RPO -- <small>ANONYMOUS</small> : Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

ANONYMOUS (1100-1945)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

[fol. 91r]

[fitt1: stanza 1 (long)]

1siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at troye

2þe bor₃ brittened and brent to brondez and askez

3þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wro₃t

4watz tried for his tricherie þe trewest on erþe

5hit watz ennias þe athel and his highe kynde

6þat siþen depreced prouinces and patrounes bicome

7welne₃e of al þe wele in þe west iles

8fro riche romulus to rome ricchis hym swyþe

9with gret bobbaunce þat bur₃e he biges vpon fyrst

10and neuenes hit his aune nome as hit now hat

11ticius to tuskan and teldes bigynnes

12langaberde in lumbardie lyftes vp homes

13and fer ouer þe french flod felix brutus

14on mony bonkkes ful brode bretayn he settez

[bob]

15wyth wynne

[wheel]

16where werre and wrake and wonder

17bi syþez hatz wont þerinne

18and oft boþe blysse and blunder

19ful skete hatz skyfted synne

[After the siege and the assault of Troy, when the city was burned to ashes, the knight who therein wrought treason was tried for his treachery and was found to be the truest on earth. Aeneas the noble it was, and his high kindred, who vanquished great nations and became the rulers of wellnigh all the western world. Noble Romulus went to Rome with great show of strength, and built that city at the first, and gave it his own name, as it is called to this day. Ticius went into Tuscany and began to set up habitations, and Langobard made his home in Lombardy; whilst Brutus, far over the French sea by many a full broad hill-side, the fair land of Britain

did win,

Where war and wrack and wonder

Often were seen therein,

And oft both bliss and blunder

Have come about through sin.]

[stanza 2 (long)]

20ande quen þis bretayn watz bigged bi þis burn rych

21bolde bredden þerinne baret þat lofden

22in mony turned tyme tene þat wro₃ten

23mo ferlyes on þis folde han fallen here oft

24þen in any oþer þat I wot syn þat ilk tyme

25bot of alle þat here bult of bretaygne kynges

26ay watz arthur þe hendest as I haf herde telle [fol. 91]

27forþi an aunter in erde I attle to schawe

28þat a selly in si₃t summe men hit holden

29and an outtrage awenture of arthurez wonderez

30if ₃e wyl lysten þis laye bot on littel quile

31I schal telle hit as tit as I in toun herde

[bob]

32with tonge

[wheel]

33as hit is stad and stoken

34in stori stif and stronge

35with lel letteres loken

36in londe so hatz ben longe

[Now, when Britain was conquered by this noble man, brave warriors were bred and born therein that were fond of striving, so that many times sorrow came thereof. And more wonders have been wrought in this land than in any other I wot of since that time. But of all the British kings, Arthur was the most courteous, as I have heard say. And I propose to tell you a wondrous adventure, as some hold it to be, that happened in Arthur's court; and if ye will listen but a little I will tell it you

with tongue

As I have heard it told,

In a story brave and strong,

In a loyal book of old,

In the land it has been long.]

[stanza 3 (long)]

37þis kyng lay at camylot vpon kryst masse

38with mony luflych lorde ledez of þe best

39rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer

40with rych reuel ory₃t and rechles merþes

41þer tournayed tulkes by tymez ful mony

42justed ful jolile þise gentyle kni₃tes

43syþen kayred to þe court caroles to make

44for þer þe fest watz ilyche ful fiften dayes

45with alle þe mete and þe mirþe þat men couþe avyse

46such glaumande gle glorious to here

47dere dyn vpon day daunsyng on ny₃tes

48al watz hap vpon he₃e in hallez and chambrez

49with lordez and ladies as leuest him þo₃t

50with all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen

51þe most kyd kny₃tez vnder krystes seluen

52and þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden

53and he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes

54for al watz þis fayre folk in her first age

[bob]

55on sille

[wheel]

56þe hapnest vnder heuen

57kyng hy₃est mon of wylle

58hit werere now gret nye to neuen

59so hardy a here on hille

[This King Arthur was at Camelot at Christmas with many a lovely lord, and they were all princely brethren of the Round Table, and they made rich revel and mirth, and were free from care. And betimes these gentle knights held full many a tournament, and jousted in jolly fashion, and then returned they to the court to sing the Christmas carols. And the feasting was for fifteen days, and it was with all the meat and mirth that men could devise. And glorious to hear was the noisy glee by day and the dancing by night, and all was joyous in hall and chamber, among the lords and ladies as it pleased them, and they were the most renowned knights under Christ and the loveliest ladies that ever lived, for all these fair folk were in their first age, and great were they

in mirth

The gayest in the land,

The king was of great worth,

I could not name a band

So hardy upon earth.]

[stanza 4 (long)]

60wyle nw ₃er watz so ₃ep þat hit watz nwe cummen

61þat day doubble on þe dece watz þe douth serued

62fro þe kyng watz cummen with kny₃tes into þe halle

63þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende

64loude crye watz þer kest of clerkez and oþer [fol. 92r]

65nowel nayted onewe neuened ful ofte

66and syþen riche forth runnen to reche hondeselle

67₃e₃ed ₃eres₃iftes on hi₃ ₃elde hem bi hond

68debated busyly aboute þo giftes

69ladies la₃ed ful loude þo₃ þay lost haden

70and he þat wan watz not wrothe þat may ₃e wel trawe

71alle þis mirþe þay maden to þe mete tyme

72when þay had waschen worþyly þay wenten to sete

73þe best burne ay abof as hit best semed

74whene guenore ful gay grayþed in þe myddes

75dressed on þe dere des dubbed al aboute

76smal sendal bisides a selure hir ouer

77of tryed tolouse and tars tapites innoghe

78þat were enbrawded and beten wyth þe best gemmes

79þat my₃t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye

[bob]

80in daye

[wheel]

81þe comlokest to discry

82þer glent with y₃en gray

83a semloker þat euer he sy₃e

84soth mo₃t no mon say

[And when the New Year was come, on that day the nobles on the daïs were double served, when the king came with his knights into the great hall and the chanting in the chapel was ended. And clerks and others set up a loud cry, and they kept the Feast of Christmas anew, and they gave and received New Year's gifts, and much talking was there about the gifts. And ladies laughed full loudly, though they had lost in the exchange, and he that won was not wrath, as ye will well trow, and they made all this mirth together as was fitting for the season. When they had washed, they worthily went to their seats, each according to his rank, as was seemly. And Queen Guinevere was full gaily attired as she took her seat on the daïs, and on fair silks under a canopy of costly Tarsian tapestry, embroidered with the finest of gems that money could buy on

a day

The comeliest lady, I ween,

She glanced from eyes that were grey,

Her like that he had seen

Truly could no man say.]

[stanza 5 (long)]

85bot arthure wolde not ete til al were serued

86he watz so joly of his joyfnes and sumquat childgered

87his lif liked hym ly₃t he louied þe lasse

88auþer to lenge lye or to longe sitte

89so bisied him his ₃onge blod and his brayn wylde

90and also an oþer maner meued him eke

91þat he þur₃ nobelay had nomen he wolde neuer ete

92vpon such a dere day er hym deuised were

93of sum auenturus þyng an vncouþe tale

94of sum mayn meruayle þat he my₃t trawe

95of of alderes of armes of oþer auenturus

96oþer sum segg hym biso₃t of sum siker kny₃t

97to joyne wyth hym in iustyng in joparde to lay

98lede lif for lyf leue vchon oþer

99as fortune wolde fulsun hom þe fayrer to haue

100þis watz kynges countenaunce where he in court were

101at vch farand fest among his fre meny

[bob]

[fol. 92]

102in halle

[wheel]

103þerfore of face so fere

104he sti₃tlez stif in stalle

105ful ₃ep in þat nw ₃ere

106much mirthe he mas with alle

[But Arthur would not eat until all were served, for he was so jolly, and almost like a child. Little recked he of his life; and so restless was he that he could not sit or recline for long, so active was his young blood and his brain. And there was another strange thing about him because of his noble birth, that he would not eat on these high days until he had heard some eerie tale of marvellous adventures, of his forbears or arms, or else that some knight joined with another in jousting, life for life as hap would have it. This was the custom of the King when he was in court at each feast as it came amongst his noble household

in hall,

Therefore so bold of face

He sat there, strong in stall,

In that new year of grace

Much mirth he made with all.]

[stanza 6 (long)]

107þus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng hisseluen

108talkkande bifore þe hy₃e table of trifles ful hende

109þere gode gawan watz grayþed gwenore bisyde

110and agrauayn a la dure mayn on þat oþer syde sittes

111boþe þe kynges sistersunes and ful siker kni₃tes

112bischop bawdewyn abof biginez þe table

113and ywan vryn son ette wit hymseluen

114þise were di₃t on þe des and derworþly serued

115and siþen mony siker segge at þe sidbordez

116þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes

117wyth mony baner ful bry₃t þat þerbi henged

118nwe nakryn noyse with þe noble pipes

119wylde werbles and wy₃t wakned lote

120þat mony hert ful hi₃e hef at her towches

121dayntes dryuen þerwyth of ful dere metes

122foysoun of þe fresche and on so fele disches

123þat pine to fynde þe place þe peple biforne

124for to sette þe syluen' þat sere sewes halden

[bob]

125on clothe

[wheel]

126iche lede as he loued hymselue

127þer laght withouten loþe

128ay two had disches twelue

129good ber and bry₃t wyn boþe

[Thus was the King in the high seat talking before the high table of courteous trifles and good. Sir Gawain was sitting beside Guinevere. Agravayn of the hard hand sat on the other side, and both were sons of the king's sister and very strong and faithful knights. Bishop Bawdewyn was at the head of the table, and Ywain, son of Urien, was eating by himself. And they were all on the daïs, and well were they served, and afterwards many a true man at the sideboards. With the crashing of trumpets came the first course, and with banners and beating of drums and piping loud, so that many a heart heaved full high at the sound, and there were many dear and full dainty meats. And there were so many dishes and such great plenty that it was hard to find room to set before the folk the silver service that held the courses

on cloth,

Each man as he loved himself

There laughed he without loath,

Each two had dishes twelve,

Good beer and bright wine both.]

[stanza 7 (long)]

130now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more

131for vch wy₃e may wel wit no wont þat þer were

132an oþer noyse ful newe ne₃ed biliue

133þat þe lude my₃t haf leue liflode to cach

134for vneþe watz þe noyce not a whyle sesed

135and þe fyrst cource in þe court kyndely serued

136þer hales in at þe halle dor an aghlich mayster

137on þe most on þe molde on mesure hyghe

138fro þe swyre to þe swange so sware and so þik

139and his lyndes and his lymes so longe and so grete

[fol. 93r]

140half etayn in erde I hope þat he were

141bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene

142and þat þe myriest in his muckel þat my₃t ride

143for of bak and of brest al were his bodi sturne

144bot his wombe and his wast were worthily smale

145and alle his fetures fol₃ande in forme þat he hade

[bob]

146ful clene

[wheel]

147for wonder of his hwe men hade

148set in his semblaunt sene

149he ferde as freke were fade

150and oueral enker grene

[Now will I tell you no more of the serving, for ye may wot well no want was there. Another and a full new wonder was drawing near. Scarcely had the noise ceased and the first course been served in the court, when there came in at the hall door an ugly fellow and tallest of all men upon earth. From his neck to his loins so square set was he, and so long and stalwart of limb, that I trow he was half a giant. And yet he was a man, and the merriest that might ride. His body in back and breast was strong, his belly and waist were very small, and all his features

full clean.

Great wonder of the knight

Folk had in hall, I ween,

Full fierce he was to sight,

And over all bright green.]

[stanza 8 (long)]

151ande al grayþed in grene þis gome and his wedes

152a strayt cote ful stre₃t þat stek on his sides

153a mere mantile abof mensked with inne

154with pelure pured apert þe pane ful clene

155with blyþe blaunner ful bry₃t and his hod boþe

156þat watz la₃t fro his lokkez and layde on his schulderes

157heme wel haled hose of þat same grene

158þat spenet on his sparlyr and clene spures vnder

159of bry₃t golde vpon silk bordes barred ful ryche

160and scholes vnder schankes þere þe schalk rides

161and alle his vesture uerayly watz clene verdure

162boþe þe barres of his belt and oþer blyþe stones

163þat were richely rayled in his aray clene

164aboutte hymself and his sadel vpon silk werkez

165þat were to tor for to telle of tryfles þe halue

166þat were enbrauded abof wyth bryddes and fly₃es

167with gay gaudi of grene þe golde ay inmyddes

168þe pendauntes of his payttrure pe proude cropure

169his molaynes and alle þe metail anamayld was þenne

170þe steropes þat he stod on stayned of þe same

171and his arsounz al after and his aþel scurtes

172þat euer glemered and glent al of grene stones

173þe fole þat he ferkkes on fyn of þat ilke

[bob]

174sertayn

[wheel]

175a grene hors gret and þikke

176a stede ful stif to strayne

177in brawden brydel quik

[fol. 93]

178to þe gome he watz ful gayn

[And he was all clad in green garments, and fitting close to his sides was a straight coat with a simple mantle above it and well lined with gay and bright furs, as was also his hood hanging about his locks and round his shoulders; and he had hosen of that same green on his calves, and bright spurs of gold, that hung down his legs upon silk borders, richly striped, where his foot rested in the stirrup.

And verily all his vesture was of pure green, both the stripings of his belt, and the stones that shone brightly in his orgeous apparel, upon silk work, on his person and saddle; and it would be too tedious to tell you even the half of such trifles as were thereon embroidered with birds and flies in gaudy greens, and ever gold in the midst. The pendants of the horse's neck-gear, the proud cropper, the ornaments, and all the metal thereof, were enamelled of green; the stirrups that he stood in of the same colour, and his saddle-bow also; and they were all glimmering and shining with green stones; and the foal on which he rode was of that same hue

certain

A green horse great and thick,

A steed full strong to strain,

In broidered bridle thick,

To the man he was full gain.]

[stanza 9 (long)]

179wel gay watz þis gome gered in grene

180and þe here of his hed of his hors swete

181fayre fannand fax vmbefoldes his schulderes

182a much berd as as a busk ouer his brest henges

183þat wyth his hi₃lich here þat of his hed reches

184watz euesed al vmbetorne abof his elbowes

185þat half his armes þervnder were halched in þe wyse

186of a kyngez capados þat closes his swyre

187þe mane of þat mayn hors much to hit lyke

188wel cresped and cemmed wyth knottes ful mony

189folden in wyth fildore aboute þe fayre grene

190ay a herle of þe here anoþer of golde

191þe tayl and his toppyng twynnen of a sute

192and bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bry₃t grene

193dubbed wyth ful dere stonez as þe dok lasted

194syþen þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte

195þer mony bellez ful bry₃t of brende golde rungen

196such a fole vpon folde ne freke þat hym rydes

197watz neuer sene in þat sale wyth sy₃t er þat tyme

[bob]

198with y₃e

[wheel]

199he loked as layt so ly₃t

200so sayd al þat hym sy₃e

201hit semed as no mon my₃t

202vnder his dynttez dry₃e

[Thus gaily was this man dressed out in green, and the hair of the horse's head was of green, and his fair, flowing locks clung about his shoulders; and a great beard like a bush hung over his breast, and with his noble hair was cut evenly all round above his elbows, and the lower part of his sleeves was fastened like a king's mantle. The horse's mane was crisped and gemmed with many a knot, and folded in with gold thread about the fair green with ever a fillet of hair and one of gold, and his tail and head were intertwisted with gold in the same manner, and bound with a band of bright green, and decked with costly stones and tied with a tight knot above; and about them were ringing many full bright bells of burnished gold. Such a horse or his rider were never seen in that hall before or

with eye.

'He looks like flashing light,'

Say they that him descry,

'It seemed that no man might

His dintings e'er defy.']

[stanza 10 (long)]

203wheþer hade he no helme ne hawbrgh nauþer

204ne no pysan ne no plate þat pented to armes

205ne no schafte ne no schelde to schwue ne to smyte

206bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe

207þat is grattest in grene when greuez ar bare

208and an ax in his oþer a hoge and vnmete

209a spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle quoso my₃t

210þe hede of an eln₃erde þe large lenkþe hade

211þe grayn al of grene stele and of golde hewen

212þe bit burnyst bry₃t with a brod egge

213as wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores

214þe stele of a stif staf þe sturne hit bi grypte [fol. 94r]

215þat watz wounden wyth yrn to þe wandez ende

216and al bigrauen with grene in gracios werkes

217a lace lapped aboute þat louked at þe hede

218and so after þe halme halched ful ofte

219wyth tryed tasselez þerto tacched innoghe

220on botounz of þe bry₃t grene brayden ful ryche

221þis haþel heldez hym in and þe halle entres

222driuande to þe he₃e dece dut he no woþe

223haylsed he neuer one bot he₃e he ouer loked

224þe fyrst word þat he warp wher is he sayd

225þe gouernour of þis gyng gladly I wolde

226se þat segg in sy₃t and with hymself speke

[bob]

227raysoun

[wheel]

228to kny₃tez he kest his y₃e

229and reled hym vp and doun

230he stemmed and con studie

231quo walt þer most renoun

[And he had no helmet nor hauberk, nor was he armour-plated, nor had he spear or shield with which to smite; but in one hand he held a holly branch, that is most green when the groves are all bare, and in the other he held an axe, huge and uncanny, and a sharp weapon was it to describe whoso might wish. And the head thereof measured an ell, and its grain was of green steel and of hewn gold, and the broad edge of it was burnished brightly, and as well shaped for cutting as a razor. And the sturdy knight gripped the steel of the stiff staff that was wound round with iron right along its length, and engraven in green with many noble deeds; and lace lapped it about and was fastened on the head, and looped about the handle full oft with many tassels tied thereto and broidered full richly on buttons of bright green. And the man haled into the hall, and pushed forward to the high daïs, fearful of nothing, and saluted no one, but looked scornfully over them all. The first word that he uttered was 'Where is the chief of this company? Gladly would I see that man in the body, and speak with him seasonably

in town.'

The knight cast round his eye,

And reeled up and down,

He stopped and 'gan to spy

Who was of best renown.]

[stanza 11 (long)]

232ther watz lokyng on lenþe þe lude to beholde

233for vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my₃t

234þat a haþel and a horse my₃t such a hwe lach

235as growe grene as þe gres and grener hit semed

236þen grene aumayl on golde lowande bry₃ter

237al studied þat þer stod and stalked hym nerre

238wyth al þe wonder of þe worlde what he worch schulde

239for fele sellyez had þay sen bot such neuer are

240forþi for fantoum and fayry₃e þe folk þere hit demed

241þerfore to answare watz ar₃e mony aþel freke

242and al stouned at his steuen and stonstil seten

243in a swoghe sylence þur₃ þe sale riche

244as al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lotez

[bob]

245in hy₃e

[wheel]

246I deme hit not al for doute

247bot sum for cortaysye

248bot let hym þat al schulde loute

249cast vnto þat wy₃e

[When they all looked at him, and every man marvelled much what it might mean that a man and his horse should be of such a colour of green, green as the grass and greener, as it seemed, than green enamel upon gold shining brightly. All studied him carefully, and came nearer to him, for they had seen many wonders, but nothing like unto this; therefore the folk deemed it to be a phantom or some faery. And many of them were afraid to answer him; astounded at his voice, stone still they sat. And there was a solemn silence through that rich hall, as though they had all fallen asleep

speedily;

Not all, I trow, for fear

But some for courtesy:

Let him whom all hold dear

Unto him make reply.]

[stanza 12 (long)]

250þenn arþour bifore þe hi₃ dece þat auenture byholdez

251and rekenly hym reuerenced for rad was he neuer

252and sayde wy₃e welcum iwys to þis place

[fol. 94]

253þe hede of þis ostel arthour I hat

254li₃t luflych adoun and lenge I þe praye

255and quat so þy wylle is we schal wyt after

256nay as help me quoþ þe haþel he þat on hy₃e syttes

257to wone any quyle in þis won hit watz not myn ernde

258bot for þe los of þe lede is lyft vp so hy₃e

259and þy bur₃ and þy burnes best ar holden

260stifest vnder stel gere on stedes to ryde

261þe wy₃test and þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde

262preue for to play wyth in oþer pure laykez

263and here is kydde cortaysye as I haf herd carp

264and þat hatz wayned me hider iwyis at þis tyme

265₃e may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here

266þat I passe as in pes and no ply₃t seche

267for had I founded in fere in fe₃tyng wyse

268I haue a hauberghe at home and a helme boþe

269a schelde and a scharp spere schinande bry₃t

270ande oþer weppenes to welde I wene wel als

271bot for I wolde no were my wedez ar softer

272bot if þou be so bold as alle burnez tellen

273þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask

[bob]

274bi ry₃t

[wheel]

275arthour con onsware

276and sayd sir cortays kny₃t

277if þou craue batayl bare

278here faylez þou not to fy₃t

[When Arthur on the high daïs beheld that adventure, and royally did reverence unto him, for nothing could affright him, and he said, 'Sir, welcome art thou to this hall. I am Arthur, the head of this hostel. Alight from thy horse, and linger with us, I pray thee, and afterwards we will come to know what thy will is.' 'Nay,' quoth that fellow, 'As He that sitteth on high shall help me, it is not mine errand to dwell any while in this place, but I am come because the fame of thy knights is so highly praised, and thy burgesses and thy town are held to be the best in the world, and the strongest riders on horses in steel armour, and the bravest and the worthiest of all mankind, and proof in playing in all joustings; and here, too, courtesy is well known, as I have heard say; and it is for these reasons that I am come hither at this time. Thou mayest rest assured by this holly token I hold in my hand that I am come in peaceful wise, and seek no quarrel; for had I come in company, in fighting wise, I have both a helm and a hauberk at home, and a shield, and a sharp and brightly shining spear, and other weapons I wield there as I ween; but because I wage no warfare, my weeds are of softer sort. But if thou art so bold as all men say, thou wilt grant me in goodly wise the games I ask

by right.'

Then Arthur he did swear,

And said, 'Sir courteous knight,

If thou cravest battle bare

Thou shalt not fail to fight.']

[stanza 13 (long)]

279nay frayst I no fy₃t in fayth I þe telle

280hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdlez chylder

281if I were hasped in armes on a he₃e stede

282here is no mon me to mach for my₃tez fo wayke

283forþy I craue in þis court a crystemas gomen

284for hit is ₃ol and nwe ₃er and here ar ₃ep mony

285if any so hardy in þis hous holdez hymseluen

286be so bolde in his blod brayn in hys hede

287þat dar stifly strike a strok for an oþer

288I schal gif hym of my gyft þys giserne ryche

289þis ax þat is heue innogh to hondele as hym lykes

[fol. 95r]

290and I schal bide þe fyrst bur as bare as I sitte

291if any freke be so felle to fonde þat I telle

292lepe ly₃tly me to and lach þis weppen

293I quit clayme hit for euer kepe hit as his auen

294and I schal stonde hym a strok stif on þis flet

295ellez þou wyl di₃t me þe dom to dele hym an oþer

[bob]

296barlay

[wheel]

297and ₃et gif hym respite

298a twelmonyth and a day

299now hy₃e and let se tite

300dar any herinne o₃t say

[Nay, I tell thee in good faith, I seek not to fight, for the men on this bench are but beardless children, and if I were hasped in arms on a high steed there is no man here to match with me. I only crave of this court a Christmas game, as this is the feast of Yule and New Year, and many here are brave. And if any in this house holds himself so hardy and is so boldblooded and so utterly mad that he dare strike one stroke for another in return, I will give to him this costly axe, that is heavy enough, and he shall handle it if he likes, and I will bide the first blow as bare as I sit here. If any fellow here be so brave as to do what I say, let him come forward quickly and take hold of the weapon, and I will quit claim upon it for ever. It shall be his very own. And I will stand strongly on this floor to abide his stroke if thou wilt doom him to receive another stroke in return from me; yet will I grant him

delay.

I'll give to him the blow,

In a twelvemonth and a day.

Now think and let me know

Dare any herein aught say.']

[stanza 14 (long)]

301if he hem stowned vpon fyrst stiller were þanne

302alle þe heredmen in halle þe hy₃ and þe lo₃e

303þe renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel

304and runischly his rede y₃en he reled aboute

305bende his bresed bro₃ez blycande grene

306wayued his berde for to wayte quo so wolde ryse

307when non wolde kepe hym with carp he co₃ed ful hy₃e

308ande rimed hym ful richly and ry₃t hym to speke

309what is þis arthures hous quoþ þe haþel þenne

310þat al þe rous rennes of þur₃ ryalmes so mony

311where is now your sourquydrye and your conquestes

312your gry dellayk and your greme and your grete wordes

313now is þe reuel and þe renoun of þe rounde table

314ouerwalt wyth a worde of on wy₃es speche

315for al dares for drede withoute dynt schewed

316wyth þis he la₃es so loude þat þe lorde greued

317þe blod schot for scham into his schyre face

[bob]

318and lere

[wheel]

319he wex as wroth as wynde

320so did alle þat þer were

321þe kyng as kene bi kynde

322þen stod þat stif mon nere

[Now, if this man astonished them at the first, even still more were they astonished at this word, both high and low. The man rode firm in the saddle, and rolled his red eyes about, and bent his rough, green shining eyebrows, and stroked his beard, waiting for some one to rise. And when no one would answer him, he coughed loudly and scornfully, and said, ' What! is this Arthur's house that all men are talking of? Where are now your pride and your valour, your wrath and fury and great words? for now is the revel and renown of the Round Table overcome by one word, for all of you are terrified though no blow has been struck.' Then he laughed so loudly that King Arthur was grieved thereat, and the blood, for shame, shot upwards into his bright face

so dear.

He waxed as wroth as wind,

So did all that were there,

The king was bravely kind,

And stood that strong man near.]

[stanza 15 (long)]

323ande sayde haþel by heuen þyn askyng is nys

324and as þou foly hatz frayst fynde þe behoues

325I know no gome þat is gast of þy grete wordes

326gif me now þy geserne vpon godez halue

327and I schal bayþen þy bone þat þou boden habbes [fol. 95]

328ly₃tly lepez he hym to and la₃t at his honde

329þen feersly þat oþer freke vpon fote ly₃tis

330now hatz arthure his axe and þe halme grypez

331and sturnely sturez hit aboute þat stryke wyth hit þo₃t

332þe stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy₃t

333herre þen ani in þe hous by þe hede and more

334wyth sturne schere þer he stod he stroked his berde

335and wyth a countenaunce dry₃e he dro₃ doun his cote

336no more mate ne dismayd for hyns mayn dintez

337þen any burne vpon bench hade bro₃t hym to drynk

[bob]

338of wyne

[wheel]

339gawan þat sate bi þe quene

340to þe kyng he can enclyne

341I beseche now with sa₃ez sene

342þis melly mot be myne

[And he said, 'By heaven, fellow, thy asking is strange, and since thou dost seek after foolishness, it behoves thee to find it. I know of no single man among us that is aghast at thy great words. Give me thy axe, for God's sake, and I will grant thee the boon thou cravest.' Arthur leapt forward towards him and caught him by the hand. Then fiercely alighted that other fellow from his horse. Arthur seized the axe, gripping it by the handle, and strongly brandished it about. The strong man stood towering before him, higher than any in the house, by his head and more. Stern of mien, he stood there and stroked his beard, and with face unmoved he drew down his coat, no more dismayed for the dints he was to receive than if any man upon the bench had brought him to drink

of wine.

Gawain sat by the queen,

To the king he did incline,

'I tell thee truth I ween,

This mêlée must be mine.']

[stanza 16 (long)]

343wolde ₃e worþilych lorde quoþ gawan to þe kyng

344bid me bo₃e fro þis benche and stonde by yow þere

345þat I wythoute vylanye my₃t voyde þis table

346and þat my legge lady lyked not ille

347I wolde com to your counseyl bifore your cort ryche

348for me þink hit not semly as hit is soþ knawen

349þer such an askyng is heuened so hy₃e in your sale

350þa₃ ₃e ₃ourself be talenttyf to take hit to yourseluen

351whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten

352þat vnder heuen I hope non ha₃erer of wylle

353ne better bodyes on bent þer baret is rered

354I am þe wakkest I wot and of wyt feblest

355and lest lur of my lyf quo laytes þe soþe

356bot for as much as ₃e ar myn em I am only to prayse

357no bounte bot your blod I in my bode knowe

358and syþen þis note is so nys þat no₃t hit yow falles

359and I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst foldez hit to me

360and if I carp not comlyly let alle þis cort rych

[bob]

361bout blame

[wheel]

362ryche togeder con roun

363and syþen þay redden alle same

364to ryd þe kyng wyth croun

365and gif gawan þe game

[If thou wilt allow me to come down from this bench and without fault leave this table and stand by thee there, and if my liege lady likes it not ill, I will come to thine aid before all this noble court; for methinks it not seemly that when such a thing as this is asked in this great hall, that thou shouldest deal with it thyself, though thou be eager to do so, when there are so many brave men about thee, on the benches, that, as I hope, under heaven, are not more precious than thou art, nor are they more able-bodied on the field, when there is any fighting. I am the weakest and most feeble of wit; and who seeketh truth knows that the loss of my life would be a small matter. I have no praise except that thou art mine uncle, and no goodness in my body have I except thy blood that flows in my veins. Since this affair is none of thine and I have first made demand for it, it falls to me; and if I acquit not myself comely, let all this noble court

me blame.'

The knights whispered that day,

And all agreed the same

The king must yield the fray,

And give Gawain the game.]

