IV.

1208 [A] "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde þat fayr lady, "3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, þat mon may slyde hider; Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape, [B] I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be 3e trayst:" 1212 Al la3ande þe lady lanced þo bourde3. [C] "Goud moroun g[aye],"[1] quod Gawayn þe blyþe, "Me schal worþe at your wille, & þat me wel lyke3, For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace, 1216 & þat is þe best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;" & þus he bourded a-3ayn with mony a blyþe la3ter. [D] "Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, þen leue me grante, & de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse, 1220 I wolde bo3e of þis bed, & busk me better, I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth." [E] "Nay, for soþe, beau sir," sayd þat swete, [Fol. 107b] "3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better, 1224 [F] I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als, & syþen karp wyth my kny3t þat I ka3t haue; [G] For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are, Þat alle þe worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride; 1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed [H] With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle þat lyf bere. & now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one; [I] "My lorde & his lede3 ar on lenþe faren, 1232 [J] Oþer burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als, [K] Þe dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe; [L] & syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lyke3, I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3, 1236 with tale; [M] 3e ar welcum to my cors, Yowre awen won to wale, Me be-houe3 of fyne force, 1240 [N] Your seruaunt be & schale."

[Sidenote A: "Good morrow", says the lady, "ye are a careless sleeper to let one enter thus.] [Sidenote B: I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure."] [Sidenote C: "Good morrow," says the knight, "I am well pleased to be at your service;] [Sidenote D: but permit me to rise and dress myself."] [Sidenote E: "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one,] [Sidenote F: "I shall hold talk with you here.] [Sidenote G: I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships.] [Sidenote H: We are by ourselves;] [Sidenote I: My lord and his men are far off.] [Sidenote J: Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens.] [Sidenote K: The door is safely closed.] [Sidenote L: Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my time well while it lasts.] [Sidenote M: Ye are welcome to my body.] [Sidenote N: I shall be your servant."] [Footnote 1: This word is illegible in the MS.]