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Title: Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight
       An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)

Author: Anonymous

Release Date: January 3, 2005 [EBook #14568]

Language: English, Middle (1100-1500)

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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Sir Gawayne

and

The Green Knight:


AN ALLITERATIVE ROMANCE-POEM,
(AB. 1360 A.D.)


BY THE AUTHOR OF
"EARLY ENGLISH ALLITERATIVE POEMS."


RE-EDITED FROM COTTON. MS. NERO, A.x., IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM,
BY
RICHARD MORRIS,
EDITOR OF HAMPOLE'S "PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE,"
"EARLY ENGLISH ALLITERATIVE POEMS," ETC.;
MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY.


SECOND EDITION, REVISED, 1869.

LONDON
MDCCCLXIV.

JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.


       *       *       *       *       *

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

In re-editing the present romance-poem I have been saved all labour of
transcription by using the very accurate text contained in Sir F. Madden's
"Syr Gawayne."

I have not only read his copy with the manuscript, but also the
proof-sheets as they came to hand, hoping by this means to give the reader
a text free from any errors of transcription.

The present edition differs from that of the earlier one in having the
contractions of the manuscript expanded and side-notes added to the text to
enable the reader to follow with some degree of ease the author's pleasant
narrative of Sir Gawayne's adventures.

The Glossary is taken from Sir F. Madden's "Syr Gawayne,"[1] to which, for
the better interpretation of the text, I have made several additions, and
have, moreover, glossed nearly all the words previously left unexplained.

For a description of the Manuscript, and particulars relating to the
authorship and dialect of the present work, the reader is referred to the
preface to Early English Alliterative Poems.

R.M.

  LONDON,
  December 22, 1864.

  [Footnote 1: Sir F. Madden has most generously placed at the disposal of
  the Early English Text Society any of his works which it may determine to
  re-edit.]

       *       *       *       *       *

INTRODUCTION.

No Knight of the Round Table has been so highly honoured by the old
Romance-writers as Sir Gawayne, the son of Loth, and nephew to the renowned
Arthur. They delighted to describe him as Gawayne the good, a man matchless
on mould, the most gracious that under God lived, the hardiest of hand, the
most fortunate in arms, and the most polite in hall, whose knowledge,
knighthood, kindly works, doings, doughtiness, and deeds of arms were known
in all lands.

When Arthur beheld the dead body of his kinsman lying on the ground bathed
in blood, he is said to have exclaimed, "O righteous God, this blood were
worthy to be preserved and enshrined in gold!" Our author, too, loves to
speak of his hero in similar terms of praise, calling him the knight
faultless in his five wits, void of every offence, and adorned with every
earthly virtue. He represents him as one whose trust was in the five
wounds, and in whom the five virtues which distinguished the true knight
were more firmly established than in any other on earth.

The author of the present story, who, as we know from his religious poems,
had an utter horror of moral impurity, could have chosen no better subject
for a romance in which amusement and moral instruction were to be combined.
In the following tale he shows how the true knight, though tempted sorely
not once alone, but twice, nay thrice, breaks not his vow of chastity, but
turns aside the tempter's shafts with the shield of purity and arm of
faith, and so passes scatheless through the perilous defile of trial and
opportunity seeming safe.

But while our author has borrowed many of the details of his story from the
"Roman de Perceval" by Chrestien de Troyes, he has made the narrative more
attractive by the introduction of several original and highly interesting
passages which throw light on the manners and amusements of our ancestors.

The following elaborate descriptions are well deserving of especial
notice:--

    I. The mode of completely arming a knight (ll. 568-589).

    II. The hunting and breaking the deer (ll. 1126-1359).

    III. The hunting and unlacing the wild boar (ll. 1412-1614).

    IV. A fox hunt (ll. 1675-1921).

The following is an outline of the story of Gawayne's adventures, more or
less in the words of the writer himself:--

    Arthur, the greatest of Britain's kings, holds the Christmas festival
    at Camelot, surrounded by the celebrated knights of the Round Table,
    noble lords, the most renowned under heaven, and ladies the loveliest
    that ever had life (ll. 37-57). This noble company celebrate the New
    Year by a religious service, by the bestowal of gifts, and the most
    joyous mirth. Lords and ladies take their seats at the table--Queen
    Guenever, the grey-eyed, gaily dressed, sits at the das, the high
    table, or table of state, where too sat Gawayne and Ywain together with
    other worthies of the Round Table (ll. 58-84, 107-115). Arthur, in mood
    as joyful as a child, his blood young and his brain wild, declares that
    he will not eat nor sit long at the table until some adventurous thing,
    some uncouth tale, some great marvel, or some encounter of arms has
    occurred to mark the return of the New Year (ll. 85-106).

    The first course was announced with cracking of trumpets, with the
    noise of nakers and noble pipes.

      "Each two had dishes twelve,
      Good beer and bright wine both."

    Scarcely was the first course served when another noise than that of
    music was heard. There rushes in at the hall-door a knight of gigantic
    stature--the greatest on earth--in measure high. He was clothed
    entirely in green, and rode upon a green foal (ll. 116-178). Fair wavy
    hair fell about the shoulders of the Green Knight, and a great beard
    like a bush hung upon his breast (ll. 179-202).

    The knight carried no helmet, shield, or spear, but in one hand a holly
    bough, and in the other an axe "huge and unmeet," the edge of which was
    as keen as a sharp razor (ll. 203-220). Thus arrayed, the Green Knight
    enters the hall without saluting any one. The first word that he
    uttered was, "Where is the govenour of this gang? gladly would I see
    him and with himself speak reason." To the knights he cast his eye,
    looking for the most renowned. Much did the noble assembly marvel to
    see a man and a horse of such a hue, green as the grass. Even greener
    they seemed than green enamel on bright gold. Many marvels had they
    seen, but none such as this. They were afraid to answer, but sat
    stone-still in a dead silence, as if overpowered by sleep;

      "Not all from fear, but some for courtesy" (ll. 221-249).

    Then Arthur before the high das salutes the Green Knight, bids him
    welcome, and entreats him to stay awhile at his Court. The knight says
    that his errand is not to abide in any dwelling, but to seek the most
    valiant of the heroes of the Round Table that he may put his courage to
    the proof, and thus satisfy himself as to the fame of Arthur's court.
    "I come," he says, "in peace, as ye may see by this branch that I bear
    here. Had I come with hostile intentions, I should not have left my
    hauberk, helmet, shield, sharp spear, and other weapons behind me. But
    because I desire no war, 'my weeds are softer.' If thou be so bold as
    all men say, thou wilt grant me the request I am about to make." "Sir
    courteous knight," replies Arthur, "if thou cravest battle only, here
    failest thou not to fight." "Nay," says the Green Knight, "I seek no
    fighting. Here about on this bench are only beardless children. Were I
    arrayed in arms on a high steed no man here would be a match for me
    (ll. 250-282). But it is now Christmas time, and this is the New Year,
    and I see around me many brave ones;--if any be so bold in his blood
    that dare strike a stroke for another, I shall give him this rich axe
    to do with it whatever he pleases. I shall abide the first blow just as
    I sit, and will stand him a stroke, stiff on this floor, provided that
    I deal him another in return.

      And yet give I him respite,
      A twelvemonth and a day;
      Now haste and let see tite (soon)
      Dare any here-in ought say.'"

    If he astounded them at first, much more so did he after this speech,
    and fear held them all silent. The knight, righting himself in his
    saddle, rolls fiercely his red eyes about, bends his bristly green
    brows, and strokes his beard awaiting a reply. But finding none that
    would carp with him, he exclaims, "What! is this Arthur's house, the
    fame of which has spread through so many realms? Forsooth, the renown
    of the Round Table is overturned by the word of one man's speech, for
    all tremble for dread without a blow being struck!" (ll. 283-313). With
    this he laughed so loud that Arthur blushed for very shame, and waxed
    as wroth as the wind. "I know no man," he says, "that is aghast at thy
    great words. Give me now thy axe and I will grant thee thy request!"
    Arthur seizes the axe, grasps the handle, and sternly brandishes it
    about, while the Green Knight, with a stern cheer and a dry
    countenance, stroking his beard and drawing down his coat, awaits the
    blow (ll. 314-335). Sir Gawayne, the nephew of the king, beseeches his
    uncle to let him undertake the encounter; and, at the earnest entreaty
    of his nobles, Arthur consents "to give Gawayne the game" (ll.
    336-365).

    Sir Gawayne then takes possession of the axe, but, before the blow is
    dealt, the Green Knight asks the name of his opponent. "In good faith,"
    answers the good knight, "Gawayne I am called, that bids thee to this
    buffet, whatever may befall after, and at this time twelvemonth will
    take from thee another, with whatever weapon thou wilt, and with no
    wight else alive." "By Gog," quoth the Green Knight, "it pleases me
    well that I shall receive at thy fist that which I have sought
    here--moreover thou hast truly rehearsed the terms of the
    covenant,--but thou shalt first pledge me thy word that thou wilt seek
    me thyself, wheresoever on earth thou believest I may be found, and
    fetch thee such wages as thou dealest me to-day before this company of
    doughty ones." "Where should I seek thee?" replies Gawayne, "where is
    thy place? I know not thee, thy court, or thy name. I wot not where
    thou dwellest, but teach me thereto, tell me how thou art called, and I
    shall endeavour to find thee,--and that I swear thee for truth and by
    my sure troth." "That is enough in New Year," says the groom in green,
    "if I tell thee when I have received the tap. When thou hast smitten
    me, then smartly I will teach thee of my house, my home, and my own
    name, so that thou mayest follow my track and fulfil the covenant
    between us. If I spend no speech, then speedest thou the better, for
    then mayest thou remain in thy own land and seek no further; but cease
    thy talking[1] (ll. 366-412). Take now thy grim tool to thee and let us
    see how thou knockest." "Gladly, sir, for sooth," quoth Gawayne, and
    his axe he brandishes.

      [Footnote 1: This, I think, is the true explanation of slokes.]

    The Green Knight adjusts himself on the ground, bends slightly his
    head, lays his long lovely locks over his crown, and lays bare his neck
    for the blow. Gawayne then gripped the axe, and, raising it on high,
    let it fall quickly upon the knight's neck and severed the head from
    the body. The fair head fell from the neck to the earth, and many
    turned it aside with their feet as it rolled forth. The blood burst
    from the body, yet the knight never faltered nor fell; but boldly he
    started forth on stiff shanks and fiercely rushed forward, seized his
    head, and lifted it up quickly. Then he runs to his horse, the bridle
    he catches, steps into his stirrups and strides aloft. His head by the
    hair he holds in his hands, and sits as firmly in his saddle as if no
    mishap had ailed him, though headless he was (ll. 413-439). He turned
    his ugly trunk about--that ugly body that bled,--and holding the head
    in his hand, he directed the face toward the "dearest on the dais." The
    head lifted up its eyelids and looked abroad, and thus much spoke with
    its mouth as ye may now hear:

    "Loke, Gawayne, thou be prompt to go as thou hast promised, and seek
    till thou find me according to thy promise made in the hearing of these
    knights. Get thee to the Green Chapel, I charge thee, to fetch such a
    dint as thou hast dealt, to be returned on New Year's morn. As the
    Knight of the Green Chapel I am known to many, wherefore if thou
    seekest thou canst not fail to find me. Therefore come, or recreant be
    called." With a fierce start the reins he turns, rushes out of the
    hall-door, his head in his hand, so that the fire of the flint flew
    from the hoofs of his foal. To what kingdom he belonged knew none
    there, nor knew they from whence he had come. What then?

      "The king and Gawayne there
      At that green (one) they laugh and grin."

    Though Arthur wondered much at the marvel, he let no one see that he
    was at all troubled about it, but full loudly thus spake to his comely
    queen with courteous speech:

    "Dear dame, to-day be never dismayed, well happens such craft at
    Christmas time. I may now proceed to meat, for I cannot deny that I
    have witnessed a wondrous adventure this day" (ll. 440-475).

    He looked upon Sir Gawayne and said, "Now, sir, hang up thine axe, for
    enough has it hewn." So the weapon was hung up on high that all might
    look upon it, and "by true title thereof tell the wonder." Then all the
    knights hastened to their seats at the table, so did the king and our
    good knight, and they were there served with all dainties, "with all
    manner of meat and minstrelsy."

    Though words were wanting when they first to seat went, now are their
    hands full of stern work, and the marvel affords them good subject for
    conversation. But a year passes full quickly and never returns,--the
    beginning is seldom like the end; wherefore this Christmas passed away
    and the year after, and each season in turn followed after another (ll.
    476-520). Thus winter winds round again, and then Gawayne thinks of his
    wearisome journey (ll. 521-535). On All-hallows day Arthur entertains
    right nobly the lords and ladies of his court in honour of his nephew,
    for whom all courteous knights and lovely ladies were in great grief.
    Nevertheless they spoke only of mirth, and, though joyless themselves,
    made many a joke to cheer the good Sir Gawayne (ll. 536-565). Early on
    the morrow Sir Gawayne, with great ceremony, is arrayed in his armour
    (ll. 566-589), and thus completely equipped for his adventure he first
    hears mass, and afterwards takes leave of Arthur, the knights of the
    Round Table, and the lords and ladies of the court, who kiss him and
    commend him to Christ. He bids them all good day, as he thought, for
    evermore (ll. 590-669);

      "Very much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day."

    Now rides our knight through the realms of England with no companion
    but his foal, and no one to hold converse with save God alone. From
    Camelot, in Somersetshire, he proceeds through Gloucestershire and the
    adjoining counties into Montgomeryshire, and thence through North Wales
    to Holyhead, adjoining the Isle of Anglesea (ll. 670-700), from which
    he passes into the very narrow peninsula  of Wirral, in Cheshire, where
    dwelt but few that loved God or man. Gawayne enquires after the Green
    Knight of the Green Chapel, but all the inhabitants declare that they
    have never seen "any man of such hues of green."

    The knight thence pursues his journey by strange paths, over hill and
    moor, encountering on his way not only serpents, wolves, bulls, bears,
    and boars, but wood satyrs and giants. But worse than all those,
    however, was the sharp winter, "when the cold clear water shed from the
    clouds, and froze ere it might fall to the earth. Nearly slain with the
    sleet he slept in his armour, more nights than enough, in naked rocks"
    (ll. 701-729).

    Thus in peril and plight the knight travels on until Christmas-eve, and
    to Mary he makes his moan that she may direct him to some abode. On the
    morn he arrives at an immense forest, wondrously wild, surrounded by
    high hills on every side, where he found hoary oaks full huge, a
    hundred together. The hazel and the hawthorn intermingled were all
    overgrown with moss, and upon their boughs sat many sad birds that
    piteously piped for pain of the cold. Gawayne besought the Lord and
    Mary to guide him to some habitation where he might hear mass (ll.
    730-762). Scarcely had he crossed himself thrice, when he perceived a
    dwelling in the wood set upon a hill. It was the loveliest castle he
    had ever beheld. It was pitched on a prairie, with a park all about it,
    enclosing many a tree for more than two miles. It shone as the sun
    through the bright oaks (ll. 763-772).

    Gawayne urges on his steed Gringolet, and finds himself at the "chief
    gate." He called aloud, and soon there appeared a "porter" on the wall,
    who demanded his errand.

    "Good sir," quoth Gawayne, "wouldst thou go to the high lord of this
    house, and crave a lodging for me?"

    "Yea, by Peter!" replied the porter, "well I know that thou art welcome
    to dwell here as long as thou likest."

    The drawbridge is soon let down, and the gates opened wide to receive
    the knight. Many noble ones hasten to bid him welcome (ll. 773-825).
    They take away his helmet, sword, and shield, and many a proud one
    presses forward to do him honour. They bring him into the hall, where a
    fire was brightly burning upon the hearth. Then the lord of the land[1]
    comes from his chamber and welcomes Sir Gawayne, telling him that he is
    to consider the place as his own. Our knight is next conducted to a
    bright bower, where was noble bedding--curtains of pure silk, with
    golden hems, and Tarsic tapestries upon the walls and the floors (ll.
    826-859). Here the knight doffed his armour and put on rich robes,
    which so well became him, that all declared that a more comely knight
    Christ had never made (ll. 860-883).

      [Footnote 1: Gawayne is now in the castle of the Green Knight, who,
      divested of his elvish or supernatural character, appears to our
      knight merely as a bold one with a beaver-hued beard.]

    A table is soon raised, and Gawayne, having washed, proceeds to meat.
    Many dishes are set before him--"sews" of various kinds, fish of all
    kinds, some baked in bread, others broiled on the embers, some boiled,
    and others seasoned with spices. The knight expresses himself well
    pleased, and calls it a most noble and princely feast.

    After dinner, in reply to numerous questions, he tells his host that he
    is Gawayne, one of the Knights of the Round Table. When this was made
    known great was the joy in the hall. Each one said softly to his
    companion, "Now we shall see courteous behaviour and learn the terms of
    noble discourse, since we have amongst us 'that fine father of
    nurture.' Truly God has highly favoured us in sending us such a noble
    guest as Sir Gawayne" (ll. 884-927). At the end of the Christmas
    festival Gawayne desires to take his departure from the castle, but his
    host persuades him to stay, promising to direct him to the Green Chapel
    (about two miles from the castle), that he may be there by the
    appointed time (ll. 1029-1082).

    A covenant is made between them, the terms of which were that the lord
    of the castle should go out early to the chase, that Gawayne meanwhile
    should lie in his loft at his ease, then rise at his usual hour, and
    afterwards sit at table with his hostess, and that at the end of the
    day they should make an exchange of whatever they might obtain in the
    interim. "Whatever I win in the wood," says the lord, "shall be yours,
    and what thou gettest shall be mine" (ll. 1083-1125).

    Full early before daybreak the folk uprise, saddle their horses, and
    truss their mails. The noble lord of the land, arrayed for riding, eats
    hastily a sop, and having heard mass, proceeds with a hundred hunters
    to hunt the wild deer (ll. 1126-1177).

    All this time Gawayne lies in his gay bed. His nap is disturbed by a
    little noise at the door, which is softly opened. He heaves up his head
    out of the clothes, and, peeping through the curtains, beholds a most
    lovely lady (the wife of his host). She came towards the bed, and the
    knight laid himself down quickly, pretending to be asleep. The lady
    stole to the bed, cast up the curtains, crept within, sat her softly on
    the bed-side, and waited some time till the knight should awake. After
    lurking awhile under the clothes considering what it all meant, Gawayne
    unlocked his eyelids, and put on a look of surprise, at the same time
    making the sign of the cross, as if afraid of some hidden danger (ll.
    1178-1207). "Good morrow, sir," said that fair lady, "ye are a careless
    sleeper to let one enter thus. I shall bind you in your bed, of that be
    ye sure." "Good morrow," quoth Gawayne, "I shall act according to your
    will with great pleasure, but permit me to rise that I may the more
    comfortably converse with you." "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one,
    "ye shall not rise from your bed, for since I have caught my knight I
    shall hold talk with him. I ween well that ye are Sir Gawayne that all
    the world worships, whose honour and courtesy are so greatly praised.
    Now ye are here, and we are alone (my lord and his men being afar off,
    other men, too, are in bed, so are my maidens), and the door is safely
    closed, I shall use my time well while it lasts. Ye are welcome to my
    person to do with it as ye please, and I will be your servant" (ll.
    1208-1240).

    Gawayne behaves most discreetly, for the remembrance of his forthcoming
    adventure at the Green Chapel prevents him from thinking of love (ll.
    1205-1289). At last the lady takes leave of the knight by catching him
    in her arms and kissing him (ll. 1290-1307). The day passes away
    merrily, and at dusk the Lord of the castle returns from the chase. He
    presents the venison to Gawayne according to the previous covenant
    between them. Our knight gives his host a kiss as the only piece of
    good fortune that had fallen to him during the day. "It is good," says
    the other, "and would be much better if ye would tell me where ye won
    such bliss" (ll. 1308-1394). "That was not in our covenant," replies
    Gawayne, "so try me no more." After much laughing on both sides they
    proceed to supper, and afterwards, while the choice wine is being
    carried round, Gawayne and his host renew their agreement. Late at
    night they take leave of each other and hasten to their beds. "By the
    time that the cock had crowed and cackled thrice" the lord was up, and
    after "meat and mass" were over the hunters make for the woods, where
    they give chase to a wild boar who had grown old and mischievous (ll.
    1395-1467).

    While the sportsmen are hunting this "wild swine" our lovely knight
    lies in his bed. He is not forgotten by the lady, who pays him an early
    visit, seeking to make further trial of his virtues. She sits softly by
    his side and tells him that he has forgotten what she taught him the
    day before (ll. 1468-1486). "I taught you of kissing," says she; "that
    becomes every courteous knight." Gawayne says that he must not take
    that which is forbidden him. The lady replies that he is strong enough
    to enforce his own wishes. Our knight answers that every gift not given
    with a good will is worthless. His fair visitor then enquires how it is
    that he who is so skilled in the true sport of love and so renowned a
    knight, has never talked to her of love (ll. 1487-1524). "You ought,"
    she says, "to show and teach a young thing like me some tokens of
    true-love's crafts; I come hither and sit here alone to learn of you
    some game; do teach me of your wit while my lord is from home." Gawayne
    replies that he cannot undertake the task of expounding true-love and
    tales of arms to one who has far more wisdom than he possesses. Thus
    did our knight avoid all appearance of evil, though sorely pressed to
    do what was wrong (ll. 1525-1552). The lady, having bestowed two kisses
    upon Sir Gawayne, takes her leave of him (ll. 1553-1557).

    At the end of the day the lord of the castle returns home with the
    shields and head of the wild boar. He shows them to his guest, who
    declares that "such a brawn of a beast, nor such sides of a swine," he
    never before has seen. Gawayne takes possession of the spoil according
    to covenant, and in return he bestows two kisses upon his host, who
    declares that his guest has indeed been rich with "such chaffer" (ll.
    1558-1647).