[fol. 96r]

[stanza 17 (long)]

366þen commaunded þe kyng þe kny₃t for to ryse

367and he ful radly vpros and ruchched hym fayre

368kneled doun bifore þe kyng and cachez þat weppen

369and he luflyly hit hym laft and lyfte vp his honde

370and gef hym goddez blessyng and gladly hym biddes

371þat his hert and his honde schulde hardi be boþe

372kepe þe cosyn quoþ þe kyng þat þou on kyrf sette

373and if þou redez hym ry₃t redly I trowe

374þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after

375gawan gotz to þe gome with giserne in honde

376and he baldly hym bydez he bayst neuer þe helder

377þen carppez to sir gawan þe kny₃t in þe grene

378refourme we oure forwardes er we fyrre passe

379fyrst I eþe þe haþel how þat þou hattes

380þat þou me telle truly as I tryst may

381in god fayth quoþ þe goode kny₃t gawan I hatte

382þat bede þe þis buffet quat so bifallez after

383and at þis tyme twelmonyth take at þe an oþer

384wyth what weppen fo þou wylt and wyth no wy₃ ellez

[bob]

385on lyue

[wheel]

386þat oþer onswarez agayn

387sir gawan so mot I þryue

388as I am ferly fayn

389þis dint þat þou schal dryue

[When the king commanded the knight to rise up, which he readily did, and set himself fairly and knelt down again before the king and received from him the weapon, and the king lifted up his hand and gave him God's blessing, and prayed that both his heart and hand might be hardy and strong.' Take care, cousin, that thou set one blow upon him, and if thou doest it well, then shalt thou bide the blow that he shall give thee afterwards.' Gawain went forward to the man with the axe in his hand, and the Green Knight boldly bided his coming and flinched not at all. Then said the Green Knight to Sir Gawain, 'Let us make well our covenant ere we go further. First, I want to know thy name -- tell me truly.' 'In good faith,' said the knight, 'my name is Gawain, and it is Gawain that offers to give thee this blow, whatsoever befall him afterwards; and in a twelvemonth and a day thou shalt take back the blow with any weapon thou likest, if I shall be

alive.'

That other answered again,

'Gawain, so may I thrive,

For I am fiercely fain

Of the blow that thou wilt drive.']

[stanza 18 (long)]

390bigog quoþ þe grene kny₃t sir gawan me lykes

391þat I schal fange at þy fust þat I haf frayst here

392and þou hatz redily rehersed bi resoun ful trwe

393clanly al þe couenaunt þat I þe kynge asked

394saf þat þou schal siker me segge bi þi trawþe

395þat þou schal seche me þiself where so þou hopes

396I may be funde vpon folde and foch þe such wages

397as þou deles me to day bifore þis douþe ryche

398where schulde I wale þe quoþ gauan where is þy plate

399I wot neuer where þou wonyes bi hym þat me wro₃t

400ne I know not þe kny₃t by cort ne þi name

401bot teche me truly þerto and telle me how þou hattes

402and I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me þeder

[fol. 96]

403and þat I swere þe for soþe and by my seker traweþ

404þat is innogh in nwe ₃er hit nedes no more

405quoþ þe gome in þe grene to gawan þe hende

406₃if I þe telle trwly quen I þe tape haue

407and þou me smoþely hatz smyten smartly I þe teche

408of my hous and my home and myn owen nome

409þen may þou frayst my fare and forwardez holde

410and if I spende no speche þenne spedez þou þe better

411for þou may leng in þy londe and layt no fyrre

[bob]

412bot slokes

[wheel]

413ta now þy grymme tole to þe

414and let se how þou cnokez

415gladly sir for soþe

416quoþ gawan his ax he strokes

[When said the Green Knight, 'Well it pleases me that I shall take at thy hand that which I sought in this hall. And thou hast truly rehearsed all the covenant I asked of the king; save that thou shalt pledge me to seek me thyself wheresoever thou dost hope to find me on the earth, and to fetch thee such wages as thou wilt deal me to-day in the presence of this noble company.' 'Oh tell me,' quoth Gawain, 'where must I seek thee? Where is thy place? By Him that made me, I wot not where thou dwellest, nor do I know thee, Sir Knight, nor thy court, nor thy name. But tell me that truly, and what is thy name, and I will use all my wit that I may win thither, and that I swear by my sooth.' ' It will suffice in the new year,' quoth the Green Knight to Gawain the gentle, 'if I tell thee truly when I have received the blow at thy hand. Then it is that I will quickly tell thee of my house, my home, and my name. Then mayest thou ask my faring, and hold the covenant, and if I say nothing at all, then will it speed thee better, for thou mayest linger in thy land and seek to fare no farther in search of such

a sight.

Take now the weapon grim,

Let us see how thou canst smite.

`Gladly,' said he to him;

Then stroked the axe that knight.]

[stanza 19 (long)]

417þe grene kny₃t vpon grounde grayþely hym dresses

418a littel lut with þe hede þe lere he discouerez

419his longe louelych lokkez he layd ouer his croun

420let þe naked nec to þe note schewe

421gauan gripped to his ax and gederes hit on hy₃t

422þe kay fot on þe folde he before sette

423let him doun ly₃tly ly₃t on þe naked

424þat þe scharp of þe schalk schyndered þe bones

425and schrank þur₃ þe schyire grece and scade hit in twynne

426þat þe bit of þe broun stel bot on þe grounde

427þe fayre hede fro þe halce hit to þe erþe

428þat fele hit foyned wyth her fete þere hit forth roled

429þe blod brayd fro þe body þat blykked on þe grene

430and nawþer faltered ne fel þe freke neuer þe helder

431bot styþly he start forth vpon styf schonkes

432and ruyschly he ra₃t out þere as renkkez stoden

433la₃t to his lufly hed and lyft hit vp sone

434and syþen bo₃ez to his blonk þe brydel he cachchez

435steppez into stelbawe and strydez alofte

436and his hede by þe here in his honde haldez

437and as sadly þe segge hym in his sadel sette

438as non vnhap had hym ayled þa₃ hedlez ho we

[bob]

439in stedde

[wheel]

440he brayde his bluk aboute

[fol. 97r]

441þat vgly bodi þat bledde

442moni on of hym had doute

443bi þat his resounz were redde

[The Green Knight then prepared himself, bowed down a little, and discovered his face, and his long and lovely locks flowing about his head and he bared his neck for the business in hand. Gawain gripped the axe and held it up aloft. He put his left foot forward, then he let the axe fall lightly down on the naked neck so that it sundered the bones, pierced through the flesh, so that the point of the steel bit into the ground, and the head of the Green Knight fell to the earth. And many kicked it with their feet as it rolled there, and blood rushed forth from the body and shone red on the green garments. Yet not a whit did the Green Knight falter nor fall, but started strongly forward on stiff shanks where the men were standing, and caught hold of his head and lifted it up. Then he went to his horse, seized the bridle, stepped into the saddle, and striding aloft, he held his head by the hair, and as gravely he sat in the saddle as though no evil had befallen him and he were not headless

in that stead.

He swayed his trunk about,

The ugly body that bled;

Many of him had doubt

By the time his reasons were said.]

[stanza 20 (long)]

444for þe hede in his honde he haldez vp euen

445toward þe derrest on þe dece he dressez þe face

446and hit lyfte vp þe y₃e lyddez and loked ful brode

447and meled þus much with his muthe as ₃e may now here

448loke gawan þou be grayþe to go as þou hettez

449and layte as lelly til þou me lude fynde

450as þou hatz hette in þis halle herande þise kny₃tes

451to þe grene chapel þou chose I charge þe to fotte

452such a dunt as þou hatz dalt disserued þou habbez

453to be ₃ederly ₃olden on nw ₃eres morn

454þe kny₃t of þe grene chapel men knowen me mony

455forþi me for to fynde if þou fraystez faylez þou neuer

456þerfore com oþer recreaunt be calde þe behoueus

457with a runisch rout þe raynez he tornez

458halled out at þe hal dor his hed in his hande

459þat þe fyr of þe flynt fla₃e fro fole houes

460to quat kyth he becom knwe non þere

461neuer more þen þay wyste from queþen he watz wonnen

[bob]

462what þenne

[wheel]

463þe kyng and gawen þare

464at þat grene þay la₃e and grenne

465₃et breued watz hit ful bare

466a meruayl among þo menne

[He held up the head in his hands, and addressed him to the dearest of those on the bench, to wit, Sir Gawain; and the eyelids were lifted up and looked forth, and the lips moved and said, 'Take heed, Sir Gawain, that thou art ready to go and seek me till thou find me as thou hast promised in this hall with these knights as witnesses. To the green chapel thou shalt come to receive such a blow as thou hast given, on New Year's morning. And many know me as the Knight of the Green Chapel. Fail not, then, to seek me until thou findest me; therefore come thou, or recreant shalt thou be called.' Then roughly he turned his reins, haled out of the hall door, with his head in his hand, and the horse's hoofs struck fire from the flinty stones. No one there knew of what kith or kin he was, or whence he came.

Straightway

Of the Green Knight they made light,

Yet it was thought that day,

A marvel, a wondrous sight,

Though, laughing, they were gay.]

[stanza 21 (long)]

467þa₃ arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder

468he let no semblaunt be sene bot sayde ful hy₃e

469to þe comlych quene wyth cortays speche

470dere dame to day demay yow neuer

471wel bycommes such craft vpon cristmasse

472laykyng of enterludez to la₃e and to syng

473among þise kynde caroles of kny₃tez and ladyez

474neuer þe lece to my mete I may me wel dres

475for I haf sen a selly I may not forsake

476he glent vpon sir gawen and gaynly he sayde

477now sir heng vp þyn ax þat hatz innogh hewen

[fol. 97]

478and hit watz don abof þe dece on doser to henge

479þer alle men for meruayl my₃t on hit loke

480and bi trwe tytel þerof to telle þe wonder

481þenne þay bo₃ed to a borde þise burnes togeder

482þe kyng and þe gode kny₃t and kene men hem serued

483of alle dayntyez double as derrest my₃t falle

484wyth alle maner of mete and mynstralcie boþe

485wyth wele walt þay þat day til worþed an ende

[bob]

486in londe

[wheel]

487now þenk wel sir gawan

488for woþe þat þou ne wonde

489þis auenture for to frayn

490þat þou hatz tan on honde

[Now, though Arthur the Gentle at this had great wonder, he let no semblance thereof be seen, but spake with gentle speed to the comely Queen Guinevere: 'Dear lady, let not this day's doings dismay thee at all. Such craft well becomes the Feast of Christmas; gamings and interludes and laughing and singing and carollings of knights and ladies. And now can I dress myself for meat, for a wondrous adventure have I seen.' He glanced at Sir Gawain and said, 'Now, sir, hang up thine axe; hewing enough has it done for to-day.' Then they hung it up over the daïs at the back of the high seat, that all men might look upon the marvel of it and truly tell the wonder of it. Then went these two, the king and the good knight, to the table, and brave men served them, double of all dainties, with all manner of meat and minstrelsy. In good weal they passed the day, but it came to an end, and night

was near.

'Now, Sir Gawain, be sure,

Turn not away for fear

From this grim adventure

That thou hast promised here.']

[fitt2: stanza 22 (long)]

491this hanselle hatz arthur of auenturus on fyrst

492in ₃onge ₃er for he ₃erned ₃elpyng to here

493tha₃ hym wordez were wane when þay to sete wenten

494now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf ful her hond

495gawan watz glad to begynne þose gomnez in halle

496bot þa₃ þe ende be heuy haf ₃e no wonder

497for þa₃ men ben mery in mynde quen þay han mayn drynk

498a ₃ere ₃ernes ful ₃erne and ₃eldez neuer lyke

499þe forme to þe fynisment foldez ful selden

500forþi þis ₃ol ouer₃ede and þe ₃ere after

501and vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer

502after crystenmasse com þe crabbed lentoun

503þat fraystez flesch wyth þe fysche and fode more symple

504bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepez

505colde clengez adoun cloudez vplyften

506schyre schedez þe rayn in schowrez ful warme

507fallez vpon fayre flat flowrez þere schewen

508boþe groundez and þe greuez grene ar her wedez

509bryddez busken to bylde and bremlych syngen

510for solace of þe softe somer þat sues þerafter

[bob]

511bi bonk

[wheel]

512and blossumez bolne to blowe

513bi rawez rych and ronk

514þen notez noble inno₃e

[fol. 98r]

515ar herde in wod so wlonk

[Now, this was the first adventure Arthur had in the year that was young; he yearned for some great show, though no words were spoken as they went to their seats. And, moreover, they had in hand quite enough to do. Sir Gawain was full glad to begin the games in the hall: it is no wonder, though heavy be the ending, and though men be merry-minded when drinking good wine, yet the year runneth rapidly and returneth it never. Full seldom agreeth the end thereof with the beginning. The Yuletide, too quickly it passed and the year that followed it. The seasons succeeded each after the other. After Christmas came the crabbed Lenten season, when the folk eat fish and simple food. Then the weather of the world doth fight with winter. The cold doth vanish and the clouds uplift, and the rain falls upon fair fields in warm showers, and the flowers appear on the ground, and in the woodlands their garments are green. Birds are busy in building their nests, and boldly they sing because of the summer's soft solace that follows thereafter

on bank,

And blossoms swell to blow

In rows rich and rank,

And bird-notes sweet enow

Are heard in woodlands dank.]

[stanza 23 (long)]

516after þe sesoun of somer wyth þe soft wyndez

517quen zeferus syflez hymself on sedez and erbez

518wela wynne is þe wort þat waxes þeroute

519when þe donkande dewe dropez of þe leuez

520to bide a blysful blusch of þe bry₃t sunne

521bot þen hy₃es heruest and hardenes hym sone

522warnez hym for þe wynter to wax ful rype

523he dryues wyth dro₃t þe dust for to ryse

524fro þe face of þe folde to fly₃e ful hy₃e

525wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrastelez with þe sunne

526þe leuez lancen fro þe lynde and ly₃ten on þe grounde

527and al grayes þe gres þat grene watz ere

528þenne al rypez and rotez þat ros vpon fyrst

529and þus ₃irnez þe ₃ere in ₃isterdayez mony

530and wynter wyndez a₃ayn as þe worlde askez

[bob]

531no sage

[wheel]

532til me₃elmas mone

533watz cumen wyth wynter wage

534þen þenkkez gawan ful sone

535of his anious uyage

[After the summer season of soft winds, when zephyrs are sighing over seeds and herbs, and the damp dews are dropping from the green leaves, then are they glad thereat, the living things that grow there waiting for the blissful blushing of the bright sun. Then hastens the harvest and hardens them right soon, and warns them before the coming of winter to wax full ripe. And the dust by the drought is driven about from the face of the fields, and it bloweth full high. And the fierce winds of the welkins wrestle with the sun. And the leaves of the trees fall to the ground, and grey is the grass that was green erewhile. Then all ripens and rots that grew up before. Thus quickly passeth the year in many yesterdays, and winter returneth will ye nill ye.

Surely

Till moon of Michaelmas

Was won with winter's surety.

Then thinks Gawain, alas!

Of his sorrowful journey.]

[stanza 24 (long)]

536₃et quyl alhalday with arþer he lenges

537and he made a fare on þat fest for þe frekez sake

538with much reuel and ryche of þe rounde table

539kny₃tez ful cortays and comlych ladies

540al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were

541bot neuer þe lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe

542mony ioylez for þat ientyle iapez þer maden

543for aftter mete with mournyng he melez to his eme

544and spekez of his passage and pertly he sayde

545now lege lorde of my lyf leue I yow ask

546₃e knowe þe cost of þis cace kepe I no more

547to telle yow tenez þerof neuer bot trifel

548bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne

549to sech þe gome of þe grene as god wyl me wysse

550þenne þe best of þe bur₃ bo₃ed togeder

551aywan and errik and oþer ful mony

[fol. 98]

552sir doddinanal de sauage þe duk of clarence

553launcelot and lyonel and lucan þe gode

554sir boos and sir byduer big men boþe

555and mony oþer menskful with mador de la port

556alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre

557for to counseyl þe kny₃t with care at her hert

558þere watz much derue doel driuen in þe sale

559þat so worþe as wawan schulde wende on þat ernde

560to dry₃e a delful dynt and dele no more

[bob]

561wyth bronde

[wheel]

562þe kny₃t mad ay god chere

563and sayde quat schuld I wonde

564of destines derf and dere

565what may mon do bot fonde

[Yet did he linger with Arthur until All Hallows Day. And on that festival Arthur made a feast for the sake of Sir Gawain, with much rich revelling of the Round Table. And full comely knights and comely ladies were in great love-longing for Sir Gawain, though they made great mirth withal.

And many were jesting who yet were joyless, for that gentle knight. For after meat he sadly turned towards his uncle, and spake of his passing, and straightway he said, 'Now, my Life's Liege Lord, I ask thy leave. Thou knowest the cost of this matter, and careless am I of it, and to tell thee of it matters but a little. To-morrow I am setting out to receive back the blow, and to seek the Green Knight as God shall direct me.' Then the best of all the burgesses banded together; Avwan and Errik and many others: Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, the Duke of Clarence, Launcelot, and Lyonel and Lucan the Good; Sir Bors and Sir Bedivere, great men both of them, and many other mighty lords, with Madoc de la Port. All this company of the court came near the king to counsel the knight; and their hearts were full of care, and great was the grief that grew in the hall that so worthy a man as Gawain should go on that journey a dreadful blow to endure and deal not one in return.

'For why?'

The knight made aye good cheer,

'Why should I not defy

Destinies strong and dear;

What can man do but try?']

[stanza 25 (long)]

566he dowellez þer al þat day and dressez on þe morn

567askez erly hys armez and alle were þay bro₃t

568fyrst a tule tapit ty₃t ouer þe flet

569and miche watz þe gyld gere þat glent þeralofte

570þe stif mon steppez þeron and þe stel hondelez

571dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars

572and syþen a crafty capados closed aloft

573þat wyth a bry₃t blaunner was bounden withinne

574þenne set þay þe sabatounz vpon þe segge fotez

575his legez lapped in stel with luflych greuez

576with polaynez piched þerto policed ful clene

577aboute his knez knaged wyth knotez of golde

578queme quyssewes þen þat coyntlych closed

579his thik þrawen þy₃ez with þwonges to tachched

580and syþen þe brawden bryne of bry₃t stel ryngez

581vmbeweued þat wy₃ vpon wlonk stuffe

582and wel bornyst brace vpon his boþe armes

583with gode cowters and gay and glouez of plate

584and alle þe godlych gere þat hym gayn schulde

[bob]

585þat tyde

[wheel]

586wyth ryche cote armure

587his gold sporez spend with pryde

588gurde wyth a bront ful sure

589with silk sayn vmbe his syde

[He remained there that day, and dressed in the morning, and asked early for his arms, and they were all brought unto him. And first a carpet of tuly was spread on the floor, and much gold gleamed upon it. The strong man stepped forth and handled the steel, and donned a doublet of very costly Tarsian silk, and then a fair cap closed in above, and with fair fur was it bound inside. Then set they steel shoes upon the man's feet, and his legs they lapped in steel with lovely greaves and knee-pieces fastened thereunto and polished full brightly and fixed about his knees with knots of gold. Fair cuisses also cunningly covered his thighs, that were thick and brawny, and were tied with thongs. And then the woven bryny of bright steel rings enfolded the warrior over the fair stuff, and well burnished braces were upon both his arms, and good and gay elbowpieces and plated gloves, and all the goodly gear that befitted such a knight, for

that tide,

With rich coat of armour,

Gold spurs he fixed with pride,

Girt with a sword full sure,

And silk girths round his side.]

[fol. 99r]

[stanza 26 (long)]

590when he watz hasped in armes his harnays watz ryche

591þe lest lachet ouer loupe lemed of golde

592so harnayst as he watz he herknez his masse

593offred and honoured at þe he₃e auter

594syþen he comez to þe kyng and to his cort ferez

595lachez lufly his leue at lordez and ladyez

596and þay hym kyst and conueyed bikende hym to kryst

597bi þat watz gryngolet grayth and gurde with a sadel

598þat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges

599ayquere naylet ful nwe for þat note ryched

600þe brydel barred aboute with bry₃t golde bounden

601þe apparayl of þe payttrure and of þe proude skyrtez

602þe cropore and þe couertor acorded wyth þe arsounez

603and al watz rayled on red ryche golde naylez

604þat al glytered and glent as glem of þe sunne

605þenne hentes he þe helme and hastily hit kysses

606þat watz stapled stifly and stoffed wythinne

607hit watz hy₃e on his hede hasped bihynde

608wyth a ly₃tly vrysoun ouer þe auentayle

609enbrawden and bounden wyth þe best gemmez

610on brode sylkyn borde and bryddez on semez

611as papiayez paynted peruyng bitwene

612tortors and trulofez entayled so þyk

613as mony burde þeraboute had ben seuen wynter

[bob]

614in toune

[wheel]

615þe cercle watz more o prys

616þat vmbeclypped hys croun

617of diamauntez a deuys

618þat boþe were bry₃t and broun

[As soon as he was fully armed, his trappings were noble, and the very least latchet or loop gleamed of gold. Thus accoutred, he heard Mass sung at the High Altar. Then he came to the king and to his court comrades, and lovingly took leave of lords and ladies, and they kissed him and commended him to Christ. By that time his horse, Gringolet, was geared and girt with a saddle, that gleamed full gaily with many golden fringes everywhere newly nailed and enriched for the business he had in hand. The horse's bridle was striped across and across, and bound with bright gold. The trappings of the horse's neck and of the proud skirts, the crupper and the covering, accorded with the saddle, and were all bordered in rich red gold nails. Then he took hold of the helmet and hastily kissed it, and it was strongly stapled and stuffed within. It was high on his head, and hasped behind with a light kerchief of pleasaunce over the visor, and embroidered and bound with the best of gems on broad silken borders and with birds on the borders, such as painted parrots at their feeding, and with turtles and true-love knots intertwisted thickly, and it was as if many a maiden had been making it seven winters

In the town.

The circle was most of price

That surrounded the crown;

Of diamonds a device,

And both were bright and brown.]

[stanza 27 (long)]

619then þay schewed hym þe schelde þat was of schyr goulez

620wyth þe pentangel depaynt of pure golde hwez

621he braydez hit by þe bauderyk aboute þe hals kestes

622þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre

623and quy þe pentangel apendez to þat prynce noble

624I am in tent yow to telle þof tary hyt me schulde

625hit is a syngne þat salamon set sumquyle

626in bytoknyng of trawþe bi tytle þat hit habbez

[fol. 99]

627for hit is a figure þat haldez fyue poyntez

628and vche lyne vmbelappez and loukez in oþer

629and ayquere hit is emdelez and englych hit callen

630oueral as I here þe endeles knot

631forþy hit acordez to þis kny₃t and to his cler armez

632for ay faythful in fyue and sere fyue syþez

633gawan watz for gode knawen and as golde pured

634voyded of vche vylany wyth verertuez ennourned

[bob]

635in mote

[wheel]

636forþy þe pentangel nwe

637he ber in schelde and cote

638as tulk of tale most trwe

639and gentylest kny₃t of lote

[Then they showed him the shield of shining gules and the pentangle painted with pure golden hues. He brandished it by the belt, and about his neck he cast it, that he was seemly and fair to look upon. And I am intent to tell you, though I may weary you somewhat, why that pentangle belonged to that noble prince. It is a symbol that Solomon set up some while for betokening of truth, as its name doth show. For it is a figure that hath five points, and each line overlaps, and is locked in the other, and everywhere it is endless, and the English call it, as I hear, the endless knot. Therefore was it befitting this knight and his clean armour. For Sir Gawain was known as a knight both good and true and faithful in five and many times five, and pure as gold, and void of all villany was he, and adorned with virtues

in the mote,

For the pentangle new

He bears in shield and coat,

And is a knight most true

And gentle man, I wot.]

[stanza 28 (long)]

640fyrst he watz funden fautlez in his fyue wyttez

641and efte fayled neuer þe freke in his fyue fyngres

642and alle his afyaunce vpon folde watz in þe fyue woundez

643þat cryst ka₃t on þe croys as þe crede tellez

644and quere soeuer þys mon in melly watz stad

645his þro þo₃t watz in þat þur₃ alle oþer þyngez

646þat alle his forsnes he fong at þe fyue joyez

647þat þe hende heuen quene had of hir chylde

648at þis cause þe kny₃t comlyche hade

649in þe inore half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted

650þat quen he blusched þerto his belde neuer payred

651þe fyft fyue þat I finde þat þe frek vsed

652watz fraunchyse and fela₃schyp forbe al þyng

653his clannes and his cortaysye croked were neuer

654and pite þat passez alle poyntez þyse pure fyue

655were harder happed on þat haþel þen on any oþer

656now alle þese fyue syþez for soþe were fetled on þis kny₃t

657and vchone halched in oþer þat non ende hade

658and fyched vpon fyue poyntez þat fayld neuer

659ne samned neuer in no syde ne sundred nouþer

660withouten ende at any noke I quere fynde

661whereeuer þe gomen bygan or glod to an ende

662þerfore on his schene schelde schapen watz þe knot

663ryally wyth red golde vpon rede gowlez

[fol. 100r]

664þat is þe pure pentaungel wyth þe peple called

[bob]

665with lore

[wheel]

666now grayþed is gawan gay

667and la₃t his launce ry₃t þore

668and gef hem alle goud day

669he wende for euermore

[And first he was found faultless in his five wits. Then he failed not in his five fingers. And all his trust on earth was in the five wounds suffered by Christ on the cross, as the creeds do tell us, so that when the knight was placed in the mêlée, his thought was ever upon them above all other things. And so it was that all his strength he found in the five joys that the fair Queen of Heaven had in her child. And for this cause it was that the knight had made to be painted her image in comely fashion on the greater half of his shield, so that when he looked upon it his valour never failed him. Now the fifth five that this knight excelled in were frankness and fellowship above all others, his cleanness and courtesy never were crooked, and compassion, that surpasseth all else. These five pure virtues were fixed in this knight more firmly than in any other. And all five times were so joined in him that each one held to the other without any ending and fixed at five points, nor did they ever fail, for they were joined at no point nor sundered were they at all, nor could one find any end thereof at any corner when the games began or were gliding towards an ending. Therefore the knot was shaped on his strong shield, all with red gold upon red gules, called the pure pentangle among the people

of love.

Now geared is Gawain gay,

He brandished the lance he bore,

And bade them all good day,

And went forth evermore.]

[stanza 29 (long)]

670he sperred þe sted with þe spurez and sprong on his way

671so stif þat þe stonfyr stroke out þerafter

672al þat sey þat semly syked in hert

673and sayde soþly al same segges til oþer

674carande for þat comly bi kryst hit is scaþe

675þat þou leude schal be lost þat art of lyf noble

676to fynde hys fere vpon folde in fayth is not eþe

677warloker to haf wro₃t had more wyt bene

678and haf dy₃t ₃onder dere a duk to haue worþed

679a lowande leder of ledez in londe hym wel semez

680and so had better haf ben þen britned to no₃t

681hadet wyth an aluisch mon for angardez pryde

682who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take

683as kny₃tez in cauelounz on crystmasse gomnez

684wel much watz þe warme water þat waltered of y₃en

685when þat semly syre so₃t fro þo wonez

[bob]

686þad daye

[wheel]

687he made non abode

688bot wy₃tly went hys way

689mony wylsum way he rode

690þe bok as I herde say

[He spurred his steed so strongly, and sprang forward on his way, that the stones struck fire as he rode. And all that saw that gallant knight sighed in their hearts. And each man, caring much for the comely one, said the same words to his neighbour,' By Christ, it is scathe that he should be slain who is so noble of life. In faith it is not easy to find his fellow upon earth. Now, verily, to have wrought would have been wiser, or to have made yonder dear man a duke; a shining leader of men in the land he should be. This would have been better than that he should be broken to nought, and haled by an elvish man in arrogant pride. Whoever knew any king such counsel to take as knights who are cavilling at the Christmas games? 'Many were the warm tears that welled from their eyes when that seemly sire went forth from those dwellings

that day.

So he made no abode,

But quickly went his way;

Many a desert path he rode,

As I in book heard say.]

[stanza 30 (long)]

691now ridez þis renk þur₃ þe ryalme of logres

692sir gauan on godez halue þa₃ hym no gomen þo₃t

693oft leudlez alone he lengez on ny₃tez

694þer he fonde no₃t hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked

695hade he no fere bot his fole bi frythez and dounez

696ne no gome bot god bi gate wyth to karp

697til þat he ne₃ed ful noghe into þe norþe walez

698alle þe iles of anglesay on lyft half he haldez

699and farez ouer þe fordez by þe forlondez

700ouer at þe holy hede til he hade eft bonk

701in þe wyldrenesse of wyrale wonde þer bot lyte

[fol. 100]

702þat auþer god oþer gome wyth goud hert louied

703and ay he frayned as he ferde at frekez þat he met

704if þay hade herde any karp of a kny₃t grene

705in any grounde þeraboute of þe grene clapel

706and al nykked hym wyth nay þat neuer in her lyue

707þay se₃e neuer no segge þat watz of suche hwez

[bob]

708of grene

[wheel]

709þe kny₃t tok gates straunge

710in mony a bonk vnbene

711his cher ful oft con chaunge

712þat chapel er he my₃t sene

[Now passed Sir Gawain on God's behalf through the realms of Logres, though no game he thought it; and often alone he lingered at nighttime when he sought in vain for the way that he longed for. No companion had he save his horse, nor no one but God to whom he might call by the way. And now he was nearing the north parts of Wales, with the Isle of Anglesea on the left. He fared over the fords along by the forelands. At the Holyhead Hill he had the heights behind him in the wilderness of Wirral. Few dwelt there that loved either God or man with a good heart. And ever as he fared he would ask any that he met if they had ever heard speak of the Green Knight in any part thereabouts, or of the Green Chapel. All denied with a nay that ever in their lives they had known such a knight of such a hue

of green.

The way of the knight was strange;

By many a hillside, I ween,

His face gan oft to change,

Or ever the chapel was seen.]

