Chapter XVII

[A] Thenne lo3e þat oþer leude, & luflyly sayde,
"I halde hit hardily[1] hole, þe harme þat I hade;
[B] Þou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of þy mysses,
2392 & hat3 þe penaunce apert, of þe poynt of myn egge,
[C] I halde þe polysed of þat ply3t, & pured as clene,
As þou hade3 neuer forfeted, syþen þou wat3 fyrst borne.
[D] & I gif þe, sir, þe gurdel þat is golde hemmed;
2396 For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye
Þenk vpon þis ilke þrepe, þer þou forth þrynge3
Among prynces of prys, & þis a pure token
[E] Of þe chaunce of þe grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3;
2400 [F] & 3e schal in þis nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3,
& we schyn reuel þe remnaunt of þis ryche fest,
ful bene."
Þer laþed hym fast þe lorde,
2404 & sayde, "with my wyf, I wene,
We schal yow wel acorde,
Þat wat3 your enmy kene."

[Sidenote A: Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:] [Sidenote B: "Thou art confessed so clean,] [Sidenote C: that I hold thee as pure as if thou hadst never been guilty.] [Sidenote D: I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle,] [Sidenote E: as a token of thy adventure at the Green Chapel.] [Sidenote F: Come again to my abode, and abide there for the remainder of the festival."] [Footnote 1: hardilyly, in MS.]