XXI.

1020 [A] Much dut wat3 þer dryuen þat day & þat oþer, & þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter; [B] Þe ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here, & wat3 þe last of þe layk, leude3 þer þo3ten. 1024 Þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne, For-þy wonderly þay woke, & þe wyn dronken, Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3; [C] At þe last, when hit wat3 late, þay lachen her leue, 1028 Vchon to wende on his way, þat wat3 wy3e stronge. Gawan gef hym god-day, þe god mon hym lachche3, Ledes hym to his awen chambre, þ[e] chymné bysyde, [D] & þere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym þonkke3, 1032 Of þe wynne worschip &[1] he hym wayned hade, As to honour his hous on þat hy3e tyde, & enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere. "I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me worþe3 þe better, 1036 Þat Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest." [Fol. 105.] "Grant merci[2] sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3, Al þe honour is your awen, þe he3e kyng yow 3elde; & I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest, 1040 As I am halden þer-to, in hy3e & in lo3e, bi ri3t." [E] Þe lorde fast can hym payne, To holde lenger þe kny3t, 1044 To hym answre3 Gawayn, Bi non way þat he my3t.

[Sidenote A: Great was the joy for three days.] [Sidenote B: St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival.] [Sidenote C: On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the castle.] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure of his visit.] [Sidenote E: He endeavours to keep the knight at his court.] [Footnote 1: þat (?).] [Footnote 2: nerci, in MS.]