[stanza 31 (long)]

713mony klyf he ouerclambe in contrayez straunge

714fer floten fro his frendez fremedly he rydez

715at vche warþe oþer water þer þe wy₃e passed

716he fonde a foo hym byfore bot ferly hit were

717and þat so foule and so felle þat fe₃t hym byhode

718fo mony meruayl bi mount þer þe mon fyndez

719hit were to tore for to telle of þe tenþe dole

720sumwhyle wyth wormez he werrez and with wolues als

721sumwhyle wyth wodwos þat woned in þe knarrez

722boþe wyth bullez and berez and borez oþerquyle

723and etaynez þat hym anelede of þe he₃e felle

724nade he ben du₃ty and dry₃e and dry₃tyn had serued

725douteles he hade ben ded and dreped ful ofte

726for werre wrathed hym not so much þat wynter was wors

727when þe colde cler water fro þe cloudez schadden

728and fres er hit falle my₃t to þe fale erþe

729ner slayn wyth þe slete he sleped in his yrnes

730mo ny₃tez þen innoghe in naked rokkez

731þer as claterande fro þe crest þe colde borne rennez

732and henged he₃e ouer his hede in hard ysse ikkles

733þus in peryl and payne and plytes ful harde

734bi contray cayrez þis kny₃t tyl krystmasse euen

[bob]

735al one

[wheel]

736þe kny₃t wel þat tyde

737to mary made his mone

738þat ho hym red to ryde

[fol. 101r]

739and wysse hym to sum wone

[He climbed many a cliff in strange countries, far removed from his friends in foreign parts he fared, and at each waterway that he passed over he found a foe before him, and a wonder, I trow, so terrible in appearance that to fight him he was forced; and many a marvel among the mountains he found, that it would be too tedious to tell the tenth part of what he found. He fought with dragons and wolves, and sometimes with madmen that dwelt among the rocks, and at other times with bulls and bears and boars, and with monsters that attacked him from the high mountain; and had he not been stiff and strong and serving the Lord, doubtless he had been done to death ere this. Fighting troubled him not so much, but the wintry weather was worse; when the clouds shed down upon him cold clear water, freezing ere it reached the fallow earth. Almost slain by the cold sleet, he slept in his harness, more nights than enough amidst the naked rocks where the cold burn ran by clattering from the crest, and hanging high above his head in hard icicles. Thus in perils and many a painful plight this knight wended his way until Christmas Eve

arrived.

The knight that tide,

To Mary he cried,

To show him where to ride

Till some shelter he spied.]

[stanza 32 (long)]

740bi a mounte on þe morne meryly he rydes

741into a forest ful dep þat ferly watz wylde

742hi₃e hillez on vche a halue and holtwodez vnder

743of hore okez ful hoge a hundreth togeder

744þe hasel and þe ha₃þorne were harled al samen

745with ro₃e raged mosse rayled aywhere

746with mony bryddez vnblyþe vpon bare twyges

747þat pitosly þer piped for pyne of þe colde

748þe gome vpon gryngolet glydez hem vnder

749þur₃ mony misy and myre mon al hym one

750carande for his costes lest he ne keuer schulde

751to se þe seruy of þat syre þat on þat self ny₃t

752of a burde watz borne oure baret to quelle

753and þerfore sykyng he sayde I beseche þe lorde

754and mary þat is myldest moder so dere

755of sum herber þer he₃ly I my₃t here masse

756ande þy matynez to morne mekely I ask

757and þerto prestly I pray my pater and aue

[bob]

758and crede

[wheel]

759he rode in his prayere

760and cryed for his mysdede

761he sayned hym in syþes sere

762and sayde cros kryst me spede

[In the morning he rode merrily by a mountain, through a full deep and wondrous wild forest; high hills were on each side, and woods of huge and hoary oaks, a hundred of them together, beneath him. The hazel and the hawthorn were trailing together with rough, ragged moss spread on all sides. Sorrowful birds sang on the bare twigs and piped piteously through pain of the cold. Upon Gringolet the man glided underneath them, all alone, through mud and mire, careful of his labour, lest he should be too late to see the service of his Lord, who on that night was born of a maiden our strife to be ending. Therefore, sighing, he said, 'I beseech thee, O Lord, and Mary, our dearest and mildest mother, that ye would grant me some place of rest where I might hear the Mass and matins of this moon. Full meekly I ask it, and thereto I will say full soon my pater and ave

and creed.'

He rode as he prayed,

And cried for misdeed,

And sign of Cross made, And said,

'Christ's Cross me speed.']

[stanza 33 (long)]

763nade he sayned hymself segge bot þrye

764er he watz war in þe wod of a won in a mote

765abof a launde on a lawe loken vnder bo₃ez

766of mony borelych bole aboute bi þe diches

767a castel þe comlokest þat euer kny₃t a₃te

768pyched on a prayere a park al aboute

769with a pyked palays pynned ful þik

770þat vmbete₃e mony tre mo þen two myle

771þat holde on þat on syde þe haþel auysed

772as hit schemered and schon þur₃ þe schyre okez

773þenne hatz he hendly of his helme and he₃ly he þonkez

774jesus and say gilyan þat gentyle ar boþe

[fol. 101]

775þat cortaysly hade hym kydde and his cry herkened

776now bone hostel coþe þe burne I beseche yow ₃ette

777þenne gederez he to gryngolet with þe gilt helez

778and he ful chauncely hatz chosen to þe chef gate

779þat bro₃t bremly þe burne to þe bryge ende

[bob]

780in haste

[wheel]

781þe bryge watz breme vpbrayde

782þe ₃atez wer stoken faste

783þe wallez were wel arayed

784hit dut no wyndez blaste

[Scarcely had he thrice signed himself with the sign of the Cross, when he was ware of a castle in the wood, on an upland or hill embosomed in the foliage of many a burly monarch of the forest. It was the comeliest castle that ever a knight possessed, in the centre of a meadow, with a park all about it. A palace beautiful, and for more than two miles encircled by trees. The knight caught sight of this palace of refuge on one side, shimmering and shining through the sheeny oaks. He gently doffed his helmet, and gave high thanks to Jesus and St. Gilyan, who had both of them gently and courteously guided his footsteps and hearkened to his crying. 'Now,' quoth the knight, 'grant me good hostel.' When putting his gilt heels to Gringolet, fully by chance he chose the right path, and full soon it brought him to the end of the drawbridge

at last.

The bridge was soon upraised,

The gates were shut so fast,

The walls were well appraised,

They feared not the wind's blast.]

[stanza 34 (long)]

785þe burne bode on bonk þat on blonk houed

786of þe depe double dich þat drof to þe place

787þe walle wod in þe water wonderly depe

788ande eft a ful huge he₃t hit haled vpon lofte

789of harde hewen ston vp to þe tablez

790enbaned vnder þe abataylment in þe best lawe

791and syþen garytez ful gaye gered bitwene

792wyth mony luflych loupe þat louked ful clene

793a better barbican þat burne blusched vpon neuer

794and innermore he behelde þat halle ful hy₃e

795towre telded bytwene trochet ful þik

796fayre fylyolez þat fy₃ed and ferlyly long

797with coroun coprounes craftyly sle₃e

798chalk whyt chymnees þer ches he inno₃e

799vpon bastel rouez þat blenked ful quyte

800so mony pynakle payntet watz poudred ayquere

801among þe castel carnelez clambred so þik

802þat pared out of papure purely hit semed

803þe fre freke on þe fole hit fayr innghe þo₃t

804if he my₃t keuer to com þe cloyster wythinne

805to herber in þat hostel whyl halyday lested

[bob]

806auinant

[wheel]

807he calde and sone þer com

808a porter pure plesaunt

809on þe wal his ernd he nome

810and haylsed þe kny₃t erraunt

[The knight, on horseback, stood still on the side of the deep double ditch that led to the place. The wall of the castle was wondrously deep in the water, and rose up aloft a full great height and was built of hard hewn stone right up to the corbels, which were supported under the battlements in the very best fashion, and with watchtowers full gaily geared between, and with many a clear and lovely loophole; and that knight had never seen a better barbican. He beheld the great and high hall of the castle, and its towers builded between very thick trochets; fair and wondrously big round towers were they, with carved capitals craftily fashioned; and he saw the chalk-white chimneys, not a few, above castellated roofs that shone all white. And so many painted pinnacles were there everywhere, among the castle battlements clustered so thickly, that it seemed as if they had been cut out of paper. The noble man thought it full fair as he rode forward, if by any chance he might come within the castle cloister and harbour in that hostel during that

holy day.

Then came when he did call,

A porter full gay,

And took stand on the wall,

And hailed the knight alway.]

[stanza 35 (long)]

811gode sir quoþ gawan woldez þou go myn ernde

812to þe he₃ lorde of þis hous herber to craue

[fol. 102r]

813₃e peter quoþ þe porter and purely I trowoe

814þat ₃e be wy₃e welcum to won quyle yow lykez

815þen ₃ede þe wy₃e a₃ayn swyþe

816and folke frely hym wyth to fonge þe kny₃t

817þay let doun þe grete dra₃t and derely out ₃eden

818and kneled doun on her knes vpon þe colde erþe

819to welcum þis ilk wy₃ as worþy hom þo₃t

820þay ₃olden hym þe brode ₃ate ₃arked vp wyde

821and he hem raysed rekenly and rod ouer þe brygge

822sere seggez hym sesed by sadel quel he ly₃t

823and syþen stabeled his stede stif men inno₃e

824kny₃tez and swyerez comen doun þenne

825for to bryng þis buurne wyth blys into halle

826quen he hef vp his helme þer hi₃ed innoghe

827for to hent hit at his honde þe hende to seruen

828his bronde and his blasoun boþe þay token

829þen haylsed he ful hendly þo haþelez vchone

830and mony proud mon þer presed þat prynce to honour

831alle hasped in his he₃ wede to halle þay hym wonnen

832þer fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned

833þenne þe lorde of þe lede loutez fro his chambre

834for to mete wyth menske þe mon on þe flor

835he sayde ₃e are welcum to welde as yow lykez

836þat here is al is yowre awen to haue at yowre wylle

[bob]

837and welde

[wheel]

838graunt mercy quoþ gawayn

839þer kryst hit yow for₃elde

840as frekez þat semed fayn

841ayþer oþer in armez con felde

[`Good sir,' quoth Gawain, 'wilt thou go mine errand to the high lord of this place to crave of him for me a place of refuge?' 'By St. Peter,' quoth the porter, 'yea, surely I trow thou shalt be welcome to stay as long as thou likest.' Soon after the porter came again, and with him were noble folk who had come to welcome the knight. They let down the great drawbridge, and joyfully went forth, and knelt down upon the cold earth to do honour to the same knight as it seemed worthy to them. And they swung the broad gate widely on its hinges, and he saluted them royally, and rode in over the bridge. And many a fellow held for him his saddle while he alighted, and full many strong men stabled his steed. Knights and squires then came down that they might bring him with joy into the hall. And when he doffed his helmet others enow hastened to receive it at his hand, and took from him his sword and his shield. Then saluted he full kindly each one of these noblemen, and many a proud man pressed forward to pay honour to that prince. And they led him, all clad as he was in his high weeds, into the hall, where a fair fire burned fiercely upon the hearth. Then the lord of that people came down from his chamber that he might receive honourably the knight in the hall, and he said; 'Thou art welcome to do as it liketh thee. All that thou findest here is thine own to do with it as thou willest and

to possess.

'Great thanks,' quoth Gawain.

'May Christ always thee bless.'

As fellows that were fain,

Each the other gave press.]

[stanza 36 (long)]

842gawayn gly₃t on þe gome þat godly hym gret

843and þu₃t hit a bolde burne þat þe bur₃ a₃te

844a hoge haþel for þe nonez and of hyghe eldee

845brode bry₃t watz his berde and al beuer hwed

846sturne stif on þe stryþþe on stalworth schonkez

847felle face as þe fyre and fre of hys speche

848and wel hym semed for soþe as þe segge þu₃t

849to lede a lortschyp in lee of leudez ful gode

[fol. 102]

850þe lorde hym charred to a chambre and clesly cumaundez

851to delyuer hym a leude hym lo₃ly to serue

852and þere were boun at his bode burnez inno₃e

853þat bro₃t hym to a bry₃t boure þer beddyng watz noble

854of cortynes of clene sylk wyth cler golde hemmez

855and couertorez ful curious with comlych panez

856of bry₃t blaunmer aboue enbrawded bisydez

857rudelez rennande on ropez red golde ryngez

858tapitez ty₃t to þe wo₃e of tuly and tars

859and vnder fete on þe flet of fol₃ande sute

860þer he watz dispoyled wyth spechez of myerþe

861þe burn of his bruny and of his bry₃t wedez

862ryche robes ful rad renkkez hem bro₃ten

863for to charge and to chaunge and chose of þe best

864sone as he on hent and happed þerinne

865þat sete on hyn semly wyth saylande skyrtez

866þe ver by his uisage verayly hit semed

867welne₃ to vche haþel alle on hwes

868lowande and lufly alle his lymmez vnder

869þat a comloker kny₃t neuer kryst made

[bob]

870hem þo₃t

[wheel]

871wheþen in worlde he were

872hit semed as he my₃t

873be prynce withouten pere

874in felde þer felle men fy₃t

[Gawain glanced at the man who thus gave him good greeting, and thought him a mighty man that was master of the castle, a huge fellow for the nonce and of great age. Broad and bright was his beard, and of beaver hue, and strong and stiff was he in his stride and stalwart in shanks, and his face was fierce as fire, and of speech was he free, and well he seemed, forsooth, to our knight to hold landlordship of a free, good people. The lord of the castle led him to a clamber, and speedily commanded that a page should wait upon him loyally. And at his bidding servants enow were at hand, who straightway brought him to a bright room, where the bedding was noble, with curtains of clean silk, with bright gold hems and full curious and comely canopies and embroidered above with bright linen lawns, and the curtains ran on ropes with red gold rings. Tapestries of Tuly and Tars were hanging on the walls, and on the floors carpets of the same patterns. And then with merry speeches they took off his bryny and his gay clothing. And they brought him rich robes full readily, that he might choose the very best. And soon as he took them and was dressed therein, well did they become him. And in his flowing robes the knight seemed verily to each man there to be gay with beautiful colours. And his limbs under them were so lovely and shining that it seemed to them a comelier knight Christ never made

for sight.

'Whence was he on earth?'

It seemed as though he might

Be prince of peerless worth,

In field where fierce men fight!]

[stanza 37 (long)]

875a cheyer byfore þe chemne þer charcole brenned

876watz grayþed for sir gawan grayþely with cloþez

877whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes þa koynt wer boþe

878and þenne a mere mantyle watz on þat mon cast

879of a broun bleeaunt enbrauded ful ryche

880and fayre furred wythinne with fellez of þe best

881alle of ermyn in erde his hode of þe same

882and he sete in þat settel semlych ryche

883and achaufed hym cefly and þenne his cher mended

884sone watz telded vp a tapit on trestez ful fayre

885clad wyth a clene cloþe þat cler quyt schewed

886sanap and salure and syluerin sponez

[fol. 103r]

887þe wy₃e wesche at his wylle and went to his mete

888seggez hym serued semly inno₃e

889wyth sere sewes and sete sesounde of þe best

890double felde as hit fallez and fele kyn fischez

891summe baken in bred summe brad on þe gledez

892summe soþen summe in sewe sauered with spyces

893and ay sawes so sle₃ez þat þe segge lyked

894þe freke calde hit a fest ful frely and ofte

895ful hendely quen alle þe haþeles rehayted hym at onez

[bob]

896as hende

[wheel]

897þis penaunce now ₃e take

898and eft hit schal amende

899þat mon much merþe con make

900for wyn in his hed þat wende

[A chair richly embroidered, together with quaint cushions and hassocks, was placed for Sir Gawain before the chimney where a fire of charcoal was burning. And then a well-made mantle was cast upon his shoulders, and it was of brown linen and embroidered full richly and fair furred within with the finest of skins and with ermine lining, and the hood also. And thus richly arrayed, he sat in that chair, and as he warmed himself, speedily his good cheer quite returned to him. And then they set up a table on fair trestles, and they covered it with a snow-white cloth and set thereon sanat and salt-cellars and silver spoons. Then the knight gladly washed himself and went to his meat. And serving-men served him in seemly fashion, with several sorts of stews and sweets, with seasonings of the best, double fold, as was fitting, and many kinds of fish, some baked with bread, and some roasted on coals, some sodden, some stewed, and savoured with spices and, withal, with clever speeches that the knight liked well. A full noble feasting the man called it when those Athelings cheered him

as friends.

'This penance now you take,

And you shall make amends.'

That knight much mirth 'gan

For wine that to head wends.]

[stanza 38 (long)]

901þenne watz spyed and spured vpon spare wyse

902bi preue poyntez of þat prynce put to hymseluen

903þat he beknew cortaysly of þe court þat he were

904þat aþel arþure þe hende haldez hym one

905þat is þe ryche ryal kyng of þe rounde table

906and hit watz Wawen hymself þat in þat won syttez

907comen to þat krystmasse as case hym þen lymped

908when þe lorde hade lerned þat he þe leude hade

909loude la₃ed he þerat so lef hit hym þo₃t

910and alle þe men in þat mote maden much joye

911to apere in his presense prestly þat tyme

912þat alle prys and prowes and pured þewes

913apendes to hys persoun and praysed is euer

914byfore alle men vpon molde his mensk is þe most

915vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere

916now schal we semlych se sle₃tez of þewez

917and þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble

918wich spede is in speche vnspurd may we lerne

919syn we haf fonged þat fyne fader of nurture

920god hatz geuen vus his grace godly for soþe

921þat such a gest as gawan grauntez vus to haue

922when burnez blyþe of his burþe schal sitte

[bob]

923and synge

[wheel]

924in menyng of manerez mere

[fol. 103]

925þis burne now schal vus bryng

926I hope þat may hym here

927schal lerne of luf talkyng

[Then did they, in spare fashion and privately, put questions to that princely man, and he answered them courteously that he was a knight of the court of King Arthur, that rich and royal King of the Round Table, and that to him alone he owed fealty, and that it was Sir Gawain himself sitting there, and that he was come to keep that Christmas with them as it had happened. When the lord of the castle heard that he had him in his power at last, loud laughed he thereat, so fief was it to him, and all the men in that mote made much joy to be in his presence at that very time, since prowess and purest manners were ever to be found in his person, more than in all other men upon earth, and most honourable was he. Each man softly said to his fellow, 'Now shall we, as is fitting, see modes and manners and noble talking without a blemish, and what is fair in speech unsought we shall learn, since we have here this fine father of nurture. God has given us His goodly grace forsooth, in that He granteth us to have so goodly a guest as Sir Gawain, when merry men of his breeding

shall sing.

Good manners now, I trow,

This knight shall be bringing;

Who heareth him enow

Shall learn of love talking.']

[stanza 39 (long)]

928bi þat þe diner watz done and þe dere vp

929hit watz ne₃ at þe niy₃t ne₃ed þe tyme

930claplaynez to þe chapeles chosen þe gate

931rungen ful rychely ry₃t as þay schulden

932to þe hersum euensong of þe hy₃e tyde

933þe lorde loutes þerto and þe lady als

934into a comly closet coyntly ho entrez

935gawan glydez ful gay and gos þeder sone

936þe lorde laches hym by þe lappe and ledez hym to sytte

937and couþly hym knowez and callez hym his nome

938and sayde he watz þe welcomest wy₃e of þe worlde

939and he hym þonkked þroly and ayþer halched oþer

940and seten soberly samen þe seruise quyle

941þenne lyst þe lady to loke on þe kny₃t

942þenne com ho of hir closet with mony cler burdez

943ho watz þe fayrest in felle of flesche and of lyre

944and of compas and colour and costes of alle oþer

945and wener þen wenore as þe wy₃e þo₃t

946he ches þur₃ þe chaunsel to cheryche þat hende

947an oþer lady hir lad bi þe lyft honde

948þat watz alder þen ho an auncian hit semed

949and he₃ly honowred with haþelez aboute

950bot vnlyke on to loke þo ladyes were

951for if þe ₃onge watz ₃ep ₃ol₃e watz þat oþer

952riche red on þat on rayled ayquere

953rugh ronkled chekez þat oþer on rolled

954kerchofes of þat on wyth mony cler perlez

955hir brest and hir bry₃t þrote bare displayed

956schon schyrer þen snawe þat scheder on hillez

957þat oþer wyth a gorger watz gered ouer þe swyre

958chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk quyte vayles

959hir frount folden in sylk enfoubled ayquere

960toret and treleted with tryflez aboute

[fol. 104r]

961þat no₃t watz bare of þat burde bot þe blake bro₃es

962þe tweyne y₃en and þe nase þe naked lyppez

963and þose were soure to se and sellyly blered

964a mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle

[bob]

965for gode

[wheel]

966hir body watz schort and þik

967hir buttokez bay and brode

968more lykkerwys on to lyk

969watz þat scho hade on lode

[When dinner was done, this noble man arose, and as night time was nearing, the chaplains were making their way to the chapel. Bells rang richly, as was right, to the proper evensong of that high feast. The lord and his lady also came down to the chapel, and the lady entered quaintly into a comely closet.' Gawain glided in gaily full soon. The lord of the castle caught hold of the hem of his robe, and led him to a seat, and called him by name, and said he was of all men in the world the most welcome, and gave him great thanks, and they embraced each other, and all the time of the service they sat side by side. Then did the lady list to look on the knight. Then came she from her closet with many fair maidens. Now her skin, and eke her flesh and her countenance, were the fairest of all, as she was also in form and colour and in all other virtues, and she was fairer even than Guinevere, as it seemed to Sir Gawain. And as he looked down the chancel upon that sweet lady he saw that another lady led her by the left hand, older than she was, an ancient as it seemed and high in honour, and nobles were about her. Very unlike to look upon were those two ladies, for if the young one was fair, yellow was that other one; rose red was the young one, rose red all over, whilst the other had rough and rolling wrinkled cheeks. The young one had kerchiefs with many fair pearls displayed upon her breast and her bright throat, shining sheenier than snow that falls on the hilltops; the other had a wrap on her neck folded over her black chin in milk-white veils; her forehead was folded in silks, lumped up and adorned with trifling jewels. Nothing was bare of that lady but her black eyebrows, her two eyes, her nose, and naked lips. And a sour sight were they to see, and strangely bleared. Men might say that in her a worshipful ancient lady

was found.

Her body was short and thick,

Her buttocks broad and round;

A comelier one to pick

Was the lady she led on ground.]

[stanza 40 (long)]

970when gawayn gly₃t on þat gay þat graciously loked

971wyth leue la₃t of þe lorde he went hem a₃aynes

972þe alder he haylses heldande ful lowe

973þe loueloker he lappez a lyttel in armez

974he kysses hir comlyly and kny₃tly he melez

975þay kallen hym of aquoyntaunce and he hit quyk askez

976to be her seruant sothly if hemself lyked

977þay tan hym bytwene hem wyth talkyng hym leden

978to chambre to chemne and chefly þay asken

979spycez þat vnsparely men speded hom to bryng

980and þe wynnelych wyne þerwith vche tyme

981þe lorde luflych aloft lepez ful ofte

982mynned merthe to be made vpon mony syþez

983hent he₃ly of his hode and on a spere henged

984and wayned hom to wynne þe worchip þerof

985þat most myrþe my₃t meue þat crystenmas whyle

986and I schal fonde bi my fayth to fylter wyth þe best

987er me wont þe wedez with help of my frendez

988þus wyth la₃ande lotez þe lorde hit tayt makez

989for to glade sir gawayn with gomnez in halle

[bob]

990þat ny₃t

[wheel]

991til þat hit watz tyme

992þe kyng comaundet ly₃t

993sir gawen his leue con nyme

994and to his bed hym di₃t

[Now when Gawain glanced towards that gay lady, who looked so graciously, he took leave of the lord and went towards the ladies. He hailed the ancient one, and inclined himself full humbly. The lovelier of the two he took a little in his arms and kissed her in comely fashion, and addressed her courteously. They returned his greeting, and right soon he asked that he might be her servant. They took him between them, and talking together they led him to his chamber and towards the chimney corner, and they straightway asked for spices, which the pages brought full speedily, and winsome wine they brought with the spices. And the lord of the castle leapt aloft full often, for he intended that they should make mirth. He took off his hood right speedily, and hung it on a spear, and bade them win the worship thereof and so make the most mirth that Christmas tide. 'And I shall try, by my faith, to contend with the best ere I come short of it by help of my friends.' Thus doth that lord make sport with laughing words, that he might gladden Sir Gawain with games in the hall

that night,

Till that it was tide,

That the king commanded light,

Sir Gawain no more doth bide,

But for bed him doth dight.]

[stanza 41 (long)]

995on þe morne as vch mon mynez þat tyme

996þat dry₃tyn for oure destyne to de₃e watz borne

997wele waxez in vche a won in worlde for his sake

998so did hit þere on þat day þur₃ dayntes mony

[fol. 104]

999boþe at mes and at mele messes ful quaynt

1000derf men vpon dece drest of þe best

1001þe olde auncian wyf he₃est ho syttez

1002þe lorde lufly her by lent as I trowe

1003gawan and þe gay burde togeder þay seten

1004euen inmyddez as þe messe metely come

1005and syþen þur₃ al þe sale as hem best semed

1006bi vche grome at his degre grayþely watz serued

1007þer watz mete þer watz myrþe þer watz much ioye

1008þat for to telle þerof hit me tene were

1009and to poynte hit ₃et I pyned me parauenture

1010bot ₃et I wot þat wawen and þe wale burde

1011such comfort of her compaynye ca₃ten togeder

1012þur₃ her dere dalyaunce of her derne wordez

1013wyth clene cortays carp closed fro fylþe

1014and hor play watz passande vche prynce gomen

[bob]

1015in vayres

[wheel]

1016trumpez and nakerys

1017much pypyng þer repayres

1018vche mon tented hys

1019and þay two tented þayres

[In the morrow morn, when all men call to mind how the Lord was born to die for our destiny, joy waxed everywhere in the world for Christ's dear sake. So was it in that castle. And doughty men on the aïs served many a dainty mess at meal times. And the ancient lady sat in the highest seat on the daïs. And the lovely lord sat by her side, as I trow. Gawain and the gay lady sat together in the midst whilst the messes were served, and throughout all the hall the folk were served, each according to his rank. There was meat and mirth, and so much joy that to tell thereof were much trouble to me, yet peradventure I may take the trouble. For I know that Gawain and the gay lady had great comfort of each other's company for the dear dalliance of their whispered words, and with clean and courteous talk, free from filth. And their playing surpassed of all princes

the game.

And trumpets do blare,

And much sounding declaim;

Each of his own took care,

And they two did the same.]

[stanza 42 (long)]

1020much dut watz þer dryuen þat day and þat oþer

1021and þe þryd as þro þronge in þerafter

1022þe ioye of sayn jonez day watz gentyle to here

1023and watz þe last of þe layk leudez þer þo₃ten

1024þer wer gestes to go vpon þe gray morne

1025forþy wonderly þay woke and þe wyn dronken

1026daunsed ful dre₃ly wyth dere carolez

1027at þe last when hit watz late þay lachen her leue

1028vchon to wende on his way þat watz wy₃e stronge

1029gawan gef hym god day þe godmon hym lachchez

1030ledes hym to his awen chambre þe hymne bysyde

1031and þere he dra₃ez hym on dry₃e and derely hym þonkkez

1032of þe wynne worschip and he hym wayued hade

1033as to honour his hous on þat hy₃e tyde

1034and enbelyse his bur₃ with his bele chere

1035iwysse sir quyl I leue me worþez þe better

[fol. 105r]

1036þat gawayn hatz ben my gest at goddez awen fest

1037grant nerci sir quoþ gawayn in god fayth hit is yowrez

1038al þe honour is your awen þe he₃e kyng yow ₃elde

1039and I am wy₃e at your wylle to worch youre hest

1040as I am halden þerto in hy₃e and in lo₃e

[bob]

1041bi ri₃t

[wheel]

1042þe lorde fast can hym payne

1043to holde lenger þe kny₃t

1044to hym answrez gawayn

1045bi non way þat he my₃t

[And there were many blows struck for two days, and the third day came quickly enow. And gentle was the joymaking of St. John's Day, which was to be the last day of the games, the folk were thinking. On the grey morning a tournament was to be held. And, wondering, they awoke and drank wine, and carolling they danced full doughtily. And at length, when it was late in the day, they took their leave, each strong man to wend on his way. Gawain bade them good day, and the good man of the house took him and led him to his own chamber beside the chimney-piece, and drawing him aside, thanked him dearly for the goodly worship he had given unto him in honouring his house as his guest and giving good cheer during the high feast. 'I trow,' said he, 'while I live, well worth will it be that Gawain was my guest at God's own feasting.' 'Grammercy,' said Sir Gawain, 'in good faith thine is the honour, not mine, and may the good God grant it unto thee. I am at thy service to do thy behest as it behoves me in high and low things

by right.'

The Lord was then full fain

Longer to hold that knight:

To him answered Gawain,

In no way that he might.]

[stanza 43 (long)]

1046then frayned þe freke ful fayre at himseluen

1047quat derue dede had hym dryuen at þat dere tyme

1048so kenly fro þe kyngez kourt to kayre al his one

1049er þe halidayez holly were halet out of toun

1050for soþe sir quoþ þe segge ₃e sayn bot þe trawþe

1051a he₃e ernde and a hasty me hade fro þo wonez

1052for I am sumned myselfe to sech to a place

1053I wot in worlde whederwarde to wende hit to fynde

1054I nolde bot if I hit negh my₃t on nw ₃eres morne

1055for alle þe londe inwyth logres so me oure lorde help

1056forþy sir þis enquest I require yow here

1057þat ₃e me telle with trawþe if euer ₃e tale herde

1058of þe grene chapel quere hit on grounde stondez

1059and of þe kny₃t þat hit kepes of colour of grene

1060þer watz stabled bi statut a steuen vus bytwene

1061to mete þat mon at þat mere ₃if I my₃t last

1062and of þat ilk nw ₃ere bot neked now wontez

1063and I wolde loke on þat lede if god me let wolde

1064gladloker bi goddez sun þen any god welde

1065forþi iwysse bi ₃owre wylle wende me bihoues

1066naf I now to busy bot bare þre dayez

1067and me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde

1068þenne la₃ande quoþ þe lorde now leng þe byhoues

1069for I schal teche yow to þa terme bi þe tymez ende

1070þe grene chapayle vpon grounde greue yow no more

1071bot ₃e schal be in yowre bed burne at þyn ese

1072quyle forth dayez and ferk on þe fyrst of þe ₃ere

[fol. 105]

1073and cum to þat merk at mydmorn to make quat yow likez

[bob]

1074in spenne

[wheel]

1075dowellez whyle new ₃eres daye

1076and rys and raykez þenne

1077mon schal yow sette in waye

1078hit is not two myle henne

[Then sought the lord of the castle to know full surely what doughty deed he had in hand at that dear season of the year, that he came forth so keenly to journey all alone from the court of the great King Arthur before the holly of Christmas was taken down in the city. ' Forsooth,' said the man, 'thou sayest well. A high and hasty errand it was that had me forth from the court. I am summoned forth to seek out a certain place, and I know not whither to wend to find it. And for all the land of Logres, so help me our Lord, I would not fail to find it by New Year's morning. Therefore I make this request of thee here that thou wilt truly tell me if ever thou hast heard tell where standeth the Green Chapel and the Green Knight that doth keep it. By statute there was made a covenant between us that if I might be still in the land of the living, I should meet him on that day at the Green Chapel. And it now wanteth but a little of that New Year, and I would more fain and gladlier look upon that man if God will than possess any good in all the world. By your leave, therefore, it behaves me to wend thither, as I have now for the business but barely three days. As fain would I fall dead as fail of my errand.' Then the lord laughing said, 'It behoves thee rather to linger here. For by the end of the time, I will show thee the way. Grieve thyself no more about the Green Chapel. For at least four days thou shalt be at ease in thy bedchamber. Then on the first of the New Year thou shalt ride forth towards that chapel in the morning and do as thou wilt.

