe worlde wakned þeroute,
Clowdes kesten kenly þe colde to þe erþe,
Wyth ny3e[1] in-noghe of þe norþe, þe naked to tene;
[C] Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde;
2004 Þe werbelande wynde wapped fro þe hy3e,
[D] & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete.
Þe leude lystened ful wel, þat le3 in his bedde,
[E] Þa3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes;
2008 Bi vch kok þat crue, he knwe wel þe steuen.
De-liuerly he dressed vp, er þe day sprenged, [Fol. 118.]
For þere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, þat lemed in his chambre;
[F] He called to his chamberlayn, þat cofly hym swared,
2012 & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel;
Þat oþer ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3,
& grayþe3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse.
Fyrst he clad hym in his cloþe3, þe colde for to were;
2016 & syþen his oþer harnays, þat holdely wat3 keped,
Boþe his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene,
[G] Þe rynge3[2] rokked of þe roust, of his riche bruny;
& al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn þenne
2020 to þonk;
He hade vpon vche pece,
Wypped ful wel & wlonk;
[H] Þe gayest in to Grece,
2024 Þe burne bede bryng his blonk.

[Sidenote A: New Year's Day approaches.] [Sidenote B: The weather is stormy.] [Sidenote C: Snow falls.] [Sidenote D: The dales are full of drift.] [Sidenote E: Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows.] [Sidenote F: He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his armour.] [Sidenote G: Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon.] [Sidenote H: The knight then calls for his steed.] [Footnote 1: nywe (?).] [Footnote 2: rynke3 (?).]