    After much persuasion, Gawayne consents to stop at the castle another
    day (ll. 1648-1685). Early on the morrow the lord and his men hasten to
    the woods, and come upon the track of a fox, the hunting of which
    affords them plenty of employment and sport (ll. 1686-1730). Meanwhile
    our good knight sleeps soundly within his comely curtains. He is again
    visited by the lady of the castle. So gaily was she attired, and so
    "faultless of her features," that great joy warmed the heart of Sir
    Gawayne. With soft and pleasant smiles "they smite into mirth," and are
    soon engaged in conversation. Had not Mary thought of her knight, he
    would have been in great peril (ll. 1731-1769). So sorely does the fair
    one press him with her love, that he fears lest he should become a
    traitor to his host. The lady enquires whether he has a mistress to
    whom he has plighted his troth. The knight swears by St John that he
    neither has nor desires one. This answer causes the dame to sigh for
    sorrow, and telling him that she must depart, she asks for some gift,
    if it were only a glove, by which she might "think on the knight and
    lessen her grief" (ll. 1770-1800). Gawayne assures her that he has
    nothing worthy of her acceptance; that he is on an "uncouth errand,"
    and therefore has "no men with no mails containing precious things,"
    for which he is truly sorry.

    Quoth that lovesome (one)--

      "Though I had nought of yours,
       Yet should ye have of mine.

    Thus saying, she offers him a rich ring of red gold "with a shining
    stone standing aloft," that shone like the beams of the bright sun. The
    knight refused the gift, as he had nothing to give in return. "Since ye
    refuse my ring," says the lady, "because it seems too rich, and ye
    would not be beholden to me, I shall give you my girdle that is less
    valuable" (ll. 1801-1835). But Gawayne replies that he will not accept
    gold or reward of any kind, though "ever in hot and in cold" he will be
    her true servant.

    "Do ye refuse it," asks the lady, "because it seems simple and of
    little value? Whoso knew the virtues that are knit therein would
    estimate it more highly. For he who is girded with this green lace
    cannot be wounded or slain by any man under heaven." The knight thinks
    awhile, and it strikes him that this would be a "jewel for the
    jeopardy" that he had to undergo at the Green Chapel. So he not only
    accepts the lace, but promises to keep the possession of it a secret
    (ll. 1836-1865). By that time the lady had kissed him thrice, and she
    then takes "her leave and leaves him there."

    Gawayne rises, dresses himself in noble array, and conceals the "love
    lace" where he might find it again. He then hies to mass, shrives him
    of his misdeeds, and obtains absolution. On his return to the hall he
    solaces the ladies with comely carols and all kinds of joy (ll.
    1866-1892). The dark night came, and then the lord of the castle,
    having slain the fox, returns to his "dear home," where he finds a fire
    brightly turning and his guest amusing the ladies (ll. 1893-1927).
    Gawayne, in fulfilment of his agreement, kisses his host thrice.[1] "By
    Christ," quoth the other knight, "ye have caught much bliss. I have
    hunted all this day and nought have I got but the skin of this foul fox
    (the devil have the goods!), and that is full poor for to pay for such
    precious things" (ll. 1928-1951).

    After the usual evening's entertainment, Gawayne retires to rest. The
    next morning, being New Year's day, is cold and stormy. Snow falls, and
    the dales are full of drift. Our knight in his bed locks his eyelids,
    but full little he sleeps. By each cock that crows he knows the hour,
    and before day-break he calls for his chamberlain, who quickly brings
    him his armour (ll. 1952-2014). While Gawayne clothed himself in his
    rich weeds he forgot not the "lace, the lady's gift," but with it
    doubly girded his loins. He wore it not for its rich ornaments, "but to
    save himself when it behoved him to suffer," and as a safeguard against
    sword or knife (ll. 2015-2046).

    Having thanked his host and all the renowned assembly for the great
    kindness he had experienced at their hands, "he steps into stirrups and
    strides aloft" (ll. 2047-2068).

    The drawbridge is let down, and the broad gates unbarred and borne open
    upon both sides, and the knight, after commending the castle to Christ,
    passes thereout and goes on his way accompanied by his guide, that
    should teach him to turn to that place where he should receive the
    much-dreaded blow. They climb over cliffs, where each hill had a hat
    and a mist-cloak, until the next morn, when they find themselves on a
    full high hill covered with snow. The servant bids his master remain
    awhile, saying, "I have brought you hither at this time, and now ye are
    not far from that noted place that ye have so often enquired after. The
    place that ye press to is esteemed full perilous, and there dwells a
    man in that waste the worst upon earth, for he is stiff and stern and
    loves to strike, and greater is he than any man upon middle-earth, and
    his body is bigger than the best four in Arthur's house. He keeps the
    Green Chapel; there passes none by that place, however proud in arms,
    that he does not 'ding him to death with dint of his hand.' He is a man
    immoderate and 'no mercy uses,' for be it churl or chaplain that by the
    chapel rides, monk or mass-priest, or any man else, it is as pleasant
    to him to kill them as to go alive himself. Wherefore I tell thee
    truly, 'come ye there, ye be killed, though ye had twenty lives to
    spend. He has dwelt there long of yore, and on field much sorrow has
    wrought. Against his sore dints ye may not defend you' (ll. 2069-2117).
    Therefore, good Sir Gawayne, let the man alone, and for God's sake go
    by some other path, and then I shall hie me home again. I swear to you
    by

    [Footnote 1: He only in part keeps to his covenant, as he holds back
    the love-lace.]

    God and all His saints that I will never say that ever ye attempted to
    flee from any man."

    Gawayne thanks his guide for his well-meant kindness, but declares that
    to the Green Chapel he will go, though the owner thereof be "a stern
    knave," for God can devise means to save his servants.

    "Mary!" quoth the other, "since it pleases thee to lose thy life I will
    not hinder thee. Have thy helmet on thy head, thy spear in thy hand,
    and ride down this path by yon rock-side, till thou be brought to the
    bottom of the valley. Then look a little on the plain, on thy left
    hand, and thou shalt see in that slade the chapel itself, and the burly
    knight that guards it (ll. 2118-2148). Now, farewell Gawayne the noble!
    for all the gold upon ground I would not go with thee nor bear thee
    fellowship through this wood 'on foot farther.'" Thus having spoken, he
    gallops away and leaves the knight alone.

    Gawayne now pursues his journey, rides through the dale, and looks
    about. He sees no signs of a resting-place, but only high and steep
    banks, and the very shadows of the high woods seemed wild and
    distorted. No chapel, however, could he discover. After a while he sees
    a round hill by the side of a stream; thither he goes, alights, and
    fastens his horse to the branch of a tree. He walks about the hill,
    debating with himself what it might be. It had a hole in the one end
    and on each side, and everywhere overgrown with grass, but whether it
    was only an old cave or a crevice of an old crag he could not tell (ll.
    2149-2188).

    "Now, indeed," quoth Gawayne, "a desert is here; this oratory is ugly
    with herbs overgrown. It is a fitting place for the man in green to
    'deal here his devotions after the devil's manner.' Now I feel it is
    the fiend (the devil) in my five wits that has covenanted with me that
    he may destroy me. This is a chapel of misfortune--evil betide it! It
    is the most cursed kirk that ever I came in." With his helmet on his
    head, and spear in his hand, he roams up to the rock, and then he hears
    from that high hill beyond the brook a wondrous wild noise. Lo! it
    clattered in the cliff as if one upon a grindstone were grinding a
    scythe. It whirred like the water at a mill, and rushed and re-echoed,
    terrible to hear. "Though my life I forgo," says Gawayne, "no noise
    shall cause me to fear."

    Then he cried aloud, "Who dwells in this place, discourse with me to
    hold? For now is good Gawayne going right here if any brave wight will
    hie him hither, either now or never" (ll. 2189-2216).

    "Abide," quoth one on the bank above, over his head, "and thou shalt
    have all in haste that I promised thee once."

    Soon there comes out of a hole in the crag, with a fell weapon a Danish
    axe quite new, the "man in the green," clothed as at first as his legs,
    locks and beard. But now he is on foot and walks on the earth. When he
    reaches the stream, he hops over and boldly strides about. He meets Sir
    Gawayne, who tells him that he is quite ready to fulfil his part of the
    compact. "Gawayne," quoth that 'green gome' (man), "may God preserve
    thee! Truly thou art welcome to my place, 'and thou hast timed thy
    travel' as a true man should. Thou knowest the covenants made between
    us, at this time twelve-month, that on New Year's day I should return
    thee thy blow. We are now in this valley by ourselves, and can do as we
    please (ll. 2217-2246). Have, therefore, thy helmet off thy head, and
    'have here thy pay.' Let us have no more talk than when thou didst
    strike off my head with a single blow."

    "Nay, by God!" quoth Gawayne, "I shall not begrudge thee thy will for
    any harm that may happen, but will stand still while thou strikest."

    Then he stoops a little and shows his bare neck, unmoved by any fear.
    The Green Knight takes up his "grim tool," and with all his force
    raises it aloft, as if he meant utterly to destroy him. As the axe came
    gliding down Gawayne "shrank a little with the shoulders from the sharp
    iron." The other withheld his weapon, and then reproved the prince with
    many proud words. "Thou art not Gawayne that is so good esteemed, that
    never feared for no host by hill nor by vale, for now thou fleest for
    fear before thou feelest harm (ll. 2247-2272). Such cowardice of that
    knight did I never hear. I never flinched nor fled when thou didst aim
    at me in King Arthur's house. My head flew to my feet and yet I never
    fled, wherefore I deserve to be called the better man."

    Quoth Gawayne, "I shunted once, but will do so no more, though my head
    fall on the stones. But hasten and bring me to the point; deal me my
    destiny, and do it out of hand, for I shall stand thee a stroke and
    start no more until thine axe has hit me--have here my troth." "Have at
    thee, then," said the other, and heaves the axe aloft, and looks as
    savagely as if he were mad. He aims at the other mightily, but
    withholds his hand ere it might hurt. Gawayne readily abides the blow
    without flinching with any member, and stood still as a stone or a tree
    fixed in rocky ground with a hundred roots.

    Then merrily the other did speak, "Since now thou hast thy heart whole
    it behoves me to strike, so take care of thy neck." Gawayne answers
    with great wroth, "Thrash on, thou fierce man, thou threatenest too
    long; I believe thy own heart fails thee."

    "Forsooth," quoth the other, "since thou speakest so boldly, I will no
    longer delay" (ll. 2273-2304). Then, contracting "both lips and brow,"
    he made ready to strike, and let fall his axe on the bare neck of Sir
    Gawayne. "Though he hammered" fiercely, he only "severed the hide,"
    causing the blood to flow. When Gawayne saw his blood on the snow, he
    quickly seized his helmet and placed it on his head. Then he drew out
    his bright sword, and thus angrily spoke: "Cease, man, of thy blow, bid
    me no more. I have received a stroke in this place without opposition,
    but if thou givest me any more readily shall I requite thee, of that be
    thou sure. Our covenant stipulates one stroke, and therefore now
    cease."

    The Green Knight, resting on his axe, looks on Sir Gawayne, as bold and
    fearless he there stood, and then with a loud voice thus addresses the
    knight: "Bold knight, be not so wroth, no man here has wronged thee
    (ll. 2305-2339); I promised thee a stroke, and thou hast it, so hold
    thee well pleased. I could have dealt much worse with thee, and caused
    thee much sorrow. Two blows I aimed at thee, for twice thou kissedst my
    fair wife; but I struck thee not, because thou restoredst them to me
    according to agreement. At the third time thou failedst, and therefore
    I have given thee that tap. That woven girdle, given thee by my own
    wife, belongs to me. I know well thy kisses, thy conduct also, and the
    wooing of my wife, for I wrought it myself. I sent her to try thee, and
    truly methinks thou art the most faultless man that ever on foot went.
    Still, sir, thou wert wanting in good faith; but as it proceeded from
    no immorality, thou being only desirous of saving thy life, the less I
    blame thee."

    Gawayne stood confounded, the blood rushed into his face, and he shrank
    within himself for very shame. "Cursed," he cried, "be cowardice and
    covetousness both; in you are villany and vice, that virtue destroy."
    Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight in green,
    cursing his cowardice and covetousness. The Green Knight, laughing,
    thus spoke: "Thou hast confessed so clean, and acknowledged thy faults,
    that I hold thee as pure as thou hadst never forfeited since thou wast
    first born. I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle as a token of thy
    adventure at the Green Chapel. Come now to my castle, and we shall
    enjoy together the festivities of the New Year" (ll. 2340-2406).

    "Nay, forsooth," quoth the knight, "but for your kindness may God
    requite you. Commend me to that courteous one your comely wife, who
    with her crafts has beguiled me. But it is no uncommon thing for a man
    to come to sorrow through women's wiles; for so was Adam beguiled with
    one, and Solomon with many. Samson was destroyed by Delilah, and David
    suffered much through Bathsheba. 'It were indeed great bliss for a
    man to love them well and believe them not.' Since the greatest
    upon earth were so beguiled, methinks I should be excused. But God
    reward you for your girdle, which I will ever wear in remembrance of my
    fault, and when pride shall exalt me, a look to this love-lace shall
    lessen it (ll. 2407-2438). But since ye are the lord of yonder land,
    from whom I have received so much honour, tell me truly your right
    name, and I shall ask no more questions."

    Quoth the other, "I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert, through might of
    Morgain la Fay, who dwells in my house. Much has she learnt of Merlin,
    who knows all your knights at home. She brought me to your hall for to
    essay the prowess of the Round Table. She wrought this wonder to
    bereave you of your wits, hoping to have grieved Guenever and
    affrighted her to death by means of the man that spoke with his head in
    his hand before the high table. She is even thine aunt, Arthur's half
    sister; wherefore come to thine aunt, for all my household love thee."

    Gawayne refuses to accompany the Green Knight, and so, with many
    embraces and kind wishes, they separate--the one to his castle, the
    other to Arthur's court.

    After passing through many wild ways, our knight recovers from the
    wound in his neck, and at last comes safe and sound to the court of
    King Arthur. Great then was the joy of all; the king and queen kiss
    their brave knight, and make many enquiries about his journey. He tells
    them of his adventures, hiding nothing--"the chance of the chapel, the
    cheer of the knight, the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace."
    Groaning for grief and shame he shows them the cut in his neck, which
    he had received for his unfaithfulness (ll. 2439-2504). The king and
    his courtiers comfort the knight--they laugh loudly at his adventures,
    and unanimously agree that those lords and ladies that belonged to the
    Round Table, and each knight of the brotherhood should ever after wear
    a bright green belt for Gawayne's sake. And he upon whom it was
    conferred honoured it evermore after.

    Thus in Arthur's time this adventure befell, whereof the "Brutus Books"
    bear witness (ll. 2505-2530).

I need not say that the Brutus Books we possess do not contain the
legend here set forth, though it is not much more improbable than some of
the statements contained in them. If the reader desires to know the
relation in which this and the like stories stand to the original Arthur
legends, he will find it discussed in Sir F. Madden's Preface to his
edition of "Syr Gawayne," which also contains a sketch of the very
different views taken of Sir Gawayne by the different Romance writers.

Into this and other literary questions I do not enter here, as I
have nothing to add to Sir F. Madden's statements; but in the text of the
Poem I have differed from him in some few readings, which will be found
noticed in the Notes and Glossary.

As the manuscript is fast fading, I am glad that the existence of the Early
English Text Society has enabled us to secure a wider diffusion of its
contents before the original shall be no longer legible.

We want nothing but an increased supply of members to enable us to give to
a large circle of readers many an equally interesting record of Early
English minds.

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NOTE: The Old English "yogh" characters have been translated both
upper and lower-case yoghs to digit 3's. There are Unicode
allocations for these (in HTML &#540; and &#541;) but at present
no font which implements these. Substiting the digit 3 seemed a
workable compromise which anybody can read. The linked html
"Old English 'yogh' file" uses &#540; and &#541; representations,
and is included for users with specialist fonts.


       *       *       *       *       *





SYR GAWAYN AND THE GRENE KNY3T.

[FYTTE THE FIRST.]

      I.

     [A] Sien e sege & e assaut wat3 sesed at Troye,         [Fol. 91a.]
         e bor3 brittened & brent to bronde3 & aske3,
         e tulk at e trammes of tresoun er wro3t,
   4     Wat3 tried for his tricherie, e trewest on erthe;
         Hit wat3 Ennias e athel, & his highe kynde,
         at sien depreced prouinces, & patrounes bicome
         Welne3e of al e wele in e west iles,
   8 [B] Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swye,
         With gret bobbaunce at bur3e he biges vpon fyrst,
         & neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat;
         Ticius to Tuskan [turnes,] & teldes bigynnes;
  12     Langaberde in Lumbardie lyftes vp homes;
     [C] & fer ouer e French flod Felix Brutus
         On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he sette3,
                 wyth wynne;
  16 [D]     Where werre, & wrake, & wonder,
             Bi sye3 hat3 wont er-inne,
     [E]     & oft boe blysse & blunder
             Ful skete hat3 skyfted synne.

[Sidenote A: After the siege of Troy]
[Sidenote B: Romulus built Rome,]
[Sidenote C: and Felix Brutus founded Britain,]
[Sidenote D: a land of war and wonder,]
[Sidenote E: and oft of bliss and blunder.]

      II.

  20     Ande quen is Bretayn wat3 bigged bi is burn rych,
     [A] Bolde bredden er-inne, baret at lofden,
         In mony turned tyme tene at wro3ten;
         Mo ferlyes on is folde han fallen here oft
  24 [B] en in any oer at I wot, syn at ilk tyme.
     [C] Bot of alle at here bult of Bretaygne kynges
         Ay wat3 Arthur e hendest; as I haf herde telle;
         For-i an aunter in erde I attle to schawe,            [Fol. 91b.]
  28     at a selly in si3t summe men hit holden,
         & an outtrage awenture of Arthure3 wondere3;
     [D] If 3e wyl lysten is laye bot on littel quile,
         I schal telle hit, as-tit, as I in toun herde,
  32             with tonge;
             As hit is stad & stoken,
             In stori stif & stronge,
             With lel letteres loken,
  36         In londe so hat3 ben longe.

[Sidenote A: Bold men increased in the Land,]
[Sidenote B: and many marvels happened.]
[Sidenote C: Of all Britain's kings Arthur was the noblest.]
[Sidenote D: Listen a while and ye shall hear the story of an "outrageous
  adventure."]

      III.

     [A] is kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse,
         With mony luflych lorde, lede3 of e best,
     [B] Rekenly of e rounde table alle o rich breer,
  40     With rych reuel ory3t, & rechles meres;
         er tournayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony,
         Iusted ful Iolil ise gentyle kni3tes,
         Syen kayred to e court, caroles to make.
  44 [C] For er e fest wat3 ilyche ful fiften dayes,
         With alle e mete & e mire at men coue a-vyse;
         Such glaumande gle glorious to here,
         Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on ny3tes,
  48 [D] Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3,
         With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest him o3t;
         With all e wele of e worlde ay woned er samen,
     [E] e most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryste seluen,
  52     & e louelokkest ladies at euer lif haden,
         & he e comlokest kyng at e court haldes;
         For al wat3 is fayre folk in her first age,
                 on sille;
  56 [F]     e hapnest vnder heuen,
             Kyng hy3est mon of wylle,
             Hit were[1] now gret nye to neuen
             So hardy a here on hille.

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

      IV.

  60 [A] Wyle nw 3er wat3 so 3ep at hit wat3 nwe cummen,
         at day doubble on e dece wat3 e douth serued,
         Fro e kyng wat3 cummen with kny3tes in to e halle,
         e chauntre of e chapel cheued to an ende;
  64     Loude crye wat3 er kest of clerke3 & oer,
         Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte;                   [Fol. 92]
         & syen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle,
     [B] 3e3ed 3eres 3iftes on hi3, 3elde hem bi hond,
  68     Debated busyly aboute o giftes;
         Ladies la3ed ful loude, o3 ay lost haden,
         & he at wan wat3 not wrothe, at may 3e wel trawe.
     [C] Alle is mire ay maden to e mete tyme;
  72     When ay had waschen, woryly ay wenten to sete,
         e best burne ay abof, as hit best semed;
     [D] Whene Guenore ful gay, grayed in e myddes.
         Dressed on e dere des, dubbed al aboute,
  76     Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer
         Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites in-noghe,
         at were enbrawded & beten wyth e best gemmes,
         at my3t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye,
  80             in daye;
     [E]     e comlokest to discrye,
             er glent with y3en gray,
             A semloker at euer he sy3e,
  84         Soth mo3t no mon say.

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

      V.

     [A] Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued,
         He wat3 so Ioly of his Ioyfnes, & sum-quat child gered,
         His lif liked hym ly3t, he louied e lasse
  88 [B] Auer to lenge lye, or to longe sitte,
         So bi-sied him his 3onge blod & his brayn wylde;
         & also anoer maner meued him eke,
         at he ur3 nobelay had nomen, ho wolde neuer ete
  92     Vpon such a dere day, er hym deuised were
     [C] Of sum auenturus yng an vncoue tale,
         Of sum mayn meruayle, at he my3t trawe,
         Of[1] alderes, of armes, of oer auenturus,
  96     Oer sum segg hym bi-so3t of sum siker kny3t,
         To Ioyne wyth hym in iustyng in Iopard to lay,
         Lede lif for lyf, leue vchon oer,
         As fortune wolde fulsun hom e fayrer to haue.
 100     is wat3 [e] kynges countenaunce where he in court were,
         At vch farand fest among his fre meny,
                 in halle;                                      [Fol. 92b.]
     [D]     er-fore of face so fere.
 104         He sti3tle3 stif in stalle,
             Ful 3ep in at nw 3ere,
             Much mirthe he mas with alle.