Meanwhile,

Rest here till New Year's day,

Then rise up without guile,

Men shall set thee in the way --

It is not hence two mile.']

[stanza 44 (long)]

1079þenne watz gawan ful glad and gomenly he la₃ed

1080now I þonk yow þryuandely þur₃ alle oþer þynge

1081now acheued is my chaunce I schal at your wylle

1082dowelle and ellez do quat ₃e demen

1083þenne sesed hym þe syre and set hym bysyde

1084let þe ladiez be fette to lyke hem þe better

1085þer watz seme solace by hemself stille

1086þe lorde let for luf lotez so myry

1087as wy₃ þat wolde of his wyte ne wyst quat he my₃t

1088þenne he carped to þe kny₃t criande loude

1089₃e han demed to do þe dede þat I bidde

1090wyl ₃e halde þis hes here at þys onez

1091₃e sir for soþe sayd þe segge trwe

1092whyl I byde in ₃owre bor₃e be bayn to ₃owe hest

1093for ₃e haf trauayled quoþ þe tulk towen fro ferre

1094and syþen waked me wyth ₃e arn not wel waryst

1095nauþer of sostnaunce ne of slepe soþly I knowe

1096₃e schal lenge in your lofte and ly₃e in your ese

1097to morn quyle þe messequyle and to mete wende

1098when ₃e wyl wyth my wyf þat wyth yow schal sitte

1099and comfort yow with compayny til I to cort torne

[bob]

1100₃e lende

[wheel]

1101and I schal erly ryse

1102on huntyng wyl I wende

1103gauayn grantez alle þyse

1104hym heldande as þe hende

[Then was Gawain right glad, and in gamesome mood he laughed and said, 'Now for this above all else I thank thee right heartily. Achieved will be my chance. I will dwell here meanwhile as thou wilt, and do as thou dost deem well.' Then the lord took him and set him at his side, and caused the ladies to be brought, so that they might be better pleased, though they had seemly solace in each other. And for love the lord spake many merry words, as though he scarce knew what he would say. Then he cried aloud and spake to the knight, 'Thou hast promised to do what I shall tell thee. Wilt thou do this behest that I bid thee at this time?' 'Yea sir, forsooth will I,' said the true man. 'While I bide in thy castle I am bound by thy behests.' 'Thou hast come,' quoth the lord, 'from a far country, and hast passed much waiting time with me, and hast gone short of sustenance and of sleep. I know it, forsooth. Thou shalt linger in thy sleeping-chamber at tine ease to-morrow morn, during the time of the Mass; then shalt thou wend to thy meat with my wife, and shalt sit at her side and comfort thee with her company till I return to the courtyard of the castle

at the end.

For I shall early rise

And a-hunting I shall wend.'

Gawain takes his advice,

Bowing courtly to his friend.]

[stanza 45 (long)]

1105₃et firre quoþ þe freke a forwarde we make

1106quat soeuer I wynne in þe wod hit worþez to yourez

1107and quat chek so ₃e acheue chaunge me þerforne

1108swete swap we so sware with trawþe

1109queþer leude so lymp lere oþer better

1110bi god quoþ gawayn þe gode I grant þertylle

[fol. 106r]

1111and þat yow lyst for to layke lef hit me þynkes

1112who bryngez vus þis beuerage þis bargayn is maked

1113so sayde þe lorde of þat lede þay la₃ed vchone

1114þay dronken and daylyeden and dalten vnty₃tel

1115þise lordez and ladyez quyle þat hem lyked

1116and syþen with frenkysch fare and fele fayre lotez

1117þay stoden and stemed and stylly speken

1118kysten ful comlyly and ka₃ten her leue

1119with mony leude ful ly₃t and lemande torches

1120vche burne to his bed watz bro₃t at þe laste

[bob]

1121ful softe

[wheel]

1122to bed ₃et er þay ₃ede

1123recorded couenauntez ofte

1124þe olde lorde of þat leude

1125cowþe wel halde layk alofte

[`But further,' quoth that lord, 'we will make a covenant that what I win in the woodlands thine it shall be, and whatsoever fortune thou shalt achieve here shall be given by thee to me in exchange for my gift to thee. Swear soothly that we will make this exchange between us, whether hap be loss or gain to us.' 'By God,' quoth Sir Gawain, 'I grant thee thy word, and fief it is to me that thou dost list to make sport.' 'Let some one bring us wine,' said the lord of the castle, 'for now this bargain is made between us'; and they both of them laughed and drank deep, and the lords and the ladies held dalliance together until night came. Then with many strange doings and fair words not a few, they stood still and spake softly, and kissed in comely fashion, and took their leave. And each was brought to his bed attended by many a page and by flaming torches

full soft.

To bed, ere they go out,

They recorded covenant oft.

The old lord of that rout

Could well hold sport aloft.]

[fitt3: stanza 46 (long)]

1126ful erly bifore þe day þe folk vprysen

1127gestes þat go wolde hor gromez þay calden

1128and þay busken vp bilyue blonkkez to sadel

1129tyffen he takles trussen her males

1130richen hem þe rychest to ryde alle arayde

1131lepen vp ly₃tly lachen her brydeles

1132vche wy₃e on his way þer hym wel lyked

1133þe leue lorde of þe londe watz not þe last

1134arayed for þe rydyng with renkkez ful mony

1135ete a sop hastyly when he hade herde masse

1136with bugle to bent felde he buskez bylyue

1137by þat þat any dayly₃t lemed vpon erþe

1138he with his haþeles on hy₃e horsses weren

1139þenne þise cacheres þat couþe cowpled hor houndez

1140vnclosed þe kenel dore and calde hem þeroute

1141blwe bygly in buglez þre bare mote

1142braches bayed þerfore and breme noyse maked

1143and þay chastysed and charred on chasyng þat went

1144a hundreth of hunteres as I haf herde telle

[bob]

1145of þe best

[wheel]

1146to trystors vewters ₃od

1147couples huntes of kest

[fol. 106]

1148þer ros for blastez gode

1149gret rurd in þat forest

[Full early before daybreak the folk that would go a-hunting rose up and called their grooms, and stirred them up to saddle the horses, gear up the trappings, and pack the bags, and dress them in noble array for riding. Then they leaped up lightly and seized the bridles, and each went the way he liked best. And the beloved lord of that land was not the last to appear. He was arrayed for riding with many a rider. And having heard the Mass he ate a sop hastily, and full readily he went forth to the bent field with bugle, before any daylight shone on the world. The lord and his nobles were upon high-stepping steeds. Then the cunning huntsmen coupled the hounds, opened the kennel-doors, and called them out, and blew three bold, clear notes on the bugles. At this there was a baying and a very great barking, and the huntsmen turned and whipped up the dogs. A hundred hunters of the best, as I have heard

the word.

To the trystings the trackers go,

The hounds the hunters stirred;

Because of the blasts they blow

Great noise in the forest is heard.]

[stanza 47 (long)]

1150at þe fyrst quethe of þe quest quaked þe wylde

1151der drof in þe dale doted for drede

1152hi₃ed to þe hy₃e bot heterly þay were

1153restayed with þe stablye þat stoutly ascryed

1154þay let þe herttez haf þe gate with þe hy₃e hedes

1155þe breme bukkez also with hor brode paumez

1156for þe fre lorde hade defende in fermysoun tyme

1157þat þer schulde no mon meue to þe male dere

1158þe hindez were halden in with hay and war

1159þe does dryuen with gret dyn to þe depe sladez

1160þer my₃t mon se as þay slypte slentyng of arwes

1161at vche wende vnder wande wapped a flone

1162þat bigly bote on þe broun with ful brode hedez

1163what þay brayen and bleden bi bonkkez þay de₃en

1164and ay rachches in a res radly hem fol₃es

1165hunterez wyth hy₃e horne hasted hem after

1166wyth such a crakkande kry as klyffes haden brusten

1167what wylde so atwaped wy₃es þat schotten

1168watz al toraced and rent at þe resayt

1169bi þay were tened at þe hy₃e and taysed to þe wattrez

1170þe ledez were so lerned at þe lo₃e trysteres

1171and þe grehoundez so grete þat geten hem bylyue

1172and hem tofylched as fast as frekez my₃t loke

[bob]

1173þer ry₃t

[wheel]

1174þe lorde for blys abloy

1175ful oft con launce and ly₃t

1176and drof þat day wyth joy

1177thus to þe derk ny₃t

[The first cry of the quest the quarry trembled with fear. The deer were driven in the dale, doting for dread. Then they hastened to the high lands, but hotly they were stopped at the trystings, where was great shouting. Harts with their high heads were let pass, and the bold bucks with their broad antlers. For the noble lord had forbidden that in the close season any man should molest the male deer. The hinds, however, were held back with a Hi! and a cry, and the does with great din were harried to the deep valleys, and as they stumbled there was glancing of arrows, so that each that turned under the trees an arrow pierced him like the wind, and they boldly bit into the deer with full broad heads. So with braying and bleeding by the hillsides they died; and ever the hounds readily followed with a rush as the hunters on high horses hustled them forward with crashing cries, as though the very rocks had burst asunder. The deer that escaped the shooting of the shooters were all of them run down and pierced by the men on foot. They were harried at the high places and harassed at the water-ways, for the huntsmen were such old hands at the low trysting-places and the greyhounds so strong that got at them that they seized them as quickly as a man might glance

aside.

The glad lord shouts 'abloy!'

Full oft 'gan fall and ride,

And hunts that day with joy

Until the dark night tide.]

[stanza 48 (long)]

1178þus laykez þis lorde by lynde wodez euez

1179and gawayn þe god mon in gay bed lygez

1180lurkkez quyl þe dayly₃t lemed on þe wowes

1181vnder couertour ful clere cortyned aboute

1182and as in slomeryng he slode sle₃ly he herde

1183a littel dyn at his dor and derfly vpon

1184and he heuez vp his hed out of þe cloþes [fol. 107r]

1185a corner of þe cortyn he ca₃t vp a lyttel

1186and waytez warly þiderwarde quat hit be my₃t

1187hit watz þe ladi loflyest to beholde

1188þat dro₃ þe dor after hir ful dernly and stylle

1189and bo₃ed towarde þe bed and þe burne schamed

1190and layde hym doun lystyly and let as he slepte

1191and ho stepped stilly and stel to his bedde

1192kest vp þe cortyn and creped withinne

1193and set hir ful softly on þe bed syde

1194and lenged þere selly longe to loke quen he wakened

1195þe lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle

1196compast in his concience to quat þat cace my₃t

1197meue oþer amount to meruayle hym þo₃t

1198bot ₃et he sayde in hymself more semly hit were

1199to aspye wyth my spelle in space quat ho wolde

1200þen he wakenede and wroth and to hir warde torned

1201and vnlouked his y₃e lyddez and let as hym wondered

1202and sayned hym as bi his sa₃e þe sauer to worthe

[bob]

1203with hande

[wheel]

1204wyth chynne and cheke ful swete

1205boþe quit and red in blande

1206ful lufly con ho lete

1207wyth lyppez smal la₃ande

[Thus did the lord make sport by the borders of the lind wood whilst Gawain the good lay in bed at his ease until daylight fell athwart the walls. As he dozed there under full white canopies curtained about, he suddenly heard a slight noise at the door. He lifted up his head from under the clothes, and caught up a little the cover of the curtain, and looked warily thitherwards if he might find out what it was. And he saw the lady, the loveliest to behold, and she drew the door after her darkly and softly, and came towards the bed. Sir Gawain was covered with shame, and quickly laid himself down and made as though he were sleeping. And stepping softly, she stole to his bedside, cast up the curtain and stepped within it, and sat down on the side of the bed, and lingered there, wondrous long, watching for him to waken. The man lay hiding there a full long time, troubled in his conscience as to the meaning of this, for a marvel it seemed. Yet he said to himself, 'More fitting it would be to speak to her and find out what she would.' Then he started up and turned towards her, and slowly opened his eyelids and looked wonderingly upon her, and crossed himself for greater safety that he might speak

full true.

With chin and cheek full sweet,

Both white and red of hue,

Lovingly 'gan she greet,

Her small lips laughing too.]

[stanza 49 (long)]

1208god moroun sir gawayn sayde þat fayr lady

1209₃e ar a sleper vnsly₃e þat mon may slyde hider

1210now ar ₃e tan astyt bot true vus may schape

1211I schal bynde yow in your bedde þat be ₃e trayst

1212al la₃ande þe lady lanced þo bourdez

1213goud moroun gay quoþ gawayn þe blyþe

1214me schal worþe at þourr wille and þat me wel lykez

1215for I ₃elde me ₃ederly and ₃e₃e after grace

1216and þat is þe best he my dome for me byhouez nede

1217and þus he bourded a₃ayn with mony a blyþe la₃ter

1218bot wolde ₃e lady louely þen leue me grante

1219and deprece your prysoun and pray hym to ryse

1220I wolde bo₃e of þis bed and busk me better

1221I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth

[fol. 107]

1222nay for soþe beau sir sayd þat swete

1223₃e schal not rise of your bedde I rych yow better

1224I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als

1225and syþen karp wyth my kny₃t þat I ka₃t haue

1226for I wene wel iwysse sir Wowen ₃e are

1227þat alle þe worlde worchipez quere so ₃e ride

1228your honour your hendelayk is hendely praysed

1229with lordez wyth ladyes with alle þat lyf bere

1230and now ₃e ar here iwysse and we bot oure one

1231my lorde and his ledez ar on lenþe faren

1232oþer burnez in her bedde and my burdez als

1233þe dor drawen and dit with a derf haspe

1234and syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lykez

1235I schal ware my whyle wel quyl hit lastez

[bob]

1236with tale

[wheel]

1237₃e ar welcum to my cors

1238yowre awen won to wale

1239me behouez of fyne force

1240your seruaunt be and schale

[`Good morrow, Sir Gawain,' said the lady fair, 'full carelessly thou sleepest that one can thus creep into thy chamber. Now art thou taken unawares, and I shall bind thee in thy bed, of that be thou well assured.' Thus laughingly the lady uttered forth her jestings. 'And,' quoth Sir Gawain, 'Good morrow, gay lady; it will be well pleasing to me to be at thy service, and I yield myself thereto, and desire thy favour as must needs be.' Thus did he dally with her with full glad laughter. 'But wouldst thou, lovely lady, be so good as grant me leave to rise and thus to set free thy captive? for I would fain rise from this bed and put on my robes, so should I talk with thee with greater comfort.' 'Nay, for sooth, good sir,' said that sweet one.' Thou shalt not rise from thy bed. I will give thee better counsel. I will cover thee up in thy bed and hold converse with my knight, whom I have taken prisoner, for I wis that thou art Sir Gawain, whom all the world doth worship wheresoever thou dost ride forth. Thy worth and thy courtesy are praised alike by lords and ladies and by all living. And now thou art here with me alone. My lord and his people are gone far away, and the other men are in bed asleep, and also my maids. The door is fast closed and secured by a strong bolt. So, since I have in this castle the man whom all love, no time will I be losing while it doth last,

In address.

Of me have thy will,

For thou shalt me possess.

Thy servant I am still,

As is fitting, I confess.']

[stanza 50 (long)]

1241in god fayth quoþ gawayn gayn hit me þynkkez

1242þa₃ I be not now he þat ₃e of speken

1243to reche to such reuerence as ₃e reherce here

1244I am wy₃e vnworþy I wot wel myseluen

1245bi god I were glad and yow god þo₃t

1246at sa₃e oþer at seruyce þat I sette my₃t

1247to þe plesaunce of your prys hit were a pure ioye

1248in god fayth sir gawayn quoþ þe gay lady

1249þe prys and þe prowes þat plesez al oþer

1250if I hit lakked oþer set at ly₃t hit were littel daynte

1251bot hit ar ladyes inno₃e þat leuer wer nowþe

1252haf þe hende in hor holde as I þe habbe here

1253to daly with derely your daynte wordez

1254keuer hem comfort and colen her carez

1255þen much of þe garysoun oþer golde þat þat þay hauen

1256bot I loyue þat ilk lorde þat þe lyfte haldez

1257I haf hit holly in my honde þat al desyres

[bob]

1258þur₃e grace

[wheel]

1259scho made hym so gret chere

[fol. 108r]

1260þat watz so fayr of face

1261þe kny₃t with speches skere

1262aswared to vche a cace

[`In good faith,' quoth Gawain, 'I think it would be gain for me were I not he of whom thou speakest, for to attain such worship as thou dost offer me herewith I wot well I am unworthy. By God, I should be glad, if it seemed good unto thee, to do thee service or pleasaunce in word or deed, and a pure joy it would be unto me.' 'By my faith, Sir Gawain,' quoth the gay lady, 'if I held lightly the price and the prowess that pleaseth all others, it would be but a little dainty. There are ladies enow that would be liefer to hold thee happily in their power as I have thee, and in dear dalliance to hear thee speak dainty words and thereby gain comfort and rid them of care, than all the guerdon or gold that they possess. And as I love the Lord who holdeth up heaven aloft, I have in my hands that which all desire

through grace.'

She made him so great cheer,

That was so fair of face,

With speeches pure, that peer

Answered in each case.]

[stanza 51 (long)]

1263madame quoþ þe myry mon mary yow ₃elde

1264for I haf founden in god fayth yowre fraunchis nobele

1265and oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dedez

1266bot þe daynte þat þay delen for my disert nysen

1267hit is þe worchyp of yourself þat no₃t bot wel connez

1268bi mary quoþ þe menskful me þynk hit an oþer

1269for were I worth al þe wone of wymmen alyue

1270and al þe wele of þe worlde were in my honde

1271and I schulde chepen and chose to cheue me a lorde

1272for þe costes þat I haf knowen vpon þe kny₃t here

1273of bewte and debonerte and blyþe semblaunt

1274and þat I haf er herkkened and halde hit here trwee

1275þer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen

1276iwysse worþy quoþ þe wy₃e ₃e haf waled wel better

1277bot I am proude of þe prys þat ₃e put on me

1278and soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow

1279and yowre kny₃t I becom and kryst yow for₃elde

1280þus þay meled of muchquat til mydmorn paste

1281and ay þe lady let lyk a hym loued mych

1282þe freke ferde with defence and feted ful fayre

1283þa₃ I were burde bry₃test þe burde in mynde hade

1284þe lasse luf in his lode for lur þat he so₃t

[bob]

1285boute hone

[wheel]

1286þe dunte þat sclulde hym deue

1287and nedez hit most be done

1288þe lady þenn spek of leue

1289he granted hir ful sone

[`Madam,' quoth the merry man, ' may Mary bless thee! I have found thee, in good faith, noble and frank. Full many others did me courtesy, and the dainty that they dealt me was foolishness; but thy worship is that of one who knoweth nothing but good.' 'By Mary,' quoth the lady, 'I think otherwise, for were I worth all the wealth of women on earth, and all the wealth of the world were in my hand, were I to bargain and choose and take captive a lord, then no fellow on earth before thee would I choose, because of thy courtesy and beauty and good manners, and thy blitheness of mien, and because of what I have heard from thee and hold for the truth.' 'Well I wot,' quoth Gawain, 'thou hast chosen a better man than I am, yet am I proud of the price thou puttest upon me, and soberly as thy servant I hold thee as my sovereign, and thy knight I become, and may Christ requite thee.' Thus did they talk of many things till the midnoon was past. The lady seemed to be pleased therewith, and to love him. And Sir Gawain bore himself bravely. Yet the knight had in mind that though she were the fairest of ladies, there must be no love-making for him because of the loss that he was seeking

eftsoon.

The blow he must abide,

And it must needs be done;

The lady turned aside;

He grants her leave full soon.]

[stanza 52 (long)]

1290þenne ho gef hym god day and wyth a glent la₃ed

1291and as ho stod ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor wordez

1292now he þat spedez vche spech þis disport ₃elde yow

1293bot þat ₃e be gawan hit gotz in mynde

1294querfore quoþ þe freke and freschly he askez

1295ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes

1296bot þe burde hym blessed and bi þis skyl sayde

[fol. 108]

1297so god as gawayn gaynly is halden

1298and cortaysye is closed so clene in hymseluen

1299couth not ly₃tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady

1300bot he had craued a cosse bi his courtaysye

1301bi sum towch of summe tryfle at sum talez ende

1302þen quoþ wowen iwysse worþe as yow lykez

1303I schal kysse at your comaundement as a kny₃t fallez

1304and fire lest he displese yow fo plede hit no more

1305ho comes nerre with þat and cachez hym in armez

1306loutez luflych adoun and þe leude kyssez

1307þay comly bykennen to kryst ayþer oþer

1308ho dos hir forth at þe dore withouten dyn more

1309and he ryches hym to ryse and rapes hym sone

1310clepes to his chamberlayn choses his wede

1311bo₃ez forth quen he watz boun blyþely to masse

1312and þenne he meued to his mete þat menskly hym keped

1313and made myry al day til þe mone rysed

[bob]

1314with game

[wheel]

1315with neuer freke fayrer fonge

1316bitwene two so dyngne dame

1317þe alder and þe ₃onge

1318much solace set þay same

[Then she gave him good-day with a laughing glance, and standing there she caused him to wonder at the strength of her words. 'Now, he that speedeth all speech, yield us this sport, but I have it in my mind that thou art not Sir Gawain.' 'Wherefore?' quoth Sir Gawain, and afresh he asked her questions, fearing lest he had failed in his bearing and manners. But the lady blessed him, and gave her reason. 'Since Gawain is fitly held to be so gallant and courteous, he could not so long have lingered lightly with a lady without craving a kiss for courtesy's sake and some little trifle at the end of his dalliance.' Then said Gawain, 'Let it be as thou dost wish. I will kiss if thou dost command, as befits a knight who fears to displease thee, so let there be an end to thy pleading.' With that she came near to him and caught him in her arms and bent down gracefully and kissed the knight, and they commended each other to Christ. Then she went out at the door without noise. Sir Gawain rose up readily, and making haste, called to his chamberlain and chose his dresses; and as soon as he was dressed went forth gaily to Mass, and then to meat, which had been courteously kept for him, and made merry till the moon rose,

all day.

No man did e'er make jest

With ladies so worthy and gay;

Much pleasure they confessed

They had of him that day.]

[stanza 53 (long)]

1319and ay þe lorde of þe londe is lent on his gamnez

1320to hunt in holtez and heþe at hyndez barayne

1321such a sowme he þer slowe bi þat þe sunne heldet

1322of dos and of oþer dere to deme were wonder

1323þenne fersly þay flokked in folk at þe laste

1324and quykly of þe quelled dere a querre þay maked

1325þe best bo₃ed þerto with burnez innoghe

1326gedered þe grattest of gres þat þer were

1327and didden hem derely vndo as þe dede askez

1328serched hem at þe asay summe þat þer were

1329two fyngeres þay fonde of þe fowlest of alle

1330syþen þay slyt þe slot sesed þe erber

1331schaued wyth a scharp knyf and þe schyre knitten

1332syþen rytte þay þe foure lymmes and rent of þe hyde

1333þen brek þay þe bale þe balez out token

[fol. 109r]

1334lystily for laucyng and lere of þe knot

1335þay gryped to þe gargulun and grayþely departed

1336þe wesaunt fro þe wynt hole and walt out þe guttez

1337þen scher þay out þe schulderez with her scharp knyuez

1338haled hem by a lyttel hole to haue hole sydes

1339siþen britned þay þe brest and brayden hit in twynne

1340and eft at þe gargulun bigynez on þenne

1341ryuez hit vp radly ry₃t to þe by₃t

1342voydez out þe avanters and verayly þerafter

1343alle þe rymez by þe rybbez radly þay lance

1344fo ryde þay of by resoun bi þe rygge bonez

1345euenden to þe haunche þat henged alle samen

1346and heuen hit vp al hole and hwen hit of þere

1347and þat þay neme for þe noumbles bi nome as I trowe

[bob]

1348bi kynde

[wheel]

1349bi þe by₃t al of þe þy₃es

1350þe lappez þay lance bihynde

1351to hewe hit in two þay hy₃es

1352bi þe bakbon to vnbynde

[And ever the lord of the land was busy with his sporting, hunting in bolt and heath after the barren hinds, and by the setting of the sun there had been such a slaughter of does and of deer as was a wonder to behold. Then at last quickly flocked the folk together and fiercely made a quarry of the dead deer. And the noblest set to work with men enough; and, as is the custom, they cut up the quarry, and some of them burst open the breast, cutting the jointures with a sharp knife. Then they rent the limbs and the hide and took out the bowels, having lustily lanced it, dividing it deftly, and with their sharp knives sheared off the shoulders, haling them out by a little hole that the whole sides might be preserved. Then they broke the breast into two halves, and right quickly cut up the nombles, and it was riven right up to the forks, and they readily lanced all the rib membranes and freed them from the backbone, all evenly to the haunch, and heaved up the part that is called the nombles

by kind.

By the fork of the thighs,

The laps they lance behind;

To hew it in two devise,

By the backbone to unbind.]

[stanza 54 (long)]

1353boþe þe hede and þe hals þay hwen of þenne

1354and syþen sunder þay þe sydez swyft fro þe chyne

1355and þe corbeles fee þay kest in a greue

1356þenn þurled þay ayþer þik side þur₃ bi þe rybbe

1357and henged þenne aþer bi ho₃ez of þe fourchez

1358vche freke for his fee as fallez for to haue

1359vpon a felle of þe fayre best fede þay þayr houndes

1360wyth þe lyuer and þe ly₃tez þe leþer of þe paunchez

1361and bred baþed in blod blende þeramongez

1362baldely þay blw prys bayed þayr rachchez

1363syþen fonge þay her flesche folden to home

1364strakande ful stoutly mony stif motez

1365bi þat þe dayly₃t watz done þe douthe watz al wonen

1366into þe comly castel þer þe kny₃t bidez

[bob]

1367ful stille

[wheel]

1368wyth blys and bry₃t fyr bette

1369þe lorde is comen þertylle

1370when gawayn wyth hym mette

1371þer watz bot wele at wylle

[Then they hacked off both head and neck, and severed deftly the sides from the chine, and flung the fee of the crows into a grove hard by. Then they pierced both sides through at the ribs, and hung them by the houghs of the haunches. And each man took his share that fell to him, and they fed the hounds on the skins, and with the liver and the lights and the leathern paunches, with bread dipped in blood. Boldly they blew the horns, and the hounds bayed. Then having packed up the flesh they went homewards, blowing full strongly many bugle notes, so that by the time daylight had faded, home came the doughty men, to the comely castle where Sir Gawain was biding,

full still.

Brightly the fire doth burn.

He greeteth with a will

The lord at his return;

With joy each one did thrill.]

[fol. 109v: stanza 55 (long)]

1372thenne comaunded þe lorde in þat sale to samen alle þe meny

1373boþe þe ladyes on loghe to ly₃t with her burdes

1374bifore alle þe folk on þe flette frekez he beddez

1375verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne

1376and al godly in gomen gaway he called

1377techez hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes

1378schewez hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes

1379how payez yow þis play haf I prys wonnen

1380haue I þryuandely þonk þur₃ my craft serued

1381₃e iwysse quoþ þat oþer wy₃e here is wayth fayrest

1382þat I sey þis seuen ₃ere in sesoun of wynter

1383and al I gif yow gawayn quoþ þe gome þenne

1384for by acorde of couenaunt ₃e craue hit as your awen

1385þis is soth quoþ þe segge I say yow þat ilke

1386and I haf worthyly þis wonez wythinne

1387iwysse with as god wylle hit worþez to ₃ourez

1388he hasppez his fayre hals his armez wythinne

1389and kysses hym as comlyly as ho couþe awyse

1390tas yow þere my cheuicaunce I cheued no more

1391I wowche hit saf fynly þa₃ feler hit were

1392hit is god quoþ þe godmon grant mercy þerfore

1393hit may be such hit is þe better and ₃e me breue wolde

1394where ₃e wan þis ilk wele bi wytte of horseleun

1395þat watz not forward quoþ he frayst me no more

1396for ₃e haf tan þat yow tydez trawe ₃e non oþer

[bob]

1397₃e mowe

[wheel]

1398þay la₃ed and made hem blyþe

1399wyth lotez þat were to lowe

1400to soper þay ₃ede asswyþe

1401wyth dayntes nwe innowe

[Then the lord of the castle commanded the household to be marshalled, and the ladies to descend with their maidens, and the men in the hall to bring the spoils of the chase and spread them out before them. And Gawain, who was goodly in games, he called and showed him the tails of full fierce beasts, and the shining grease shorn from the ribs. 'How pay you this sporting?' quoth he, 'have I won the prize? Have I deserved hearty thanks because of my craft in hunting?' 'Yea, I trow,' cried Sir Gawain; 'here is the fairest venison I have seen for seven winters.' 'All this I give to thee, Sir Gawain,' quoth that other; 'according to our covenant it is thine own.' 'That is soothly said,' quoth Gawain, 'and that which I have won within this castle, I trow it is thine with my good will.' Then he clasps the fair neck of the lord in his arms and kisses him in comely fashion, 'Take thou thus what I have achieved; there is nothing else, or I would vouchsafe it to thee though it had been much greater.' 'Good it is,' said the good man, 'I say thee grammercy therefore. Now tell me boldly how thou didst win this wealth -- was it by thine own wit?' 'Nay,' quoth Gawain, 'that was not in our covenant; try me no further. I have given thee that which betides thee. Thou shouldst ask no more,

I trow.'

They laugh and blithely talk

With words soft and low,

Soon to supper they walk,

To dainties new enow.]

