XX.

[A] On þe morne, as vch mon myne3 þat tyme, 996 [B] [Þ]at dry3tyn for oure destyné to de3e wat3 borne, Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake; [C] So did hit þere on þat day, þur3 dayntes mony; Boþe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt [Fol. 104b.] 1000 Derf men vpon dece drest of þe best. [D] Þe olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3; Þe lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe; [E] Gawan & þe gay burde to-geder þay seten, 1004 Euen in-mydde3, as þe messe metely come; & syþen þur3 al þe sale, as hem best semed, [F] Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely wat3 serued. Þer wat3 mete, þer wat3 myrþe, þer wat3 much ioye, 1008 Þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were, & to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture; [G] Bot 3et I wot þat Wawen & þe wale burde Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder, 1012 Þur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3, Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fylþe; & hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen, in vayres; 1016 [H] Trumpe3 & nakerys, Much pypyng þer repayres, Vche mon tented hys, & þay two tented þayres.

[Sidenote A: On Christmas morn,] [Sidenote B: joy reigns in every dwelling in the world.] [Sidenote C: So did it in the castle where our knight abode.] [Sidenote D: The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together.] [Sidenote E: Gawayne sits by the wife of his host.] [Sidenote F: It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the joy that abounded everywhere.] [Sidenote G: Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from each other's conversation.] [Sidenote H: Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds.]