LXVII
There drank they and toasted, and talk’d yet again Of renewing that note on New-Year’s eve; But Gawain craved leave to go on the morrow, For ’twas nigh to the term, when time was to travel; But the lord dissuaded, and besought him to stay, And said “As I’m true man (my troth will I plight) Thou shalt be at thy bourn thy business to settle With the New-Year’s light, long before prime. So thou mayst lie in thy loft and lodge at thine ease, While I hunt in this holt, and we’ll hold to our terms And our chaffer exchange, when from chase I return; For I have tried thee twice, and true have I found thee. Now ‘third time throw best’ bethink thee tomorrow, Máke we mérry while we máy, with a mind upon joy, For woe may we win whénso we like.” Thus graithly ’twas granted, and Gawain is stay’d; Drink blithely was brought, and to bed they hied them with light. Sir Gawain lies and sleeps Full still and soft all night; The lord his hunting keeps, Full early is he dight.