[stanza 56 (long)]

1402and syþen by þe chymne in chamber þay seten

1403wy₃ez þe walle wyn we₃ed to hem oft

1404and efte in her bourdyng þay bayþen in þe morn

1405to fylle þe same forwardez þat þay byfore maden

1406þat chaunce so bytydez hor cheuysaunce to chaunge

1407what nwez so þay nome at na₃t quen þay metten

1408þay acorded of þe couenauntez byfore þe court alle [fol. 110r]

1409þe beuerage watz bro₃t forth in bourde at þat tyme

1410þenne þay louelych le₃ten leue at þe last

1411vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue

1412bi þat þe coke hade crowez and cakled bot þryse

1413þe lorde watz lopen of his bedde þe leudez vchone

1414so þat þe mete and þe masse watz metely delyuered

1415þe douthe dressed to þe wod er any day sprenged

[bob]

1416to chace

[wheel]

1417he₃ with hunte and hornez

1418þur₃ playnez þay passe in space

1419vncoupled among þo þornez

1420rachez þat ran on race

[After supper they sat in the chimney corner, and oft were borne to them the costliest of wines, and often in their talking they agreed that on the morrow there should be the same covenant between them as before -- that whatever new chances betided them they would exchange them when they met in the evening. And they agreed to the covenant in the presence of all the household. And they drank together, pledging troth with many a good jest, and at the last took leave of each other lovingly. Each knight betook himself to his couch. Before the cackling cock had crowed three times, the lord leapt from his bed, and all the people who would go a-hunting. They went to Mass and then to meat, after which before day had dawned, they tried them to the woodlands

to the chase.

With high hunt and horns

They pass the plain apace,

Uncoupled among the thorns

The hounds did race.]

[stanza 57 (long)]

1421sone þay calle of a quest in a ker syde

1422þe hunt rehayted þe houndez þat hit fyrst mynged

1423wylde wordez hym warp wyth a wrast noyce

1424þe howndez þat hit herde hastid þider swyþe

1425and fellen as fast to þe fuyt fourty at ones

1426þenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachchez

1427ros þat þe rocherez rungen aboute

1428hunterez hem hardened with horne and wyth muthe

1429þen al in a semble sweyed togeder

1430bitwene a flosche in þat fryth and a foo cragge

1431in a knot bi a clyffe at þe kerre syde

1432þer as þe rogh rocher vnrydely watz fallen

1433þay ferden to þe fyndyng and frekez hem after

1434þay vmbekesten þe knarre and þe knot boþe

1435wy₃ez whyl þay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were

1436þe best þat þer breued watz wyth þe blodhoundez

1437þenne þay beten on þe buskez and bede hym vpryse

1438and he vnsoundyly out so₃t seggez ouerþwert

1439on þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere

1440long sythen for þe sounder þat wi₃t for olde

1441for he watz bor alþer grattest

1442ful grymme quen he gronyed þenne greued mony

1443for þre at þe fyrst þrast he þry₃t to þe erþe

1444and sparred forth good sped boute spyt more

1445þise oþer halowed hyghe ful hy₃e and hay hay cryed

[fol. 110]

1446haden hornez to mouþe heterly rechated

1447mony watz þe myry mouthe of men and of houndez

1448þat buskkez after þis bor with bost and wyth noyse

[bob]

1449to quelle

[wheel]

1450ful oft he bydez þe baye

1451and maymez þe mute inn melle

1452he hurtez of þe houndez and þay

1453ful ₃omerly ₃aule and ₃elle

[Soon they called a quest by the side of a marsh. The hunters who first found it cheered on the hounds with words, and there was a great hallooing, and the hounds, hearing it, hastened thither quickly, forty of them at once, and fell fast to the scent. Then arose such a roaring of the gathered hounds that the rocks were ringing thereabouts. The hunters harried them with their horns, and all of the hounds swayed together between a pool in the wood, and a cliff, a rugged place it was where the rugged rock had fallen. The hounds went before and the hunters followed after. They surrounded the cliff, and with the bloodhounds marked the beast that was within. Then the hunters beat the bushes and sought to make the prey leap forth. Suddenly and fiercely he rushed athwart the huntsmen -- one of the fiercest of swine. A long time had he dwelt apart from the herd, and he was very old and tough and baleful, and one of the greatest of boars, and whenever he grunted many were fearful, for at the very first thrust he hurled three men to the earth and caused many to fall back without further hurt. And they hallooed full high, with 'Hay! hay!' and hotly blew their horns; and merry were both hounds and hunters who hastened after the boar with boastful noises.

And why?

Full oft he bides the bay,

The hounds he doth defy,

He maims the dogs, and they

Full piteously howl and cry.]

[stanza 58 (long)]

1454schalkez to schote at hym schowen to þenne

1455haled to hym of her arewez hitten hym oft

1456bot þe poyntez payred at þe pyth þat py₃t in his scheldez

1457and þe barbez of his browe bite non wolde

1458þa₃ þe schauen schaft schyndered in pecez

1459þe hede hypped a₃ayn were so euer hit hitte

1460bot quen þe dyntez hym dered of her dry₃e strokez

1461þen braynwod for bate on burnez he rasez

1462hurtez hem ful heterly þer he forth hy₃ez

1463and mony ar₃ed þerat and on lyte dro₃en

1464bot þe lorde on a ly₃t horce launces hym after

1465as burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowez

1466he rechated and rode þur₃ ronez ful þyk

1467suande þis wylde swyn til þe sunne schafted

1468þis day wyth þis ilk dede þay dryuen on þis wyse

1469whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde

1470gawayn grayþely at home in gerez ful ryche

[bob]

1471of hewe

[wheel]

1472þe lady no₃t for₃ate

1473com to hym to salue

1474ful erly ho watz hym ate

1475his mode for to remwe

[Then the shooters shot their arrows at him, and often they struck him, but their points failed to pierce his hide, and the barbs would not bite his forehead. The shaven arrow-shafts shivered in pieces wheresoever they struck him. But whenever the blows at all pierced his flesh, then, maddened, he burst forth on the hunters and hurt them hotly as he tried. And many grew timid and drew back somewhat. But the lord riding on a light horse often pierced him, as boldly on the bent-field he blew his bugle, and called them back as he rode through the dense thickets, pursuing the boar till the sun shifted westwards. Thus on this day did they drive the boar, while our lovely knight lay on his bed in rich apparel,

all bright.

The lady quickly tries

To greet the gentle knight,

Full early doth she rise

To change him if she might.]

[stanza 59 (long)]

1476ho commes to þe cortyn and at þe kny₃t totes

1477sir wawen her welcumed worþy on fyrst

1478and ho hym ₃eldez a₃ayn ful ₃erne of hir wordez

1479settez hir sofly by his syde and swyþely ho la₃ez

1480and wyth a luflych loke ho layde hym þyse wordez

1481sir ₃if ₃e be wawen wonder me þynkkez

1482wy₃e þat is so wel wrast alway to god

1483and connez not of compaynye þe costez vndertake

[fol. 111r]

1484and if mon kennes yow hom to knowe ₃e kest hom of your mynde

1485þou hatz for₃eten ₃ederly þat ₃isterday I ta₃tte

1486bi alder truest token of talk þat I cowþe

1487what is þat quoþ þe wyghe iwysse I wot neuer

1488if hit be sothe þat ₃e breue þe blame is myn awen

1489₃et I kende yow of kyssyng quoþ þe clere þenne

1490quere so countenaunce is couþe quikly to clayme

1491þat bicumes vche a kny₃t þat cortaysy vses

1492do way quoþ þat derf mon my dere þat speche

1493for þat durst I not do lest I deuayed were

1494if I were werned I were wrang iwysse ₃if I profered

1495ma fay quoþ þe mere wyf ₃e may not be werned

1496₃e ar stif innoghe to constrayne wyth strenkþe ₃if yow lykez

1497₃if any were so vilanous þat yow devaye wolde

1498₃e be god quoþ gawayn good is your speche

1499bot þrete is vnþryuande in þede þer I lende

1500and vche gift þat is geuen not with goud wylle

1501I am at your comaundement to kysse quen yow lykez

1502₃e may lach quen yow lyst and leue quen yow þynkkez

[bob]

1503in space

[wheel]

1504þe lady loutez adoun

1505and comlyly kysses his face

1506much speche þay þer expoun

1507of druryes greme and grace

[She came towards the curtain and gazed at the knight, and Sir Gawain welcomed her courteously at first, and the lady talked with him earnestly. Then she sat at his side and laughingly with loving glances she delivered her soul, 'Sir, if thou art Sir Gawain, it is, I think, passing strange that a knight who is so well disposed to gallantry should not be well versed in the customs of good company, for even if thou dost know them, thou dost cast them forth from thy mind and hast right soon forgotten what I taught thee by my talking yesterday.' 'What may that be?' quoth the knight. 'I wot not what thou meanest. If soothly thou speakest, then truly the fault is mine own.' Then said the lady, 'Why, truly. I taught thee of kissing, and that when the face of a lady is known, thou shouldst quickly claim thy meed, and that this is becoming in a knight who uses courtesy.' Then quoth the doughty man, 'Have done, dear lady, for that I durst not do, lest I should be denied, for by thy refusal should I find out my mistake.' 'By my faith,' quoth that fair one, 'thou shalt not be denied, for thou art strong enough to constrain one if thou likest, if any were so vilIanous as to refuse thee.' 'Yea, surely,' quoth Gawain, 'good is thy speech, but to threaten a lady is deemed ungallant in the land where I live, as also are all gifts given without good will. I am at your service to kiss when thou likest. Thou mayest take it or leave it when it pleaseth thee,

in space

The lady bendeth low,

And comely kisses his face,

Much love-talk doth flow

Of love's joy and grace.]

[stanza 60 (long)]

1508I woled wyt at yow wy₃e þat worþy þer sayde

1509and yow wrathed not þerwyth what were þe skylle

1510þat so ₃ong and so ₃epe as ₃e at þis tyme

1511so cortayse so kny₃tly as ₃e ar knowen oute

1512and of alle cheualry to chose þe chef þyng alosed

1513is þe lellayk of luf þe lettrure of armes

1514for to telle of þis teuelyng of þis trwe kny₃tez

1515hit is þe tytelet token and tyxt of her werkkez

1516how ledes for her lele luf hor lyuez han auntered

1517endured for her drury dulful stoundez

1518and after wenged with her walour and voyded her care

1519and bro₃t blysse into boure with bountees hor awen

1520and ₃e ar kny₃t comlokest kyd of your elde

[fol. 111]

1521your worde and your worchip walkez ayquere

1522and I haf seten by yourself here sere twyes

1523₃et herde I neuer of your hed helde no wordez

1524þat euer longed to luf lasse ne more

1525and ₃e þat ar so cortays and coynt of your hetes

1526oghe to a ₃onke þynk ₃ern to schewe

1527and teche sum tokenez of trweluf craftes

1528why ar ₃e lewed þat alle þe los weldez

1529oþper elles ₃e demen me to dille your dalyaunce to herken

[bob]

1530for schame

[wheel]

1531I com hider sengel and sitte

1532to lerne at yow sum game

1533dos techez me of your wytte

1534whil my lorde is fro hame

[`I would be knowing from thee,' said that dear lady, 'an you were not wroth thereat, how it cometh to pass that thou who art so young and active, so courteous and so knightly as thou art known to be, and so given to chivalry, which is the most praiseworthy of all things, and so well versed in the loyal sport of love and in the science of arms, art yet so slow in lovemaking. For of all the achievements of true knights, this of lovemaking is the chiefest, and for their leaf loves their lives they adventure, and endure doleful dintings, and have avenged them by their valour and delivered them from care, and have brought bliss into many a bower, and many a fine favour have bestowed; and yet thou, who art the comeliest knight of the age, and thy praise is spread abroad everywhere, hast had me sitting by thy side several times, and hast not spoken a single gentle word such as lovers do speak and such as belongeth to love, neither little nor great; and thou who art courteous and quaint in thy promisings oughtest eagerly to teach a young thing some tokens of true love's craft. Why art thou backward who canst boast of praises, unless it is that thou deemest me too dull to hearken to thy dalliance?

For shame

Alone I come here and sit

To learn of thee some game;

O teach me of thy wit

While my lord is from home.']

[stanza 61 (long)]

1535in goud fayþe quoþ gawayn god yow for₃elde

1536gret is þe gode gle and gomen to me huge

1537þat so worþy as ₃e wolde wynne hidere

1538and pyne yow with so pouer a mon as play wyth your kny₃t

1539with anyskynnez countenaunce hit keuerez me ese

1540bot to take þe toruayle to myself to trwluf expoun

1541and towche þe temez of tyxt and talez of armez

1542to yow þat I wot wel weldez more sly₃t

1543of þat art bi þe half or a hundreth of seche

1544as I am oþer euer schal in erde þer I leue

1545hit were a fole felefolde my fre by my trawþe

1546I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my my₃t

1547as I am hy₃ly bihalden and euermore wylle

1548be seruaunt to yourseleun so saue me dry₃tyn

1549þus hym frayned þat fre and fondet hym ofte

1550for to haf wonnen hym to wo₃e what so scho þo₃t ellez

1551bot he defended hym so fayr þat no faut semed

1552ne non euel on nawþer halue nawþer þay wysten

[bob]

1553bot blysse

[wheel]

1554þay la₃ed and layked longe

1555at þe last scho con hym kysse

1556hir leue fayre con scho fonge

1557and went hir waye iwysse

[`In good faith,' quoth Sir Gawain, 'God give you good, great is this good glee of tine, and easeful is it to me that so worthy a lady as thou art shouldst come hither to me and trouble thyself about so poor a man, and play in anysuch fashion; but it would be, as I think, a manifold folly for me to take the trouble to expound true love, and tales of arms, to one who, as I wot well, hath more sleight in that art than a hundred men such as I am, or ever shall be, as long as I live upon earth. As far as I am able I would work thy will, as I am beholden to do, and I would evermore be thy servant as save me the good Lord.' Thus did she tempt him often to wrong-doing according to her evil thought, but so well did he defend himself that of no fault seemed he guilty, nor was there evil wrought by either of them,

but bliss.

They laughed and played that day,

At last she gave him kiss,

And then she went her way,

And took her leave, I wis.]

[stanza 62 (long)]

1558then ruþes hym þe renk and ryses to þe masse [fol. 112r]

1559and siþen hor diner watz dy₃t and derely serued

1560þe lede with þe ladyez layked alle day

1561bot þe lorde ouer þe londez launced ful ofte

1562swez his vncely swyn þat swyngez bi þe bonkkez

1563and bote þe best of his brachez þe bakkez in sunder

1564þer he bode in his bay tel bawemen hit breken

1565and madee hym mawgref his hed for to mwe vtter

1566so felle flonez þer flete when þe folk gedered

1567bot ₃et þe styffest to start bi stoundez he made

1568til at þe last he watz so mat he my₃t no more renne

1569bot in þe hast þat he my₃t he to a hole wynnez

1570of a rasse bi a rokk þer rennez þe boerne

1571he gete þe bonk at his bak bigynez to scrape

1572þe froþe femed at his mouth vnfayre bi þe wykez

1573whettez his whyte tuschez with hym þen irked

1574alle þe burnez so bolde þat hym by stoden

1575to nye hym on ferum bot ne₃e hym non durst

[bob]

1576for woþe

[wheel]

1577he hade hurt so mony byforne

1578þat al þu₃t þenne ful loþe

1579be more wyth his tusches torne

1580þat breme watz braynwod bothe

[Then arose the knight, and betook him to Mass, after which breakfast was joyfully served, and Sir Gawain played with the lady all that day. But over the country the lord was riding following the mischievous boar by steep hillsides, and the beast bit the backs of his hounds in two. There he bode at bay till the bowmen broke in upon him and caused him to utter a cry as the arrows fell fleet upon him when the folk gathered about him. But yet he made the stoutest-hearted to start, until at the last he was so weary that he could not run any longer, but as quickly as he could he gained a hole in a hillock near a rock at the side of a brook. He set himself with his back to the hillock and began to scratch, and full loathsome was his foaming at the mouth, and about his white tusks, and all the men who stood by him were a-weary, but at some distance were they, for near him none durst

aspire.

He had hurt so many before

That no man did desire

To be torn by his tusks any more,

For his brain was fiercely on fire.]

[stanza 63 (long)]

1581til þe kny₃t com hymself kachande his blonk

1582sy₃ hym byde at þe bay his burnez bysyde

1583he ly₃tes luslych adoun leuez his corsour

1584braydez out a bry₃t bront and bigly forth strydez

1585foundez fast þur₃ forth þer þe felle bydez

1586þe wylde watz war of þe wy₃e with weppen in honde

1587hef hy₃ly þe here so hetterly he fnast

1588þat fele ferde for þe frekez lest felle hym þe worre

1589þe swyn settez hym out on þe segge euen

1590þat þe burne and þe bor were boþe vpon hepez

1591in þe wy₃test of þe water þe worre hade þat oþer

1592for þe mon merkkez hym wel as þay mette fyrst

1593set sadly þe scharp in þe slot euen

1594hit hym vp to þe hult þat þe hert schyndered

1595and he ₃arrande hym ₃elde and ₃edoun þe water [fol. 112]

[bob]

1596ful tyt

[wheel]

1597a hundreth houndez hym hent

1598þat bremely con hym bite

1599burnez him bro₃t to bent

1600and doggez to dethe endite

[Then came the lord of that rout himself and reined up his steed, and saw the boar at bay beside his men. He alighted in graceful fashion, and left his courser in charge, brandished forth a glittering sword and strode along with huge strides, crossed by the fording where the fierce beast was biding, who was ware of the weapon in his hand; then he heaved highly his bristles and so hotly he breathed that many of his men went and stood before their lord, lest a worse fate should befall him. The boar made so great a rush for him that both he and the lord fell in a heap, in a place where the water rushed rapidly; but the boar had the worst of it, for the man marked him well as they met, and set his sword in the pit of the beast's stomach, even up to the hilt, so as to rive his heart; and the boar, snarling, gave up the struggle as he fell down in the water

on his knees.

A hundred hounds and more

Fiercely did him seize;

Men brought him to the shore,

And death gave him release.]

[stanza 64 (long)]

1601there watz blawyng of prys in mony breme horne

1602he₃e halowing on hi₃e with haþelez þat my₃t

1603brachetes bayed þat best as bidden þe maysterez

1604of þat chargeaunt chace þat were chef huntes

1605þenne a wy₃e þat watz wys vpon wodcraftez

1606to vnlace þis bor lufly bigynnez

1607fyrst he hewes of his hed and on hi₃e settez

1608and syþen rendez him al roghe bi þe rygge after

1609braydez out þe boweles brennez hom on glede

1610with bred blent þerwith his braches rewardez

1611syþen he britnez out þe brawen in bry₃t brode cheldez

1612and hatz out þe hastlettez as hi₃tly bisemez

1613and ₃et hem halchez al hole þe haluez togeder

1614and syþen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges

1615now with þis ilk swyn þay swengen to home

1616þe bores hed watz borne bifore þe burnes seluen

1617þat him forferde in þe forþe þur₃ forse of his honde

[bob]

1618so stronge

[wheel]

1619til he sey sir gawayne

1620in halle hym þo₃t ful longe

1621he calde and he com gayn

1622his feez þer for to fonge

[Then furious was the blast blown upon many a horn, and high hallooing on the part of the men, and the hounds bayed the beast as the masters of that dangerous chase did urge them on. Then one who was wise in woodcraft began to unlace this lovely boar. First he hewed off his head and set it on high, then he roughly rent him by the back and tore out his entrails, and burnt them on hot coals, and rewarded his hounds with bread blended therewith; then he cut out the brawn in bright broad shields, and had out the hastlets, the two halves of which, all whole, he hung upon a strong pole. Then they made for home at a swinging pace, with the boar as theirrophy, and the boar's head was borne before the knight who had fared into the ford so valiant

and strong.

He saw Sir Gawain in hall,

And the time it seemed full long;

He came when he did call

To take what to him did belong.]

[stanza 65 (long)]

1623þe lorde ful lowde with lote and la₃ed myry

1624when he se₃e sir gawayn with solace he spekez

1625þe goude ladyez were geten and gedered þe meyny

1626he schewez hem þe scheldez and schapes hem þe tale

1627of þe largesse and þe lenþe þe liþernez alse

1628of þe were of þe wylde swyn in wod þer he fled

1629þat oþer kny₃t ful comly comended his dedez

1630and praysed hit as gret prys þat he proued hade

1631for suche a brawne of a best þe bolde burne sayde

1632ne such sydes of a swyn segh he neuer are

1633þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed þe hende mon hit praysed [fol. 113r]

1634and let lodly þerat þe lorde for to here

1635now gawayn quoþ þe godmon þis gomen in your awen

1636bi fyn forwarde and faste faythely ₃e knowe

1637hit is sothe quoþ þe segge and as siker trwe

1638alle my get I schal yow gif agayn bi my trawþe

1639he þe haþel aboute þe halse and hendely hym kysses

1640and eftersones of þe same he serued hym þere

1641now ar we euen quoþ þe haþel in þis euentide

1642of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt syþen I com hider

[bob]

1643bi lawe

[wheel]

1644þe lorde sayde bi saynt gile

1645₃e ar þe best þat I knowe

1646₃e ben ryche in a whyle

1647such chaffer and ₃e drowe

[When the lord saw Sir Gawain he greeted him with loud mirth and spake words of solace to him. Then he sent for the ladies and gathered the household; he showed to them the shields of the boar, and told them of his length and breadth and height, and of the boar's fierceness, and of the fight in the wood with the wild boar. Then Sir Gawain full comely commended his deeds, and praised him at great price, and said that never before had he seen such a brawn of a beast nor such sides of a boar. Then the gentle man handled the huge head and praised it. 'Now, Gawain,' quoth this good man, 'this game is tine own, as by our fast and fair covenant it was agreed.' 'True it is,' said that other, 'all that I have gained I will give it to thee by my troth.' Then he caught the lord about the neck and gently kissed him, and eftsoons he kissed him again. 'Now are we quits,' quoth the lord, 'this eventide of all the covenants we made since I came hither.'

' I trow

By St. Giles,' said the knight,

'Thou art the luckiest I know,

Great in gains thou art this night,

And a rich man thou dost grow.']

[stanza 66 (long)]

1648þenne þay teldet tablez trestes alofte

1649kesten cloþen vpon clere ly₃t þenne

1650wakned bi wo₃ez waxen torches

1651seggez sette and serued in sale al aboute

1652much glam and gle glent vp þerinne

1653aboute þe fyre vpon flet and on fele wyse

1654at þe soper and after mony aþel songez

1655as coundutes of krystmasse and carolez newe

1656with al þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle

1657and euer oure luflych kny₃t þe lady bisyde

1658such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made

1659wyth stille stollen countenaunce þat stalworth to plese

1660þat al forwondered watz þe wy₃e and wroth with hymseluen

1661bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a₃aynez

1662bot dalt with hir al in daynte how se euer þe dede turned

[bob]

1663towrast

[wheel]

1664quen þay hade play in halle

1665as longe as hor wylle hom last

1666to chambre he con hym calle

1667and to þe chemne þay past

[Then they set up the tables, and cast cloths upon them, and the serving-men fixed flaming torches on the walls and set out the feast, and there was much mirth and glee in that hall, and many a stalwart man sang merry songs in many a wise during supper and afterwards, such as new carols of Christmas, with all sorts of good-mannered jesting that one may think of. And ever our lovely knight sat by the lady, and in seemly wise she bore herself towards him, and gentle was her bearing, that she might please so stalwart a man, so that he greatly marvelled thereat, and was wroth with himself. Yet would he not, because of his high lineage, make any return thereto, but dealt with her with care, howsoever things went.

At last,

When they had played in hall

As long as their strength did last,

To chamber he gave them call,

And to the fireplace they passed.]

[stanza 67 (long)]

1668andre þer þay dronken and dalten and demed eft nwe

1669to norne on þe same note on nwe ₃erez euen

1670bot þe kny₃t craued leue to kayre on þe morn

1671for hit watz ne₃ at þe terme þat he to schulde

[fol. 113]

1672þe lorde hym letted of þat to lenge hym resteyed

1673and sayde as I am trwe segge I siker my trawþe

1674þou schal cheue to þe grene chapel þy charres to make

1675leude on nw ₃erez ly₃t longe bifore pryme

1676forþy þow lye in þy loft and lach þyn ese

1677and I schal hunt in þis holt and halde þe towchez

1678chaunge wyth þe cheuisaunce bi þat I charre hider

1679for I haf fraysted þe twys and faythful I fynde þe

1680now þrid tyme þrowe best þenk on þe morne

1681make we mery quyl we may and mynne vpon joye

1682for þe lur may mon lach when so mon lykez

1683þis watz grayþely graunted and gawayn is lenged

1684bliþe bro₃t watz hym drynk and þay to bedde ₃eden

[bob]

1685with li₃t

[wheel]

1686sir gawayn lis and slepes

1687ful stille and softe al ni₃t

1688þe lorde þat his craftez kepes

1689ful erly he watz di₃t

[And there they drank each other's health and passed away the time, and the lord proffered to make the same covenant together for New Year's Eve. But the knight craved leave to depart on the morrow. For the time was drawing near when he should go. But the lord hindered him from going, and constrained him to bide a little longer, and said, 'As I am a true man, I give my troth that thou shalt arrive at the Green Chapel on New Year's morn long before prime, that thou mayest perform thine oath. Therefore rest thou in thy bed and take thine ease while I shall hunt in the woods and keep the covenant between us and exchange our gains on my return hither. For I have proved thee twice and found thee faithful, now for the third time let us think on the morrow and make merry while we may, and be mindful of joy, for loss cometh when it will.' Sir Gawain readily consented thereto, and lingered a little longer, and they drank together and went to their rest

with light.

Sir Gawain lies and sleeps

Full still and soft all night,

The lord, that woodcraft keeps,

Full early he was dight.]

[stanza 68 (long)]

1690after messe a morsel he and his men token

1691miray watz þe mornyng his mounture he askes

1692alle þe haþeles þat on horse schulde helden hym after

1693were boun busked on hor blonkkez biforere þe halle ₃atez

1694ferly fayre watz þe folde for þe forst clenged

1695in rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne

1696and ful clere costez þe clowdes of þe welkyn

1697hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde

1698rocheres roungen bi rys for rurde of her hornes

1699summe fel in þe fute þer þe fox bade

1700traylez ofte atrayteres bi traunt of her wyles

1701a kenet kyres þerof þe hunt on hym calles

1702his fela₃es fallen hym to þat fnasted ful þike

1703runnen forth in a rabel in his ry₃t fare

1704and he fyskez hem byfore þay founden hym sone

1705and quen þay seghe hym with sy₃t þay sued hym fast

1706wre₃ande hym ful weterly with a wroth noyse

1707and he trantes and tornayeez þur₃ mony tene greue

1708hauilounez and herkenez bi heggez ful ofte

[fol. 114r]

1709at þe last bi a littel dich he lepez ouer a spenne

1710stelez out ful stilly bi a strothe rande

1711went haf wylt of þe wode with wylez fro þe houndes

1712þenne watz he went er he wyst to to a wale tryster

1713þer þre þro at a þrich þrat hym at ones

[bob]

1714al graye

[wheel]

1715he blenched a₃ayn bilyue

1716and stifly start onstray

1717with alle þe wo on lyue

1718to þe wod he went away

[After the Mass the lord and his men ate a hasty meal. Merry was the morn. He asked for his horse, and all his company whose duty it was to follow him were ready on their chargers before the hall gates. Wondrous fair was the world, for the hoar frost was on the ground. Ruddy and red the sun rose among the mists, and full clear cast aside the clouds of the welkin. The hunters dispersed themselves by the side of a wood, and the rocks and the trees rang with the noise of the horns. Some of the hunters fell in with the scent where the fox was biding, and oft they tracked and tracked across in wily fashion. One of the hounds took up the cry, and the hunters called him, and the others fell thereto panting hard and close together. They ran forth in a rabble right on his track. The fox ran on in front, and they found him at length and followed hard after him, and savagely they scolded him with an angry noise. He tricked them, and made quick turns in many a rough woodland, and dodged in and out, and sometimes would pause to listen by many a hedgerow. At length he leapt over a quickset hedge by the side of a little ditch, and then stole out stealthily by a rugged path, and tried to escape the hounds. Then, ere he knew it, he came suddenly upon one of the stations, where three hounds fiercely set upon him at once.

All grey

He quickly turned again,

And strongly sprang astray

With all the woe and pain

To the wood he turned away.]

[stanza 69 (long)]

1719thenne watz hit lif vpon list to lyþen þe houndez

1720when alle þe mute hade hym met menged togeder

1721suche a sor₃e at þat sy₃t þay sette on his hede

1722as alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes

1723here he watz halawed when haþelez hym metten

1724loude he watz ₃ayned with ₃arande speche

1725þer he watz þreted and ofte þef called

1726and ay þe titleres at his tayl þat tary he ne my₃t

1727ofte he watz runnen at when he out rayked

1728and ofte reled in a₃ayn so reniarde watz wyle

1729and ₃e he lad hem bi lagmon þe lorde and his meyny

1730on þis maner bi þe mountes quyle myd ouer vnder

1731whyle þe hende kny₃t at home holsumly slepes

1732withinne þe comly cortynes on þe colde morne

1733bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe

1734ne þe purpose to payre þat py₃t in hir hert

1735bot ros hir vp radly rayked hir þeder

1736in a mery mantyle mete to þe erþe

1737þat watz furred ful fyne with fellez wel pured

1738no hwez goud on hir hede bot þe ha₃er stones

1739trased aboute hir tressour be twenty in clusteres

1740hir þryuen face and hir þrote þrowen al naked

1741hir brest bare bifore and bihinde eke

1742ho comez withinne þe chambre dore and closes hit hir after

1743wayuez vp a wyndow and on þe wy₃e callez

1744and radly þus rehayted hym with hir riche wordes

[bob]

1745with chere

[wheel]

1746a mon how may þou slepe

[fol. 114]

1747þis morning is so clere

1748he watz in drowping depe

1749bot þenne he con hir here

[Then truly it was fine sport to listen to the hounds when, all crowded together, they came upon him, and such curses were flung at him as though the clustering cliffs had clattered down in heaps. And as the huntsmen met him, they hallooed together with loud and snarling words. And they threatened him, and called him a thief, and ever the hounds were at his tail that he might not tarry a moment, and often as he ran on they rushed at him, and often they rolled over and over. So wily was Reynard. And oft he led them astray in this fashion over and under and amidst the mountains, while the gentle knight at home was sleeping within the comely curtains on that cold morning. But the lady could not sleep for love thinking, lest the purpose in her heart so firmly fixed should suffer harm. But she rose up quickly and ran to his chamber, dressed in a merry mantle furred and lined with the purest of skins, with no hues of gold her head adorning, but with precious stones twined about her hair in clusters of twenty. And her face and her throat were all naked, and eke her breast before and behind. She came within the chamber, and closed it after her, flung wide open the window, and called to the knight, and thus greeted him with raillery and rich words, and

with cheer.

