[A] Þe lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,
1624 When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;
Þe goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered þe meyny,
[B] He schewe3 hem þe schelde3, & schapes hem þe tale,
Of þe largesse, & þe lenþe, þe liþerne3 alse,
1628 Of þe were of þe wylde swyn, in wod þer he fled.
Þat oþer kny3t ful comly comended his dede3,
& praysed hit as gret prys, þat he proued hade;
[C] For suche a brawne of a best, þe bolde burne sayde,
1632 Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.
Þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed, þe hende mon hit praysed,
& let lodly þerat þe lorde forte here: [Fol. 113.]
[D] "Now Gawayn," quod þe god mon, "þis gomen is your awen,
1636 Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe."
"Hit is sothe," quod þe segge, "& as siker trwe;
Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawþe."
[E] He [hent] þe haþel aboute þe halse, & hendely hym kysses,
1640 & efter-sones of þe same he serued hym þere.
"Now ar we euen," quod þe haþel, "in þis euen-tide,
Of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt, syþen I com hider,
bi lawe;"
1644 [F] Þe lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile,
3e ar þe best þat I knowe,
3e ben ryche in a whyle,
Such chaffer & 3e drowe."
[Sidenote A: The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir
Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of
its length and breadth.]
[Sidenote C: Such a "brawn of a beast," Sir Gawayne says, he never has
seen.]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant,]
[Sidenote E: and in return kisses his host,]
[Sidenote F: who declares his guest to be the best he knows.]