I.

[A] Now ne3e3 þe nw3ere, & þe ny3t passe3, Þe day dryue3 to þe derk, as dry3tyn bidde3; 2000 [B] Bot wylde wedere3 of þe worlde wakned þeroute, Clowdes kesten kenly þe colde to þe erþe, Wyth ny3e[1] in-noghe of þe norþe, þe naked to tene; [C] Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde; 2004 Þe werbelande wynde wapped fro þe hy3e, [D] & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete. Þe leude lystened ful wel, þat le3 in his bedde, [E] Þa3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes; 2008 Bi vch kok þat crue, he knwe wel þe steuen. De-liuerly he dressed vp, er þe day sprenged, [Fol. 118.] For þere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, þat lemed in his chambre; [F] He called to his chamberlayn, þat cofly hym swared, 2012 & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel; Þat oþer ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3, & grayþe3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse. Fyrst he clad hym in his cloþe3, þe colde for to were; 2016 & syþen his oþer harnays, þat holdely wat3 keped, Boþe his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene, [G] Þe rynge3[2] rokked of þe roust, of his riche bruny; & al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn þenne 2020 to þonk; He hade vpon vche pece, Wypped ful wel & wlonk; [H] Þe gayest in to Grece, 2024 Þe burne bede bryng his blonk.

[Sidenote A: New Year's Day approaches.] [Sidenote B: The weather is stormy.] [Sidenote C: Snow falls.] [Sidenote D: The dales are full of drift.] [Sidenote E: Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows.] [Sidenote F: He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his armour.] [Sidenote G: Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon.] [Sidenote H: The knight then calls for his steed.] [Footnote 1: nywe (?).] [Footnote 2: rynke3 (?).]