LXI
“In good faith,” said Gawain, “may God you reward! Great is the glee, and the game to me huge That so worthy as you should win to my chamber, Take pains with a poor man, and play with your knight With any kind of count’nance; it comforts me much. But to take up that task, and true love expound (Touching the text and the tales of romance) To you that, I wot well, wield more of skill In that art, by the half, than a hundred of such As I am, or shall e’er be, on earth while I live, ’Twere a manifold folly, my fair, on my troth. But your bidding I’ll do to the best of my might, As I am highly beholden, and ever I bind me To be soothly your servant, so save me the Almighty.” Thus in talk did she try him and tempt him full oft, To win him to woo her, whate’er she ween’d else, But he defended so fair that no fault might appear, Nor evil on either part, nor aught did they know but bliss. They laugh’d and had their play; At last she did him kiss, Made sign to wend her way, And took her leave, I wis.