[Sidenote A: Arthur would not eat,]
[Sidenote B: nor would he long sit]
[Sidenote C: until he had witnessed a "wondrous adventure" of some kind.]
[Sidenote D: He of face so bold makes much mirth with all.]
[Footnote 1: Of of, in MS.]

      VI.

     [A] Thus er stondes in stale e stif kyng his-seluen,
 108     Talkkande bifore e hy3e table of trifles ful hende
     [B] There gode Gawan wat3 grayed, Gwenore bisyde
     [C] & Agrauayn a la dure mayn on at oer syde sittes
         Boe e kynges sister sunes, & ful siker kni3tes;
 112 [D] Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gine3 e table,
     [E] & Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hym-seluen;
         ise were di3t on e des, & derworly serued,
         & sien mony siker segge at e sidborde3.
 116 [F] en e first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes,
         Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, at er-bi henged,
         Nwe nakryn noyse with e noble pipes,
         Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote,
 120     at mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches;
     [G] Dayntes dryuen er-wyth of ful dere metes,
         Foysoun of e fresche, & on so fele disches,
         at pine to fynde e place e peple bi-forne
 124     For to sette e syluener,[1] at sere sewes halden,
                 on clothe;
             Iche lede as he loued hym-selue
             er laght with-outen loe,
 128 [H]     Ay two had disches twelue,
     [I]     Good ber, & bry3t wyn boe.

[Sidenote A: The king talks with his knights.]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne,]
[Sidenote C: Agravayn,]
[Sidenote D: Bishop Bawdewyn,]
[Sidenote E: and Ywain sit on the dais.]
[Sidenote F: The first course is served with cracking of trumpets.]
[Sidenote G: It consisted of all dainties in season.]
[Sidenote H: Each two had dishes twelve,]
[Sidenote I: good beer and bright wine both.]
[Footnote 1: svlueren (?) (dishes).]

      VII.

     [A] Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more,
         For veh wy3e may wel wit no wont at er were;
 132 [B] An oer noyse ful newe ne3ed biliue,
         at e lude my3t haf leue lif-lode to cach.
         For vnee wat3 e noyce not a whyle sesed,
         & e fyrst cource in e court kyndely serued,
 136 [C] er hales in at e halle dor an aghlich mayster,
         On e most on e molde on mesure hyghe;
         Fro e swyre to e swange so sware & so ik,
     [D] & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete,
 140     Half etayn in erde I hope at he were.                  [Fol. 93.]
     [E] Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene,
         & at e myriest in his muckel at my3t ride;
     [F] For of bak & of brest al were his bodi sturne,
 144 [G] Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale,
         & alle his fetures fol3ande, in forme at he hade,
                 ful clene;
             For wonder of his hwe men hade,
 148         Set in his semblaunt sene;
             He ferde as freke were fade,
             & ouer-al enker grene.

[Sidenote A: There was no want of anything.]
[Sidenote B: Scarcely had the first course commenced,]
[Sidenote C: when there rushes in at the hall-door a knight;]
[Sidenote D: the tallest on earth]
[Sidenote E: he must have been.]
[Sidenote F: His back and breast were great,]
[Sidenote G: but his belly and waist were small.]

      VIII.

     [A] Ande al grayed in grene is gome & his wedes,
 152     A strayt cote ful stre3t, at stek on his sides,
         A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne,
         With pelure pured apert e pane ful clene,
         With blye blaunner ful bry3t, & his hod boe,
 156     at wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes
         Heme wel haled, hose of at same grene,
     [B] at spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder,
         Of bry3t golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche
 160     & scholes vnder schankes, ere e schalk rides;
         & alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure,
         Boe e barres of his belt & oer blye stones,
         at were richely rayled in his aray clene,
 164 [C] Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3,
         at were to tor for to telle of tryfles e halue,
         at were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es,
         With gay gaudi of grene, e golde ay in myddes;
 168     e pendauntes of his payttrure, e proude cropure
         His molaynes, & alle e metail anamayld was enne
         e steropes at he stod on, stayned of e same,
         & his arsoun3 al after, & his ael sturtes,
 172     at euer glemered[1] & glent al of grene stones.
     [D] e fole at he ferkkes on, fyn of at ilke,
                 sertayn;
             A grene hors gret & ikke,
 176 [E]     A stede ful stif to strayne,
             In brawden brydel quik,
             To e gome he wat3 ful gayn.                       [Fol. 93b.]

[Sidenote A: He was clothed entirely in green.]
[Sidenote B: His spurs were of bright gold.]
[Sidenote C: His saddle was embroidered with birds and flies.]
[Sidenote D: The foal that he rode upon was green;]
[Sidenote E: it was a steed full stiff to guide.]
[Footnote 1: glemed (?).]

      IX.

     [A] Wel gay wat3 is gome gered in grene,
 180     & e here of his hed of his hors swete;
         Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes;
     [B] A much berd as[1] a busk ouer his brest henges,
         at wyth his hi3lich here, at of his hed reches,
 184     Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes,
         at half his armes er vnder were halched in e wyse
         Of a kynge3 capados, at closes his swyre.
     [C] e mane of at mayn hors much to hit lyke,
 188     Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony,
         Folden in wyth fildore aboute e fayre grene,
         Ay a herle of e here, an oer of golde;
     [D] e tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute,
 192     & bounden boe wyth a bande of a bry3t grene,
         Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as e dok lasted,
         Syen rawen wyth a wong a warle knot alofte,
         er mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen.
 196 [E] Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke at hym rydes,
         Wat3 neuer sene in at sale wyth sy3t er at tyme,
                 with y3e;
             He loked as layt so ly3t,
 200         So sayd al at hym sy3e,
     [F]     Hit semed as no mon my3t,
             Vnder his dyntte3 dry3e.

[Sidenote A: Gaily was the knight attired.]
[Sidenote B: His great beard, like a bush, hung on his breast.]
[Sidenote C: The horse's mane was decked with golden threads.]
[Sidenote D: Its tail was bound with a green band.]
[Sidenote E: Such a foal nor a knight were never before seen.]
[Sidenote F: It seemed that no man might endure his dints.]
[Footnote 1: as as, in MS.]

      X.

     [A] Wheer hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nauer,
 204     Ne no pysan, ne no plate at pented to armes,
         Ne no schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte,
     [B] Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe,
         at is grattest in grene, when greue3 ar bare,
 208 [C] & an ax in his oer, a hoge & vn-mete,
         A spetos spare to expoun in spelle quo-so my3t;
         e hede of an eln3erde e large lenke hade,
         e grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen,
 212 [D] e bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge,
         As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores;
         e stele of a stif staf e sturne hit bi-grypte,
         at wat3 wounden wyth yrn to e wande3 ende,            [Fol. 94.]
 216 [E] & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios[1] werkes;
         A lace lapped aboute, at louked at e hede,
         & so after e halme halched ful ofte,
         Wyth tryed tassele3 erto tacched in-noghe,
 220 [F] On botoun3 of e bry3t grene brayden ful ryche.
         is hael helde3 hym in, & e halle entres,
         Driuande to e he3e dece, dut he no woe,
     [G] Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked.
 224     e fyrst word at he warp, "wher is," he sayd,
     [H] "e gouernour of is gyng? gladly I wolde
         Se at segg in sy3t, & with hym self speke
                 raysoun."
 228         To kny3te3 he kest his y3e,
             & reled hym vp & doun,
     [I]     He stemmed & con studie,
             Quo walt er most renoun.

[Sidenote A: The knight carried neither spear nor shield,]
[Sidenote B: In one hand was a holly bough,]
[Sidenote C: in the other an axe,]
[Sidenote D: the edge of which was as keen as a sharp razor,]
[Sidenote E: and the handle was encased in iron, curiously "graven with
  green, in gracious works."]
[Sidenote F: Thus arrayed the Green Knight enters the hall,]
[Sidenote G: without saluting any one.]
[Sidenote H: He asks for the "governor" of the company,]
[Sidenote I: and looks for the most renowned.]
[Footnote 1: looks like gracons in MS.]

      XI.

 232 [A] Ther wat3 lokyng on lene, e lude to be-holde,
         For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t,
         at a hael & a horse my3t such a hwe lach,
     [B] As growe grene as e gres & grener hit semed,
 236     en grene aumayl on golde lowande bry3ter;
         Al studied at er stod, & stalked hym nerre,
     [C] Wyth al e wonder of e worlde, what he worch schulde.
         For fele sellye3 had ay sen, bot such neuer are,
 240     For-i for fantoum & fayry3e e folk ere hit demed;
     [D] er-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony ael freke,
         & al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten,
     [E] In a swoghe sylence ur3 e sale riche
 244     As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3
                 in hy3e;
             I deme hit not al for doute,
     [F]     Bot sum for cortaysye,
 248         Bot let hym at al schulde loute,
             Cast vnto at wy3e.

[Sidenote A: Much they marvel to see a man and a horse]
[Sidenote B: as green as grass.]
[Sidenote C: Never before had they seen such a sight as this.]
[Sidenote D: They were afraid to answer,]
[Sidenote E: and were as silent as if sleep had taken possession of them;]
[Sidenote F: some from fear and others from courtesy.]

      XII.

     [A] enn Arour bifore e hi3 dece at auenture byholde3,
         & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer,
 252     & sayde, "wy3e, welcum iwys to is place,
     [B] e hede of is ostel Arthour I hat,                    [Fol. 94b.]
         Li3t luflych adoun, & lenge, I e praye,
         & quat so y wylle is, we schal wyt after."
 256 [C] "Nay, as help me," quod e hael, "he at on hy3e syttes,
         To wone any quyle in is won, hit wat3 not myn ernde;
         Bot for e los of e lede is lyft vp so hy3e,
         & y bur3 & y burnes best ar holden,
 260     Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde,
     [D] e wy3test & e woryest of e worldes kynde,
         Preue for to play wyth in oer pure layke3;
         & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,
 264     & at hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at is tyme.
         3e may be seker bi is braunch at I bere here,
     [E] at I passe as in pes, & no ply3t seche;
         For had I founded in fere, in fe3tyng wyse,
 268 [F] I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme boe,
         A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
         Ande oer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als,
         Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer.
 272     Bot if ou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen,
         ou wyl grant me godly e gomen at I ask,
                 bi ry3t."
     [G]     Arthour con onsware,
 276         & sayd, "sir cortays kny3t,
             If ou craue batayl bare,
             Here fayle3 ou not to fy3t."

[Sidenote A: Arthur salutes the Green Knight.]
[Sidenote B: bids him welcome, and invites him to stay awhile.]
[Sidenote C: The knight says that he will not tarry.]
[Sidenote D: He seeks the most valiant that he may prove him.]
[Sidenote E: He comes in peace.]
[Sidenote F: At home, however, he has both shield and spear.]
[Sidenote G: Arthur assures him that he shall not fail to find an opponent
  worthy of him.]

      XIII.

     [A] "Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I e telle,
 280 [B] Hit arn aboute on is bench bot berdle3 chylder;
         If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede,
     [C] Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so[1] wayke.
         For-y I craue in is court a crystmas gomen,
 284 [D] For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony;
         If any so hardy in is hous holde3 hym-seluen,
     [E] Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede,
         at dar stifly strike a strok for an oer,
 288     I schal gif hym of my gyft ys giserne ryche,
     [F] is ax, at is heu in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,
         & I schal bide e fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte.        [Fol. 95.]
         If any freke be so felle to fonde at I telle,
 292     Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach is weppen,
         I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,
     [G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on is flet,
         Elle3 ou wyl di3t me e dom to dele hym an oer,
 296             barlay;
             & 3et gif hym respite,
     [H]     A twelmonyth & a day;--
             Now hy3e, & let se tite
 300         Dar any her-inne o3t say."

[Sidenote A: "I seek no fight," says the knight.]
[Sidenote B: "'Here are only beardless children.']
[Sidenote C: Here is no man to match me.]
[Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,]
[Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,']
[Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;]
[Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return]
[Sidenote H: within a twelvemonth and a day."]
[Footnote 1: MS. fo.]

      XIV.

     [A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were anne
         Alle e hered-men in halle, e hy3 & e lo3e;
     [B] e renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel,
 304     & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute,
     [C] Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene,
     [D] Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse.
         When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e,
 308     Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke:
     [E] "What, is is Arures hous," quod e hael enne,
         "at al e rous rennes of, ur3 ryalmes so mony?
         Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes,
 312     Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes?
     [F] Now is e reuel & e renoun of e rounde table
         Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche;
         For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed!"
 316     Wyth is he la3es so loude, at e lorde greued;
     [G] e blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face
                 & lere;
     [H]     He wex as wroth as wynde,
 320         So did alle at er were
             e kyng as kene bi kynde,
             en stod at stif mon nere.

[Sidenote A: Fear kept all silent.]
[Sidenote B: The knight rolled his red eyes about,]
[Sidenote C: and bent his bristly green brows.]
[Sidenote D: Waving his beard awhile, he exclaimed:]
[Sidenote E: "What! is this Arthur's court?]
[Sidenote F: Forsooth the renown of the Round Table is overturned 'with a
  word of one man's speech.'"]
[Sidenote G: Arthur blushes for shame.]
[Sidenote H: He waxes as wroth as the wind.]

      XV.

     [A] Ande sayde, "hael, by heuen yn askyng is nys,
 324     & as ou foly hat3 frayst, fynde e be-houes;
         I know no gome at is gast of y grete wordes.
         Gif me now y geserne, vpon gode3 halue,
         & I schal bayen y bone, at ou boden habbes."
 328     Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde;           [Fol. 95b.]
         en feersly at oer freke vpon fote ly3tis.
     [B] Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & e halme grype3,
         & sturnely sture3 hit aboute, at stryke wyth hit o3t.
 332     e stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t,
         Herre en ani in e hous by e hede & more;
     [C] Wyth sturne schere[1] er he stod, he stroked his berde,
         & wyth a countenaunce dry3e he dro3 doun his cote,
 336     No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dinte3,
         en any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk
                 of wyne,
     [D]     Gawan, at sate bi e quene,
 340         To e kyng he can enclyne,
             "I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene,
             is melly mot be myne."

[Sidenote A: He assures the knight that no one is afraid of his great
  words.]
[Sidenote B: Arthur seizes his axe.]
[Sidenote C: The knight, stroking his beard, awaits the blow, and with a
  "dry countenance" draws down his coat.]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne beseeches the king to let him undertake the blow.]
[Footnote 1: chere (?).]

      XVI.

         "Wolde 3e, worilych lorde," quod Gawan to e kyng,
 344 [A] "Bid me bo3e fro is benche, & stonde by yow ere,
         at I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde is table,
         & at my legge lady lyked not ille,
         I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche.
 348 [B] For me ink hit not semly, as hit is so knawen,
         er such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale,
         a33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen,
     [C] Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten,
 352     at vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle,
         Ne better bodyes on bent, er baret is rered;
     [D] I am e wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest,
         & lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes e soe,
 356     Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse,
         No bount bot your blod I in my bod knowe;
         & syen is note is so nys, at no3t hit yow falles,
         & I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me,
 360     & if I carp not comlyly, let alle is cort rych,
                bout blame."
     [E]    Ryche to-geder con roun,
            & syen ay redden alle same,
 364        To ryd e kyng wyth croun,
            & gif Gawan e game.

[Sidenote A: He asks permission to leave the table; he says,]
[Sidenote B: it is not meet that Arthur should be active in the matter,]
[Sidenote C: while so many bold ones sit upon bench.]
[Sidenote D: Although the weakest, he is quite ready to meet the Green
  Knight.]
[Sidenote E: The nobles entreat Arthur to "give Gawayne the game."]

      XVII.

         en comaunded e kyng e kny3t for to ryse;             [Fol. 96.]
         & he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,
 368 [A] Kneled doun bifore e kyng, & cache3 at weppen;
         & he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,
         & gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes
     [B] at his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boe.
 372     "Kepe e cosyn," quod e kyng, "at ou on kyrf sette,
         & if ou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe,
         at ou schal byden e bur at he schal bede after.
         Gawan got3 to e gome, with giserne in honde,
 376     & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer e helder
     [C] en carppe3 to sir Gawan e kny3t in e grene,
         "Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe.
         Fyrst I ee e, hael, how at ou hattes,
 380     at ou me telle truly, as I tryst may?"
     [D] "In god fayth," quod e goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte,
         at bede e is buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after,
         & at is tyme twelmonyth take at e anoer,
 384     Wyth what weppen so[1] ou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3,
                 on lyue."
             at oer on-sware3 agayn,
             "Sir Gawan, so mot I ryue,
 388 [E]     As I am ferly fayn.
             is dint at ou schal dryue."

[Sidenote A: The king gives his nephew his weapon,]
[Sidenote B: and tells him to keep heart and hand steady.]
[Sidenote C: The Green Knight enquires the name of his opponent.]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne tells him his name, and declares that he is
  willing to give and receive a blow.]
[Sidenote E: The other thereof is glad.]
[Footnote 1: MS. fo.]

      XVIII.

     [A] "Bigog," quod e grene kny3t, "sir Gawan, melykes,
         at I schal fange at y fust at I haf frayst here;
 392     & ou hat3 redily rehersed, bi resoun ful trwe,
         Clanly al e couenaunt at I e kynge asked,
         Saf at ou schal siker me, segge, bi i trawe,
         at ou schal seche me i-self, where-so ou hopes
 396     I may be funde vpon folde, & foch e such wages
     [B] As ou deles me to day, bifore is doue ryche."
     [C] "Where schulde I wale e," quod Gauan, "where is y place?
         I wot neuer where ou wonyes, bi hym at me wro3t,
 400     Ne I know not e, kny3t, y cort, ne i name.
     [D] Bot teche me truly er-to, & telle me howe ou hattes,
         & I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me eder,
         & at I swere e for soe, & by my seker trawe."      [Fol. 96b.]
 404     "at is in-nogh in nwe 3er, hit nedes no more,"
         Quod e gome in e grene to Gawan e hende,
     [E] "3if I e telle trwly, quen I e tape haue,
         & ou me smoely hat3 smyten, smartly I e teche
 408     Of my hous, & my home, & myn owen nome,
         en may ou frayst my fare, & forwarde3 holde,
     [F] & if I spende no speche, enne spede3 ou e better,
         For ou may leng in y londe, & layt no fyrre,
 412             bot slokes;
     [G]     Ta now y grymme tole to e,
             & let se how ou cnoke3."
             "Gladly sir, for soe,"
 416         Quod Gawan; his ax he strokes.

[Sidenote A: "It pleases me well, Sir Gawayne," says the Green Knight,
  "that I shall receive a blow from thy fist; but thou must swear that thou
  wilt seek me,]
[Sidenote B: to receive the blow in return."]
[Sidenote C: "Where shall I seek thee?" says Sir Gawayne;]
[Sidenote D: "tell me thy name and abode and I will find thee."]
[Sidenote E: "When thou hast smitten me," says the knight, "then tell I
  thee of my home and name;]
[Sidenote F: if I speak not at all, so much the better for thee.]
[Sidenote G: Take now thy grim tool, and let us see how thou knockest."]

      XIX.

     [A] The grene kny3t vpon grounde grayely hym dresses,
         A littel lut with e hede, e lere he discouere3,
     [B] His longe louelych lokke3 he layd ouer his croun.
 420     Let e naked nec to e note schewe.
         Gauan gripped to his ax, & gederes hit on hy3t,
         e kay fot on e folde he be-fore sette,
     [C] Let hit doun ly3tly ly3t on e naked,
 424     at e scharp of e schalk schyndered e bones,
     [D] & schrank ur3 e schyire grece, & scade hit in twynne,
         at e bit of e broun stel bot on e grounde.
     [E] e fayre hede fro e halce hit [felle] to e ere,
 428 [F] at fele hit foyned wyth her fete, ere hit forth roled;
         e blod brayd fro e body, at blykked on e grene;
     [G] & nawer faltered ne fel e freke neuer e helder,
         Bot styly he start forth vpon styf schonkes,
 432 [H] & ru[n]yschly he ra3t out, ere as renkke3 stoden,
         La3t to his lufly hed, & lyft hit vp sone;
         & syen bo3e3 to his blonk, e brydel he cachche3,
     [I] Steppe3 in to stel bawe & stryde3 alofte,
 436 [J] & his hede by e here in his honde halde3;
         & as sadly e segge hym in his sadel sette,
         As non vnhap had hym ayled, a3 hedle3 he[1] we[re],
                 in stedde;
 440 [K]     He brayde his bluk[2] aboute,
             at vgly bodi at bledde,                           [Fol. 97.]
             Moni on of hym had doute,
             Bi at his resoun3 were redde.

[Sidenote A: The Green Knight]
[Sidenote B: puts his long lovely locks aside and lays bare his neck.]
[Sidenote C: Sir Gawayne lets fall his axe]
[Sidenote D: and severs the head from the body.]
[Sidenote E: The head falls to the earth.]
[Sidenote F: Many kick it aside with their feet.]
[Sidenote G: The knight never falters;]
[Sidenote H: he rushes forth, seizes his head,]
[Sidenote I: steps into the saddle,]
[Sidenote J: holding the while the head in his hand by the hair,]
[Sidenote K: and turns his horse about.]
[Footnote 1: MS. ho.]
[Footnote 2: blunk (?).]

      XX.

