[A] "Lo! lorde," quod þe leude, & þe lace hondeled,
"Þis is þe bende of þis blame I bere [in] my nek,
Þis is þe laþe & þe losse, þat I la3t haue,
2508 [B] Of couardise & couetyse, þat I haf ca3t þare,
Þis is þe token of vn-trawþe, þat I am tan inne,
[C] & I mot nede3 hit were, wyle I may last;
For non may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit,
2512 For þer hit one3 is tachched, twynne wil hit neuer."
[D] Þe kyng comforte3 þe kny3t, & alle þe court als,
La3en loude þer-at, & luflyly acorden,
Þat lordes & ladis, þat longed to þe Table,
2516 [E] Vche burne of þe broþer-hede a bauderyk schulde haue,
A bende, a belef hym aboute, of a bry3t grene,
[F] & þat, for sake of þat segge, in swete to were.
For þat wat3 acorded þe renoun of þe Rounde Table,
2520 [G] & he honoured þat hit hade, euer-more after,
As hit is breued in þe best boke of romaunce.
[H] Þus in Arthurus day þis aunter bitidde,
Þe Brutus bokees þer-of beres wyttenesse;
2524 Syþen Brutus, þe bolde burne, bo3ed hider fyrst,
After þe segge & þe asaute wat3 sesed at Troye,
I-wysse;
Mony auntere3 here bi-forne,
2528 Haf fallen suche er þis:
[I] Now þat bere þe croun of þorne,
He bryng vus to his blysse! AMEN.
[Sidenote A: "Lo!" says he, handling the lace, "this is the band of blame,]
[Sidenote B: a token of my cowardice and covetousness,]
[Sidenote C: I must needs wear it as long as I live."]
[Sidenote D: The king comforts the knight, and all the court too.]
[Sidenote E: Each knight of the brotherhood agrees to wear a bright green
belt,]
[Sidenote F: for Gawayne's sake,]
[Sidenote G: who ever more honoured it.]
[Sidenote H: Thus in Arthur's day this adventure befell.]
[Sidenote I: He that bore the crown of thorns bring us to His bliss!]
* * * * *