'Ah, man, how canst thou sleep?

The morning is so clear.'

He was in drowsing deep,

And yet her words did hear.]

[stanza 70 (long)]

1750in drez droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble

1751as mon þat watz in mornyng of mony þro þo₃tes

1752how þat destine schulde þay day his wyrde

1753at þe grene chapel when he þe gome metes

1754and bihoues his buffet abide withoute debate more

1755bot quen þat comly he keured his wyttes

1756swenges out of þe sweuenes and swarez with hast

1757þe lady luflych com la₃ande swete

1758felle ouer his fayre face and fetly hym kyssed

1759he welcumez hir worþily with a wale chere

1760he sey hir so glorious and gayly atyred

1761so fautles of hir fetures and of so fyne hewes

1762wi₃t wallande joye warmed his hert

1763with smoþe smylyng and smolt þay smeten into merþe

1764þat al watz blis and bonchef þat breke hem bitwene

[bob]

1765and wynne

[wheel]

1766þay lanced wordes gode

1767much wele þen watz þerinne

1768gret perile bitwene hem stod

1769nif mare of hir kny₃t mynne

[But the knight was sunk in fitful and dreamy slumbers, as if in the grip of sad thinking how that on that very day destiny would dight him his Weird, when he should meet the Green Knight at his chapel and receive from him the blow without further words. But when that comely knight recovered his wits, he swung suddenly out of dreams and answered in haste. The lovely lady came towards him laughing sweetly, and bending over his fair face she kissed him. And he welcomed her worthily, with a pleasant smile. For he saw her so gloriously and gaily attired, so faultless in her features, and of such a fine complexion, that a strong and welling joy warmed his heart. And straight they smote forth mirth and smiles; yet all was pure bliss, and no more than they felt within them

was right.

The words they said were good,

And their joy was fair and light;

Great peril between them stood,

But Mary guarded her knight.]

[stanza 71 (long)]

1770for þat prynce of pris depresed hym so þikke

1771nurned hym so ne₃e þe þred þat nede hym bihoued

1772oþer lach þer hir luf oþer lodly refuse

1773he cared for his cortaysye lest craþayn he were

1774and more for his meschef ₃if he schulde make synne

1775and be traytor to þat tolke þat þat telde a₃t

1776god schylde quoþ þe schalk þat schal not befalle

1777with luf la₃yng a lyt he layd hym bysyde

1778alle þe spechez of specialte þat sprange of her mouthe

1779quoþ þat burde to þe burne blame ₃e disserue

1780₃if ₃e luf not þat lyf þat ₃e lye nexte

1781bifore alle þe wy₃ez in þe worlde wounded in hert

1782bot if ₃e haf a lemman a leuer þat yow lykez better

1783and folden fayth to þat fre festned so harde

[fol. 115r]

1784þat yow lausen ne lyst and þat I leue nouþe

1785and þat ₃e telle me þat now trwly I pray yow

1786for alle þe lufez vpon lyue layne not þe soþe

[bob]

1787for gile

[wheel]

1788þe kny₃t sayde be sayn jon

1789and smeþely con he smyle

1790in fayth I welde ri₃t non

1791ne non wil welde þe quile

[For verily the worthy Prince bore himself as a victor, for she proffered herself to him so earnestly that it behoved him either to take her love or to refuse it in uncourteous fashion. He cared much for his courtesy, lest he should prove himself craven-hearted, and yet much more for the mischief that would follow were he to commit sin and betray the lord who was his host in that castle. 'God shield us,' said he, 'this shall not befall us,' and with spare love, laughing, he received all the words of choice that fell from her lips. And the lady said, 'Thou dost deserve great blame if thou lovest me not who am wounded in heart more than all else in the world, but perchance it is because thou hast a mistress that thou lovest better than thou lovest me, and boldest thy troth to her, and wouldst not lose her, as I trow. And now do thou tell me that truly, I pray thee; for the sake of all the true love in the world, hide it not from me

through guile.'

The knight said, 'By St. John,'

And softly he did smile,

`In faith I have not one,

Nor none will have the while.']

[stanza 72 (long)]

1792þat is a worde quoþ þat wy₃t þat worst is of alle

1793bot I am swared for soþe þat sore me þinkkez

1794kysse me now comly and I schal cach hepen

1795I may bot mourne vpon molde as may þat much louyes

1796sykande ho swe₃e doun and semly hym kyssed

1797and siþen ho seueres hym fro and says as ho stondes

1798now dere at þis departyng do me þis ese

1799gif me sumquat of þy gifte þi gloue of hit were

1800þat I may mynne on þe mon my mournyng to lassen

1801now iwysse quoþ þat wy₃e I wolde I hade here

1802þe leuest þing for þy luf þat I in londe welde

1803for ₃e haf deserued for soþe sellyly ofte

1804more rewarde bi resoun þen I reche my₃t

1805bot to dele yow for drurye þat dawed bot neked

1806hit is not your honour to haf at þis tyme

1807a gloue for a garysoun of gawaynez giftez

1808and I am here an erande in erdez vncouþe

1809and haue no men wyth no malez with menskful þingez

1810þat mislykez me lade for luf at þis tyne

1811iche tolke mon do as he is tan tas to non ille

[bob]

1812ne pine

[wheel]

1813nay hende of hy₃e honours

1814quoþ þat lufsum vnder lyne

1815þa₃ I hade o₃t of yourez

1816₃et schulde ₃e haue of myne

[`That word,' quoth she, 'is the worst of all. I am answered forsooth, and sore wounded am I. Kiss me now comely, and I will hie me hence. I can only mourn in the world as lovers do.' Then, sighing, she stooped down and said as she stood there, 'Now, dear one, at my passing do me this ease; give me some little token, if it be only thy glove, that I may think on thee and thus lessen my grief.' 'Now I wot,' said the knight, 'I would that I had here the dearest thing I possess in the world, for thou hast, forsooth, deserved wondrous oft and rightly greater reward than I could ever bestow, but to bestow upon you some love-token, that would avail but little. For it would be a stain upon your honour at this time that Gawain should give you a glove as a reward, for I am come hither on the most unheard-of errand upon earth, and have no men or baggage with things of value for every man must bide his fate, whether of sorrow

or gall.'

'Nay, knight of high degree,'

Quoth the lady fair and tall,

'Though nought thou givest me,

I'd yield to thee my all.']

[stanza 73 (long)]

1817ho ra₃t hym a riche rynk of red golde werkez

1818wyth a starande ston stondande alofte

1819þat bere blusschande bemez as þe bry₃t sunne

1820wyt ₃e wel hit watz worth wele ful hoge

1821bot þe renk hit renayed and redyly he sayde

[fol. 115]

1822I wil no giftez for gode my gay at þis tyme

1823I haf none yow to norne ne no₃t wyl I take

1824ho bede hit hym ful bysily and he hir bode wernes

1825and swere swyftel his sothe þat he hit sese nolde

1826and ho sore þat he forsoke and sayde þerafter

1827if ₃e renay my rynk to ryche for hit semez

1828₃e wolde not so hy₃ly halden be to me

1829I schal gif yow my girdel þat gaynes yow lasse

1830ho la₃t a lace ly₃tly þat þat leke vmbe hir sydez

1831knit vpon hir kyrtel vnder þe clere mantyle

1832gered hit watz with grene sylke and with golde schaped

1833no₃t bot arounde brayden beten with fyngrez

1834and þat ho bede to þe burne and blyþely biso₃t

1835þa₃ hit vnworþi were þat he hit take wolde

1836and he nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse

1837nauþer golde ne garysoun er god hym grace sende

1838to acheue to þe chaunce þat he hade chosen þere

1839and þerfore I pray yow displese yow no₃t

1840and lettez be your bisinesse for I bayþe hit yow neuer

[bob]

1841to graunte

[wheel]

1842I am derely to yow biholde

1843bicause of your sembelaunt

1844and euer in hot and colde

1845to be your trwe seruaunt

[She gave him a rich ring of red gold, with a glittering stone standing out therefrom, from which shone forth blushing beams as of the bright sun; and surely it was of very great price. But the knight refused it, and readily he said, 'I will take no gift from thee at this time. I have none to offer thee in return, and none will I take.' She pressed it upon him, but he would none of it, and swiftly swore his sooth that he would not take it, and very sorrowful was she, and said, 'If thou refusest my ring because it seems to thee too rich a present, and thou wouldst not be so deeply beholden to me, I will give thee my girdle, for that is of less value.' She caught hold of a circlet of lace that girdled her sides and was fastened to her kirtle under the white mantle, and it was geared with green silk and shapen with gold and all embroidered with finger-work. She offered it to the knight, and blithely she besought him to accept it, though of little worth it were. But he said that he would not take it in no wise, neither gold nor treasure as God sent him grace, that he might achieve the event that he had chosen in coming there. 'And therefore I pray thee, be not displeased, and cease from this business, for I can never consent to thy request, therefore

do not rue;

Dear debt to thee is mine

As thy courtesy's due,

And ever in fair and fine

I am thy servant true.']

[stanza 74 (long)]

1846now forsake ₃e þis silke sayde þe burde þenne

1847for hit is symple in hitself and so hit wel semez

1848lo so hit is littel and lasse hit is worþy

1849bot who so knew þe costes þat knit ar þerinne

1850he wolde hit prayse at more prys parauenture

1851for quat gome so is gorde with þis grene lace

1852while he hit hade hemely halched aboute

1853þer is no haþel vnder heuen tohewe hym þat my₃t

1854for he my₃t not be slayn for sly₃t vpon erþe

1855þen kest þe kny₃t and hit come to his hert

1856hit were a juel for þe joparde þat hym iugged were

1857when he acheued to þe chapel his chek for to fech

1858my₃ he haf slypped to be vnslayn þe sle₃t were noble [fol. 116r]

1859þenne he þulged with hir þrepe and þoled hir to speke

1860and ho bere on hym þe belt and bede hit hym swyþe

1861and he granted and hym gafe with a goud wylle

1862and biso₃t hym for hir sake disceuer hit neuer

1863bot to lelly layne for hir lorde þe leude hym acordez

1864þat neuer wy₃e schulde hit wyt iwysse bot þay twayne

[bob]

1865for no₃te

[wheel]

1866he þonkked hir oft ful swyþe

1867ful þro with hert and þo₃t

1868bi þat on þrynne syþe

1869ho hatz kyst þe kny₃t so to₃t

[`Now dost thou refuse this silk girdle,' said the lady, 'for simple it is in itself and of little worth it seems. But whoso knew the virtues that are knit therein, he would appraise it at greater price, peradventure. For whatsoever man is girded with this green lace while he has it secretly fastened about his body, there is no man under heaven that could hew him asunder. He could not be slain by any sleight or trick in the world.' Then the knight set himself to thinking, and it came into his heart that such a girdle would be a jewel in the jeopardy to which he was pledged in going to the Green Chapel to receive the deadly blow; and if he should slip and be in danger of death it would be a noble sleight of defence. Then he endured her chiding, and let her speak, and she thrust the belt upon him quickly, and he took it from her as she gave it with good will and besought him for her sake never to reveal it, but to loyally hide it from her lord. The knight agreed thereto, and swore that no man should ever know it save they two, as she

did crave.

Great thanks he gave that day

With heart and mind so grave.

The third time, as I say,

She kissed that knight so brave.]

[stanza 75 (long)]

1870thenne lachchez ho hir leue and leuez hym þere

1871for more myrþe of þat mon mo₃t ho not gete

1872when he atz gon sir gawayn gerez hym sone

1873rises and riches hym in araye noble

1874lays vp þe luf lace þe lady hym ra₃t

1875hid hit ful holdely þer he hit eft fonde

1876syþen cheuely to þe chapel choses he þe waye

1877preuely aproched to a prest and prayed hym þere

1878þat he wolde lyfte his lyf and lern hym better

1879how his sawle schulde be saued when he schuld seye heþen

1880þere he schrof hym schyrly and schewed his mysdedez

1881of þe more and þe mynne and merci besechez

1882and of absolucioun he on þe segge calles

1883and he asoyled hym surely and sette hym so clene

1884as domezday schulde haf ben di₃t on þe morn

1885and syþen he mace hym as mery among þe fre ladyes

1886with comlych caroles and alle kynnes ioye

1887as neuer he did bot þat to þe derk ny₃t

[bob]

1888with blys

[wheel]

1889vche mon hade daynte þare

1890of hym and sayde iwysse

1891þus myry he watz neuer are

1892syn he com hider er þis

[When she took her leave, for there was no more love-play to be gained from the knight. As soon as she had gone, Sir Gawain dressed himself right soon and arrayed himself in noble garments and hid away the love-lace the lady had given him, where he could easily find it at need. Then first he went to the chapel of the castle and found out the priest, and prayed for absolution and that he would show to him a better way to save his soul when he should go thence. Then he made a clean shrift, and confessed his misdeeds both great and small, and sought for mercy. And the priest absolved him and gave him such cleanness as though on the morrow doomsday should dawn. Then he made himself so merry among the noble ladies with comely carols and all kinds of joy as never before or since that day, until the dark night came

with bliss.

Each one had dainty more

Of him and said, I wis,

That so merry he ne'er was before,

Since thither he came, ere this.]

[stanza 76 (long)]

1893now hym lenge in þat lee þer luf hym bityde

1894₃et is þe lorde on þe launde ledande his gomnes

1895he hatz forfaren þis fox þat he fol₃ed longe

1896as he sprent ouer a spenne to spye þe schrewe

[fol. 116]

1897þer as he herd þe howndes þat hasted hym swyþe

1898renaud com richchande þur₃ a ro₃e greue

1899and alle þe rabel in a res ry₃t at his helez

1900þe wy₃e watz war of þe wylde and warly abides

1901and braydez out þe bry₃t bronde and at þe best castez

1902and he schunt for þe scharp and schulde haf arered

1903a rach rapes hym to ry₃t er he my₃t

1904and ry₃t bifore þe hors dete þay fel on hym alle

1905and woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse

1906þe lorde ly₃tez bilyue and cachez by sone

1907rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes

1908haldez he₃e ouer his hede halowez faste

1909and þer bayen hym mony bray houndez

1910huntes hy₃ed hem þeder with hornez ful mony

1911ay rechatande ary₃t til þay þe renk se₃en

1912bi þat watz comen his compeyny noble

1913alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones

1914and alle þise oþper halowed þat hade no hornes

1915hit watz þe myriest mute þat euer men herde

1916þe rich rurd þat þer watz raysed for renaude saule

[bob]

1917with lote

[wheel]

1918hor houndez þay þer rewarde

1919her her hedez þay fawne and frote

1920and syþen þay tan reynarde

1921and tyruen of his cote

[And he lingered there, where love was his portion. And all the time the lord was on the land leading his men, and he had killed the fox that he had followed so long, as he leapt over a hedge to spy upon the shrewd fellow. For there, as he heard the hounds that were hard upon him, Reynard came running through a rough grove, and all the rabble racing at his heels. The lord was ware of the fox, and warily he waited for him, and brandished forth the bright sword, and made a cast at him, whereat he flinched and should have retreated, but a hound rushed at him e'en before he could escape, and right in front of the feet of the horse they all fell upon him and worried the wily fellow to death with a loud noise. The lord alighted quickly, and soon caught hold of him and tore him out of the mouths of the dogs, and held him high above his head, hallooing the while, and many a brave hound bayed at him there. The hunters tried thither, blowing a recheat on their horns till they saw the knight, and by the time that his noble company were come up, all that bore bugles blew at the same time, and those who had no horns raised a great halloo! It was the merriest meet ever heard of, and the greatest noise ever made for the soul of a fox.

With jest

The hounds they did reward,

Their heads they then caressed,

And then they took Reynard

And straightway him undressed.]

[stanza 77 (long)]

1922and þenne þay helden to home for hit watz nie₃ ny₃t

1923strakande ful stoutly in hor store hornez

1924þe lorde is lyþt at þe laste at hys lef home

1925fyndez fire vpon flet þe freke þer byside

1926sir gawayn þe gode þat glad watz with alle

1927among þe ladies for luf he ladde much ioye

1928he were a bleaunt of blwe þat bradde to þe erþe

1929his surkot semed hym wel þat softe watz forred

1930and his hode of þat ilke henged on his schulder

1931blande al of blaunner were boþe al aboute

1932he metez me þis godmon inmyddez þe flore

1933and al with gomen he hym gret and goudly he sayde

1934I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwardez nouþe

[fol. 117r]

1935þat we spedly han spoken þer spared watz no drynk

1936þen acoles he kny₃t and kysses hym þryes

1937as sauerly and sadly as he hem sette couþe

1938bi kryst quoþ þat oþer kny₃t ₃e cach much sele

1939in cheuisaunce of þis chaffer ₃if ₃e hade goud chepez

1940₃e of þe chepe no charg quoþ chefly þat oþer

1941as is pertly payed þe chepez þat I a₃te

1942mary quoþ þat oþer mon myn is bihynde

1943for I haf hunted al þis day and no₃t haf I geten

1944bot þis foule fox felle þe fende haf þe godez

1945and þat is ful pore for to pay for suche prys þinges

1946as ₃e haf þry₃t me here þro suche þre cosses

[bob]

1947so gode

[wheel]

1948ino₃ quoþ sir gawayn

1949I þonk yow bi þe rode

1950and how þe fox watz slayn

1951he tolde hym as þay stode

[And forthwith they made for home, blowing full stoutly on their loud horns, for night was drawing near. And at length the lord alighted at his beloved homestead, and found the fire on the floor and the knight beside it. Sir Gawain the good made merry with them all, for among the ladies he had much joy for love. He wore a fine blue linen mantle, that reached down to the ground, and his surcoat suited him well, for it was soft furred, and a hood of that ilk hung on his shoulder, and both were blended with fur. The lord met this good man in the midst of the hall, and greeted him gaily, and the knight spake goodly words: 'I will be the first to fulfil our covenant that we plighted together when the drink was not lacking.' Then he embraced the lord and kissed him three times as gravely and carefully as he could. 'By Christ,' said the lord, 'thou hast had great joy in achieving such treasures, and thy bargain was a good one.' 'Yea then, no matter the bargain,' said that other, 'quickly is given the bargain I drove.' 'Marry,' quoth the lord, 'my prize is coming on after me, for all the day I have been hunting and nought have I gotten but this foul fox; and the devil take him, and indeed it is a poor return to make for such precious gifts as thou hast given me in three such kisses

so good.'

`nough,' said Sir Gawain,

'I thank thee by the rood,'

And how the fox was slain

He told him as they stood.]

[stanza 78 (long)]

1952with merþe and mynstralsye with metez at hor wylle

1953þay maden as mery as any me mo₃ten

1954with la₃yne of ladies with lotez of bordes

1955gawayn and þe godemon so glad were þay boþe

1956bot if þe douthe had doted oþer dronken ben oþer

1957boþe þe mon and þe meyny maden mony iapez

1958til þe sesoun watz se₃en þat þay seuer moste

1959burnez to hor bedde behoued at þe laste

1960þenne lo₃ly his leue at þe lorde fyrst

1961fochchez þis fre mon and fayre he hym þonkkez

1962of such a sellyly soiorne as I haf hade here

1963your honour at þis hy₃e fest þe hy₃e kyng yow ₃elde

1964I ₃ef yow me for on of yourez if yowreself lykez

1965for I mot nedes as ₃e wot meue to morne

1966and ₃e me take sum tolke to teche as ₃e hy₃t

1967þe gate to þe grene chapel as god wyl me suffer

1968to dele on nw ₃erez day þe dome of my wyrdes

1969in god fayþe quoþ þe godmon wyth a goud wylle

1970al þat euer I yow hy₃t halde schal I rede

1971þer asyngnes he a seruaunt to sett hym in þe waye [fol. 117]

1972and coundue hym by þe downez þat he no drechch had

1973for to frk þur₃ þe fryth and fare at þe gaynest

[bob]

1974bi greue

[wheel]

1975þe lorde gawayn con þonk

1976such worchip he wolde hym weue

1977þen at þo ladyez wlonk

1978þe kny₃t hatz tan his leue

[When with mirth and minstrelsy, and with meats at their will, they made as merry as any men could, and the ladies laughed merrily, and there were spoken many jesting words. And Gawain and the good man were both of them so glad that they were in danger of losing their heads or of becoming drunken. So great was the revelry in the hall until it was time to separate and retire to their beds. Then most humbly did the knight take leave of the lord, and in fair fashion he thanked him. 'May the High King bless thee for the wondrous sojourn I have had here in thy castle at this high feast. I pray thee to grant me one of thy men if thou wilt to show me, as thou didst promise, the way to the Green Chapel, so God will suffer me to endure on New Year's Day the destiny appointed me.' 'In good faith,' said the lord, 'with a right good will -- that ever I promised thee I will hold to my reed.' Then he assigned him a servant to set him in the way and conduct him by the downs that he might suffer no hurt in going through the forests, and fare forth in gainly fashion,

and live.

The lord then thanked Gawain,

Such worship he would him give,

And of the ladies twain

The knight then took his leave.]

[stanza 79 (long)]

1979with care and wyth kyssyng he carppez hem tille

1980and fele þryuande þonkkez he þrat hom to haue

1981and þay ₃elden hym a₃ay ₃eply þat ilk

1982þay bikende hym to kryst with ful colde sykyngez

1983syþen fro þe meyny he menskly departes

1984vche mon þat he mette he made hem a þonke

1985for his seruyse and his solace and his sere pyne

1986þat þay wyth busynes had ben aboute hym to serue

1987and vche segge as sore to seuer with hym þere

1988as þay hade wonde worþyly with þat wlonk euer

1989þen with ledes and ly₃t he watz ladde to his chambre

1990and blyþely bro₃t to his bedde to be at his rest

1991₃if he ne slepe soundyly say ne dar I

1992for he hade muche on þe morn to mynne ₃if he wolde

[bob]

1993in þo₃t

[wheel]

1994let hym ly₃e þere stille

1995he hatz nere þat he so₃t

1996and ₃e wyl a whyle be stylle

1997I schal telle yow how þay wro₃t

[With courteous kisses he took leave of them all and gave them great thanks, and received their thanks in return. Then they entrusted him to Christ, and heaved deep sighs as he passed out from their midst, and each man that he met he gave him thanks for service and solace and the great pains they had taken, especially those who had done him personal service. And each man was sore troubled at parting with him with whom they had dwelt so worthily. Then with flaming torches they led him to his chamber, and blithely brought him to rest in his bed. I dare not say that he slept soundly, for of the morn he had much

of thought.

Let him lie there still,

He is near that which he sought,

An ye will awhile be still

I will tell you how he wrought.]

[fitt4: stanza 80 (long)]

1998now ne₃ez þe nw ₃ere and þe ny₃t passez

1999þe day dryuez to þe derk as dry₃tyn biddez

2000bot wylde wederez of þe worlde wakned þeroute

2001clowdes kesten kenly þe colde to þe erþe

2002wyth ny₃e innoghe of þe norþe þe naked to tene

2003þe snawe snitered ful snart þat snayped þe wylde

2004þe werbelande wynde wapped fro þe hy₃e

2005and drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete

2006þe leude lystened ful wel þat le₃ in his bedde

2007þa₃ he lowkez his liddez ful lyttel he slepes

2008bi vch kok þat crue he knwe wel þe steuen

[fol. 118r]

2009deliuerly he dressed vp er þe day sprenged

2010for þere watz ly₃t of a laupe þat lemed in his chambre

2011he called to his chamberlayn þat cofly hym swared

2012and bede hym bryng hym his bruny and his blonk sadel

2013þat oþer ferkez hym vp and fechez hym his wedez

2014and grayþez me sir gawayn vpon a grett wyse

2015fyrst he clad hym in his cloþez þe colde for to were

2016and syþen his oþer harnays þat holdely watz keped

2017boþe his paunce and his platez piked ful clene

2018þe ryngez rokked of þe roust of his riche bruny

2019and al watz fresch as vpon fyrst and he watz fayn þenne

[bob]

2020to þonk

[wheel]

2021he hade vpon vche pece

2022wypped ful wel and wlonk

2023þe gayest into grece

2024þe burne bede bryng his blonk

[Now drew near the New Year as the night waned and the darkness passed away as God doth bid. But wild weather of the world came out of the wakening day, and clouds cast down cold upon the earth, and there was enough of the north in the weather to vex the naked. And snow fell sharply and covered the wilds. The whistling wind rushed down from the heights, and there were great drifts in the dales. And as the knight lay in his bed he listened to the storm, and though he locked his eyelids, full little he slept, and he heard the crwing of each cock in turn. Ere the day dawned he dressed himself by the light of a lamp that gleamed in his chamber. He called to his servant, and quickly he answered him, and he bade him bring in his cuirass and his saddle, and he rose up forthwith and fetched the riding apparel, and prepared Sir Gawain for his journey in great wise. First he clad him in his clothes, that he might ward off the cold, and then in his other harness that had been faithfully guarded. His coats of mail and his armour-plate all shone with burnishing, and the rings of his rich coat of mail were cleansed of all rust, and were all fresh as at first, and he was fain to thank

him there.

Of the armour every piece

He had wiped clean and fair,

As no warrior's in Greece.

He asked for his steed so rare.]

[stanza 81 (long)]

2025whyle þe wlonkest wedes he warp on hymseluen

2026his cote wyth þe conysaunce of þe clere werkez

2027ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus stonez

2028aboute beten and bounden enbrauded semez

2029and fayre furred withinne wyth fayre pelures

2030₃et laft he not þe lace þe ladiez gifte

2031þat forgat not gawayn for gode of hymseluen

2032bi he hade belted þe bronde vpon his bal₃e haunchez

2033þenn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute

2034swyþe sweþled vmbe his swange swetely þat kny₃t

2035þe gordel of þe grene silke þat gay wel bisemed

2036vpon þat ryol red cloþe þat ryche watz to schewe

2037bot wered not þis ilk wy₃e for wele þis gordel

2038for pryde of þe pendauntez þa₃ polyst þay were

2039and þa₃ þe glyterande golde glent vpon endez

2040bot for to sauen hymself when suffer hym byhoued

2041to byde bale withoute dabate of bronde hym to were

[bob]

2042oþer knyffe

[wheel]

2043bi þat þe bolde mon boun

2044wynnez þeroute bilyue

2045alle þe meyny of renoun

2046he þonkkez ofte ful ryue

[And while he was then being decked out in these rich weeds, his coat with the badge of noble deeds, adorned as it was with stones of virtue up on velvet and bound with embroidered seams and fair furred within with costly furs, yet forgot he not the lace girdle, the lady's gift for his protection. When he had belted his sword upon his smooth haunches he wound the love-token round and round about him, and he quickly folded the gay girdle of green silk about his loins over the rich and royal red cloth. But he wore not this rich girdle for its great price, nor for pride of polished pendants, or because gold glittered and gleamed upon it, but to save himself when it behoved him to suffer and to bide bale without debate and to beware of the sword

or blow.

And then the bold knight down

From that fair castle doth go,

All that household of renown

He thanketh them, I trow.]

[fol. 118]

[stanza 82 (long)]

2047thenne watz gryngolet grayþe þat gret watz and huge

2048and hade ben soiourned sauerly and in a siker wyse

2049hym lyst prik for poynt þat proude hors þenne

2050þe wy₃e wynnez hym to and wytez on his lyre

2051and sayde soberly hymself and by his soth swerez

2052here is a meyny in þis mote þat on menske þenkkez

2053þe mon hem maynteines ioy mot þay haue

2054þe leue lady on lyue luf hir bityde

2055₃ef þay for charyte cherysen a gest

2056and halden honour in her honde þe haþel hem ₃elde

2057þat haldez þe heuen vpon hy₃e and also yow alle

2058and ₃if I my₃t lyf vpon londe lede any quyle

2059I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly if I my₃t

2060þenn steppez he into stirop and strydez alofte

2061his schalk schewed hym his schelde on schulder he hit la₃t

2062gordez to gryngolet with his gilt helez

2063and he startez on þe ston stod he no lenger

[bob]

2064to praunce

[wheel]

2065his haþel on hors watz þenne

2066þat bere his spere and launce

2067þis kastel to kryst I kenne

2068he gef hit ay god chaunce

[Then his fine and huge horse Gringolet was made ready. He had been well cared for, and was proud and eager for galloping. Sir Gawain went up to him and looked in his face. Then he solemnly addressed the company, and swore, 'Here indeed is a well-mannered and courteous household, and may the lord who maintains them have great joy. And may love betide the dear lady of the house all her life. And when they cherish their guests and do honour to them, may the High Lord that wields heaven on high bless them and you all; and if I live long enough I will grant you some meed for your services.' Then stepped he into the stirrups and mounted his horse, and his servant handed him his shield, which he received on his shoulder, and then goading Gringolet with his golden spurs, he stood there no longer, but struck sparks from the stones, and the horse

did prance.

His man on horse was then

That bore his spear and lance,'

This castle to Christ I ken

Oweth its good chance.']