 444     For e hede in his honde he halde3 vp euen,
     [A] To-ward e derrest on e dece he dresse3 e face,
         & hit lyfte vp e y3e-lydde3, & loked ful brode,
     [B] & meled us much with his muthe, as 3e may now here.
 448     "Loke, Gawan, ou be graye to go as ou hette3,
         & layte as lelly til ou me, lude, fynde,
     [C] As ou hat3 hette in is halle, herande ise kny3tes;
     [D] To e grene chapel ou chose, I charge e to fotte,
 452     Such a dunt as ou hat3 dalt disserued ou habbe3,
     [E] To be 3ederly 3olden on nw 3eres morn;
         e kny3t of e grene chapel men knowen me mony;
     [F] For-i me forto fynde if ou frayste3, fayle3 ou neuer,
 456 [G] er-fore com, oer recreaunt be calde e be-houeus."
         With a runisch rout e rayne3 he torne3,
     [H] Halled out at e hal-dor, his hed in his hande,
         at e fyr of e flynt fla3e fro fole houes.
 460     To quat kyth he be-com, knwe non ere,
         Neuermore en ay wyste fram queen. he wat3 wonnen;
                 what enne?
             e kyng & Gawen are,
 464 [I]     At at grene ay la3e & grenne,
             3et breued wat3 hit ful bare,
             A meruayl among o menne.

[Sidenote A: The head lifts up its eyelids,]
[Sidenote B: and addresses Sir Gawayne; "Look thou, be ready to go as thou
  hast promised,]
[Sidenote C: and seek till thou findest me.]
[Sidenote D: Get thee to the Green Chapel,]
[Sidenote E: there to receive a blow on New Year's morn.]
[Sidenote F: Fail thou never;]
[Sidenote G: come, or recreant be called."]
[Sidenote H: The Green Knight then rushes out of the hall, his head in his
  hand.]
[Sidenote I: At that green one Arthur and Gawayne "laugh and grin."]

      XXI.

     [A] a3 Arer e hende kyng at hert hade wonder,
 468     He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e
         To e comlych quene, wyth cortays speche,
     [B] "Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer;
         Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse,
 472     Laykyng of enterlude3, to la3e & to syng.
         Among ise, kynde caroles of kny3te3 & ladye3;
     [C] Neuer-e-lece to my mete I may me wel dres,
         For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake."
 476     He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde,
     [D] "Now sir, heng vp yn ax, at hat3 in-nogh hewen."
         & hit wat3 don abof e dece, on doser to henge,        [Fol. 97b.]
         er alle men for meruayl my3t on hit loke,
 480     & bi trwe tytel er-of to telle e wonder.
     [E] enne ay bo3ed to a borde ise burnes to-geder,
         e kyng & e gode kny3t, & kene men hem serued
         Of alle dayntye3 double, as derrest my3t falle,
 484     Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie boe;
         Wyth wele walt ay at day, til wored an ende,
                 in londe.
     [F]     Now enk wel, sir Gawan,
 488         For woe at ou ne wonde,
             is auenture forto frayn,
             at ou hat3 tan on honde.

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

[FYTTE THE SECOND.]

      I.

     [A] This hanselle hat3 Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,
 492     In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here,
         Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when ay to sete wenten;
         Now ar ay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.
         Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne ose gomne3 in halle,
 496     Bot a3 e ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder;
         For a3 men ben mery in mynde, quen ay han mayn drynk,
     [B] A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke,
         e forme to e fynisment folde3 ful selden.
 500     For-i is 3ol ouer-3ede, & e 3ere after,
         & vche sesoun serlepes sued after oer;
     [C] After crysten-masse com e crabbed lentoun,
         at frayste3 flesch wyth e fysche & fode more symple
 504     Bot enne e weder of e worlde wyth wynter hit repe3,
     [D] Colde clenge3 adoun, cloude3 vp-lyften,
         Schyre schede3 e rayn in schowre3 ful warme,
         Falle3 vpon fayre flat, flowre3 ere schewen,
 508 [E] Boe grounde3 & e greue3 grene ar her wede3,
     [F] Brydde3 busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,
     [G] For solace of e softe somer at sues er after,
                 bi bonk;
 512 [H]     & blossume3 bolne to blowe,
             Bi rawe3 rych & ronk,
     [I]     en note3 noble in-no3e,
             Ar herde in wod so wlonk.                            [Fol. 98]

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

      II.

 516 [A] After e sesoun of somer wyth e soft wynde3,
         Quen 3eferus syfle3 hym-self on sede3 & erbe3,
     [B] Wela-wynne is e wort at woxes er-oute.
         When e donkande dewe drope3 of e leue3,
 520     To bide a blysful blusch of e bry3t sunne.
     [C] Bot en hy3es heruest, & hardenes hym sone.
         Warne3 hym for e wynter to wax ful rype;
     [D] He dryues wyth dro3t e dust for to ryse.
 524     Fro e face of e folde to fly3e ful hy3e;
         Wroe wynde of e welkyn wrastele3 with e sunne,
     [E] e leue3 lancen fro e lynde, & ly3ten on e grounde,
     [F] & al grayes e gres, at grene wat3 ere;
 528     enne al rype3 & rote3 at ros vpon fyrst,
         & us 3irne3 e 3ere in 3isterdaye3 mony,
     [G] & wynter wynde3 a3ayn, as e worlde aske3
                 no sage.
 532         Til me3el-mas mone,
             Wat3 cumen wyth wynter wage;
     [H]     en enkke3 Gawan ful sone,
             Of his anious uyage.

[Sidenote A: Then the soft winds of summer,]
[Sidenote B: beautiful are the flowers wet with dew-drops.]
[Sidenote C: But harvest approaches soon,]
[Sidenote D: and drives the dust about.]
[Sidenote E: The leaves drop off the trees,]
[Sidenote F: the grass becomes gray, and all ripens and rots.]
[Sidenote G: Winter winds round again,]
[Sidenote H: and then Sir Gawayne thinks of his dread journey.]

      III.

 536 [A] 3et quyl al-hal-day with Arer he lenges,
         & he made a fare on at fest, for e freke3 sake,
         With much reuel & ryche of e rounde table;
         Kny3te3 ful cortays & comlych ladies,
 540     Al for luf of at lede in longynge ay were,
         Bot neuer-e-lece ne e later ay neuened bot mere,
         Mony ioyle3 for at ientyle iape3 er maden.
     [B] For aftter mete, with mournyng he mele3 to his eme,
 544     & speke3 of his passage, & pertly he sayde,
     [C] "Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask;
         3e knowe e cost of is cace, kepe I no more
         To telle yow tene3 er-of neuer bot trifel;
 548 [D] Bot I am boun to e bur barely to morne,
         To sech e gome of e grene, as god wyl me wysse."
         enne e best of e bur3 bo3ed to-geder,
         Aywan, & Errik, & oer ful mony,
 552     Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, e duk of Clarence,          [Fol. 98b.]
         Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan e gode,
         Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boe,
     [E] & mony oer menskful, with Mador de la Port.
 556     Alle is compayny of court com e kyng nerre,
         For to counseyl e kny3t, with care at her hert;
     [F] ere wat3 much derue[1] doel driuen in e sale,
         at so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on at ernde,
 560     To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more
                 wyth bronde.
             e kny3t mad ay god chere,
             & sayde, "quat schuld I wonde,
 564 [G]     Of destines derf & dere,
             What may mon do bot fonde?"

[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's
  sake.]
[Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:]
[Sidenote C: "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,]
[Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight."]
[Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him.]
[Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall.]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear.]
[Footnote 1: derne (?).]

      IV.

     [A] He dowelle3 er al at day, and dresse3 on e morn,
         Aske3 erly hys arme3, & alle were ay bro3t
 568 [B] Fyrst a tule tapit, ty3t ouer e flet,
         & miche wat3 e gyld gere at glent er alofte;
     [C] e stif mon steppe3 eron, & e stel hondole3,
     [D] Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars,
 572     & syen a crafty capados, closed aloft,
         at wyth a bry3t blaunner was bounden with-inne;
     [E] enne set ay e sabatoun3 vpon e segge fote3,
         His lege3 lapped in stel with luflych greue3,
 576     With polayne3 piched er-to, policed ful clene,
         Aboute his kne3 knaged wyth knote3 of golde;
     [F] Queme quyssewes en, at coyntlych closed
         His thik rawen y3e3 with wonges to-tachched;
 580 [G] & syen e brawden bryne of bry3t stel rynge3,
         Vmbe-weued at wy3, vpon wlonk stuffe;
     [H] & wel bornyst brace vpon his boe armes,
         With gode cowters & gay, & gloue3 of plate,
 584     & alle e godlych gere at hym gayn schulde
                 at tyde;
     [I]     Wyth ryche cote armure,
     [J]     His gold spore3 spend with pryde,
 588 [K]     Gurde wyth a bront ful sure,
             With silk sayn vmbe his syde.

[Sidenote A: On the morn he asks for his arms.]
[Sidenote B: A carpet is spread on the floor,]
[Sidenote C: and he steps thereon.]
[Sidenote D: He is dubbed in a doublet of Tarsic silk, and a well-made
  hood.]
[Sidenote E: They set steel slices on his feet, and lap his legs in steel
  greaves.]
[Sidenote F: Fair cuisses enclose his thighs,]
[Sidenote G: and afterwards they put on the steel habergeon,]
[Sidenote H: well-burnished braces, elbow pieces, and gloves of plate.]
[Sidenote I: Over all this is placed the coat armour.]
[Sidenote J: His spurs are then fixed,]
[Sidenote K: and his sword is attached to his side by a silken girdle.]

      V.

     [A] When he wat3 hasped in armes, his harnays wat3 ryche,  [Fol. 99a.]
         e lest lachet ou[]er loupe lemed of golde;
 592     So harnayst as he wat3 he herkne3 his masse,
         Offred & honoured at e he3e auter;
     [B] Syen he come3 to e kyng & to his cort fere3,
         Lache3 lufly his leue at lorde3 & ladye3;
 596     & ay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst.
     [C] Bi at wat3 Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel,
         at glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges,
         Ay quere naylet ful nwe for at note ryched;
 600     e brydel barred aboute, with bry3t golde bounden;
     [D] e apparayl of e payttrure, & of e proude skyrte3,
         e cropore, & e couertor, acorded wyth e arsoune3;
         & al wat3 rayled on red ryche golde nayle3,
 604     at al glytered & glent as glem of e sunne.
     [E] enne hentes he e holme, & hastily hit kysses,
         at wat3 stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne:
         Hit wat3 hy3e on his hede, hasped bihynde,
 608 [F] Wyth a ly3tli vrysoun ouer e auentayle,
     [G] Enbrawden & bounden wyth e best gemme3,
         On brode sylkyn borde, & brydde3 on seme3,
         As papiaye3 paynted pernyng bitwene,
 612     Tortors & trulofe3 entayled so yk,
         As mony burde er aboute had ben seuen wynter
                 in toune;
     [H]     e cercle wat3 more o prys,
 616         at vmbe-clypped hys croun,
             Of diamaunte3 a deuys,
             at boe were bry3t & broun.

[Sidenote A: Thus arrayed the knight hears mass,]
[Sidenote B: and afterwards takes leave of Arthur and his court.]
[Sidenote C: By that time his horse Gringolet was ready,]
[Sidenote D: the harness of which glittered like the "gleam of the sun."]
[Sidenote E: Then Sir Gawayne sets his helmet upon his head,]
[Sidenote F: fastened behind with a "urisoun,"]
[Sidenote G: richly embroidered with gems.]
[Sidenote H: The circle around the helmet was decked with diamonds.]

      VI.

     [A] Then ay schewed hym e schelde, at was of schyr goule3,
 620     Wyth e pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwe3;
         He brayde3 hit by e baude-ryk, aboute e hals kestes,
         at bisemed e segge semlyly fayre.
     [B] & quy e pentangel apende3 to at prynce noble,
 624     I am in tent yow to telle, of tary hyt me schulde;
         Hit is a syngne at Salamon set sum-quyle,
         In bytoknyng of trawe, bi tytle at hit habbe3,
         For hit is a figure at halde3 fyue poynte3,            [Fol. 99b]
 628     & vche lyne vmbe-lappe3 & louke3 in oer,
     [C] & ay quere hit is endele3,[1] & Englych hit callen
         Ouer-al, as I here, e endeles knot.
         For-y hit acorde3 to is kny3t, & to his cler arme3,
 632     For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue sye3,
     [D] Gawan wat3 for gode knawen, & as golde pured,
         Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertue3[2] ennourned
                 in mote;
 636         For-y e pen-tangel nwe
             He ber in schelde & cote,
     [E]     As tulk of tale most trwe,
             & gentylest kny3t of lote.

[Sidenote A: Then they show him his shield with the "pentangle" of pure
  gold.]
[Sidenote B: The "pentangle" was devised by Solomon as a token of truth.]
[Sidenote C: It is called the endless knot]
[Sidenote D: It well becomes the good Sir Gawayne,]
[Sidenote E: a knight the truest of speech and the fairest of form.]
[Footnote 1: MS emdele3.]
[Footnote 2: MS verertue3]

      VII.

 640 [A] Fyrst he wat3 funden fautle3 in his fyue wytte3,
         & efte fayled neuer e freke in his fyue fyngres,
     [B] & alle his afyaunce vpon folde wat3 in e fyue wounde3
         at Cryst ka3t on e croys, as e crede telle3;
 644     & quere-so-euer ys mon in melly wat3 stad,
         His ro o3t wat3 in at, ur3 alle oer ynge3,
         at alle his forsnes he fong at e fyue ioye3,
         at e hende heuen quene had of hir chylde;
 648     At is cause e kny3t comlyche hade
     [C] In e more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted,
         at quen he blusched erto, his belde neuer payred.
         e fyrst[1] fyue at I finde at e frek vsed,
 652     Wat3 fraunchyse, & fela3schyp for-be[2] al yng;
     [D] His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer,
         & pite, at passe3 alle poynte3, yse pure fyue
         Were harder happed on at hael en on any oer.
 656     Now alle ese fyue sye3, forsoe, were fetled on is kny3t,
         & vchone halched in oer, at non ende hade,
         & fyched vpon fyue poynte3, at fayld neuer,
         Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nou[er],
 660     With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde,
         Where-euer e gomen bygan, or glod to an ende.
     [E] er-fore on his schene schelde schapen wat3 e knot,
         us alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowle3,
 664     at is e pure pentaungel wyth e peple called,         [Fol. 100]
                 with lore.
             Now grayed is Gawan gay,
     [F]     & la3t his launce ry3t ore,
 668         & gef hem alle goud day,
             He wende for euer more.

[Sidenote A: He was found faultless in his five wits.]
[Sidenote B: His trust was in the five wounds.]
[Sidenote C: The image of the Virgin was depicted upon his shield.]
[Sidenote D: In cleanness and courtesy he was never found wanting,]
[Sidenote E: therefore was the endless knot fastened on his shield.]
[Sidenote F: Sir Gawayne seizes his lance and bids all "good day."]
[Footnote 1: MS fyft.]
[Footnote 2: for-bi (?).]

      VIII.

     [A] He sperred e sted with e spure3, & sprong on his way,
         So stif at e ston fyr stroke out er-after;
 672 [B] Al at se3 at semly syked in hert,
         & sayde soly al same segges til oer,
         Carande for at comly, "bi Kryst, hit is scae,
         at ou, leude, schal be lost, at art of lyf noble!
 676 [C] To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not ee;
         Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene,
         & haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue wored;
     [D] A lowande leder of lede3 in londe hym wel seme3,
 680     & so had better haf ben en britned to no3t,
     [E] Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angarde3 pryde.
         Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take,
         As kny3te3 in caueloun3 on cryst-masse gomne3!"
 684 [F] Wel much wat3 e warme water at waltered of y3en,
         When at semly syre so3t fro o wone3
                 at[1] daye;
             He made non abode,
 688         Bot wy3tly went hys way,
     [G]     Mony wylsum way he rode,
             e bok as I herde say.

[Sidenote A: He spurs his horse and goes on his way.]
[Sidenote B: All that saw that seemly one mourned in their hearts.]
[Sidenote C: They declared that his equal was not to be found upon earth.]
[Sidenote D: It would have been better for him to have been a leader of
  men,]
[Sidenote E: than to die by the hands of "an elvish man."]
[Sidenote F: Much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day.]
[Sidenote G: Meanwhile many a weary way goes Sir Gawayne.]
[Footnote 1: MS. ad.]

      IX.

     [A] Now ride3 is renk ur3 e ryalme of Logres,
 692     Sir Gauan on Gode3 halue, a3 hym no gomen o3t;
         Oft, leudle3 alone, he lenge3 on ny3te3,
         er he fonde no3t hym byfore e fare at he lyked;
     [B] Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frythe3 & doune3,
 696     Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,
     [C] Til at he ne3ed ful noghe[1] in to e Nore Wale3;
         Alle e iles of Anglesay on lyft half he halde3,
         & fare3 ouer e forde3 by e for-londe3,
 700 [D] Ouer at e Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk
         In e wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde er bot lyte
     [E] at auer God oer gome wyth goud hert louied.         [Fol. 100b]
         & ay he frayned, as he ferde, at freke3 at he met,
 704 [F] If ay hade herde any karp of a kny3t grene,
         In any grounde er-aboute, of e grene chapel;[2]
         & al nykked hym wyth nay, at neuer in her lyue
     [G] ay se3e neuer no segge at wat3 of suche hwe3
 708             of grene.
             e kny3t tok gates straunge,
             In mony a bonk vnbene,
     [H]     His cher ful oft con chaunge,
 712         at chapel er he my3t sene.

[Sidenote A: Now rides the knight through the realms of England.]
[Sidenote B: He has no companion but his horse.]
[Sidenote C: No men does he see till he approaches North Wales.]
[Sidenote D: From Holyhead he passes into Wirral.]
[Sidenote E: There he finds but few that loved God or man.]
[Sidenote F: He enquires after the Green Knight of the Green Chapel,]
[Sidenote G: but can gain no tidings of him.]
[Sidenote H: His cheer oft changed before he found the Chapel.]
[Footnote 1: nyghe (?).]
[Footnote 2: MS. clapel.]

      X.

     [A] Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contraye3 straunge,
         Fer floten fro his frende3 fremedly he ryde3;
     [B] At vche ware oer water er e wy3e passed,
 716     He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were,
         & at so foule & so felle, at fe3t hym by-hode;
     [C] So mony meruayl hi mount er e mon fynde3,
         Hit were to tore for to telle of e tene dole.
 720 [D] Sumwhyle wyth worme3 he werre3, & with wolues als,
         Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, at woned in e knarre3,
     [E] Boe wyth bulle3 & bere3, & bore3 oer-quyle,
         & etayne3, at hym a-nelede, of e he3e felle;
 724 [F] Nade he ben du3ty & dry3e, & dry3tyn had serued,
         Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte.
     [G] For werre wrathed hym not so much, at wynter was wors,
         When e colde cler water fro e cloude3 schadden,
 728     & fres er hit falle my3t to e fale ere;
         Ner slayn wyth e slete he sleped in his yrnes,
         Mo ny3te3 en in-noghe in naked rokke3,
         er as claterande fro e crest e colde borne renne3,
 732     & henged he3e ouer his hede in hard sse-ikkles.
     [H] us in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde,
         Bi contray carye3 is kny3t, tyl kryst-masse euen,
                 al one;
 736         e kny3t wel at tyde,
     [I]     To Mary made his mone.
             at ho hym red to ryde,
             & wysse hym to sum wone.                           [Fol. 101.]

[Sidenote A: Many a cliff he climbed over;]
[Sidenote B: many a ford and stream he crossed, and everywhere he found a
  foe.]
[Sidenote C: It were too tedious to tell the tenth part of his adventures]
[Sidenote D: with serpents, wolves, and wild men;]
[Sidenote E: with bulls, bears, and boars.]
[Sidenote F: Had he not been both brave and good, doubtless he had been
  dead.]
[Sidenote G: The sharp winter was far worse than any war that ever troubled
  him.]
[Sidenote H: Thus in peril he travels till Christmas-eve.]
[Sidenote I: To the Virgin Mary he prays to guide him to some abode.]

      XI.

 740 [A] Bi a mounte on e morne meryly he rydes,
         Into a forest ful dep, at ferly wat3 wylde,
         Hi3e hille3 on vche a halue, & holt wode3 vnder,
     [B] Of hore oke3 fill hoge a hundreth to-geder;
 744     e hasel & e ha3-orne were harled al samen,
         With ro3e raged mosse rayled ay-where,
     [C] With mony brydde3 vnblye vpon bare twyges,
         at pitosly er piped for pyne of e colde.
 748     e gome vpon Gryngolet glyde3 hem vnder,
     [D] ur3 mony misy & myre, mon al hym one,
         Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde,
         To se e seruy[1] of at syre, at on at self ny3t
 752     Of a burde wat3 borne, oure baret to quelle;
     [E] & erfore sykyng he sayde, "I be-seche e, lorde,
         & Mary, at is myldest moder so dere.
         Of sum herber, er he3ly I my3t here masse.
 756     Ande y matyne3 to-morne, mekely I ask,
         & er-to prestly I pray my pater & aue,
                 & crede."
             He rode in his prayere,
 760         & cryed for his mysdede,
     [F]     He sayned hym in syes sere,
             & sayde "cros Kryst me spede!"

[Sidenote A: On the morn Sir Gawayne finds himself in a deep forest,]
[Sidenote B: where were old oaks many a hundred.]
[Sidenote C: Many sad birds upon bare twigs piped piteously for the cold.]
[Sidenote D: Through many a mire he goes, that he may celebrate the birth
  of Christ.]
[Sidenote E: He beseeches the Virgin Mary to direct him to some lodging
  where he may hear mass.]
[Sidenote F: Blessing himself, he says, "Cross of Christ, speed me!"]
[Footnote 1: seruyce (?).]

      XII.

     [A] Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot rye,
 764     Er he wat3 war in e wod of a won in a mote.
     [B] Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder bo3e3,
         Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi e diches;
     [C] A castel e comlokest at euer kny3t a3te,
 768     Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,
         With a pyked palays, pyned ful ik,
         at vmbe-te3e mony tre mo en two myle.
         at holde on at on syde e hael auysed,
 772 [D] As hit schemered & schon ur3 e schyre oke3;
         enne hat3 he hendly of his helme, & he3ly he onke3
         Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, at gentyle ar boe,
         at cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened.     [Fol. 101b.]
 776     "Now bone hostel," coe e burne, "I be-seche yow 3ette!"
         enne gedere3 he to Gryngolet with e gilt hele3,
     [E] & he ful chauncely hat3 chosen to e chef gate,
         at bro3t bremly e burne to e bryge ende,
 780             in haste;
     [F]     e bryge wat3 breme vp-brayde,
             e 3ate3 wer stoken faste,
             e walle3 were wel arayed,
 784         Hit dut no wynde3 blaste.

