[A] This hanselle hat3 Arthur of
auenturus
on fyrst,
492 In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here,
Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when ?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
ed an ende,
in londe.
[F] Now ?enk wel, sir Gawan,
488 For wo?e ?at ?ou ne wonde,
?is auenture forto frayn,
?at ?ou hat3 tan on honde.
[Sidenote A: Arthur addresses the queen:]
[Sidenote B: "Dear dame, be not dismayed; such marvels well become the
Christmas festival;]
[Sidenote C: I may now go to meat.]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne, hang up thine axe.]
[Sidenote E: The king and his knights sit feasting at the board till day is
ended.]
[Sidenote F: Now beware, Sir Gawayne, lest thou fail to seek the adventure
that thou hast taken in hand.]
[FYTTE THE SECOND.]
I.
[A] This hanselle hat3 Arthur of
auenturus
on fyrst,
492 In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here,
Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when ?
ay to sete wenten;
Now ar ?ay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.
Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne ?ose gomne3 in halle,
496 Bot ?a3 ?e ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder;
For ?a3 men ben mery in mynde, quen ?ay han mayn drynk,
[B] A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke,
?e forme to ?e fynisment folde3 ful selden.
500 For-?i ?is 3ol ouer-3ede, & ?e 3ere after,
& vche sesoun serlepes sued after o?er;
[C] After crysten-masse com ?
