I

[Fytte the Fourth.]

Now neȝeȝ þe nwȝere, & þe nyȝt passeȝ,

Þe day dryueȝ to þe derk, as dryȝtyn biddeȝ;

Bot wylde wedereȝ of þe worlde wakned þeroute,

Clowdes kesten kenly þe colde to þe erþe,

Wyth nyȝe in-noghe of þe norþe, þe naked to tene;

Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde;

Þe werbelande wynde wapped fro þe hyȝe,

& drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete.

Þe leude lystened ful wel, þat leȝ in his bedde,

Þaȝ he lowkeȝ his liddeȝ, ful lyttel he slepes;

Bi vch kok þat crue, he knwe wel þe steuen.

De-liuerly he dressed vp, er þe day sprenged,

For þere watȝ lyȝt of a lau[m]pe, þat lemed in his chambre;

He called to his chamberlayn, þat cofly hym swared,

& bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel;

Þat oþer ferkeȝ hym vp, & fecheȝ hym his wedeȝ,

& grayþeȝ me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse.

Fyrst he clad hym in his cloþeȝ, þe colde for to were;

& syþen his oþer harnays, þat holdely watȝ keped,

Boþe his paunce, & his plateȝ, piked ful clene,

Þe ryngeȝ rokked of þe roust, of his riche bruny;

& al watȝ fresch as vpon fyrst, & he watȝ fayn þenne

to þonk;
He hade vpon vche pece,
Wypped ful wel & wlonk;
Þe gayest in to Grece,
Þe burne bede bryng his blonk.

nywe (?). rynkeȝ (?).