[Sidenote A: Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice]
[Sidenote B: when he saw a dwelling in the wood, set on a hill,]
[Sidenote C: the comeliest castle that knight ever owned.]
[Sidenote D: It shone as the sun through the bright oaks.]
[Sidenote E: Sir Gawayne goes to the chief gate,]
[Sidenote F: and finds the draw-bridge raised, and the gates shut fast.]

      XIII.

     [A] e burne bode on bonk, at on blonk houed,
         Of e depe double dich at drof to e place,
         e walle wod in e water wonderly depe,
 788 [B] Ande eft a ful huge he3t hit haled vpon lofte,
         Of harde hewen ston vp to e table3,
     [C] Enbaned vnder e abataylment, in e best lawe;
         & syen garyte3 ful gaye gered bi-twene,
 792     Wyth mony luflych loupe, at louked ful clene;
         A better barbican at burne blusched vpon neuer;
         & innermore he be-helde at halle ful hy3e,
     [D] Towre telded bytwene trochet ful ik,
 796     Fayre fylyole3 at fy3ed, & ferlyly long,
     [E] With coruon coprounes, craftyly sle3e;
         Chalk whyt chymnees er ches he in-no3e,
         Vpon bastel roue3, at blenked ful quyte;
 800     So mony pynakle payntet wat3 poudred ay quere,
         Among e castel carnele3, clambred so ik,
         at pared out of papure purely hit semed.
     [F] e fre freke on e fole hit fayr in-n[o]ghe o3t,
 804     If he my3t keuer to com e cloyster wyth-inne,
         To herber in at hostel, whyl halyday lested
                 auinant;
     [G]     He calde, & sone er com
 808         A porter pure plesaunt,
             On e wal his ernd he nome,
             & haylsed e kny3t erraunt.

[Sidenote A: The knight abides on the bank,]
[Sidenote B: and observes the "huge height,"]
[Sidenote C: with its battlements and watch towers.]
[Sidenote D: Bright and long were its round towers,]
[Sidenote E: with their well-made capitals.]
[Sidenote F: He thinks it fair enough if he might only come within the
  cloister.]
[Sidenote G: He calls, and soon there comes a porter to know the knight's
  errand.]

      XIV.

     [A] "Gode sir," quod Gawan, "wolde3 ou go myn ernde,
 812     To e he3 lorde of is hous, herber to craue?"
         "3e, Peter," quod e porter, "& purely I trowe,[1]     [Fol. 102.]
     [B] at 3e be, wy3e, welcum to won quyle yow lyke3."
         en 3ede at wy3e a3ayn awye,
 816     & folke frely hym wyth, to fonge e kny3t;
     [C] ay let doun e grete dra3t, & derely out 3eden,
         & kneled doun on her knes vpon e colde ere,
         To welcum is ilk wy3, as wory hom o3t;
 820 [D] ay 3olden hym e brode 3ate, 3arked vp wyde,
         & he hem raysed rekenly, & rod ouer e brygge;
         Sere segge3 hym sesed by sadel, quel[2] he ly3t,
     [E] & syen stabeled his stede stif men in-no3e.
 824 [F] Kny3te3 & swyere3 comen doun enne,
         For to bryng is burne[3] wyth blys in-to halle;
     [G] Quen he hef vp his helme, er hi3ed in-noghe
         For to hent hit at his honde, e hende to seruen,
 828     His bronde & his blasoun boe ay token.
         en haylsed he ful hendly o haele3 vch one,
         & mony proud mon er presed, at prynce to honour;
         Alle hasped in his he3 wede to halle ay hym wonnen,
 832     er fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned.
     [H] enne e lorde of e lede loute3 fro his chambre,
         For to mete wyth menske e mon on e flor;
         He sayde, "3e ar welcum to welde as yow lyke3,
 836     at here is, al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle
                 & welde."
             "Graunt mercy," quod Gawayn,
             "er Kryst hit yow for-3elde,"
 840 [I]     As freke3 at semed fayn,
             Ayer oer in arme3 con felde.

[Sidenote A: "Good sir," says Gawayne, "ask the high lord of this house to
  grant me a lodging."]
[Sidenote B: "You are welcome to dwell here as long as you like," replied
  the porter.]
[Sidenote C: The draw-bridge is let down,]
[Sidenote D: and the gate is opened wide to receive him.]
[Sidenote E: His horse is well stabled.]
[Sidenote F: Knights and squires bring Gawayne into the hall.]
[Sidenote G: Many a one hastens to take his helmet and sword.]
[Sidenote H: The lord of the country bids him welcome,]
[Sidenote I: and they embrace each other.]
[Footnote 1: trowoe, MS.]
[Footnote 2: quyle (?) or quen (?).]
[Footnote 3: buurne, MS.]

      XV.

     [A] Gawayn gly3t on e gome at godly hym gret,
     [B] & u3t hit a bolde burne at e bur3 a3te,
 844     A hoge hael for e none3, & of hyghe elde;[1]
     [C] Brode bry3t wat3 his berde, & al beuer hwed,
         Sturne stif on e strye on stal-worth schonke3,
     [D] Felle face as e fyre, & fre of hys speche;
 848     & wel hym semed for soe, as e segge u3t,
         To lede a lortschyp in lee of leude3 ful gode.
     [E] e lorde hym charred to a chambre, & chefly cumaunde3[2]   [Fol.]
         To delyuer hym a leude, hym lo3ly to serue;                [102b.]
 852     & ere were boun at his bode burne3 in-no3e,
     [F] at bro3t hym to a bry3t boure, er beddyng wat3 noble,
         Of cortynes of clene sylk, wyth cler golde hemme3,
     [G] & couertore3 ful curious, with comlych pane3,
 856     Of bry3t blaunnier a-boue enbrawded bisyde3,
         Rudele3 rennande on rope3, red golde rynge3,
     [H] Tapyte3 ty3t to e wo3e, of tuly & tars,
         & vnder fete, on e flet, of fol3ande sute.
 860 [I] er he wat3 dispoyled, wyth speche3 of myere,
         e burn of his bruny, & of his bry3t wede3;
     [J] Ryche robes ful rad renkke3 hem[3] bro3ten,
         For to charge, & to chaunge, & chose of e best.
 864     Sone as he on hent, & happed er-inne,
         at sete on hym[4] semly, wyth saylande skyrte3,
     [K] e ver by his uisage verayly hit semed
         Wel ne3 to vche hael alle on hwes,
 868     Lowande & lufly, alle his lymme3 vnder,
     [L] at a comloker kny3t neuer Kryst made,
                 hem o3t;
             Wheen in worlde he were,
 872         Hit semed as he my3t
             Be prynce with-outen pere,
             In felde er felle men fy3t.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne looks on his host;]
[Sidenote B: a big bold one he seemed.]
[Sidenote C: Beaver-hued was his broad beard,]
[Sidenote D: and his face as "fell as the fire."]
[Sidenote E: The lord leads Gawayne to a chamber, and assigns him a page to
  wait upon him.]
[Sidenote F: In this bright bower was noble bedding;]
[Sidenote G: the curtains were of pure silk with golden hems;]
[Sidenote H: Tarsic tapestries covered the walls and the floor.]
[Sidenote I: Here the knight doffed his armour,]
[Sidenote J: and put on rich robes,]
[Sidenote K: which well became him.]
[Sidenote L: A more comely knight Christ never made.]
[Footnote 1: eldee, MS.]
[Footnote 2: clesly, MS.]
[Footnote 3: hym (?).]
[Footnote 4: MS. hyn.]

      XVI.

     [A] A cheyer by-fore e chemn, er charcole brenned,
 876     Wat3 grayed for sir Gawan, grayely with cloe3,
         Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, a[t] koynt wer boe;
     [B] & enne a mere mantyle wat3 on at mon cast,
         Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche,
 880     & fayre furred wyth-inne with felle3 of e best,
         Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of e same;
         & he sete in at settel semlych ryche,
         & achaufed hym chefly,[1] & enne his cher mended.
 884 [C] Sone wat3 telded vp a tapit, on treste3 ful fayre,
     [D] Clad wyth a clene cloe, at cler quyt schewed,
         Sanap, & salure, & syluer-in spone3;
         e wy3e wesche at his wylle, & went to his mete        [Fol. 103.]
 888     Segge3 hym serued semly in-no3e,
     [E] Wyth sere sewes & sete,[2] sesounde of e best,
         Double felde, as hit falle3, & fele kyn fische3;
     [F] Summe baken in bred, summe brad on e glede3,
 892 [G] Summe soen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces,
         & ay sawes[3] so sle3e3, at e segge lyked.
         e freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte,
     [H] Ful hendely, quen alle e haeles re-hayted hym at one3
 896             as hende;
             "is penaunce now 3e take,
             & eft hit schal amende;"
     [I]     at mon much mere con make.
 900         For wyn in his hed at wende.

[Sidenote A: A chair is placed for Sir Gawayne before the fireplace.]
[Sidenote B: A mantle of fine linen, richly embroidered, is thrown over
  him.]
[Sidenote C: A table is soon raised,]
[Sidenote D: and the knight, having washed, proceeded to meat.]
[Sidenote E: He is served with numerous dishes;]
[Sidenote F: with fish baked and broiled,]
[Sidenote G: or boiled and seasoned with spices.]
[Sidenote H: He calls it a full noble feast,]
[Sidenote I: and much mirth he makes, for the wine is in his head.]
[Footnote 1: MS. cefly.]
[Footnote 2: swete (?).]
[Footnote 3: sewes (?).]

      XVII.

     [A] enne wat3 spyed & spured vpon spare wyse.
         Bi preue poynte3 of at prynce, put to hym-seluen,
         at he be-knew cortaysly of e court at he were,
 904 [B] at ael Arthure e hende halde3 hym one,
         at is e ryche ryal kyng of e rounde table;
         & hit wat3 Wawen hym-self at in at won sytte3,
         Comen to at krystmasse, as case hym en lymped.
 908 [C] When e lorde hade lerned at he e leude hade,
         Loude la3ed he erat, so lef hit hym o3t,
     [D] & alle e men in at mote maden much joye,
         To apere in his presense prestly at tyme,
 912     at alle prys, & prowes, & pured ewes
         Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,
         By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is e most.
     [E] Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,
 916 [F] "Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of ewe3,
         & e teccheles termes of talkyng noble,
         Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,
     [G] Syn we haf fonged at fyne fader of nurture;
 920     God hat3 geuen vus his grace godly for soe,
         at such a gest as Gawan graunte3 vus to haue,
         When burne3 blye of his bure schal sitte
                 & synge.
 924         In menyng of manere3 mere,
             is burne now schal vus bryng,                    [Fol. 103b.]
     [H]     I hope at may hym here,
             Schal lerne of luf-talkyng."

[Sidenote A: Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,]
[Sidenote B: tells the prince that he is of Arthur's court.]
[Sidenote C: When this was made known,]
[Sidenote D: great was the joy in the hall.]
[Sidenote E: Each one said softly to his mate,]
[Sidenote F: "Now we shall see courteous manners and hear noble speech,]
[Sidenote G: for we have amongst us the 'father of nurture.']
[Sidenote H: He that may him hear shall learn of love-talking."]

      XVIII.

 928 [A] Bi at e diner wat3 done, & e dere vp,
         Hit wat3 ne3 at e niy3t ne3ed e tyme;
         Chaplayne3[1] to e chapeles chosen e gate,
         Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as ay schulden,
 932 [B] To e hersum euensong of e hy3e tyde.
         e lorde loutes erto, & e lady als,
         In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entre3;
         Gawan glyde3 ful gay, & gos eder sone;
 936     e lorde laches hym by e lappe, & lede3 hym to sytte,
         & couly hym knowe3, & calle3 hym his nome,
         & sayde he wat3 e welcomest wy3e of e worlde;
     [C] & he hym onkked roly, & ayer halched oer.
 940     & seten soberly samen e seruise-quyle;
         enne lyst e lady to loke on e kny3t.
     [D] enne com ho of hir closet, with mony cler burde3,
         Ho wat3 e fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre,
 944     & of compas, & colour, & costes of alle oer,
     [E] & wener en Wenore, as e wy3e o3t.
         He ches ur3 e chaunsel, to cheryche at hende;
     [F] An oer lady hir lad bi e lyft honde,
 948     at wat3 alder en ho, an auncian hit semed,
         & he3ly honowred with haele3 aboute.
     [G] Bot yn-lyke on to loke o ladyes were,
     [H] For if e 3onge wat3 3ep, 3ol3e wat3 at oer;
 952     Riche red on at on rayled ay quere,
     [I] Rugh ronkled cheke3 at oer on rolled;
         Kerchofes of at on wyth mony cler perle3
     [J] Hir brest & hir bry3t rote bare displayed,
 956     Schon schyrer en snawe, at scheder[2] on hille3;
         at oer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer e swyre,
         Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles,
     [K] Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere,
 960     Toret & treieted with tryfle3 aboute,
     [L] at no3t wat3 bare of at burde bot e blake bro3es.   [Fol. 104.]
         e tweyne y3en, & e nase, e naked lyppe3,
         & ose were soure to se, & sellyly blered;
 964     A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,
                 for gode;
     [M]     Hir body wat3 schort & ik.
     [N]     Hir buttoke3 bay & brode,
 968         More lykker-wys on to lyk,
             Wat3 at scho hade on lode.

[Sidenote A: After dinner the company go to the chapel,]
[Sidenote B: to hear the evensong of the great season.]
[Sidenote C: The lord of the castle and Sir Gawayne sit together during
  service.]
[Sidenote D: His wife, accompanied by her maids, leaves her seat.]
[Sidenote E: She appeared even fairer than Guenever.]
[Sidenote F: An older lady (an ancient one she seemed) led her by the
  hand.]
[Sidenote G: Very unlike were these two.]
[Sidenote H: if the young one was fair the other was yellow,]
[Sidenote I: and had rough and wrinkled cheeks.]
[Sidenote J: The younger had breast and throat "bare displayed."]
[Sidenote K: The ancient one exposed only her "black brows," her two eyes,]
[Sidenote L: nose, and naked lips, all sour and bleared.]
[Sidenote M: Her body was short and thick;]
[Sidenote N: her buttocks broad and round.]
[Footnote 1: MS. [claplayne3.]]
[Footnote 2: schedes (?).]

      XIX.

     [A] When Gawayn gly3t on at gay, at graciously loked,
         Wyth leue la3t of e lorde he went hem a3aynes;
 972 [B] e alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,
         e loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,
     [C] He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;
         ay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3
 976 [D] To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.
         ay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden
     [E] To chambre, to chemn, & chefly ay asken
     [F] Spyce3, at vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,
 980     & e wynne-lych wyne er-with vche tyme.
         e lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,
         Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony sye3.
     [G] Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,
 984     & wayned hom to wynne e worchip er-of,
     [H] at most myre my3t mene[1] at crystenmas whyle;
         "& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth e best,
         Er me wont e wede3, with help of my frende3."
 988     us wyth la3ande lote3 e lorde hit tayt[2] make3,
     [I] For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle
                 at ny3t;
             Til at hit wat3 tyme,
 992         e kyng comaundet ly3t,
     [J]     Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,
             & to his bed hym di3t.

[Sidenote A: With permission of the lord,]
[Sidenote B: Sir Gawayne salutes the elder,]
[Sidenote C: but the younger he kisses,]
[Sidenote D: and begs to be her servant.]
[Sidenote E: To chamber all go,]
[Sidenote F: where spices and wine are served.]
[Sidenote G: The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear.]
[Sidenote H: He who makes most mirth is to win it.]
[Sidenote I: Night approaches, and then]
[Sidenote J: Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest.]
[Footnote 1: meue (?).]
[Footnote 2: layt (?).]

      XX.

     [A] On e morne, as vch mon myne3 at tyme,
 996 [B] []at dry3tyn for oure destyn to de3e wat3 borne,
         Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;
     [C] So did hit ere on at day, ur3 dayntes mony;
         Boe at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt              [Fol. 104b.]
1000     Derf men vpon dece drest of e best.
     [D] e olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3;
         e lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;
     [E] Gawan & e gay burde to-geder ay seten,
1004     Euen in-mydde3, as e messe metely come;
         & syen ur3 al e sale, as hem best semed,
     [F] Bi vche grome at his degre grayely wat3 serued.
         er wat3 mete, er wat3 myre, er wat3 much ioye,
1008     at for to telle erof hit me tene were,
         & to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture;
     [G] Bot 3et I wot at Wawen & e wale burde
         Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder,
1012     ur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3,
         Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fyle;
         & hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen,
                 in vayres;
1016 [H]     Trumpe3 & nakerys,
             Much pypyng er repayres,
             Vche mon tented hys,
             & ay two tented ayres.

[Sidenote A: On Christmas morn,]
[Sidenote B: joy reigns in every dwelling in the world.]
[Sidenote C: So did it in the castle where our knight abode.]
[Sidenote D: The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together.]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne sits by the wife of his host.]
[Sidenote F: It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the
  joy that abounded everywhere.]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from
  each other's conversation.]
[Sidenote H: Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds.]

      XXI.

1020 [A] Much dut wat3 er dryuen at day & at oer,
         & e ryd as ro ronge in erafter;
     [B] e ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here,
         & wat3 e last of e layk, leude3 er o3ten.
1024     er wer gestes to go vpon e gray morne,
         For-y wonderly ay woke, & e wyn dronken,
         Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3;
     [C] At e last, when hit wat3 late, ay lachen her leue,
1028     Vchon to wende on his way, at wat3 wy3e stronge.
         Gawan gef hym god-day, e god mon hym lachche3,
         Ledes hym to his awen chambre, [e] chymn bysyde,
     [D] & ere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym onkke3,
1032     Of e wynne worschip &[1] he hym wayned hade,
         As to honour his hous on at hy3e tyde,
         & enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere.
         "I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me wore3 e better,
1036     at Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest."     [Fol. 105.]
         "Grant merci[2] sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3,
         Al e honour is your awen, e he3e kyng yow 3elde;
         & I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest,
1040     As I am halden er-to, in hy3e & in lo3e,
                 bi ri3t."
     [E]     e lorde fast can hym payne,
             To holde lenger e kny3t,
1044         To hym answre3 Gawayn,
             Bi non way at he my3t.

[Sidenote A: Great was the joy for three days.]
[Sidenote B: St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival.]
[Sidenote C: On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the
  castle.]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure
  of his visit.]
[Sidenote E: He endeavours to keep the knight at his court.]
[Footnote 1: at (?).]
[Footnote 2: nerci, in MS.]

      XXII.

     [A] Then frayned e freke ful fayre at him-seluen,
         Quat derne[1] dede had hym dryuen, at at dere tyme,
1048     So kenly fro e kynge3 kourt to kayre al his one,
         Er e halidaye3 holly were halet out of toun?
     [B] "For soe sir," quod e segge, "3e sayn bot e trawe
         A he3e ernde & a hasty me hade fro o wone3,
1052     For I am sumned my selfe to sech to a place,
         I wot[2] in worlde wheder warde to wende, hit to fynde;
         I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,
         For alle e londe in-wyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!
1056     For-y, sir, is enquest I require yow here,
     [C] at 3e me telle with trawe, if euer 3e tale herde
         Of e grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stonde3,
         & of e kny3t at hit kepes, of colour of grene?
1060     er wat3 stabled bi statut a steuen vus by-twene,
     [D] To mete at mon at at mere, 3if I my3t last;
         & of at ilk nw3ere hot neked now wonte3,
         & I wolde loke on at lede, if God me let wolde,
1064     Gladloker, bi Godde3 sun, en any god welde!
         For-i, I-wysse, bi 3owre wylle, wende me bi-houes,
     [E] Naf I now to busy bot bare re daye3,
         & me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde."
1068 [F] enne la3ande quod e lorde, "now leng e by-houes,
         For I schal teche yow to a[t] terme bi e tyme3 ende,
         e grene chapayle vpon grounde, greue yow no more;
         Bot 3e schal be in yowre bed, burne, at yn ese,
1072     Quyle forth dayej, & ferk on pe fyrst of pe 3ere,
         & cum to at merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow like3   [Fol. 105b]
                 in spenne;
             Dowelle3 whyle new 3eres daye,
1076         & rys, & rayke3 enne,
     [G]     Mon schal yow sette in waye,
             Hit is not two myle henne."

[Sidenote A: He desires to know what had driven Sir Gawayne from Arthur's
  court before the end of the Christmas holidays.]
[Sidenote B: The knight replies that "a high errand and a hasty one" had
  forced him to leave the court.]
[Sidenote C: He asks his host whether he has ever heard of the Green
  Chapel,]
[Sidenote D: for he has to be there on New Year's-day.]
[Sidenote E: He wonld as lief die as fail in his errand.]
[Sidenote F: The prince tells Sir Gawayne that he will teach him the way.]
[Sidenote G: The Green chapel is not more than two miles from the castle.]
[Footnote 1: derue (?).]
[Footnote 2: not (?).]

      XXIII.

