I

[Fytte the Second.]

This hanselle hatȝ Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,

In ȝonge ȝer, for he ȝerned ȝelpyng to here,

Thaȝ hym wordeȝ were wane, when þay to sete wenten;

Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.

Gawan watȝ glad to be-gynne þose gomneȝ in halle,

Bot þaȝ þe ende be heuy, haf ȝe no wonder;

For þaȝ men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk,

A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne, & ȝeldeȝ neuer lyke,

Þe forme to þe fynisment foldeȝ ful selden.

For-þi þis ȝol ouer-ȝede, & þe ȝere after,

& vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer;

After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun,

Þat fraysteȝ flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple

Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepeȝ,

Colde clengeȝ adoun, cloudeȝ vp-lyften,

Schyre schedeȝ þe rayn in schowreȝ ful warme,

Falleȝ vpon fayre flat, flowreȝ þere schewen,

Boþe groundeȝ & þe greueȝ grene ar her wedeȝ,

Bryddeȝ busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,

For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after,

bi bonk;
& blossumeȝ bolne to blowe,
Bi raweȝ rych & ronk,
Þen noteȝ noble in-noȝe,
Ar herde in wod so wlonk.