VI.

[A] "Madame," quod þe myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde, 1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele, & oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dede3; Bot þe daynté þat þay delen for my disert nysen, Hit is þe worchyp of your-self, þat no3t hot wel conne3." 1268 [B] "Bi Mary," quod þe menskful, "me þynk hit anoþer; For were I worth al þe wone of wymmen alyue, & al þe wele of þe worlde were in my honde, [C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde, 1272 For þe costes þat I haf knowen vpun þe kny3t here, Of bewté, & debonerté, & blyþe semblaunt, [D] & þat I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee, Þer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen." 1276 "I-wysse, worþy," quod þe wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better, [E] Bot I am proude of þe prys þat 3e put on me, & soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow, & yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde." 1280 Þus þay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste, & ay þe lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych; [F] Þe freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre. Þa3 I were burde bry3test, þe burde in mynde hade, 1284 Þe lasse luf in his lode, for lur þat he so3t, boute hone; Þe dunte þat schulde[2] hym deue, & nede3 hit most be done; 1288 [G] Þe lady þenn spek of leue. He granted hir ful sone.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that of all others.] [Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,] [Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,] [Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth.] [Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and faithful servant.] [Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of love.] [Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne.] [Footnote 1: and (?)] [Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS.]