     [A] enne wat3 Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he la3ed,--
1080     "Now I onk yow ryuandely ur3 alle oer ynge,
     [B] Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle
         Dowelle, & elle3 do quat 3e demen."
         enne sesed hym e syre, & set hym bysyde,
1084 [C] Let e ladie3 be fette, to lyke hem e better;
         er wat3 seme solace by hem-self stille;
         e lorde let for luf lote3 so myry,
         As wy3 at wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he my3t.
1088     enne he carped to e kny3t, criande loude,
     [D] "3e han demed to do e dede at I bidde;
         Wyl 3e halde is hes here at ys one3?"
         "3e sir, for-soe," sayd e segge trwe,
1092     "Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest."
         "For 3e haf trauayled," quod e tulk, "towen fro ferre,
         & syen waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,
     [E] Nauer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, soly I knowe;
1096     3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,
     [F] To morn quyle e messe-quyle, & to mete wende,
         When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, at wyth yow schal sitte,
         & comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,
1100             3e lende;
             & I schal erly ryse,
             On huntyng wyl I wende."
     [G]     Gauayn grante3 alle yse,
1104         Hym heldande, as e hende.

[Sidenote A: Then was Gawayne glad,]
[Sidenote B: and consents to tarry awhile at the castle.]
[Sidenote C: The ladies are brought in to solace him.]
[Sidenote D: The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one
  request;]
[Sidenote E: That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,]
[Sidenote F: and then go to meat with his hostess.]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne accedes to his request.]

      XXIV.

     [A] "3et firre," quod e freke, "a forwarde we make;
         Quat-so-euer I wynne in e wod, hit wore3 to youre3,
     [B] & quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me er-forne;
1108     Swete, swap we so, sware with trawe,
         Queer, leude, so lymp lere oer better."
         "Bi God," quod Gawayn e gode, "I grant er-tylle,
         & at yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me ynkes.         [Fol. 106.]
1112 [C] "Who bringe3 vus is beuerage, is bargayn is maked:"
         So sayde e lorde of at lede; ay la3ed vchone,
         ay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,[1]
         ise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle at hem lyked;
1116     & syen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3
         ay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,
         Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.
     [D] With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,
1120     Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at e laste,
                 ful softe;
             To bed 3et er ay 3ede,
             Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;
1124         e olde lorde of at leude,[2]
             Cowe wel halde layk a-lofte.

[Sidenote A: "Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be
  yours,]
[Sidenote B: and what check you achieve shall be mine."]
[Sidenote C: A bargain is made between them.]
[Sidenote D: Night approaches and each "to his bed was brought at the
  last."]
[Footnote 1: vntyl ny3te (?).]
[Footnote 2: lede (?).]

[FYTTE THE THIRD.]

      I.

     [A] Ful erly bifore e day e folk vp-rysen,
         Gestes at go wolde, hor grome3 ay calden,
1128 [B] & ay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel,
         Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,
         Richen hem e rychest, to ryde alle arayde,
         Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles,
1132 [C] Vche wy3e on his way, er hym wel lyked.
     [D] e leue lorde of e londe wat3 not e last,
         A-rayed for e rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony;
     [E] Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,
1136     With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue;
     [F] By at at any day-ly3t lemed vpon ere,
         He with his haeles on hy3e horsses weren.
     [G] enne ise cacheres at coue, cowpled hor hounde3,
1140     Vnclosed e kenel dore, & calde hem er-oute,
     [H] Blwe bygly in bugle3 re bare mote;
         Braches bayed erfore, & breme noyse maked,
     [I] & ay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng at went;
1144     A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,
                 of e best;
     [J]     To trystors vewters 3od,
             Couples huntes of kest,
1148         er ros for blaste3 gode,                         [Fol. 106b.]
     [K]     Gret rurd in at forest.

[Sidenote A: Before day-break folks uprise,]
[Sidenote B: saddle their horses, and truss their mails.]
[Sidenote C: Each goes where it pleases him best.]
[Sidenote D: The noble lord of the land arrays himself for riding.]
[Sidenote E: He eats a sop hastily and goes to mass.]
[Sidenote F: Before day-light he and his men are on their horses.]
[Sidenote G: Then the hounds are called out and coupled.]
[Sidenote H: Three short notes are blown by the bugles.]
[Sidenote I: A hundred hunters join in the chase.]
[Sidenote J: To the stations the "fewters" go,]
[Sidenote K: and the dogs are cast off.]

      II.

     [A] At e fyrst quethe of e quest quaked e wylde;
         Der drof in e dale, doted for drede,
1152     Hi3ed to e hy3e, bot heterly ay were
     [B] Restayed with e stablye, at stoutly ascryed;
     [C] ay let e hertte3 haf e gate, with e hy3e hedes,
         e breme bukke3 also, with hor brode paume3;
1156     For e fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme,
         at er schulde no mon mene[1] to e male dere.
     [D] e hinde3 were halden in, with hay & war,
         e does dryuen with gret dyn to e depe slade3;
1160     er my3t mon se, as ay slypte, slentyng of arwes,
     [E] At vche [at] wende vnder wande wapped a flone,
         at bigly bote on e broun, with ful brode hede3,
     [F] What! ay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 ay de3en.
1164     & ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es,
         Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after,
     [G] Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten;
         What wylde so at-waped wy3es at schotten,
1168     Wat3 al to-raced & rent, at e resayt.
         Bi ay were tened at e hy3e, & taysed to e wattre3,
         e lede3 were so lerned at e lo3e trysteres,
         & e gre-hounde3 so grete, at geten hem bylyue,
1172     & hem to fylched, as fast as freke3 my3t loke,
                 er ry3t.
     [H]     e lorde for blys abloy
             Ful oft con launce & ly3t,
1176 [I]     & drof at day wyth Ioy
             Thus to e derk ny3t.

[Sidenote A: Roused by the clamour the deer rush to the heights,]
[Sidenote B: but are soon driven back.]
[Sidenote C: The harts and bucks are allowed to pass,]
[Sidenote D: but the hinds and does are driven back to the shades.]
[Sidenote E: As they fly they are shot by the bowmen.]
[Sidenote F: The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in
  pursuit.]
[Sidenote G: Those that escaped the arrows are killed by the hounds.]
[Sidenote H: The lord waxes joyful in the chase,]
[Sidenote I: which lasted till the approach of night.]
[Footnote 1: meue (?).]

      III.

     [A] us layke3 is lorde by lynde wode3 eue3,
         & G. e god mon, in gay bed lyge3,
1180 [B] Lurkke3 quyl e day-ly3t lemed on e wowes,
         Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;
         & as in slomeryng he slode, sle3ly he herde
     [C] A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;
1184     & he heue3 vp his hed out of e cloes,
         A corner of e cortyn he ca3t vp a lyttel,             [Fol. 107.]
         & wayte3 warly ider-warde, quat hit be my3t.
     [D] Hit wat3 e ladi, loflyest to be-holde,
1188     at dro3 e dor after hir ful dernly[1] & stylle,
     [E] & bo3ed to-warde e bed; & e burne schamed.
         & layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte.
     [F] & ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde,
1192 [G] Kest vp e cortyn, & creped with-inne,
         & set hir ful softly on e bed-syde,
         & lenged ere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.
         e lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,
1196 [H] Compast in his concience to quat at cace my3t
         Mene oer amount, to meruayle hym o3t;
         Bot 3et he sayde in hym-self, "more semly hit were
         To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde."
1200 [I] en he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned,
     [J] & vn-louked his y3e-lydde3, & let as hym wondered,
         & sayned hym, as bi his sa3e e sauer to worthe,
                 with hande;
1204         Wyth chynne & cheke ful swete,
             Boe quit & red in-blande,
             Ful lufly con ho lete,
             Wyth lyppe3 smal la3ande.

[Sidenote A: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.]
[Sidenote B: under "coverture full clear".]
[Sidenote C: He hears a noise at his door.]
[Sidenote D: A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly.]
[Sidenote E: She approaches the bed.]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne pretends to be asleep.]
[Sidenote G: The lady casts up the curtain and sits on the bedside.]
[Sidenote H: Gawayne has much wonder thereat.]
[Sidenote I: He rouses himself up,]
[Sidenote J: unlocks his eyes, and looks as if he were astonished.]
[Footnote 1: deruly (?).]

      IV.

1208 [A] "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde at fayr lady,
         "3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, at mon may slyde hider;
         Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape,
     [B] I schal bynde yow in your bedde, at be 3e trayst:"
1212     Al la3ande e lady lanced o bourde3.
     [C] "Goud moroun g[aye],"[1] quod Gawayn e blye,
         "Me schal wore at your wille, & at me wel lyke3,
         For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace,
1216     & at is e best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;"
         & us he bourded a-3ayn with mony a blye la3ter.
     [D] "Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, en leue me grante,
         & de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse,
1220     I wolde bo3e of is bed, & busk me better,
         I schulde keuer e more comfort to karp yow wyth."
     [E] "Nay, for soe, beau sir," sayd at swete,             [Fol. 107b]
         "3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,
1224 [F] I schal happe yow here at oer half als,
         & syen karp wyth my kny3t at I ka3t haue;
     [G] For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are,
         at alle e worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride;
1228     Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed
     [H] With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle at lyf bere.
         & now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;
     [I] "My lorde & his lede3 ar on lene faren,
1232 [J] Oer burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als,
     [K] e dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;
     [L] & syen I haue in is hous hym at al lyke3,
         I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3,
1236             with tale;
     [M]     3e ar welcum to my cors,
             Yowre awen won to wale,
             Me be-houe3 of fyne force,
1240 [N]     Your seruaunt be & schale."

[Sidenote A: "Good morrow", says the lady, "ye are a careless sleeper to
  let one enter thus.]
[Sidenote B: I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure."]
[Sidenote C: "Good morrow," says the knight, "I am well pleased to be at
  your service;]
[Sidenote D: but permit me to rise and dress myself."]
[Sidenote E: "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one,]
[Sidenote F: "I shall hold talk with you here.]
[Sidenote G: I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships.]
[Sidenote H: We are by ourselves;]
[Sidenote I: My lord and his men are far off.]
[Sidenote J: Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens.]
[Sidenote K: The door is safely closed.]
[Sidenote L: Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my
  time well while it lasts.]
[Sidenote M: Ye are welcome to my body.]
[Sidenote N: I shall be your servant."]
[Footnote 1: This word is illegible in the MS.]

      V.

         "In god fayth," quod Gawayn, "gayn hit me ynkke3,
     [A] a3 I be not now he at 3e of speken;
         To reche to such reuerence as 3e reherce here
1244     I am wy3e vn-wory, I wot wel my-seluen;
         Bi God, I were glad, & yow god o3t,
     [B] At sa3e oer at seruyce at I sette my3t
         To e plesaunce of your prys, hit were a pure ioye."
1248     "In god fayth, sir Gawayn," quod e gay lady,
         "e prys & e prowes at plese3 al oer,
         If I hit lakked, oer set at ly3t, hit were littel daynt;
     [C] Bot hit ar ladyes in-no3e, at leuer wer nowe
1252     Haf e hende in hor holde, as I e habbe here,
         To daly witt derely your daynt worde3,
         Keuer hem comfort, & colen her care3,
     [D] en much of e garysourn oer golde at[1] ay hauen;
1256     Bot I louue[2] at ilk lorde at e lyfte halde3,
         I haf hit holly in my honde at al desyres,
                 ur3e grace."
             Scho made hym so gret chere,
1260         at wat3 so fayr of face,                          [Fol. 108.]
     [E]     e kny3t with speches skere,
             A[n]swared to vche a cace.

[Sidenote A: "I am unworthy," says Sir Gawayne, "to reach to such reverence
  as ye rehearse.]
[Sidenote B: I shall be glad, however, to please you by word, or service."]
[Sidenote C: "There are ladies," says his visitor, "who would prefer thy
  company]
[Sidenote D: to much of the gold that they possess."]
[Sidenote E: The knight answers the lady's questions.]
[Footnote 1: MS. at at.]
[Footnote 2: louie or loune (?).]

      VI.

     [A] "Madame," quod e myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde,
1264     For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,
         & oer ful much of oer folk fongen hor dede3;
         Bot e daynt at ay delen for my disert nysen,
         Hit is e worchyp of your-self, at no3t hot wel conne3."
1268 [B] "Bi Mary," quod e menskful, "me ynk hit anoer;
         For were I worth al e wone of wymmen alyue,
         & al e wele of e worlde were in my honde,
     [C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,
1272     For e costes at I haf knowen vpun e kny3t here,
         Of bewt, & debonert, & blye semblaunt,
     [D] & at I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,
         er schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen."
1276     "I-wysse, wory," quod e wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better,
     [E] Bot I am proude of e prys at 3e put on me,
         & soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,
         & yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde."
1280     us ay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,
         & ay e lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych;
     [F] e freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.
         a3 I were burde bry3test, e burde in mynde hade,
1284     e lasse luf in his lode, for lur at he so3t,
                 boute hone;
             e dunte at schulde[2] hym deue,
             & nede3 hit most be done;
1288 [G]     e lady enn spek of leue.
             He granted hir ful sone.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that
  of all others.]
[Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,]
[Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,]
[Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth.]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and
  faithful servant.]
[Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of
  love.]
[Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne.]
[Footnote 1: and (?)]
[Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS.]

      VII.

     [A] enne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed.
         & as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3:
1292 [B] "Now he at spede3 vche spech, is disport 3elde yow!
         Bot at 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde."
         "Quer-fore?" quod e freke, & freschly he aske3,
         Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;
1296     Bot e burde hym blessed, & bi is skyl sayde,
         "So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden,                   [Fol. 108b.]
         & cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,
     [C] Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,
1300     Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,
         Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende."
     [D] en quod Wowen, "I-wysse, wore as yow lyke3,
         I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3,
1304     & fire[1] lest he displese yow, so[2] plede hit no more."
     [E] Ho comes nerre with at, & cache3 hym in arme3,
         Loute3 luflych adoun, & e leude kysse3;
         ay comly bykennen to Kryst ayer oer;
1308     Ho dos hir forth at e dore, with-outen dyn more.
         & he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,
     [F] Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,
         Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, blyely to masse,
1312     & enne he meued to his mete, at menskly hym keped,
     [G] & made myry al day til e mone rysed,
                 with game;
             With[3] neuer freke fayrer fonge,
1316 [H]     Bitwene two so dyngne dame,
             e alder & e 3onge,
             Much solace set ay same.

[Sidenote A: With a laughing glance, she says,]
[Sidenote B: "I am doubtful whether ye be Gawayne.]
[Sidenote C: Were it he, surely, ere this, he would have craved a kiss."]
[Sidenote D: "I shall kiss," says the knight, "at your commandment."]
[Sidenote E: With that the lady catches him in her arms and kisses him.]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne then rises and goes to mass.]
[Sidenote G: He makes mirth all day till the moon rises,]
[Sidenote H: between the "two dames," the older and the younger.]
[Footnote 1: fere (?).]
[Footnote 2: fo, in MS.]
[Footnote 3: Was (?) Nas (?).]

      VIII.

     [A] And ay e lorde of e londe is lent on his gamne3,
1320     To hunt in holte3 & hee, at hynde3 barayne,
         Such a sowme he er slowe bi at e sunne heldet,
         Of dos & of oer dere, to deme were wonder.
         enne fersly ay flokked in folk at e laste,
1324 [B] & quykly of e quelled dere a querr ay maked;
         e best bo3ed erto, with burne3 in-noghe,
     [C] Gedered e grattest of gres at er were,
         & didden hem derely vndo, as e dede aske3;
1328 [D] Serched hem at e asay, summe at er were,
         Two fyngeres ay fonde of e fowlest of alle;
     [E] Syen ay slyt e slot, sesed e erber,
     [F] Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, & e schyre knitten;
1332     Syen rytte ay e foure lymmes, & rent of e hyde,
     [G] en brek ay e bale, e bale3 out token,
     [H] Lystily forlancyng, & bere of e knot;                 [Fol. 109.]
          ay gryped to e gargulun, & grayely departed
1336 [I] e wesaunt fro e wynt-hole, & walt out e gutte3;
         en scher ay out e schuldere3 with her scharp knyue3,
     [J] Haled hem by a lyttel hole, to haue hole sydes;
         Sien britned ay e brest, & brayden hit in twynne,
1340     & eft at e gargulun bigyne3 on enne,
     [K] Ryue3 hit vp radly, ry3t to e by3t,
         Voyde3 out e a-vanters, & verayly erafter
         Alle e ryme3 by e rybbe3 radly ay lance;
1344     So ryde ay of by resoun bi e rygge bone3,
         Euenden to e haunche, at henged alle samen,
         & heuen hit vp al hole, & hwen hit of ere,
         & at ayneme for e noumbles, bi nome as I trowe,
1348             bi kynde;
     [L]     Bi e by3t al of e y3es,
             e lappe3 ay lance bi-hynde,
     [M]     To hewe hit in two ay hy3es,
1352         Bi e bak-bon to vnbynde.

[Sidenote A: Meanwhile the lord of the land and his men hunt in woods and
  heaths.]
[Sidenote B: Quickly of the killed a "quarry" they make.]
[Sidenote C: Then they set about breaking the deer.]
[Sidenote D: They take away the assay or fat,]
[Sidenote E: then they slit the slot and remove the erber.]
[Sidenote F: They afterwards rip the four limbs and rend off the hide.]
[Sidenote G: They next open the belly]
[Sidenote H: and take out the bowels.]
[Sidenote I: They then separate the weasand from the windhole and throw out
  the guts.]
[Sidenote J: The shoulders are cut out, and the breast divided into
  halves.]
[Sidenote K: The numbles are next removed.]
[Sidenote L: By the fork of the thighs,]
[Sidenote M: the flaps are hewn in two by the backbone.]

      IX.

     [A] Boe e hede & e hals ay hwen of enne,
         & syen sunder ay e syde3 swyft fro e chyne,
         & e corbeles fee ay kest in a greue;[1]
1356     enn urled ay ayer ik side ur3, bi e rybbe,
         & henged enne a[y]er bi ho3es of e fourche3,
         Vche freke for his fee, as falle3 forto haue.
         Vpon a felle of e fayre best, fede ay ayr houndes,
1360 [B] Wyth e lyuer & e ly3te3, e leer of e paunche3,
         & bred baed in blod, blende er amonge3;
         Baldely ay blw prys, bayed ayr rachche3,
     [C] Syen fonge ay her flesche folden to home,
1364     Strakande ful stoutly mony stif mote3.
         Bi at e dayly3t wat3 done, e douthe wat3 al wonen
         In-to e comly castel, er e kny3t bide3
                 ful stille;
1368         Wyth blys & bry3t fyr bette,
             e lord is comen er-tylle,
     [D]     When Gawayn wyth hym mette,
             er wat3 bot wele at wylle.

[Sidenote A: After this the head and neck are cut off, and the sides
  severed from the chine.]
[Sidenote B: With the liver, lights and paunches, they feed the hounds.]
[Sidenote C: Then they make for home.]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne goes out to meet his host.]
[Footnote 1: grene (?).]

      X.

1372 [A] Thenne comaunded e lorde in at sale to samen alle e meny,[Fol.]
         Boe e ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes,           [109b.]
     [B] Bi-fore alle e folk on e flette, freke3 he bedde3
         Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
1376 [C] & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
         Teche3 hym to e tayles of ful tayt bestes,
         Schewe3 hym e schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
     [D] "How paye3 yow is play? haf I prys wonnen?
1380     Haue I ryuandely onk ur3 my craft serued?"
         "3e I-wysse," quod at oer wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest
     [E] at I se3 is seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter."
         "& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod e gome enne,
1384     "For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen."
         "is is soth," quod e segge, "I say yow atilke,
         &[1] I haf worthyly is wone3 wyth-inne,
     [F] I-wysse with as god wylle hit wore3 to 3oure3."
1388     He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne,
         & kysses hym as comlyly as he[2] coue awyse:
         "Tas yow ere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
         I wowche hit saf fynly, a3 feler hit were."
1392     "Hit is god," quod e god mon, "grant mercy erfore,
     [G] Hit may be such, hit is e better, &[1] 3e me breue wolde
         Where 3e wan is ilk wele, biwytte of hor[3] seluen?"
     [H] "at wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more,
1396     For 3e haftan at yow tyde3, trawe3e non oer
                 3e mowe."
             ay la3ed, & made hem blye,
     [I]     Wyth lote3 at were to lowe,
1400         To soper ay 3ede asswye,
             Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.

[Sidenote A: The lord commands all his household to assemble,]
[Sidenote B: and the venison to be brought before him.]
[Sidenote C: He calls Gawayne,]
[Sidenote D: and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his
  success in the chase.]
[Sidenote E: On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take
  the whole according to a former agreement between them.]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return.]
[Sidenote G: His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal.]
[Sidenote H: As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to
  his question.]
[Sidenote I: They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and
  enough.]
[Footnote 1: And = an.]
[Footnote 2: ho, in MS.]
[Footnote 3: your (?).]

      XI.

     [A] And syen by e chymn in chamber ay seten.
     [B] Wy3e3 e walle wyn we3ed to hem oft,
1404     & efte in her bourdyng ay bayen in e morn,
         To fylle e same forwarde3 at ay by-fore maden,
     [C] at chaunce so bytyde3 hor cheuysaunce to chaunge,
         What nwe3 so ay nome, at na3t quen ay metten
1408     ay acorded of e couenaunte3 byfore e court alle;
         e beuerage wat3 bro3t forth in bourde at at tyme;    [Fol. 110.]
     [D] enne ay louelych le3ten leue at e last,
         Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.
1412 [E] Bi at e coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot ryse,
         e lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] e leude3 vch one,
         So at e mete & e masse wat3 metely delyuered;
         e douthe dressed to e wod, er any day sprenged,
1416             to chace;
     [F]     He3 with hunte & horne3,
             ur3 playne3 ay passe in space,
             Vn-coupled among o orne3,
1420         Rache3 at ran on race.

[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit.]
[Sidenote B: Wine is carried round.]
[Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement.]
[Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed.]
[Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up.]
[Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase.]
[Footnote 1: crowed (?).]

      XII.