[stanza 83 (long)]

2069the brygge watz brayde doun and þe brode ₃atez

2070vnbarred and born open vpon boþe halue

2071þe burne blessed hym bilyue and þe bredez passed

2072prayses þe porter bifore þe prynce kneled

2073gef hym god and goud day þat gawayn he saue

2074and went on his way with his wy₃e one

2075þat schulde teche hym to tourne to þat tene place

2076þer þe ruful race he schulde resayue

2077þay bo₃en bi bonkkez þer bo₃ez ar bare

2078þay clomben bi clyffez þer clengez þe colde

2079þe heuen watz vphalt bot vgly þer vnder

2080mist muged on þe mor malt on þe mountez

2081vch hille hade a hatte a myst hakel huge

2082brokez byled and breke bi bonkkez aboute

2083schyre schaterande on schorez þer þay doun schowued [fol. 119r]

2084wela wylle watz þe way þer þay bi wod schulden

2085til hit watz zone sesoun þat sunne ryses

[bob]

2086þat tyde

[wheel]

2087þay were on a hille ful hy₃e

2088þe quyte snaw lay bisyde

2089þe burne þat rod hym by

2090bede his mayster abide

[When the bridge was let down, and the broad gates were flung open, both halves of them. The knight crossed himself as he passed the threshold, and praised the porter, and knelt before the prince of that castle and bade him good day, and went on his way with his one servant who was to show him the path to that sorrowful place where he was doomed to receive the rueful blow. They took their way by hills where the boughs of the trees were bare, and they climbed up by cliffs where the frost was clinging. The clouds did not fling down the snow, but gloomy was it beneath. The moor was muggy with mist, and the snow melted on the mountains, and each hill had a cap or mantle of fog, and brooks boiled among the rocks, dashing white on the shores as they rushed downwards, and lonesome was the way as they went by the woodlands until the time came for the sun to rise

that tide.

They rode o'er a hill full high,

The white snow lay beside;

The man who rode him by

Bade his master abide.]

[stanza 84 (long)]

2091for I haf wonnen yow hider wy₃e at þis tyme

2092and now nar ₃e not fer fro þat þat note place

2093þat ₃e han spied and spuryed so specially after

2094bot I schal say yow for soþe syþen I yow knowe

2095and ₃e ar a lede vpon lyue þat I wel louy

2096wolde ₃e worch bi my wytte ₃e worþed þe better

2097þe place þat ₃e prece to ful perelous is halden

2098þer wonez a wy₃e in þat waste þe worst vpon erþe

2099for he is stiffe and sturne and to strike louies

2100and more he is þen any mon vpon myddelerde

2101and his body bigger þen þe best fowre

2102þat ar in arþurez hous hestor oþer oþer

2103he cheuez þat chaunce at þe chapel grene

2104þer passes non bi þat place so proude in his armes

2105þat he ne dynnez hym to deþe with dynt of his honde

2106for he is a mon methles and mercy non vses

2107for be hit chorle oþer chaplayn þat bi þe chapel rydes

2108monk oþer masseprest oþer any mon elles

2109hym þynk as queme hym to quelle as quyk go hymseluen

2110forþy I say þe as soþe as ₃e in sadel sitte

2111com ₃e þere ₃e be kylled may þe kny₃t rede

2112trawe ₃e me þat trwely þa₃ ₃e had twenty lyues

[bob]

2113to spende

[wheel]

2114he hatz wonyd here ful ₃ore

2115on bent much baret bende

2116a₃ayn his dyntez sore

2117₃e may not yow defende

[`For hither,' said the man, 'I have brought thee at this time, and now thou art not far from that famous place about which thou hast so specially asked so many questions. But soothly I will tell thee, since I know thee and thou art one among ten thousand, and I love thee well, that wouldst thou take my counsel it would be better for thee; for the place towards which thou dost press forward is held to be full perilous, for there dwells in that waste one of the worst upon earth. And he is strong and stern, and loves to deal great blows, and greater is he than any man in the world, and his body bigger than the best four knights that are in the house of King Arthur, Hector, or any others. And such chance he achieves at the Green Chapel that none passes that place, though he be proud in his armour, but that he deals them a death-blow by a stroke of his hand. For pitiless is he, and shows no mercy. For whosoever rides past the chapel he thinks it as good to kill him as to remain alive himself, be he churl or chaplain, monk or mass-priest. Therefore I say to thee, forsooth, as thou dost sit in the saddle, if thou comest there, thou shalt be killed, believe thou that, forsooth, though thou hadst twenty lives

to spend.

He has dwelt here of yore;

Do not thither wend,

Against his dintings sore

Thou mayest not thee defend.']

[stanza 85 (long)]

2118forþy goude sir gawayn let þe gome one

2119and gotz away sum oþer gate vpon goddez halue

2120cayrez bi sum oþer kyth þer kryst mot yow spede

2121and I schal hyy me hom a₃ayn and hete yow fyrre

[fol. 119]

2122þat I schal swere bi god and alle his gode hal₃ez

2123as help me god and þe halydam and oþez innoghe

2124þat I schal lelly yow layne and lance neuer tale

2125þat euer ₃e fondet to fle for freke þat I wyst

2126grant merci quoþ gawayn and gruchyng he sayde

2127wel worth þe wy₃e þat woldez my gode

2128and þat lelly me layne I leue wel þou woldez

2129bot helde þou hit neuer so holde and I here passed

2130founded for ferde for to fle in fourme þat þou tellez

2131I were a kny₃t kowarde I my₃t mot be excused

2132bot I wyl to þe chapel for chaunce þat may falle

2133and talk wyth þat ilk tulk þe tale þat me lyste

2134worþe hit wele oþer wo as þe wyrde lykez

[bob]

2135hit hafe

[wheel]

2136þa₃e he be a sturn knape

2137to sti₃tel and and stad with staue

2138ful wel con dry₃tyn schape

2139his seruauntez for to saue

[For thy welfare, Sir Gawain, let him alone, and gang some other gait, for God's dear sake. Go where Christ may speed thee, and I will hie me home again; and further I promise thee on my oath, by God and all His good saints, as help me, God and Our Lady and others, that I will keep thy secret and say not a word that ever thou didst turn back from thy quest.' 'Grammercy,' quoth Gawain, 'well may it be with thee for that thou desirest my good, and wouldst loyally keep a secret, as I believe thou wouldst verily, but didst thou keep it never so truly, were I to turn away for fear as thou dost bid me, a coward knight I should show myself and without excuse. Nay, but I will to the chapel, come what come may, and deal with that fellow as I list, and as Weird doth like, be it for weal

or woe.

Though he be fierce to yield,

And deal a deadly blow,

My God can full well shield

His servant from the foe.']

[stanza 86 (long)]

2140mary quoþ þat oþer mon now þou so much spellez

2141þat þou wylt þyn awen nye nyme to þyseluen

2142and þe lyst lese þy lyf þe lette I ne kepe

2143haf here þi helme on þy hede þi spere in þi honde

2144and ryde me doun þis ilk rake bi ₃on rokke syde

2145til þou be bro₃t to þe boþem of þe brem valay

2146þenne loke a littel on þe launde on þi lyfte honde

2147and þou schal se in þat slade þe self chapel

2148and þe borelych burne on bent þat hit kepez

2149now farez wel on godez half gawayn þe noble

2150for alle þe golde vpon grounde I nolde ge wyth þe

2151ne bere þe fela₃schip þur₃ þis fryth on fote fyrre

2152bi þat þe wy₃e in þe wod wendez his brydel

2153hit þe hors with þe helez as harde as he my₃t

2154lepez hym ouer þe launde and leuez þe kny₃t þere

[bob]

2155al one

[wheel]

2156bi goddez self quoþ gawayn

2157I wyl nauþer grete ne grone

2158to goddez wylle I am ful bayn

2159and to hym I haf me tone

[`Marry,' quoth that other, now thou hast said that thou wilt thrust thyself into such danger, and it listeth thee to lose thy life, I will not hinder thee. Set then thy helmet on thy head, and thy spear in thy hand, and ride down the path by the side of yonder rock till thou shalt come to the bottom of the rugged valley; then take a look round on thy left hand and thou shalt see in the valley the very chapel that thou seekest and the burly fellow that keepeth it. Now fare thee well, and God bless thee, Gawain the noble. For all the gold in the world I would not wend with thee nor bear thee company through this valley a single inch farther.' Then the man turned his horse round in the wood, put his spurs to sides as hard as he could, and galloped over the land, leaving the knight

alone.

'By God's self,' quoth Gawain,

I will neither weep nor groan;

To do His will I am full fain,

He will delver me full soon.']

[fol. 120r]

[stanza 87 (long)]

2160thenne gyrdez he to gryngolet and gederez þe rake

2161schowuez in bi a schore at a scha₃e syde

2162ridez þur₃ þe ro₃e bonk ry₃t to þe dale

2163and þenne he wayted hym aboute and wylde hit hym þo₃t

2164and se₃e no syngne of resette bisydez nowhere

2165bot hy₃e honkkez and brent vpon boþe halue

2166and ru₃e knokled knarrez with knorned stonez

2167þe skwez of þe scowtes skayned hym þo₃t

2168þenne he houed and wythhylde his hors at þat tyde

2169and ofte chaunged his cher þe chapel to seche

2170he sey non suche in no syde and selly hym þo₃t

2171saue a lyttel on a launde a lawe as hit we

2172a bal₃ ber₃ bi a bonke þe brymme bysyde

2173bi a for₃ of a flode þat ferked þare

2174þe borne blubred þerinne as hit boyled hade

2175þe kny₃t kachez his caple and com to þe lawe

2176li₃tez doun luflyly and at a lynde tachez

2177þe rayne and his riche with a ro₃e braunche

2178þenne he bo₃ez to þe ber₃e aboute hit he walkez

2179debatande with hymself quat hit be my₃t

2180hit hade a hole on þe ende and on ayþer syde

2181and ouergrowen with gresse in glodes aywhere

2182and al watz hol₃ inwith nobot an olde caue

2183or a creuisse of an olde cragge he coupe hit no₃t deme

[bob]

2184with spelle

[wheel]

2185we lorde quoþ þe gentyle kny₃t

2186wheþer þis be þe grene chapelle?

2187he my₃t aboute mydny₃t

2188þe dele his matynnes telle

[Then spurred he Gringolet, and betook himself along the path by the side of a wood, and rode over a rough hill into the valley. And he lingered there some time, and a wild place he thought it, for he saw no resting-place, but only high hills on both sides, and rough, rugged rocks and huge boulders, and the hill shadows seemed desolating to him. Then he drew up his horse, and it seemed wondrous strange to him that he saw not the Green Chapel on any side. At length a little way off he caught sight of a round hillock by the side of a brook, and there was a ford across the brook, and the water therein bubbled as though it were boiling. The knight caught up the reins and came to the hill, alighted, and tied up the reins to the rugged branch of a tree. Then he went to the hill and walked round about it, debating within himself what place it might be. It had a hole at the end and on either side, and it was overgrown with tufts of grass and was all round and hollow within. He thought it nought but an old cave or a crevice. Within and about it there seemed to be

a spell.

'Ah lord,' quoth the gentle knight,

Is this the green chapel?

Here truly at midnight

Might the devil his matins tell.']

[stanza 88 (long)]

2189now iwysse quoþ wowayn wysty is here

2190þis oritore is vgly with erbez ouergrowen

2191wel bisemez þe wy₃e wruxled in grene

2192dele here his deuocioun on þe deuelez wyse

2193now I fele hit is þe fende in my fyue wyttez

2194þat hatz stoken me þis steuen to strye me here

2195þis is a chapel of meschaunce þat chekke hit bytyde

2196hit is þe corsedest kyrk þat euer I com inne

[fol. 120]

2197with he₃e helme on his hede his launce in his honde

2198he romez vp to þe roffe of þe ro₃ wonez

2199þene herde he of þat hy₃e hil in a harde roche

2200bi₃onde þe broke in a bonk a wonder breme noyse

2201quat hit clatered in þe clyff as hit cleue schulde

2202as one vpon a gryndelston hade grounden a syþe

2203what hit wharred and whette as water at a mulne

2204what hit rusched and ronge rawþe to here

2205þenne bi godde quoþ gawayn þat here at I trowe

2206is ryched at þe reuerence me renk to mete

[bob]

2207bi rote

[wheel]

2208let god worche we loo

2209hit helppez me not a mote

2210my lif þa₃ I forgoo

2211drede dotz me no lote

[`Now,' said Sir Gawain, 'this is a desert place, I trow. This oratory is loathsome, overgrown as it is with weeds, and well it befitteth that fellow clad in green, for his devotion to the devil. Now in my five wits I ween it is the very devil himself who has made this tryst with me, that he may destroy me. This is a chapel of ill-luck, and the most accursed kirk that I have ever seen, and may ill luck befall it.' With his helmet high on his head and lance in hand, he wandered up to that rocky dwelling. Then came there from a rock in that high hill beyond the brook a wondrous strange noise, and it clattered among the cliffs as though it would cleave them asunder, as though one were grinding a scythe upon a grindstone, and it made a whirring sound like water in a mill, and rushed and sang out and was terrible to hear. 'By God Himself,' said Gawain, 'that is the noise of armour which is being made ready for that fellow wherewith he may come forth to meet me

by rote.

Let God work me woe.

It helpeth me not a mote,

My life though I forgo,

No noise shall make me dote.']

[stanza 89 (long)]

2212thenne þe kny₃t con calle ful hy₃e

2213who sti₃tlez in þis sted me steuen to holde

2214for now is gode gawayn goande ry₃t here

2215if any wy₃e o₃t wyl wynne hider fast

2216oþer now oþer neuer his nedez to spede

2217abyde quoþ on on þe bonke abouen ouer his hede

2218and þou schal haf al in hast þat I þe hy₃t ones

2219₃et he rusched on þat rurde rapely a þrowe

2220and wyth quettyng awharf er he wolde ly₃t

2221and syþen he keuerez bi a cragge and comez of a hole

2222whyrlande out of a wro wyth a felle weppen

2223a denez ax nwe dy₃t þe dynt witho ₃elde

2224with a borelych bytte bende by þe halme

2225fyled in a fylor fowre fote large

2226hit watz no lasse bi þat lace þat lemed ful bry₃t

2227and þe gome in þe grene gered as fyrst

2228boþe þe lyre and þe leggez lokkez and berde

2229saue þat fayre on his fote he foundez on þe erþe

2230sette þe stele to þe stone and stalked bysyde

2231when he wan to þe watter þer he wade nolde

2232he hypped ouer on hys ax and orpedly strydez

2233bremly broþe on a bent þat brode watz aboute

[bob]

2234on snawe

[fol. 121r]

[wheel]

2235sir gawayn þe kny₃t con mete

2236he ne lutte hym noþyng lowe

2237þat oþer sayde now sir swete

2238of steuen mon may þe trowe

[Then a loud voice the knight 'gan call, 'Who dwells in this place and would hold par1ey with me? For now is good Sir Gawain in the right way at last, and if any man would have aught with him let him come hither quickly; now or never is his chance.' 'Tarry a moment,' quoth a voice on the hill above his head, 'and thou shalt receive all that I promised thee in right good time.' Thereupon he rushed forward at a great speed till he arrived near a crag and came whirling out of a hole in a corner of it with a fell weapon in his hand; and it was a new Danish axe with which to give the blow, with a huge piece of steel bent at the handle, and it was four feet long and filed at the grindstone, and it gleamed full brightly. It was the Green Knight, dressed as at their first meeting, the same in face and legs, looks, and beard, save that he went on foot. When he reached the water he would not wade therein, but hopped over on his axe and strode boldly forward over

the snow.

Sir Gawain the knight 'gan meet,

To him he bowed not low;

The other said, 'Now, my sweet,

The tryst thou keepest, I trow?']

[stanza 90 (long)]

2239gawayn quoþ þat grene gome god þe mot loke

2240iwysse þou art welcon wy₃e to my place

2241and þou hatz tymed þi trauayl as truee mon schulde

2242and þou knowez þe couenauntez kest vus bytwene

2243at þis tyme twelmonyth þou toke þat þe falled

2244and I schulde at þis nwe ₃ere ₃eply þe quyte

2245and we are in þis valay verayly oure one

2246here ar no renkes vs to rydde rele as vus likez

2247haf þy þy helme of þy hede and haf here þy pay

2248busk no more debate þen I þe bede þenne

2249when þou wypped of my hede at a wap one

2250nay bi god quoþ gawayn þat me gost lante

2251I schal gruch þe no grwe for grem þat fallez

2252bot sty₃tel þe vpon on strok and I schal stonde stylle

2253and warp þe no wernyng to worch as þe lykez

[bob]

2254nowhare

[wheel]

2255he lened with þe nek and lutte

2256and schewed þat schyre al bare

2257and lette as he no₃t dutte

2258for drede he wolde not dare

[`Gawain,' quoth the Green Knight, 'may God protect thee. I wis thou art welcome to my place, and thou hast kept thy promise as befitteth a true man. Thou knowest the covenant between us made -- how a twelvemonth ago thou didst take that which befell thee and I was to be quits with thee on this New Year's Day. We are alone verily in this valley; there are no knights here to separate us. Doff thy helmet and take thy pay, and make no more ado than I did when thou didst whip off my head at one blow.' 'Nay, by the most high God,' said Gawain, 'so I have spirit I grudge thee not thy will for any mischief that may befall me; but I stand here for thy stroke, and do not deny thee thy will

anywhere.'

Down he bent his head,

And showed his neck all bare.

There was no sign of dread,

Or that he would not dare.]

[stanza 91 (long)]

2259then þe gome in þe grene grayþed hym swyþe

2260gederez vp hys grymme tole gawayn to smyte

2261with alle þe bur in his body he ber hit on lofte

2262munt as ma₃tyly as marre hym he wolde

2263hade hit dryuen adoun as dre₃ as he atled

2264þer hade ben ded of his dynt þat do₃ty watz euer

2265bot gawayn on þat giserne glyfte hym bysyde

2266as hit com glydande adoun on glode hym to schende

2267and schranke a lytel with þe schuldered for þe scharp yrne

2268þat oþer schalk wyth a schunt þe schene wythhaldez

2269and þenne repreued he þe prynce with mony prowde wordez

2270þou art not gawayn quoþ þe gome þat is so goud halden

2271þat neuer ar₃ed for no here by hylle ne be vale

[fol. 121]

2272and now þou fles for ferde er þou fele harmez

2273such cowardise of þat kny₃t cowþe I neuer here

2274nawþer fyked I ne fla₃e freke quen þou myntest

2275ne kest no kauelacion in kyngez hous arthor

2276my hede fla₃ to my fote and ₃et fla₃ I neuer

2277and þou er any harme hent ar₃ez in hert

2278wherfore þe better burne me burde be called

[bob]

2279þerfore

[wheel]

2280quoþ gawayn I schunt onez

2281and so wyl I no more

2282bot þa₃ my hede falle on þe stonez

2283I con not hit restore

[Then the Green Knight get himself ready quickly, and gathered up his grim weapon with which to smite Sir Gawain, and with all the strength of his body he raised it aloft and made a feint of destroying him and drove it downwards as though he were right angry with him, so that the doughty knight would have been killed by that blow. But Gawain started aside a little from the axe as it came gliding downwards to destroy him on that hillside, and shrank a little from that sharp iron with his shoulders. And the other withheld somewhat the shining weapon, and then reproved the princely knight with many a proud word. 'Thou art not Gawain,' said he, 'that is holden to be so brave that never winced a hair by hill or valley, for now thou dost flee for fear, ere thou art hurt at all. Never heard I of such cowardice of that knight, neither did I shrink or flee when thou didst strike me, nor did I cavil at all in King Arthur's house. My head flew down to my foot, yet fled I not, and thou, ere any harm befell thee, waxest timid in heart. The better man of the two it behoves me to be called

therefore.

Quoth Gawain, 'I shrank once,

But so will I no more,

Yet though my head fell on the stones

I cannot it restore.']

[stanza 92 (long)]

2284bot busk burne bi þi fayth and bryng me to þe poynt

2285dele to me my destine and do hit out of honde

2286for I schal stonde þe a strok and start no more

2287til þyn ax haue me hitte haf here my trawþe

2288haf at þe þenne quoþ þat oþer and heuez hit alofte

2289and waytez as wroþely as he wode were

2290he myntez at hym ma₃tyly bot not þe mon rynez

2291withhelde heterly hs honde er hit hurt my₃t

2292gawayn grayþely hit bydez and glent with no membre

2293bot stode stylle as þe ston oþer a stubbe auþer

2294þat raþeled is in roche grounde with rotez a hundreth

2295þen muryly efte con he mele þe mon in þe grene

2296so now þou hatz þi hert holle hitte me bihous

2297halde þe now þe hy₃e hode þat arþur þe ra₃t

2298and kepe þy kanel at þis kest ₃if hit keuer may

2299gawayn ful gryndelly with greme þenne sayde

2300wy þresch on þou þro mon þou þretez to longe

2301I hope þat þi hert ar₃e wyth þyn awen seluen

2302for soþe quoþ þat oþer freke so felly þou spekez

2303I wyl no lenger on lyte lette þin ernde

[bob]

2304ri₃t nowe

[wheel]

2305þenne tas he he hym stryþe to stryke

2306and frounsez boþe lyppe and browe

2307no meruayle þa₃ hym myslyke

2308þat hoped of no rescowe

[But hasten thou, and let us come to the point. Deal me my destiny, and do it out of hand, for I will stand thee a stroke, and start aside no more till thine axe hath smitten me: have here my troth.' 'Have at thee then,' quoth that other, and he heaved the axe aloft and looked so angry that he might have been a madman. He struck at him mightily, but withheld his hand suddenly ere it could hurt him. Gawain promptly abided it and shrank in no limb of his body, but stood still as a stone or a tree stock that is rooted in the rocky ground with a hundred roots. Then merrily 'gan he speak, the man in green, 'So now thou hast thy heart whole and while it behoves me to smite. Hold high thy hood that Arthur gave thee, and keep thy neck to thy body lest it get in the way again.' Gawain then answered him full fiercely, and with heart sorrow, 'Strike then, thou bold man; thou dost threaten too long. I hope that thy heart may wax timid.' 'Forsooth,' quoth that other, 'so fiercely thou dost speak, I will no longer hinder thee of thine errand

right now.'

Then took he a stride to strike,

And wrinkled lips and brow,

No marvel it did him mislike,

Who hoped for no rescue now.]

[stanza 93 (long)]

2309he lyftes ly₃tly his lome and let hit doun fayre

[fol. 122r]

2310with þe barbe of þe bitte bi þe bare nek

2311þa₃ he homered heterly hurt hym no more

2312bot snyrt hym on þat on syde þat seuered þe hyde

2313þe scharp schrank to þe flesche þur₃ þe schyre grece

2314þat þe schene blod ouer his schulderes schot to þe erþe

2315and quen þe burne sey þe blode blenk on þe snawe

2316he sprit forth spenne fote more þen a spere lenþe

2317hent heterly his helme and on his hed cast

2318schot with his schulderez his fayre schelde vnder

2319braydez out a bry₃t sworde and bremely he spekez

2320neuer syn þat he watz burne borne of his moder

2321watz he neuer in þis worlde wy₃e half so blyþe

2322blynne burne of þy bur bede me no mo

2323I haf a stroke in þis sted withoute stryf hent

2324and if þow rechez me any mo I redyly schal quyte

2325and ₃elde ₃ederly a₃ayn and þerto ₃e tryst

[bob]

2326and foo

[wheel]

2327bot on stroke here me fallez

2328þe couenaunt schop ry₃t so

2329fermed in arþurez hallez

2330and þerfore hende now hoo

[He raised lightly his axe and let it fall with the barb on his bare neck; and though he hotly hammered he did not hurt him much, but cut his skin a little. The sharp sword pierced through the flesh, so that the bright blood spurted over his shoulders to the ground; and when he saw the blood on the snow he started forward more than a spear length, hastily seized his helmet and put it on his head, and adjusted his shield; then brandishing forth a glittering sword, he spake fierce words, and never since his mother bare him was he half so merry. 'Cease now from thy strokes. Offer me no more. I have taken a blow in this place without striving; if thou givest me any more I will readily return them, be ye of that well assured,

my foe.

But one stroke shall on me fall,

The covenant was right so

Made by us in Arthur's hall,

And therefore, knight, now ho!']

[stanza 94 (long)]

2331the haþel heldet hym fro and on his ax rested

2332sette þe schaft vpon schore and to þe scharp lened

2333and loked to þe leude þat on þe launde ₃ede

2334how þat do₃ty dredles deruely þer stondez

2335armed ful a₃lez in hert hit hym lykez

2336þenn he melez muryly wyth a much steuen

2337and wyth a rykande rurde he to þe renk sayde

2338bolde burne on þis bent be not so gryndel

2339no mon here vnmanerly þe mysboden habbe

2340ne kyd bot as couenaunde at kyngez kort schaped

2341I hy₃t þe a strok and þou hit hatz halde þe wel payed

2342I relece þe of þe remnaunt of ry₃tes alle oþer

2343iif I deliuer had bene a boffet paraunter

2344I couþe wroþeloker haf waret to þe haf wro₃t anger

2345fyrst I mansed þe muryly with a mynt one

2346and roue þe wyth no rof sore with ry₃t I þe profered

[fol. 122]

2347for þe forwarde þat we fest in þe fyrst ny₃t

2348and þou trystyly þe trawþe and trwly me haldez

2349al þe gayne þow me gef as god mon schulde

2350þat oþer munt for þe morne mon I þe profered

2351þou kyssedes my clere wyf þe cossez me ra₃tez

2352for boþe two here I þe bede bot two bare myntes

[bob]

2353boute scaþe

[wheel]

2354trwe mon trwe restore

2355þenne þar mon drede no waþe

2356at þe þrid þou fayled þore

2357and þerfor þat tappe ta þe

[The man held back and rested upon his axe, set the shaft on the ground, and leaned on the point, looked at Sir Gawain, and saw how bravely he stood there, doughty and dreadless and fully armed, and in his heart he was well pleased. Then spake he merrily and loudly, with a rushing sound, and said, 'Bold man, on this hill be not thou so angry, for no man has done thee wrong, unmannerly nor In any wise, except as was agreed in the court of King Arthur. I promised thee a stroke -- thou hast it; hold thyself well payed. I hereby release thee of the remnant and of all other rights. Had I so liked, I could have dealt thee a worse blow; but first I menaced thee in playful wise, and cut thee not at all, though with right I proffered it to thee for the covenant made between us the first night when thou faithfully didst keep thy troth and gavest me all thy gain as a true man should. The second blow I gave thee for the morning when thou didst kiss my beautiful wife, and gavest me the kisses, and for the two kisses I gave thee here but two blows without scathe

or tear.

A true man keeps his sooth,

And no scathe need he fear,

Thou didst flinch at the third, in truth,

So that stroke I gave thee here.]

[stanza 95 (long)]

2358for hit is my wede þat þou werez þat ilke wouen girdel

2359myn owen wyf hit þe weued I wot wel for soþe

2360now know I wel þy cosses and þy costes als

2361and þe wowyng of my wyf I wro₃t hit myseluen

2362I sende hir to asay þe and sothly me þynkkez

2363on þe fautlest freke þat euer on fote ₃ede

2364as perle bi þe quite pese is of prys more

2365so is gawayn in god fayth bi oþer gay kny₃tez

2366bot here yow lakked a lyttel sir and lewte yow wonted

2367bot þat watz for no wylyde werke ne wowyng nauþer

2368bot for ₃e lufed your lyf þe lasse I yow blame

2369þat oþper stif mon in study stod a gret whyle

2370so agreued for greme he gryed withinne

2371alle þe blode of his brest blende in his face

2372þat al he schrank for schome þat þe schalk talked

2373þe forme worde vpon folde þat þe freke meled

2374corsed worth cowarddyse and couetyse boþe

2375in yow is vylany and vyse þat vertue disstryez

2376þenne he ka₃t to þe knot and þe kest lawsez

2377brayde broþely þe belt to þe burne seluen

2378lo þer þe falssyng foule mot hit falle

2379for care of þy knokke cowardyse me ta₃t

2380to acorde me with couetyse my kynde to forsake

2381þat is larges and lewte þat longez to kny₃tez

2382now am I fawty and falce and ferde haf ben euer

2383of trecherye and vntrawþe boþe bityde sor₃e

[bob]

2384and care

[fol. 123r]

[wheel]

2385I biknowe yow kny₃t here stylle

2386al fawty is my fare

2387letez me ouertake your wylle

2388and efte I schal be ware

[For in truth thou art wearing my weed in that same woven girdle which my wife gave to thee, as I wot well. And I know all about thy kisses and thy virtues also, and it was I myself who brought about the wooing of my wife. I sent her to assail thee, and I found thee to be the most faultless man on earth; as pearl is of more price than white pease, so is Gawain, in good faith, than all other gay knights. But, good sir, in this thou wast lacking a little in loyalty, not in any amorous working or wooing; but that thou didst love thy life the less I blame thee.' Then Sir Gawain stood thoughtful for a long time, and he trembled with rage, and all the blood of his body rushed to his face, and he shrank for shame all the time the Green Knight was talking. And the first words he uttered were, 'A curse on both cowardice and covetousness! In them are both villany and vice, that destroy virtue.' Then he caught hold of the girdle and violently flung it at the knight. 'Lo, there is the false thing, and may evil befall it. For fear of thy stroke cowardice seized me, and for covetousness I was false to my nature, which is loyal and true as befitteth a knight. Now am I faulty and false and fearful. May sorrow betide Treachery and Untruth

and Care.

I know thee knight here still.

All faulty is my fare,

Let me but thwart thy will,

And after I will be ware.']

[stanza 96 (long)]

2389thenn lo₃e þat oþer leude and luflyly sayde

2390I halde hit hardilyly hole þe harme þat I hade

2391þou art confessed so clene beknowen of þy mysses

2392and hatz þe penaunce apert of þe poynt of myn egge

2393I halde þe polysed of þat ply₃t and pured as clene

2394as þou hadez neuer forfeted syþen þou watz fyrst borne

2395and I gif þe sir þe gurdel þat is golde hemmed

2396for hit is grene as my goune sir gawayn ₃e maye

2397þenk vpon þis ilke þrepe þer þou forth þryngez

2398among prynces of prys and þis a pure token

2399of þe chaunce of þe grene chapel at cheualrous kny₃tez

2400and ₃e schal in þis new ₃er a₃ayn to my wonez

2401and we schyn reuel þe remnaunt of þis ryche fest

[bob]

2402ful bene

[wheel]

2403þer laþed hym fast þe lorde

2404and sayde With my wyf I wene

2405we schal yow wel acorde

2406þat watz your enmy kene

[Then the other laughed and said, 'I reck nought of the harm I had of thee, for thou hast made such clean confession of thy misdeeds, and hast done such penance at the point of my sword that I hold thee free from thy fault and as innocent as if thou hadst never forfeited innocence since thou wast born. And here I give to thee again the girdle, that is gold hemmed and green as my gown. And thou shalt think on this chiding when thou goest forth among princes of price, and this shall be a pure token of thy chance at the Green Chapel, to chivalrous knights. Thou shalt come in this New Year and turn again to my dwelling, and we will spend the remnant of this noble feast in revellings as shall

be seen.'

