[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.]