     [A] Sone ay calle of a quest in aker syde,
         e hunt re-hayted e hounde3, at hit fyrst mynged,
     [B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;
1424     e hownde3 at hit herde, hastid ider swye,
         & fellen as fast to e fuyt, fourty at ones;
         enne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3
         Ros, at e rochere3 rungen aboute;
1428     Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.
     [C] en al in a sembl sweyed to-geder,
         Bitwene a flosche in at fryth, & a foo cragge;
         In a knot, bi a clyffe, at e kerre syde,
1432     er as e rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen,
         [ay] ferden to e fyndyng, & freke3 hem after;
     [D] ay vmbe-kesten e knarre & e knot boe.
         Wy3e3, whyl ay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,
1436     e best at er breued wat3 wyth e blod hounde3.
     [E] enne ay beten on e buske3, & bede hym vp ryse,
         & he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-wert,
     [F] On e sellokest swyn swenged out ere,
1440     Long sythen for[1] e sounder at wi3t for-olde,
         For he wat3 b[este &] bor aler grattest,
         [And eue]re quen he gronyed, enne greued mony,
     [G] For [re a]t e fyrst rast he ry3t to e ere,
1444     & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,
         [Ande ay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed
         Haden horne3 to moue heterly rechated;               [Fol. 110b.]
     [H] Mony wat3 e myry mouthe of men & of hounde3,
1448     at buskke3 after is bor, with bost & wyth noyse,
                 To quelle;
             Ful oft he byde3 e baye,
             & mayme3 e mute Inn-melle,
1452 [I]     He hurte3 of e hounde3, & ay
             Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.

[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once.]
[Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff.]
[Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,]
[Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes.]
[Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,]
[Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground.]
[Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him.]
[Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and
  yell.]
[Footnote 1: fro (?).]

      XIII.

     [A] Schalke3 to schote at hym schowen to enne,
         Haled to hym of her arewe3, hitten hym oft;
1456     Bot e poynte3 payred at e pyth at py3t in his schelde3,
         & e barbe3 of his browe bite non wolde,
     [B] a3 e schauen schaft schyndered in pece3,
         e hede hypped a3ayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;
1460 [C] Bot quon e dynte3 hym dered of her dry3e stroke3,
         en, brayn-wod for bate, on burne3 he rase3,
     [D] Hurte3 hem ful heterly er he forth hy3e3,
         & mony ar3ed erat, & on-lyte dro3en.
1464     Bot e lorde on a ly3t horce launces hym after,
     [E] As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowe3,
         He rechated, & r[ode][1] ur3 rone3 ful yk,
         Suande is wy[ld]e swyn til e sunne schafted.
1468 [F] is day wyth is ilk dede ay dryuen on is wyse,
         Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,
     [G] Gawayn grayely at home, in gere3 ful ryche
                 of hewe;
1472         e lady no3t for3ate,
             Com to hym to salue,
             Ful erly ho wat3 hym ate,
             His mode forto remwe.

[Sidenote A: The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,]
[Sidenote B: but they glide off shivered in pieces.]
[Sidenote C: Enraged with the blows,]
[Sidenote D: he attacks the hunters.]
[Sidenote E: The lord of the land blows his bugle,]
[Sidenote F: and pursues the boar.]
[Sidenote G: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.]
[Footnote 1: The MS. is here almost illegible.]

      XIV.

1476 [A] Ho commes to e cortyn, & at e kny3t totes,
         Sir Wawen her welcumed wory on fyrst,
         & ho hym 3elde3 a3ayn, ful 3erne of hir worde3,
     [B] Sette3 hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swyely ho la3e3,
1480     & wyth a luflych loke ho layde[1] hym yse worde3:
         "Sir, 3if 3e be Wawen, wonder me ynkke3,
         Wy3e at is so wel wrast alway to god,
         & conne3 not of compaynye e coste3 vnder-take,
1484     & if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, 3e kest hom of your mynde;[Fol.]
     [C] ou hat3 for-3eten 3ederly at 3isterday I ta3tte           [111]
           alder-truest token of talk at I cowe."
         "What is at?" quod e wyghe, "I-wysse I wot neuer,
1488     If hit be sothe at 3e breue, e blame is myn awen."
     [D] "3et I kende yow of kyssyng," quod e clere enne,
         "Quere-so countenaunce is coue, quikly to clayme,
         at bicumes vche a kny3t, at cortaysy vses."
1492     "Do way," quod at derf mon, "my dere, at speche,
     [E] For at durst I not do, lest I denayed were,
         If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, 3if I profered."
         "Ma fay," quod e mere wyf, "3e may not be werned,
1496 [F] 3e ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenke, 3if yow lyke3,
         3if any were so vilanous at yow denaye[2] wolde."
         "3e, be God," quod Gawayn, "good is your speche,
         Bot rete is vn-ryuande in ede er I lende,
1500 [G] & vche gift at is geuen not with goud wylle;
         I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lyke3,
         3e may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow ynkke3,
                 in space."
1504 [H]     e lady loute3 a-doun,
             & comlyly kysses his face,
             Much speche ay er expoun,
             Of druryes greme & grace.

[Sidenote A: The lady of the castle again visits Sir Gawayne.]
[Sidenote B: Softly she sits by his side,]
[Sidenote C: and tells the knight that he has forgotten what she taught him
  the day before.]
[Sidenote D: "I taught you of kissing," she says, "that becomes every
  knight."]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne says that he must not take that which is forbidden.]
[Sidenote F: He is told that he is strong enough to enforce it.]
[Sidenote G: The knight replies that every gift is worthless that is not
  given willingly.]
[Sidenote H: The lady stoops down and kisses him.]
[Footnote 1: sayde (?).]
[Footnote 2: de vaye, in MS.]

      XV.

1508 [A] "I woled[1] wyt at yow, wy3e," at wory er sayde,
         "& yow wrathed not er-wyth, what were e skylle,
         at so 3ong & so 3epe, as 3e [ar] at is tyme,
         So cortayse, so kny3tyly, as 3e ar knowen oute,
1512 [B] & of alle cheualry to chose, e chef yng a-losed,
         Is[2] e lel layk of luf, e lettrure of armes;
         F[or] to telle of is tenelyng of is trwe kny3te3,
         Hit is e tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkke3,
1516     How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyue3 han auntered,
         Endured for her drury dulful stounde3,
         & after wenged with her walour & voyded her care,
     [C] & bro3t blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen.
1520     & 3e ar kny3t com-lokest kyd of your elde,
         Your worde & your worchip walke3 ay quere,            [Fol. 111b.]
         & I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,
     [D] 3et herde I neuer of your hed helde no worde3
1524     at euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;
     [E] & 3e, at ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,
         Oghe to a 3onke ynk 3ern to schewe,
         & teche sum tokene3 of trweluf craftes.
1528     Why ar 3e lewed, at alle e los welde3,
         Oer elles 3e demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken?
                 for schame!
             I com hider sengel, & sitte,
1532         To lerne at yow sum game,
     [F]     Dos, teche3 me of your wytte,
             Whil my lorde is fro hame."

[Sidenote A: "I would learn," she says, "why you, who are so young and
  active,]
[Sidenote B: so skilled in the true sport of love,]
[Sidenote C: and so renowned a knight,]
[Sidenote D: have never talked to me of love.]
[Sidenote E: You ought to show a young thing like me some token of
  'true-love's crafts.']
[Sidenote F: So teach me of your 'wit' while my lord is from home."]
[Footnote 1: wolde (?).]
[Footnote 2: In (?).]

      XVI.

     [A] "In goud faye," quod Gawayn, "God yow for3elde,
1536     Gret is e gode gle, & gomen to me huge,
         at so wory as 3e wolde wynne hidere,
         & pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your kny3t,
         With any skynne3 countenaunce, hit keuere3 me ese;
1540 [B] Bot to take e toruayle[1] to my-self, to trwluf expoun,
         & towche e teme3 of tyxt, & tale3 of arme3,
         To yow at, I wot wel, welde3 more sly3t
         Of at art, bi e half, or a hundreth of seche
1544     As I am, oer euer schal, in erde er I leue,
         Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my trawe.
     [C] I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my my3t,
         As I am hy3ly bihalden, & euer-more wylle
1548 [D] Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dry3tyn!"
         us hym frayned at fre, & fondet hym ofte,
         Forto haf wonnen hym to wo3e, what-so scho o3t elle3,
     [E] Bot he de fended hym so fayr, at no faut semed,
1552     Ne non euel on nawer halue, nawer ay wysten,
                 bot blysse;
             ay la3ed & layked longe,
             At e last scho con hym kysse,
1556 [F]     Hir leue fayre con scho fonge,
             & went hir waye Iwysse.

[Sidenote A: "It is a great pleasure to me," says Sir Gawayne, "to hear you
  talk,]
[Sidenote B: but I cannot undertake the task to expound true-love and tales
  of arms.]
[Sidenote C: I will, however, act according to your will,]
[Sidenote D: and ever be your servant."]
[Sidenote E: Thus Gawayne defends himself.]
[Sidenote F: The lady having kissed the knight, takes leave of him.]
[Footnote 1: tornayle (?).]

      XVII.

     [A] Then rues hym e renk, & ryses to e masse,
         & sien hor diner wat3 dy3t & derely serued.           [Fol. 112.]
1560 [B] e lede with e ladye3 layked alle day,
         Bot e lorde ouer e londe3 launced ful ofte,
         Swe3 his vncely swyn, at swynge3 bi e bonkke3,
     [C] & bote e best of his brache3 e bakke3 in sunder;
1564     er he bode in his bay, tel[1] bawe-men hit breken,
         & made[2] hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter;
     [D] So felle flone3 per flete, when e folk gedered;
         Bot 3et e styffest to start bi stounde3 he made,
1568     Til at e last he wat3 so mat, he my3t no more renne,
     [E] Bot in e hast at he my3t, he to a hole wynne3,
         Of a rasse, bi a rokk, er renne3 e boerne,
         He gete e bonk at his bak, bigyne3 to scrape,
1572 [F] e froe femed[3] at his mouth vnfayre bi e wyke3,
         Whette3 his whyte tusche3; with hym en irked
         Alle e burne3 so bolde, at hym by stoden,
     [G] To nye hym on-ferum, bot ne3e hym non durst
1576             for woe;
             He hade hurt so mony byforne,
             at al u3t[4] enne ful loe,
     [H]     Be more wyth his tusche3 torne,
1580         at breme wat3 [&] brayn-wod bothe.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne rises, hears mass, and then dines.]
[Sidenote B: Meanwhile the lord pursues the wild boar,]
[Sidenote C: that bit the backs of his hounds asunder,]
[Sidenote D: and caused the stiffest of the hunters to start.]
[Sidenote E: The boar runs into a hole in a rock by the side of a brook.]
[Sidenote F: The froth foams at his mouth.]
[Sidenote G: None durst approach him,]
[Sidenote H: so many had he torn with his tusks.]
[Footnote 1: til (?).]
[Footnote 2: madee, in MS.]
[Footnote 3: fomed (?).]
[Footnote 4: o3t (?).]

      XVIII.

     [A] Til e kny3t com hym-self, kachande his blonk,
         Sy3 hym byde at e bay, his burne3 bysyde,
     [B] He ly3tes luflych[1] adoun, leue3 his corsour,
1584     Brayde3 out a bry3t bront, & bigly forth stryde3,
         Founde3 fast ur3 e forth, er e felle byde3,
     [C] e wylde wat3 war of e wy3e with weppen in honde,
         Hef hy3ly e here, so hetterly he fnast,
1588     at fele ferde for e freke3,[2] lest felle hym e worre;
     [D] e swyn sette3 hym out on e segge euen,
         at e burne & e bor were boe vpon hepe3,
         In e wy3t-est of e water, e worre hade at oer;
1592 [E] For e mon merkke3 hym wel, as ay mette fyrst,
         Set sadly e scharp in e slot euen,
     [F] Hit hym vp to e hult, at e hert schyndered,
         & he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] e water,
1596             ful tyt;
             A hundreth hounde3 hym hent,                      [Fol. 112b.]
     [G]     at bremely con hym bite,
             Burne3 him bro3t to bent,
1600         & dogge3 to dethe endite.

[Sidenote A: The knight, seeing the boar at bay,]
[Sidenote B: alights from his horse,]
[Sidenote C: and seeks to attack him with his sword.]
[Sidenote D: The "swine sets out" upon the man,]
[Sidenote E: who, aiming well,]
[Sidenote F: wounds him in the pit of the stomach.]
[Sidenote G: The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds.]
[Footnote 1: MS. luslych.]
[Footnote 2: freke (?).]
[Footnote 3: 3ede doun (?).]

      XIX.

     [A] There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,
         He3e halowing on hi3e, with haele3 at my3t;
     [B] Brachetes bayed at best, as bidden e maystere3,
1604     Of at chargeaunt chace at were chef huntes.
     [C] enne a wy3e at wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,
         To vnlace is bor lufly bigynne3;
     [D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,
1608     & syen rende3 him al roghe bi e rygge after,
     [E] Brayde3 out e boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,
         With bred blent er-with his braches rewarde3;
         Syen he britne3 out e brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,
1612 [F] & hat3 out e hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;
     [G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole e halue3 to-geder,
         & syen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.
         Now with is ilk swyn ay swengen to home;
1616 [H] e bores hed wat3 borne bifore e burnes seluen,
         at him for-ferde in e fore, ur3 forse of his honde,
                 so stronge;
             Til he se3 sir Gawayne,
1620         In halle hym o3t ful longe,
     [I]     He calde, & he com gayn,
             His fee3 er for to fonge.

[Sidenote A: Then was there blowing of horns]
[Sidenote B: and baying of hounds.]
[Sidenote C: One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar.]
[Sidenote D: First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back.]
[Sidenote E: He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and
  therewith rewards his hounds.]
[Sidenote F: Then the hastlets are removed.]
[Sidenote G: The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole.]
[Sidenote H: The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home.]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne is called to receive the spoil.]

      XX.

     [A] e lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,
1624     When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;
         e goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered e meyny,
     [B] He schewe3 hem e schelde3, & schapes hem e tale,
         Of e largesse, & e lene, e lierne3 alse,
1628     Of e were of e wylde swyn, in wod er he fled.
         at oer kny3t ful comly comended his dede3,
         & praysed hit as gret prys, at he proued hade;
     [C] For suche a brawne of a best, e bolde burne sayde,
1632     Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.
         enne hondeled ay e hoge hed, e hende mon hit praysed,
         & let lodly erat e lorde forte here:                 [Fol. 113.]
     [D] "Now Gawayn," quod e god mon, "is gomen is your awen,
1636     Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe."
         "Hit is sothe," quod e segge, "& as siker trwe;
         Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawe."
     [E] He [hent] e hael aboute e halse, & hendely hym kysses,
1640     & efter-sones of e same he serued hym ere.
         "Now ar we euen," quod e hael, "in is euen-tide,
         Of alle e couenauntes at we knyt, syen I com hider,
                 bi lawe;"
1644 [F]     e lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile,
             3e ar e best at I knowe,
             3e ben ryche in a whyle,
             Such chaffer & 3e drowe."

[Sidenote A: The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir
  Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of
  its length and breadth.]
[Sidenote C: Such a "brawn of a beast," Sir Gawayne says, he never has
  seen.]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant,]
[Sidenote E: and in return kisses his host,]
[Sidenote F: who declares his guest to be the best he knows.]

      XXI.

1648 [A] enne ay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,
     [B] Kesten cloe3 vpon, clere ly3t enne
     [C] Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches
         Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute;
1652 [D] Much glam & gle glent vp er-inne,
         Aboute e fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,
     [E] At e soper & after, mony ael songe3,
         As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,
1656     With alle e manerly mere at mon may of telle.
     [F] & euer oure luflych kny3t e lady bi-syde;
         Such semblaunt to at segge semly ho made,
     [G] Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, at stalworth to plese,
1660     at al for-wondered wat3 e wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,
         Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,
         Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer e dede turned
                 to wrast;
1664 [H]     Quen ay hade played in halle,
             As longe as hor wylle hom last,
     [I]     To chambre he[1] con hym calle,
             & to e chem-ne ay past.

[Sidenote A: Tables are raised aloft,]
[Sidenote B: cloths cast upon them,]
[Sidenote C: and torches are lighted.]
[Sidenote D: With much mirth and glee,]
[Sidenote E: supper is served in the hall,]
[Sidenote F: and ever our lovely knight by the lady sits,]
[Sidenote G: who does all she can to please her companion.]
[Sidenote H: When they had long played in the hall,]
[Sidenote I: they proceeded "to chamber."]
[Footnote 1: ho (?).]

      XXII.

1668 [A] Ande er ay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe,
         To norne on e same note, on nwe3ere3 euen;
     [B] Bot e kny3t craued leue, to kayre on e morn,
         For hit wat3 ne3 at e terme, at he to[1] schulde.
1672     e lorde hym letted of at, to lenge hym resteyed,    [Fol. 113b.]
     [C] & sayde, "as I am trwe segge, I siker my trawe,
     [D] ou schal cheue to e grene chapel, y charres to make,
         Leude, on nw3ere3 ly3t, longe bifore pryme:
1676     For-y ow lye in y loft, & lach yn ese,
         & I schal hunt in is holt, & halde e towche3,
         Chaunge wyth e cheuisaunce, bi at I charre hider;
         For I haf fraysted e twys, & faythful I fynde e,
1680     Now rid tyme rowe best enk on e morne,
         Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye,
         For e lur may mon lach, when so mon lyke3."
         is wat3 grayely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged,
1684 [E] Blie bro3t wat3 hym drynk, & ay to bedde 3eden,
                 with li3t;
     [F]     Sir G: lis & slepes,
             Ful stille & softe al ni3t;
1688 [G]     e lorde at his crafte3 kepes,
             Ful erly he wat3 di3t.

[Sidenote A: There they drank and discoursed.]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne begs leave to depart on the morrow.]
[Sidenote C: His host swears to him,]
[Sidenote D: that he shall come to the Green Chapel on New Year's morn long
  before prime.]
[Sidenote E: Our knight consents to remain for another night.]
[Sidenote F: Full still and softly he sleeps all night.]
[Sidenote G: Early in the morning the lord is up.]
[Footnote 1: te (?).]

      XXIII.

     [A] After messe a morsel[1] he & his men token,
         Miry wat3 e mornyng, his mounture he askes;
1692 [B] Alle e haeles at on horse schulde helden hym after,
         Were boun busked on hor blonkke3, bi-fore[2] e halle 3ate3;
     [C] Ferly fayre wat3 e folde, for e forst clenged,
         In rede rudede vpon rak rises e sunne,
1696 [D] & ful clere coste3[3] e clowdes of e welkyn.
         Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,
         Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;
     [E] Summe fel in e fute, er e fox bade,
1700     Trayle3 ofte a trayteres[4], bi traunt of her wyles;
         A kenet kryes erof, e hunt on hym calles,
         His fela3es fallen hym to, at fnasted ful ike,
     [F] Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ry3t fare;
1704     & he fyske3 hem by-fore, ay founden hym sone,
     [G] & quen ay seghe hym with sy3t, ay sued hym fast,
         Wre3ande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;
     [H] & he trantes & tornayee3 ur3 mony tene greue;
1708     Hamloune3, & herkene3, bi hegge3 ful ofte;
     [I] At e last bi a littel dich he lepe3 ouer a spenn,    [Fol. 114.]
         Stele3 out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,
     [J] Went haf wylt of e wode, with wyle3 fro e houndes,
1712     enne wat3 he went, er he wyst, to[5] a wale tryster,
     [K] er re ro at a rich rat hym at ones,
                 al graye;
     [L]     He blenched a3ayn bilyue,
1716         & stifly start onstray,
             With alle e wo on lyue,
     [M]     To e wod he went away.

[Sidenote A: After mass, a morsel he take with his men.]
[Sidenote B: Then were all on their horses before the hall-gates.]
[Sidenote C: It was a clear frosty morning.]
[Sidenote D: The hunters, dispersed by a wood's side,]
[Sidenote E: come upon the track of a fox,]
[Sidenote F: which is followed up by the hounds.]
[Sidenote G: They soon get sight of the game,]
[Sidenote H: and pursue him through many a rough grove.]
[Sidenote I: The fox at last leaps over a spinny,]
[Sidenote J: and by a rugged path seeks to get clear from the hounds.]
[Sidenote K: He comes upon one of the hunting stations, where he is
  attacked by the dogs.]
[Sidenote L: However, he slips them,]
[Sidenote M: and makes again for the wood.]
[Footnote 1: MS. nnorsel.]
[Footnote 2: bi-forere, in MS.]
[Footnote 3: caste3 (?).]
[Footnote 4: trayveres (?).]
[Footnote 5: to to, in MS.]

      XXIV.

     [A] Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list to lyen e hounde3,
1720     When alle e mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,
         Suche a sor3e at at sy3t ay sette on his hede,
         As alle e clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;
     [B] Here he wat3 halawed, when haele3 hym metten,
1724     Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche;
     [C] er he wat3 reted, & ofte ef called,
         & ay e titleres at his tayl, at tary he ne my3t;
         Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked,
1728 [D] & ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wyl.
     [E] & 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, e lorde & his meyny;
         On is maner bi e mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder,
     [F] Whyle e hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3,
1732     With-inne e comly cortynes, on e colde morne.
         Bot e lady for luf let not to slepe,
         Ne e purpose to payre, at py3t in hir hert,
         Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir eder,
1736 [G] In a mery mantyle, mete to e ere,
         at wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured,
         No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot e ha3er stones
         Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;
1740 [H] Hir ryuen face & hir rote rowen al naked,
         Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.
     [I] Ho come3 with-inne e chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,
     [J] Wayne3[1] vp a wyndow, & on e wy3e calle3,
1744     & radly us re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3,
                 with[2] chere;
     [K]     "A! mon, how may ou slepe,
     [L]     is morning is so clere?"                         [Fol. 114b.]
1748         He wat3 in drowping depe,
             Bot enne he con hir here.

