XXI

Þenne þay teldet tableȝ [on] trestes alofte,

Kesten cloþeȝ vpon, clere lyȝt þenne

Wakned bi woȝeȝ, waxen torches

Seggeȝ sette, & serued in sale al aboute;

Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne,

Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,

At þe soper & after, mony aþel songeȝ,

As coundutes of kryst-masse, & caroleȝ newe,

With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.

& euer oure luflych knyȝt þe lady bi-syde;

Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,

Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,

Þat al for-wondered watȝ þe wyȝe, & wroth with hym-seluen,

Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-ȝayneȝ,

Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer þe dede turned

to wrast;
Quen þay hade played in halle,
As longe as hor wylle hom last,
To chambre he con hym calle,
& to þe chem-ne þay past.

ho (?).