III.

536 [A] 3et quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges, & he made a fare on þat fest, for þe freke3 sake, With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table; Kny3te3 ful cortays & comlych ladies, 540 Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were, Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe, Mony ioyle3 for þat ientyle iape3 þer maden. [B] For aftter mete, with mournyng he mele3 to his eme, 544 & speke3 of his passage, & pertly he sayde, [C] "Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask; 3e knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more To telle yow tene3 þer-of neuer bot trifel; 548 [D] Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne, To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse." Þenne þe best of þe bur3 bo3ed to-geder, Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony, 552 Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence, [Fol. 98b.] Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode, Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe, [E] & mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port. 556 Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre, For to counseyl þe kny3t, with care at her hert; [F] Þere wat3 much derue[1] doel driuen in þe sale, Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde, 560 To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more wyth bronde. Þe kny3t mad ay god chere, & sayde, "quat schuld I wonde, 564 [G] Of destines derf & dere, What may mon do bot fonde?"

[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's sake.] [Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:] [Sidenote C: "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,] [Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight."] [Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him.] [Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall.] [Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear.] [Footnote 1: derne (?).]