[A] When Gawayn gly3t on þat gay, þat graciously loked,
Wyth leue la3t of þe lorde he went hem a3aynes;
972 [B] Þe alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,
Þe loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,
[C] He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;
Þay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3
976 [D] To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.
Þay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden
[E] To chambre, to chemné, & chefly þay asken
[F] Spyce3, þat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,
980 & þe wynne-lych wyne þer-with vche tyme.
Þe lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,
Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþe3.
[G] Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,
984 & wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þer-of,
[H] Þat most myrþe my3t mene[1] þat crystenmas whyle;
"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth þe best,
Er me wont þe wede3, with help of my frende3."
988 Þus wyth la3ande lote3 þe lorde hit tayt[2] make3,
[I] For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle
þat ny3t;
Til þat hit wat3 tyme,
992 Þe kyng comaundet ly3t,
[J] Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,
& to his bed hym di3t.
[Sidenote A: With permission of the lord,]
[Sidenote B: Sir Gawayne salutes the elder,]
[Sidenote C: but the younger he kisses,]
[Sidenote D: and begs to be her servant.]
[Sidenote E: To chamber all go,]
[Sidenote F: where spices and wine are served.]
[Sidenote G: The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear.]
[Sidenote H: He who makes most mirth is to win it.]
[Sidenote I: Night approaches, and then]
[Sidenote J: Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest.]
[Footnote 1: meue (?).]
[Footnote 2: layt (?).]