III.

[A] Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse,
With mony luflych lorde, lede3 of þe best,
[B] Rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer,
40 With rych reuel ory3t, & rechles merþes;
Þer tournayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony,
Iusted ful Iolile þise gentyle kni3tes,
Syþen kayred to þe court, caroles to make.
44 [C] For þer þe fest wat3 ilyche ful fiften dayes,
With alle þe mete & þe mirþe þat men couþe a-vyse;
Such glaumande gle glorious to here,
Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on ny3tes,
48 [D] Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3,
With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest him þo3t;
With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen,
[E] Þe most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryste seluen,
52 & þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden,
& he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes;
For al wat3 þis fayre folk in her first age,
on sille;
56 [F] Þe hapnest vnder heuen,
Kyng hy3est mon of wylle,
Hit were[1] now gret nye to neuen
So hardy a here on hille.

[Sidenote A:  Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast,] [Sidenote B:  with all the knights of the Round Table,] [Sidenote C:  full fifteen days.] [Sidenote D:  All was joy in hall and chamber,] [Sidenote E:  among brave knights and lovely ladies,] [Sidenote F:  the happiest under heaven.] [Footnote 1:  Ms. werere.]

IV.

60 [A] Wyle nw 3er wat3 so 3ep þat hit wat3 nwe cummen,
Þat day doubble on þe dece wat3 þe douth serued,
Fro þe kyng wat3 cummen with kny3tes in to þe halle,
Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende;
64 Loude crye wat3 þer kest of clerke3 & oþer,
Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte; [Fol. 92]
& syþen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle,
[B] 3e3ed 3eres 3iftes on hi3, 3elde hem bi hond,
68 Debated busyly aboute þo giftes;
Ladies la3ed ful loude, þo3 þay lost haden,
& he þat wan wat3 not wrothe, þat may 3e wel trawe.
[C] Alle þis mirþe þay maden to þe mete tyme;
72 When þay had waschen, worþyly þay wenten to sete,
Þe best burne ay abof, as hit best semed;
[D] Whene Guenore ful gay, grayþed in þe myddes. 
Dressed on þe dere des, dubbed al aboute,
76 Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer
Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites in-noghe,
Þat were enbrawded & beten wyth þe best gemmes,
Þat my3t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye,
80 in daye;
[E] Þe comlokest to discrye,
Þer glent with y3en gray,
A semloker þat euer he sy3e,
84 Soth mo3t no mon say.

[Sidenote A:  They celebrate the New Year with great joy.] [Sidenote B:  Gifts are demanded and bestowed.] [Sidenote C:  Lords and ladies take their seats at the table.] [Sidenote D:  Queen Guenever appears gaily dressed.] [Sidenote E:  A lady fairer of form might no one say he had ever before
  seen.]

V.