[Sidenote A:  Arthur addresses the queen:] [Sidenote B:  “Dear dame, be not dismayed; such marvels well become the
  Christmas festival;]
[Sidenote C:  I may now go to meat.] [Sidenote D:  Sir Gawayne, hang up thine axe.] [Sidenote E:  The king and his knights sit feasting at the board till day is
  ended.]
[Sidenote F:  Now beware, Sir Gawayne, lest thou fail to seek the adventure
  that thou hast taken in hand.]

[FYTTE the second.]

I.

[A] This hanselle hat3 Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,
492 In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here,
Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when þay to sete wenten;
Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond. 
Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne þose gomne3 in halle,
496 Bot þa3 þe ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder;
For þa3 men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk,
[B] A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke,
Þe forme to þe fynisment folde3 ful selden.
500 For-þi þis 3ol ouer-3ede, & þe 3ere after,
& vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer;
[C] After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun,
Þat frayste3 flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple
504 Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepe3,
[D] Colde clenge3 adoun, cloude3 vp-lyften,
Schyre schede3 þe rayn in schowre3 ful warme,
Falle3 vpon fayre flat, flowre3 þere schewen,
508 [E] Boþe grounde3 & þe greue3 grene ar her wede3,
[F] Brydde3 busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,
[G] For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after,
bi bonk;
512 [H] & blossume3 bolne to blowe,
Bi rawe3 rych & ronk,
[I] Þen note3 noble in-no3e,
Ar herde in wod so wlonk. [Fol. 98]

[Sidenote A:  This marvel serves to keep up a brisk conversation in Court.] [Sidenote B:  The year passes full quickly and never returns.] [Sidenote C:  After Christmas comes the “crabbed Lenten.”] [Sidenote D:  Spring sets in and warm showers descend;] [Sidenote E:  the groves become green,] [Sidenote F:  birds build and sing,] [Sidenote G:  for joy of the summer that follows;] [Sidenote H:  blossoms begin to bloom,] [Sidenote I:  and noble notes are heard in the woods]

II.

516 [A] After þe sesoun of somer wyth þe soft wynde3,
Quen 3eferus syfle3 hym-self on sede3 & erbe3,
[B] Wela-wynne is þe wort þat woxes þer-oute. 
When þe donkande dewe drope3 of þe leue3,
520 To bide a blysful blusch of þe bry3t sunne.
[C] Bot þen hy3es heruest, & hardenes hym sone. 
Warne3 hym for þe wynter to wax ful rype;
[D] He dryues wyth dro3t þe dust for to ryse.
524 Fro þe face of þe folde to fly3e ful hy3e;
Wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrastele3 with þe sunne,
[E] Þe leue3 lancen fro þe lynde, & ly3ten on þe grounde,
[F] & al grayes þe gres, þat grene wat3 ere;
528 Þenne al rype3 & rote3 þat ros vpon fyrst,
& þus 3irne3 þe 3ere in 3isterdaye3 mony,
[G] & wynter wynde3 a3ayn, as þe worlde aske3
no sage.
532 Til me3el-mas mone,
Wat3 cumen wyth wynter wage;
[H] Þen þenkke3 Gawan ful sone,
Of his anious uyage.