Thus invited Sir Gawain the lord,

And quoth he 'My lady, I ween,

She shall thee well accord,

Though she was thine enemy keen.']

[stanza 97 (long)]

2407nay for soþe quoþ þe segge and sesed hys helme

2408and hatz hit of hendely and þe haþel þonkkez

2409I haf soiorned sadly sele yow bytyde

2410and he ₃elde hit yow ₃are þat ₃arkkez al menskes

2411and comaundez me to þat cortays your comlych fere

2412boþe þat on and þat oþer myn honoured ladyez

2413þat þus hor kny₃t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled

2414bot hit is no ferly þa₃ a fole madde

2415and þur₃ wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor₃e

2416for so watz adam in erde with one bygyled

2417and salamon with fele sere and samson eftsonez

2418dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde and dauyth þerafter

2419watz blended with barsabe þat much bale þoled

2420now þese were wrathed wyth her wyles hit were a wynne huge

2421to luf hom wel and leue hem not a leude þat couþe

[fol. 123]

2422for þes wer forne þe freest þat fol₃ed alle þe sele

2423exellently of alle þyse oþer vnder heuenryche

[bob]

2424þat mused

[wheel]

2425and alle þay were biwyled

2426with wyth wymmen þat þay vsed

2427þa₃ I be now bigyled

2428me þink me burde be excused

[`Nay, forsooth,' quoth Gawain, and he seized his helmet, gracefully doffed it, and thanked the Green Knight. 'Sadly have I sojourned, and may joy betide thee from Him who hath all men in His keeping. Commend me to that courteous one thy noble lady, and to the ancient dame, my honoured ladies who have so cunningly beguiled me. It is no wonder if a fool go mad in loving, and through the wiles of a woman be brought to sorrow, for so was Adam beguiled by one woman and Solomon by many; and to Samson, Delilah dealt him his weird, and David was beguiled by Barsabe, through whom he suffered great loss. All these were troubled by the wiles of women. Great joy it would be to love them well, and believe them not, if a man could do it. For of those who under heaven

have mused,

All of them were beguiled

By women that they used;

Though I be now be-wiled

I think I am excused.']

[stanza 98 (long)]

2429bot your gordel quoþ gawayn god yow for₃elde

2430þat wyl I welde wyth guod wylle not for þe wynne golde

2431ne þe saynt ne þe sylk ne þe syde pendaundes

2432for wele ne for worchyp ne for þe wlonk werkkez

2433bot in syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte

2434when I ride in renoun remorde to myseluen

2435þe faut and þe fayntyse of þe flesche crabbed

2436how tender hit is to entyse teches of fylþe

2437and þus quen pryde schal me pryk for prowes of armes

2438þe loke to þis luf lace schal leþe my hert

2439bot on I wolde yow pray displeses yow neuer

2440syn ₃e be lorde of þe ₃onder londe þer I haf lent inne

2441wyth yow wyth worschyp þe wy₃e hit yow ₃elde

2442þat vphaldez þe heuen and on hy₃ sittez

2443how norne ₃e yowre ry₃t nome and þenne no more

2444þat schal I telle þe trwly quoþ þat oþer þenne

2445bertilak de hautdesert I hat in þis londe

2446þur₃ my₃t of morgne la faye þat in my house lenges

2447and koyntyse of clergye bi craftes wel lerned

2448þe maystres of merlyn mony ho taken

2449for ho hatz dalt drwry ful dere sumtyme

2450with þat conable klerk þat knowes alle your kny₃tez

[bob]

2451at hame

[wheel]

2452morgne þe goddes

2453þerfore hit is hir name

2454weldez non so hy₃e hawtesse

2455þat ho ne con make ful tame

[`But for thy girdle;' quoth Gawain, 'God reward thee for it, and I will wield it with good will, not for the gold, nor the samite, nor the silk, nor for its pendants, nor for weal nor worship, nor for its fair workings, but as a sign of my surfeit oft shall I look upon it; and when I ride in renown I shall feel remorse for the fault and cowardice of the crabbed flesh, and how easy it is to be smirched by filth, and thus, when pride shall prick me through prowess of arms, the sight of this lovely lace shall moderate the beating of my heart. But one thing I pray thee, and may it not displease thee, since thou art lord of that land where I have sojourned with thee in worship -- and may the Lord reward thee that sitteth on high and upholds the heavens -- tell me thy name, and no more do I ask thee.' 'That shall I tell thee truly,' quoth that other. 'Bernlak de Haudesert I am called in this land; and through might of Morgan le Fay, who lodges in my house, and the cunning of the clergy, I am well learned in crafts. She was the mistress of Merlin, and many has she taken captive by her wiles. For she has made love for a long time to that famous clerk that knows all your knights

at home.

Morgan the goddess

Therefore is her name;

There is no haughtiness

She cannot make full tame.']

[stanza 99 (long)]

2456ho wayned me vpon þis wyse to your wynne halle

2457for to assay þe surquidre ₃if hit soth were

2458þat rennes of þe grete renoun of þe rounde table

2459ho wayned me þis wonder your wyttez to reue

[fol. 124r]

2460for to haf greued gaynour and gart hir to dy₃e

2461with gopnyng of þat ilke gomen þat gostlych speked

2462with his hede in his honde bifore þe hy₃e table

2463þat is ho þat is at home þe auncian lady

2464ho is euen þyn aunt arþurez half suster

2465þe duches do₃ter of tyntagelle þat dere vter after

2466hade arþur vpon þat aþel is nowþe

2467þerfore I eþe þe haþel to com to þy naunt

2468make myry in my house my meny þe louies

2469and I wol þe as wel wy₃e bi my faythe

2470as any gome vnder god for þy grete trauþe

2471and he nikked hym naye he nolde bi no wayes

2472þay acolen and kyssen ayþer oþer

2473to þe prynce of paradise and parten ry₃t þere

[bob]

2474on coolde

[wheel]

2475gawayn on blonk ful bene

2476to þe kyngez bur₃ buskez bolde

2477and þe kny₃t in þe enker grene

2478whiderwarde so euer he wolde

[`It was she who brought me in this wise to your joyous I hall, to assay the pride thereof if it were truly spoken of, and to put to the test the great renown of the Round Table. She it was who made me do this marvel to put you all out of your wits, in order to vex and pain Guinevere and to cause her death, together with all that ghostly game and the knight with his head in his hand before the high table. It was the work of Morgan, who is that ancient dame thou didst see in my house. And she is thine aunt, and half-sister to Arthur, the daughter of the Duchess of Tintagel, who afterwards married Uther and gave birth to Arthur, who now is king. Therefore I implore thee, come and see thy aunt. Make merry in my house, for my servants all love thee, and I wish thee well, by my faith, as any man under heaven because of thy great truth.' But Sir Gawain denied with a nay, and said he would not in any wise. Then they embraced and kissed and commended each other to the King of Paradise, and they parted right there

on the wold.

Gawain mounts horses, I ween,

To the king's town hastes him, bold.

The knight, in weeds of green,

Went o'er the moorland cold.]

[stanza 100 (long)]

2479wylde wayez in þe worlde wowen now rydez

2480on gryngolet þat þe grace hade geten of his lyue

2481ofte he herbered in house and ofte al þeroute

2482and mony aventure in vale and venquyst ofte

2483þat I ne ty₃t at þis tyme in tale to remene

2484þe hurt watz hole þat he hade hent in his nek

2485and þe blykkande belt he bere þeraboute

2486abelef as a bauderyk bounden bi his syde

2487loken vnder his lyfte arme þe lace with a knot

2488in tokenyng he watz tane in tech of a faute

2489and þus he commes to þe court kny₃t al in sounde

2490þer wakned wele in þat wone when wyst þe grete

2491þat gode gawayn watz commen gayn hit hym þo₃t

2492þe kyng kyssez þe kny₃t and þe whene alce

2493and syþen mony syker kny₃t þat so₃t hym to haylce

2494of his fare þat hym frayned and ferlyly he telles

2495biknowez alle þe costes of care þat he hade

2496þe chaunce of þe chapel þe chere of þe kny₃t [fol. 124]

2497þe luf of þe ladi þe lace at þe last

2498þe nirt in þe nek he naked hem schewed

2499þat he la₃t for his vnleute at þe leudes hondes

[bob]

2500for blame

[wheel]

2501he tened quen he schulde telle

2502he groned for gref and grame

2503þe blod in his face con melle

2504when he hit schulde schewe for schame

[Gawain rode over wild ways of the world. Sometimes he found rest in houses, and sometimes in the open air, and had many adventures in the valleys, and oft he overcame, and I will not try to tell it all. The hurt was healed that he had in his neck, and he still carried the glittering belt at his side; under his left arm was the lace, tied with a knot, in token that he was taken in a fault. Thus he came to court, a knight all unhurt. There was joy in that hall when the great ones knew that Sir Gawain was come back, and great gain they thought it. The king kissed the knight, and the queen also, and many a faithful knight sought to embrace him, and they asked him of his faring, and he told them all the wonders thereof and all the labours he had endured, the chance of the chapel, the doings of the Green Knight, the love-making of the lady, and of the lace last of all. Then he showed them the cut in his neck which for his disloyalty he received at the hand of the Green Knight

for blame.

He moaned as he did it tell,

The blood to his face then came,

As he groaned for grief as well,

When he showed it to them for shame.]

[stanza 101 (long)]

2505lo lorde quoþ þe leude and þe lace hondeled

2506þis is þe bende of þis blame I bere my nek

2507þis is þe laþe and þe losse þat I la₃t haue

2508of couardise and couetyse þat I haf ca₃t þare

2509þis is þe token of vntrawþe þat I am tan inne

2510and I mot nedez hit were wyle I may last

2511for non may hyden his harme bot vnhap ne may hit

2512for þer hit onez is tachched twynne wil hit neuer

2513þe kyng comfortez þe kny₃t and alle þe court als

2514la₃en loude þerat and luflyly acorden

2515þat lordes and ladis þat longed to þe table

2516vche burne of þe broþerhede a bauderyk schulde haue

2517a bende abelef hym aboute of a bry₃t grene

2518and þat for sake of þat segge in swete to were

2519for þat watz acorded þe renoun of þe rounde table

2520and he honoured þat hit hade euermore after

2521as hit is breued in þe best boke of romaunce

2522þus in arthurus day þis aunter bitidde

2523þe brutus bokez þerof beres wyttenesse

2524syþen brutus þe bolde burne bo₃ed hider fyrst

2525after þe segge and þe asaute watz sesed at troye

[bob]

2526iwysse

[wheel]

2527mony aunterez here biforne

2528haf fallen suche er þis

2529now þat here þe croun of þorne

2530he bryng vus to his blysse amen

[`Lo, my lord,' quoth the knight as he handled the lace, 'this is the bond and sign of my shame, this is the loss and the hurt that I have suffered through cowardice and covetousness. It is the token of untruth, and I must needs wear it while life shall last, for none may hide it, for when it is once fixed upon any one never will it pass from him.' The king comforted the knight, as did all the court; and they laughed loudly, and it was agreed that all the lords and ladies of the Round Table, each member of the brotherhood, should have a lace belt, a band of bright green, and wear it for the sake of Sir Gawain as long as they lived. And this was the renown of the Round Table, and he that had it was held in great honour for evermore, as I have seen it written in the best book of romance. Thus in King Arthur's day did this adventure betide. The Brutus books bear witness to it, since the bold Knight Brutus came hither first after the siege and the assault ceased at Troy, as

I wis.

Many adventures herebefore

Have befallen such ere this.

Now He that thorn-crown for us bore

Bring us to His bliss. Amen.]

[motto]

hony soyt qui mal pence

Notes

11] ticius: tirius [Silverstein] TG; tiscius AW; tuscius [or] tirius S

31] as tit: as-tit TG; astit AW; as tit S

37] kryst masse: krystmasse TG; krystmasse AW; krystmasse S

46] glaumande: glaum ande [Emerson] TG; glaum ande AW; glaum ande [Emerson] S

58] werere: were TG; were AW; were S

67] ₃eres₃iftes: ₃eres-₃iftes TG; ; ₃eres ₃iftes AW; ₃eres ₃iftes S

81] discry: discrye TG; discrye AW; discrye S

88] lenge: longe TG; longe AW; longe S

95] of of: of TG; of AW; of S

100] watz: watz þe [Madden] TG; watz þe [Madden] S

106] with alle: withalle TG; with alle AW; withalle S

113] wit: with TG; with AW; with S

124] syluen': sylueren TG; sylueren AW; sylueren S

140] half etayn: Half etayn TG; Half-etayn AW; Half etayn S

144] bot: Both [Napier] TG; Both AW; Both [Napier] S

150] enker grene: enker-grene TG; enker grene AW; enker grene S

153] with inne: withinne TG; withinne AW; withinne S

157] wel haled: wel-haled TG; wel-haled AW; wel-haled S
þat same grene: same TG; same grene AW; same hewe S

168] pe: þe TG; þe AW; þe S

171] scurtes: skyrtes [Menner] TG; ; scurtes AW; skurtes [Gollancz] S

180] hed: hed and S

182] as as: as TG; as AW; as S

190] anoþer: an oþer TG; anoþer AW; an oþer S

203] hawbrgh: hawbergh TG; hawbergh AW; hawbrgh S

210] hede: lenkþe [Davis] TG; hede AW; lenkþe [Davis] S
lenkþe: hede [Davis] TG; lenkþe AW; hede [Davis] S

236] lowande: glowande TG; glowande AW; glowande [Emerson] S

242] stonstil: stonstil TG; ston-stil AW; stonstil S

255] quat so: quat-so TG; quatso AW; quatso S

260] stel gere: stel-gere TG; stel-gere AW; stel gere S

282] fo: so TG; so AW; so S

293] quit clayme: quit-clayme TG; quit-clayme AW; quitclayme S

306] quo so: quo-so TG; quoso AW; quoso S

308] richly: richely TG; richly AW; richely [Davis] S

312] gry dellayk: gryndellayk TG; gryndellayk AW; gryndellayk S

328] la₃t: la₃t hit AW

336] hyns: hys TG; hys AW; hys S
dintez: dinte S

343] gawan: wawan TG; ; wawan AW; wawan S

382] quat so: quat-so TG; quatso AW; quatso S

384] fo: so TG; so AW; so S

395] where so: where-so TG; whereso AW; whereso S

397] to day: to-day TG; today AW; to-day S

398] plate: place TG; place AW; place S

403] for soþe: for-soþe TG; ; for soþe AW; for soþe S

425] scade: schade TG; schade AW; scade S

432] ruyschly: runyschly TG; runyschly AW; runyschly S

438] ho we: he were TG; nowe [Cawley] AW; nowe [Morris] S

440] bluk: bulk [Onions] TG; bluk AW; bulk [Onions] S

446] y₃e lyddez: y₃e-lyddez TG; y₃e-lyddez AW; y₃elyddez S

456] behoueus: behoues TG; behoues AW; behoues S

470] to day: to-day TG; today AW; to-day S

494] staf ful: stafful TG; staf-ful AW; stafful S

531] sage: fage [Onions] TG; fage [Onions] AW; fage [Onions] S

536] alhalday: al-hal-day TG; al hal day AW; al hal day S

548] to morne: to-morne TG; tomorne AW; to-morne S

552] doddinanal: doddinaual TG; doddinaual AW; doddinal S

586] cote armure: cote-arumure TG; cote-armure AW; cote-armure S

591] ouer: oþer TG; oþer AW; oþer [Morris] S

594] cort ferez: cort-ferez TG; cort-ferez AW; cort ferez S

629] emdelez: endelez TG; endelez AW; endelez S

634] verertuez: vertuez TG; vertuez AW; vertuez S

644] quere soeuer: quere-so-euer TG; queresoeuer AW; queresoeuer S

646] fong: feng TG; fong AW; fong S

647] heuen quene: heuen-quene TG; heuen quene AW; heuen quene S

660] quere: oquere TG; oquere AW; oquere S

671] stonfyr: ston-fyr TG; ston-fyr AW; ston fyr S

683] cauelounz: cauelaciounz TG; cauelaciounz AW; cauelaciounz S

697] noghe: neghe TG; neghe AW; neghe S

705] clapel: chapel TG; chapel AW; chapel S

718] fo: So TG; So AW; So S

726] was: nas TG; nas [Davis] AW; nas [Davis] S

727] schadden: schadde TG; schadde [Gollancz] AW; schadde [TG] S

732] ysse ikkles: iisse-ikkles TG; iisseikkles AW; iisseikkles S

751] seruy: seruyse TG; seruyse AW; seruyse S

756] to morne: to-morne TG; tomorne AW; tomorne S

774] say: sayn TG; sayn AW; sayn S

777] gederez: gerdez [Napier] TG; gederez AW; gerdez [Napier] S

785] bonk: blonk TG; bonk AW; blonk [Davis] S
blonk: bonk TG; blonk AW; bonk [Davis] S

795] towre: towres TG; towres AW; towres S

798] chalk whyt: chalkwhyt TG; chalk-whyt AW; chalkwhyt S

803] innghe: innoghe TG; innoghe AW; innoghe S

813] trowoe: trowee TG; trowee AW; trowoe S

815] wy₃e: wy₃e ₃erne and com TG; wy₃e ₃erne and com [Davis] AW; wy₃e ₃erne and com [Davis] S

845] beuer hwed: beuer-hwed TG; beuer-hwed AW; beuer-hwed S

850] clesly: chefly TG; chesly AW; chefly S

856] blaunmer: blaunner [Gollancz] TG; blaunmer AW; blaunmer S

862] hem: hym TG; hem AW; hym S

865] hyn: hym TG; hym AW; hym S

872] my₃t: mo₃t TG; mo₃t [TG] AW; mo₃t S

874] fy₃t: fo₃t TG; fo₃t [TG] AW; fo₃t S

877] þa: þat TG; þat AW; þat S

883] cefly: chefly TG; chefly AW; chefly S

884] tapit: tabil TG; tabil [Gollancz] AW; tabil [Gollancz] S

890] double felde: double-felde TG; doublefelde AW; doublefelde S

893] sawes so sle₃ez: sawes so sle₃e TG; sawses so sle₃e [Napier] AW; sawses so sle₃e [TG] S

927] luf talkyng: luf-talkyng TG; luf-talkyng AW; luf talkyng S

930] claplaynez: chaplaynez TG; chaplaynez AW; chaplaynez S

946] he: ho [Wright] TG; ho [Wright] AW; ho [Wright] S

956] scheder: schedez TG; schedes AW; schedez S

958] mylk quyte: chalkquyte [Onions] TG; chalk-quyte [Onions] AW; chalkquyte [Onions] S

960] toret: toreted TG; toret AW; toreted [Davis] S

967] bay: bal₃ TG; bal₃ [TG] AW; bal₃ [TG] S

971] went: lent [Andrew] TG; lent [Andrew] AW; lent [Andrew] S

987] wedez: wede TG; wede AW; wede [TG] S

992] kyng: lord TG; lord [Gollancz] AW; lord [TG] S

1014] and: þat TG; þat AW; þat [TG] S

1030] hymne: chymne TG; chymne AW; chymne S

1032] and: þat TG; þat AW; þat S

1037] nerci: merci TG; merci AW; merci [Madden] S

1044] answrez: answarez TG; answrez AW; answrez S

1053] wot: ne wot TG; not AW; not [Madden] S

1069] þa: þat TG; þat AW; þat [Morris] S

1092] ₃owe: ₃owre TG; ₃owre AW; ₃owre [Madden] S

1106] quat soeuer: quat-so-euer TG; quatsoeuer AW; quatsoeuer S

1129] he: her TG; her AW; her [Madden] S

1136] bent felde: bent-felde TG; bentfelde AW; bentfelde S

1137] þat þat: þat TG; þat AW; þat S

1173] þer ry₃t: þer-ry₃t TG; þer ry₃t AW; þerry₃t S

1178] lynde wodez: lynde-wodez TG; lynde-wodez AW; lynde-wodez S

1183] derfly: dernly TG; derfly AW; dernly [Davis] S

1193] bed syde: bed-syde TG; bed-syde AW; bedsyde S

1201] y₃e lyddez: y₃e-lyddez TG; y₃e-lyddez AW; y₃elyddez S

1208] fayr: gay TG; gay [TG] AW; gay [TG] S

1210] astyt: as-tyt TG; astyt AW; as tyt S

1213] gay: gay TG; gay AW; gracios S

1214] þourr: your TG; your AW; your S

1216] he: be TG; be AW; be S

1227] quere so: quere-so TG; quereso AW; quereso S

1255] þat þat: þat TG; þat AW; þat S

1256] loyue: louue TG; louue AW; louye S

1262] aswared: answared TG; answared AW; answared S

1265] fongen : fongen bi TG; fongen bi [Davis] S

1266] nysen: nys euen TG; nys euer AW; nys euen [Davis] S

1281] a hym: as hym TG; a hym AW; as hym S

1283] I: I TG; ho [Morris] AW; ho [Gollancz] S

1286] sclulde: schulde TG; schulde AW; schulde S

1304] fo: so TG; so AW; so S

1315] with: watz TG; watz AW; watz S

1333] balez: bowelez TG; bowelez AW; bowelez [Davis] S

1334] and: þe [Gollancz] TG; þe [Gollancz] AW; þe [Gollancz] S

1336] wynt hole: wynt-hole TG; wynt-hole AW; wynthole S

1344] fo: so TG; so AW; so S

1357] aþer: ayþer TG; ayþer AW; ayþer S

1372] comaunded: comaunded TG; comaunded AW; sumned S

1376] gaway: gawayn TG; gawayn AW; gawayn S

1386] and: þat [Gollancz] TG; þat [Gollancz] AW; þat [Gollancz] S
worthyly: worthyly wonnen TG; worthyly wonnen AW; worthyly wonnen [TG] S

1389] ho: he [Madden] TG; he [Madden] AW; he [Madden] S

1394] horseleun: yorseluen TG; yorseluen AW; yorseluen [TG] S

1396] trawe ₃e: trawe TG; trawe ₃e AW; trawe ₃e S

1400] asswyþe: as-swyþe TG; asswyþe AW; as swyþe S

1406] þat: wat TG; wat [TG] AW; wat [TG] S

1412] crowez: crowen TG; crowen AW; crowen S

1426] glauerande: glauer ande TG; glauer ande AW; glauer ande [Emerson] S

1435] wyt inne: wythinne TG; wythinne AW; wythinne S

1440] for: fro TG; fro AW; fro S; þe sounder þat wi₃t: si₃ed TG; so₃t AW; si₃te S

1441] watz: watz breme TG; watz borelych and brode AW; watz bige S
alþer grattest: alþer-grattest TG; alþer-grattest AW; alþergrattest S

1459] were so euer: were-so-euer TG; weresoeuer AW; weresoeuer S

1466] rode: rode TG; rode AW; rydez S

1473] com to: com to TG; to com AW; to com [Waldron] S

1479] sofly: softly TG; sofly AW; softly [Morris] S

1486] alder truest: alder-truest TG; alder-truest AW; aldertruest S

1490] quere so: quere-so TG; quereso AW; quereso S

1513] lellayk: lel layk TG; lel layk AW; lel layk S

1550] what so: what-so TG; whatso AW; whatso S

1575] on ferum: on-ferum TG; onferum AW; on-ferum S

1580] watz : watz and TG; watz and AW; watz and [Morris] S

1583] luslych: luflych TG; luflych AW; luflych S

1588] frekez: freke TG; freke AW; freke [Madden] S

1623] and la₃ed: and la₃ter TG; and la₃ter [Davis] AW; la₃ed [Gollancz] S

1639] he : he hent TG; he hent AW; he hent [TG] S

1662] how se euer: how-se-euer TG; how-se-euer AW; howseeuer S

1682] when so: when-so TG; whenso AW; whenso S

1693] biforere: bifore TG; bifore AW; bifore S

1696] costez: costez TG; castez AW; costez S

1700] atrayteres: a traueres TG; atraueres [Gollancz] AW; a trayteres S

1712] to to: to TG; to AW; to S

1716] onstray: on-stray TG; onstray AW; onstray S

1719] lif vpon list: list vpon lif [Morris] TG; list vpon lif [Morris] AW; list vpon lif [Morris] S

1730] myd ouer vnder: myd-ouer-vnder TG; myd ouer vnder AW; mydouervnder S

1738] hwez goud: hwez goud TG; hwef goud AW; hwe gord S

1752] day : day dele hym TG; day dele hym [TG] AW; day dele hym [TG] S

1755] comly : comly com TG; comly com [Emerson] AW; comly com [TG] S

1770] prynce: prynces TG; prynces [Emerson] AW; prynces [Emerson] S

1777] luf la₃yng: luf-la₃yng TG; luf-la₃yng AW; luf la₃yng S

1799] of: if TG; if AW; if [Madden] S

1810] tyne: tyme TG; tyme AW; tyme S

1815] hade o₃t: hade no₃t TG; nade o₃t [Gollancz] AW; nade no₃t S

1825] swyftel: swyfte by TG; swyfte by [Emerson] AW; swyfte by [Emerson] S

1830] þat þat: þat TG; þat AW; þat S

1849] who so: who-so TG; whoso AW; whoso S

1858] my₃: my₃t TG; my₃t AW; my₃t S

1863] for: fro TG; fro [Morris] AW; fro [Morris] S

1872] he: ho TG; ho [Madden] AW; ho [Madden] S

1874] luf lace: luf-lace TG; luf-lace AW; luf lace S

1878] lyfte: lyste [Burrow] TG; lyste [Burrow] AW; lyste [Burrow] S

1906] cachez: lachez TG; lachez [TG] AW; lachez S; by: hym TG; hym [Madden] AW; hym [Morris] S

1909] bray: braþ TG; braþ [Morris] AW; braþ [Morris] S

1919] her her: her TG; her AW; her S

1925] þer byside: þer-byside TG; þerbyside AW; þerbyside S

1926] with alle: withalle TG; with alle AW; with alle S

1936] he : he þe TG; he þe AW; he þe [Madden] S

1941] chepez: chepez TG; porchas AW; chepez S

1962] sellyly: selly TG; selly AW; selly [Madden] S

1965] to morne: to-morne TG; tomorne AW; tomorne S

1973] frk: ferk TG; ferk AW; ferk [Madden] S

1981] a₃ay: a₃ayn TG; a₃ayn AW; a₃ayn [Madden] S

2010] laupe: laumpe TG; laumpe AW; laumpe S

2027] vertuuus: vertuus TG; vertuus AW; vertuus S

2053] þay: þay TG; he [Gollancz] AW; he [Gollancz] S

2079] þer vnder: þer-vnder TG; þervnder AW; þervnder S

2081] myst hakel: myst-hakel TG; myst-hakel AW; myst-hakel S

2105] dynnez: dyngez TG; dyngez [Napier] AW; dyngez [TG] S

2131] mot: not TG; not AW; not [Madden] S

2137] and and: and TG; and AW; and S

2150] ge: go TG; go AW; go S

2171] we: were TG; were AW; were [Madden] S

2177] and his riche: and his riche TG; of his riche AW; and hit richez S

2187] he: here TG; here AW; here [TG] S

2205] at: as TG; as [Madden] AW; as [Madden] S

2223] witho: with to TG; with to [Madden] AW; with to [Madden] S

2240] welcon: welcom TG; welcom AW; welcom [Madden] S

2247] þy þy: þy TG; þy AW; þou þy S

2274] myntest: myntest TG; myntest AW; myntes S

2291] hs: his TG; his AW; his [Madden] S

2305] he he: he TG; he AW; he S

2316] spenne fote: spenne-fote TG; spenne-fote AW; spennefote S

2320] burne: burne TG; barne [Andrew] AW; barne [Andrew] S

2329] fermed: fermed [Menner] TG; festned [Cawley] AW; fermed [Menner] S

2337] rykande: rynkande [Napier] TG; rynkande [Napier] AW; rynkande [Napier] S

2339] habbe: habbez TG; habbez [Napier] AW; habbez [TG] S

2346] rof sore: rof-sore TG; rof-sore AW; rofsore S

2355] þar: þar TG; þar AW; þarf S

2362] sothly: sothly þou S

2390] hardilyly: hardily TG; hardily AW; hardily [Madden] S

2395] golde hemmed: golde-hemmed TG; golde-hemmed AW; golde hemmed S

2426] with wyth: with TG; with AW; with S

2438] luf lace: luf-lace TG; luf-lace AW; luf lace S

2448] ho: hatz TG; hatz [Madden] AW; hatz [Madden] S

2461] gopnyng: glopnyng TG; glopnyng AW; glopnyng [Morris] S
gomen: gome TG; gome AW; gome S

2464] half suster: half-suster TG; half-suster AW; halfsuster S

2467] þy naunt: þyn aunt TG; þyn aunt AW; þy naunt S

2472] kyssen : kyssen and kennen TG; kyssen and kennen [TG] AW; kyssen and kennen [TG] S

2477] enker grene: enker-grene TG; enker grene AW; enker grene S

2478] whiderwarde so euer: whiderwarde-so-euer TG; whiderwarde-soeuer AW; whiderwardesoeuer S

2482] and: and TG; he [Gollancz] AW; and S

2506] bere : bere in TG; bere in [Madden] AW; bere in [Madden] S

2511] non: mon TG; mon [Andrew] AW; mon [Andrew] S

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Karen Arthur, ed., in Using TACT and Electronic Texts: Text-Analysis Computing Tools Vers. 2.1 for MS-DOS and PC DOS, by I. Lancashire, in collaboration with J. Bradley, W. McCarty, M. Stairs, and T. R. Wooldridge (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1996). CD-ROM. Interlineation translation taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Rendered Literally into Modern English from the Alliterative Romance-Poem of A.D. 1360, from Cotton MS. Nero A x in British Museum, trans. Ernest J. B. Kirtlan (London: Charles H. Kelly, 1912). PR 2065 G3 1912 Robarts Library.
First publication date: 1375 - 1400
Publication date note: British Library Cotton Nero A.x, fols. 91r-124v, ca. 1375?-1400?
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 1998.
Recent editing: 2:2002/8/1

Composition date note: late 14th century
Form note: four-stress alliterative lines, followed by five-line bob and wheel

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