← Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight / An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)

XXV

In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble,

As mon þat wat3 in mornyng of mony þro þo3tes,

How þat destiné schulde þat day [dy3t] his wyrde,

At þe grene chapel, when he þe gome metes,

& bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more;

Bot quen þat comly he keuered his wyttes,

Swenges out of þe sweuenes, & sware3 with hast.

Þe lady luflych com la3ande swete,

Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed;

He welcume3 hir worþily, with a wale chere;

He se3 hir so glorious, & gayly atyred,

So fautles of hir fetures, & of so fyne hewes,

Wi3t wallande Ioye warmed his hert;

With smoþe smylyng & smolt þay smeten in-to merþe,

Þat al wat3 blis & bonchef, þat breke hem bi-twene,

& wynne,
Þay lanced wordes gode,
Much wele þen wat3 þer-inne,
Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,
Nif mare of hir kny3t mynne.