[Sidenote A: Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: and the hallooing of the hunters.]
[Sidenote C: There the fox was threatened and called a thief.]
[Sidenote D: But Reynard was wily,]
[Sidenote E: and led them astray over mounts.]
[Sidenote F: Meanwhile the knight at home soundly sleeps within his comely
  curtains.]
[Sidenote G: The lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle,]
[Sidenote H: her throat and bosom all bare,]
[Sidenote I: comes to Gawayne's chamber,]
[Sidenote J: opens a window, and says,]
[Sidenote K: "Ah! man, how canst thou sleep,]
[Sidenote L: this morning is so clear?"]
[Footnote 1: wayue3(?).]
[Footnote 2: bi,  sec. manu.]

      XXV.

     [A] In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled at noble,
         As mon at wat3 in mornyng of mony ro o3tes,
1752     How at destin schulde at day [dy3t] his wyrde,
         At e grene chapel, when he e gome metes,
         & bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more;
     [B] Bot quen at comly he keuered his wyttes,
1756     Swenges out of e sweuenes, & sware3 with hast.
         e lady luflych com la3ande swete,
     [C] Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed;
         He welcume3 hir worily, with a wale chere;
1760     He se3 hir so glorious, & gayly atyred,
         So fautles of hir fetures, & of so fyne hewes,
     [D] Wi3t wallande Ioye warmed his hert;
         With smoe smylyng & smolt ay smeten in-to mere,
1764     at al wat3 blis & bonchef, at breke hem bi-twene,
                 & wynne,
             ay lanced wordes gode,
             Much wele en wat3 er-inne,
1768 [E]     Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,
             Nif mare of hir kny3t mynne.

[Sidenote A: The knight was then dreaming of his forthcoming adventure at
  the Green Chapel.]
[Sidenote B: He awakes and speaks to his fair visitor,]
[Sidenote C: who sweetly kisses him.]
[Sidenote D: Great joy warms the heart of Sir Gawayne,]
[Sidenote E: and "great peril between them stood."]

      XXVI.

     [A] For at prynce of pris de-presed hym so ikke.
         Nurned hym so ne3e e red, at nede hym bi-houed,
1772     Oer lach er hir luf, oer lodly re-fuse;
         He cared for his cortaysye, lest craayn he were,
     [B] & more for his meschef, 3if he schulde make synne,
         & be traytor to at tolke, at at telde a3t.
1776     "God schylde," quod e schalk, "at schal not be-falle!"
         With luf-la3yng a lyt, he layd hym by-syde
         Alle e speche3 of specialt at sprange of her mouthe.
         Quod at burde to e burne, "blame 3e disserue,
1780     3if 3e luf not at lyf at 3e lye nexte,
         Bifore alle e wy3e3 in e worlde, wounded in hert,
     [C] Bot if 3e haf a lemman, a leuer, at yow lyke3 better,
         & folden fayth to at fre, festned so harde,
1784     at yow lausen ne lyst, & at I leue noue;            [Fol. 115.]
         And at 3e telle me at, now trwly I pray yow,
         For alle e lufe3 vpon lyue, layne not e soe,
                 for gile."
1788 [D]     e kny3t sayde, "be sayn Ion,"
             & smeely con he smyle,
             "In fayth I welde ri3t non,
             Ne non wil welde e quile."

[Sidenote A: The knight is sorely pressed.]
[Sidenote B: He fears lest he should become a traitor to his host.]
[Sidenote C: The lady inquire whether he has a mistress that he loves
  better than her.]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne swears by St. John that he neither has nor desires
  one.]

      XXVII.

1792     "at is a worde," quod at wy3t, "at worst is of alle,
         Bot I am swared for soe, at sore me inkke3;
     [A] Kysse me now coraly, & I schal cach heen,
         I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may at much louyes."
1796     Sykande ho swe3e doun, & semly hym kyssed,
         & sien ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes,
         "Now, dere, at is de-partyng, do me is ese,
     [B] Gif me sumquat of y gifte, i gloue if[1] hit were,
1800 [C] at I may mynne on e mon, my mournyng to lassen."
         "Now Iwysse," quod at wy3e, "I wolde I hade here
         e leuest ing for y luf, at I in londe welde,
     [D] For 3e haf deserued, forsoe, sellyly ofte
1804     More rewarde bi resoun, en I reche my3t,
         Bot to dele yow for drurye, at dawed bot neked;
         Hit is not your honour to haf at is tyme
         A gloue for a garysoun, of Gawayne3 gifte3,
1808     & I am here [on] an erande in erde3 vncoue,
     [E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful inge3;
         at mislyke3 me, lad, for luf at is tyme,[2]
         Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille,
1812             ne pine."
     [F]     "Nay, hende of hy3e honours,"
             Quod at lufsum vnder lyne,
     [G]     "a3 I hade o3t[3] of youre3,
1816         3et schulde 3e haue of myne."

[Sidenote A: She then kisses him, sighing for sorrow.]
[Sidenote B: She desires some gift,]
[Sidenote C: by which to remember him.]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne tells her that she is worthy of a better gift than he
  can bestow.]
[Sidenote E: He has no men with mails containing precious things.]
[Sidenote F: Then says that lovesome,]
[Sidenote G: "Though I had nought of yours, yet should ye have of mine."]
[Footnote 1: of, in MS.]
[Footnote 2: tyne, in MS.]
[Footnote 3: no3t (?).]

      XXVIII.

     [A] Ho ra3t hym a riche rynk[1] of red golde werke3,
         Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,
         at bere blusschande beme3 as e bry3t sunne;
1820     Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge.
     [B] Bot e renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,
         "I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at is tyme;       [Fol. 115b.]
     [C] I haf none yow to norne, ne no3t wyl I take."
1824     Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,
         & swere swyftel[y] his sothe, at he hit sese nolde;
     [D] & ho sore at he forsoke, & sayde er-after,
         "If 3e renay my rynk, to ryche for hit seme3,
1828     3e wolde not so hy3ly halden be to me,
         I schal gif yow my girdel, at gaynes yow lasse."
         Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, at[2] leke vmbe hir syde3,
     [E] Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder e clere mantyle,
1832     Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,
         No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3;
         & at ho bede to e burne, & blyely bi-so3t
     [F] a3 hit vn-wori were, at he hit take wolde.
1836     & he nay at he nolde neghe in no wyse,
     [G] Nauer golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende,
         To acheue to e chaunce at he hade chosen ere.
         "& erfore, I pray yow, displese yow no3t,
1840     & lette3 be your bisinesse, for I baye hit yow neuer
                 to graunte;
             I am derely to yow biholde,
             Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,
1844 [H]     & euer in hot & colde
             To be your trwe seruaunt.

[Sidenote A: She offers him a gold ring,]
[Sidenote B: but he refuses to accept it,]
[Sidenote C: as he has none to give in return.]
[Sidenote D: Very sorrowful was that fair one on account of his refusal.]
[Sidenote E: She takes off her "girdle,"]
[Sidenote F: and beseeches him to take it.]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne again refuses to accept anything,]
[Sidenote H: but promises, "ever in hot and in cold, to be her true
  servant."]
[Footnote 1: ryng (?).]
[Footnote 2: at at, in MS.]

      XXIX.

     [A] "Now forsake 3e is silke." sayde e burde enne,
         "For hit is symple in hit-self. & so hit wel seme3?
1848     Lo! so hit is littel, & lasse hit is wory;
     [B] Bot who-so knew e costes at knit ar er-inne,
         He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture;
     [C] For quat gome so is gorde with is grene lace,
1852     While he hit hade hemely halched aboute,
         er is no hael vnder heuen to-hewe hym at my3t;
     [D] For he my3t not he slayn, for sly3t vpon ere."
         en kest e kny3t, & hit come to his hert,
1856 [E] Hit were a Iuel for e Iopard, at hym iugged were,
         When he acheued to e chapel, his chek forto fech;
     [F] My3[1] he haf slypped to e vn-slayn, e sle3t were noble.
         enne ho ulged with hir repe, & oled hir to speke,  [Fol. 116.]
1860     & ho bere on hym e belt, & bede hit hym swye,
     [G] & he granted, & [ho] hym gafe with a goud wylle,
         & biso3t hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer,
         Bot to lelly layne for[2] hir lorde; e leude hym acorde3.
1864     at neuer wy3e schulde hit wyt, Iwysse, bot ay twayne,
                 for no3te;
             He onkked hir oft ful swye,
             Ful ro with hert & o3t.
1868 [H]     Bi at on rynne sye,
             He hat3 kyst e kny3t so to3t.

[Sidenote A: "Do you refuse it," says the lady, because it is simple?]
[Sidenote B: Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses, would highly prize
  it.]
[Sidenote C: For he who is girded with this green lace,]
[Sidenote D: cannot be wounded or slain."]
[Sidenote E: The knight thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel.]
[Sidenote F: The lady presses him to accept the lace.]
[Sidenote G: He consents not only to take the girdle, but to keep the
  possession of it a secret.]
[Sidenote H: By that time the lady has kissed him thrice.]
[Footnote 1: my3t (?).]
[Footnote 2: fro (?).]

      XXX.

     [A] Thenne lachche3 ho hir leue, & leue3 hym ere,
         For more myre of at mon mo3t ho not gete;
1872 [B] When ho[1] wat3 gon, sir G. gere3 hym sone,
         Rises, & riches hym in araye noble,
     [C] Lays vp e luf-lace, e lady hym ra3t,
         Hid hit ful holdely, er he hit eft fonde;
1876     Syen cheuely to e chapel choses he e waye,
     [D] Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym ere
         at he wolde lyfte[2] his lyf, & lern hym better,
         How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye heen.
1880 [E] ere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdede3,
         Of e more & e mynne, & merci beseche3,
     [F] & of absolucioun he on e segge calles;
         & he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene,
1884 [G] As dome3-day schulde haf ben di3t on e morn.
         & syen he mace hym as mery among e fre ladyes,
     [H] With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye,
         As neuer he did bot at daye, to e derk ny3t,
1888             with blys;
             Vche mon hade daynte are,
     [I]     Of hym, & sayde Iwysse,
     [J]     us myry he wat3 neuer are,
1892         Syn he com hider, er is.

[Sidenote A: Then she takes her leave.]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne then dresses himself,]
[Sidenote C: and conceals the love-lace about his person.]
[Sidenote D: He then hies to mass,]
[Sidenote E: and shrives him of his misdeeds.]
[Sidenote F: and prays for absolution.]
[Sidenote G: He returns to the hall, and makes himself so merry among the
  ladies,]
[Sidenote H: with comely carols,]
[Sidenote I: that they said,]
[Sidenote J: "Thus merry was he never before since hither he came."]
[Footnote 1: he, in MS.]
[Footnote 2: lyste (?).]

      XXXI.

     [A] Now hym lenge in at lee, er luf hym bi-tyde;
         3et is e lorde on e launde, ledande his gomnes,
     [B] He hat3 forfaren is fox, at he fol3ed longe;
1896     As he sprent ouer a spenn, to spye e schrewe,
         er as he herd e howndes, at hasted hym swye,      [Fol. 116b.]
     [C] Renaud com richchande ur3 a ro3e greue,
         & alle e rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.
1900 [D] e wy3e wat3 war of e wylde, & warly abides,
         & brayde3 out e bry3t bronde, & at e best caste3;
         & he schunt for e scharp, & schulde haf arered,
     [E] A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,
1904     & ry3t bifore e hors fete ay fel on hym alle,
         & woried me is wyly wyth a wroth noyse.
     [F] e lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by[1] sone,
         Rased hym ful radly out of e rach moues,
1908     Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,
         & er bayen hym mony bray[2] hounde3;
     [G] Huntes hy3ed hem eder, with horne3 ful mony,
         Ay re-chatande ary3t til ay e renk se3en;
1912     Bi at wat3 comen his compeyny noble,
         Alle at euer ber bugle blowed at ones,
     [H] & alle ise oer halowed, at hade no hornes,
         Hit wat3 e myriest mute at euer men herde,
1916     e rich rurd at er wat3 raysed for renaude saule,
                 with lote;
     [I]     Hor hounde3 ay er rewarde,
             Her[3] hede3 ay fawne & frote,
1920 [J]     & syen ay tan reynarde,
             & tyrnen of his cote.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne's host is still in the field.]
[Sidenote B: He has destroyed the fox.]
[Sidenote C: He spied Reynard coming through a "rough grove,"]
[Sidenote D: and tried to hit him with his sword.]
[Sidenote E: The fox "shunts," and is seized by one of the dogs.]
[Sidenote F: The lord takes him out of the hound's mouth.]
[Sidenote G: Hunters hasten thither with horns full many.]
[Sidenote H: It was the merriest meet that ever was heard.]
[Sidenote I: The hounds are rewarded,]
[Sidenote J: and then they take Reynard and "turn off his coat."]
[Footnote 1: hym (?).]
[Footnote 2: bra (?).]
[Footnote 3: Her her, in MS.]

      XXXII.

     [A] & enne ay helden to home, for hit wat3 nie3 ny3t,
         Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horne3;
1924 [B] e lorde is ly3t at e laste at hys lef home,
         Fynde3 fire vpon flet, e freke er by-side,
         Sir Gawayn e gode, at glad wat3 with alle,
     [C] Among e ladies for luf he ladde much ioye,
1928     He were a bleaunt of blwe, at bradde to e ere,
         His surkot semed hym wel, at softe wat3 forred,
         & his hode of at ilke henged on his schulder,
     [D] Blande al of blaunner were boe al aboute.
1932     He mete3 me is god mon in mydde3 e flore,
         & al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde,
         "I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwarde3 noue,
         at we spedly han spoken, er spared wat3 no drynk;"   [Fol. 117.]
1936 [E] en acoles he [e] kny3t, & kysses hym ryes,
     [F] As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette coue.
     [G] "Bi Kryst," quod at oer kny3t, "3e cach much sele,
         In cheuisaunce of is chaffer, 3if 3e hade goud chepe3."
1940     "3e of e chepe no charg," quod chefly at oer,
         "As is pertly payed e chepe3 at I a3te."
         "Mary," quod at oer mon, "myn is bi-hynde,
     [H] For I haf hunted al is day, & no3t haf I geten,
1944 [I] Bot is foule fox felle, e fende haf e gode3,
     [J] & at is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys inges,
         As 3e haf ry3t me here, ro suche re cosses,
                 so gode."
1948         "I-no3," quod sir Gawayn,
             "I onk yow, bi e rode;"
     [K]     & how e fox wat3 slayn,
             He tolde hym, as ay stode.

[Sidenote A: The hunters then hasten home.]
[Sidenote B: The lord at last alights at his dear home,]
[Sidenote C: where he finds Gawayne amusing the ladies.]
[Sidenote D: The knight comes forward and welcomes his host,]
[Sidenote E: and according to covenant kisses him thrice.]
[Sidenote F: (See l. 1868.)]
[Sidenote G: "By Christ," says the other, "ye have had much bliss!"]
[Sidenote H: I have hunted all day and have gotten nothing,]
[Sidenote I: but the skin of this foul fox,]
[Sidenote J: a poor reward for three such kisses."]
[Sidenote K: He then tells him how the fox was slain.]

      XXXIII.

1952 [A] With mere & mynstralsye, wyth mete3 at hor wylle,
         ay maden as mery as any men mo3ten,
         With la3yng of ladies, with lote3 of bordes;
         Gawayn & e gode mon so glad were ay boe,
1956     Bot if e douthe had doted, oer dronken ben oer,
         Boe e mon & e meyny maden mony iape3,
     [B] Til e sesoun wat3 se3en, at ay seuer moste;
         Burne3 to hor bedde be-houed at e laste.
1960 [C] enne lo3ly his leue at e lorde fyrst
         Fochche3 is fre mon, & fayre he hym onkke3;
     [D] "Of such a sellyly[1] soiorne, as I haf hade here,
         Your honour, at is hy3e fest, e hy3e kyng yow 3elde!
1964     I 3ef yow me for on of youre3, if yowre-self lyke3,
         For I mot nedes, as 3e wot, meue to morne;
     [E] & 3e me take sum tolke, to teche, as 3e hy3t,
         e gate to e grene chapel, as god wyl me suffer
1968     To dele, on nw3ere3 day, e dome of my wyrdes."
         "In god faye," quod e god mon. "wyth a goud wylle;
         Al at euer I yow hy3t, halde schal I rede."
     [F] er asyngnes he a seruaunt, to sett hym in e waye,
1972     & coundue hym by e downe3, at he no drechch had,    [Fol. 117b.]
         For to f[e]rk ur3 e fryth, & fare at e gaynest,
                 bi greue.
             e lorde Gawayn con onk,
1976         Such worchip he wolde hym weue;
     [G]     en at o ladye3 wlonk.
             e kny3t hat3 tan his leue.

[Sidenote A: With much mirth and minstrelsy they made merry,]
[Sidenote B: until the time came for them to part.]
[Sidenote C: Gawayne takes leave of his host.]
[Sidenote D: and thanks him for his happy "sojourn."]
[Sidenote E: He asks for a man to teach him the way to the Green Chapel.]
[Sidenote F: A servant is assigned to him,]
[Sidenote G: and then he takes leave of the ladies,]
[Footnote 1: selly (?).]

      XXXIV.

     [A] With care & wyth kyssyng he carppe3 hem tille,
1980     & fele ryuande onkke3 he rat hom to haue,
         & ay 3elden hym a3ay[n] 3eply at ilk;
     [B] ay bikende hym to Kryst, with ful colde sykynge3.
     [C] Syen fro e meyny he menskly de-partes;
1984     Vche mon at he mette, he made hem a onke,
         For his seruyse, & his solace, & his sere pyne,
         at ay wyth busynes had ben, aboute hym to serue;
         & vche segge as sore, to seuer with hym ere,
1988     As ay hade wonde woryly with at wlonk euer.
     [D] en with ledes & ly3t he wat3 ladde to his chambre,
         & blybely bro3t to his bedde, to be at his rest;
         3if he ne slepe soundyly, say ne dar I,
1992 [E] For he hade muche on e morn to mynne, 3if he wolde,
                 in o3t;
     [F]     Let hym ly3e ere stille,
             He hat3[1] nere at he so3t,
1996 [G]     & 3e wyl a whyle be stylle,
             I schal telle yow how ay wro3t.

[Sidenote A: kissing them sorrowfully.]
[Sidenote B: They commend him to Christ.]
[Sidenote C: He then departs, thanking each one he meets "for his service
  and solace."]
[Sidenote D: He retires to rest but sleeps but little,]
[Sidenote E: for much has he to think of on the morrow.]
[Sidenote F: Let him there lie still.]
[Sidenote G: Be still awhile, and I shall tell how they wrought.]
[Footnote 1: wat3 (?).]

[FYTTE THE FOURTH.]

      I.

     [A] Now ne3e3 e nw3ere, & e ny3t passe3,
         e day dryue3 to e derk, as dry3tyn bidde3;
2000 [B] Bot wylde wedere3 of e worlde wakned eroute,
         Clowdes kesten kenly e colde to e ere,
         Wyth ny3e[1] in-noghe of e nore, e naked to tene;
     [C] e snawe snitered ful snart, at snayped e wylde;
2004     e werbelande wynde wapped fro e hy3e,
     [D] & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete.
         e leude lystened ful wel, at le3 in his bedde,
     [E] a3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes;
2008     Bi vch kok at crue, he knwe wel e steuen.
         De-liuerly he dressed vp, er e day sprenged,          [Fol. 118.]
         For ere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, at lemed in his chambre;
     [F] He called to his chamberlayn, at cofly hym swared,
2012     & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel;
         at oer ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3,
         & graye3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse.
         Fyrst he clad hym in his cloe3, e colde for to were;
2016     & syen his oer harnays, at holdely wat3 keped,
         Boe his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene,
     [G] e rynge3[2] rokked of e roust, of his riche bruny;
         & al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn enne
2020             to onk;
             He hade vpon vche pece,
             Wypped ful wel & wlonk;
     [H]     e gayest in to Grece,
2024         e burne bede bryng his blonk.

[Sidenote A: New Year's Day approaches.]
[Sidenote B: The weather is stormy.]
[Sidenote C: Snow falls.]
[Sidenote D: The dales are full of drift.]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows.]
[Sidenote F: He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his
  armour.]
[Sidenote G: Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon.]
[Sidenote H: The knight then calls for his steed.]
[Footnote 1: nywe (?).]
[Footnote 2: rynke3 (?).]

      II.

     [A] Whyle e wlonkest wedes he warp on hym-seluen;
         His cote, wyth be conysaunce of e clere werke3,
         Ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus[1] stone3,
2028     Aboute beten, & bounden, enbrauded seme3,
         & fayre furred with-inne wyth fayre pelures.
     [B] 3et laft he not e lace, e ladie3 gifte,
         at for-gat not Gawayn, for gode of hym-seluen;
2032     Bi he hade belted e bronde vpon his bal3e haunche3,
     [C] enn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute;
         Swye sweled vmbe his swange swetely, at kny3t,
         e gordel of e grene silke, at gay wel bisemed,
2036     Vpon at ryol red cloe, at ryche wat3 to schewe.
     [D] Bot wered not is ilk wy3e for wele is gordel,
         For pryde of e pendaunte3, a3 polyst ay were,
         & a3 e glyterande golde glent vpon ende3,
2040 [E] Bot forto sauen hym-self, when suffer hym by-houed,
         To byde bale with-oute dabate, of bronde hym to were,
                 oer knyffe;
             Bi at e bolde mon boun,
2044         Wynne3 eroute bilyue,
     [F]     Alle e meyny of renoun,
             He onkke3 ofte ful ryue.

[Sidenote A: While he clothed himself in his rich weeds,]
[Sidenote B: he forgot not the "lace," the lady's gift,]
[Sidenote C: but with it doubly girded his loins.]
[Sidenote D: He wore it not for its rich ornaments,]
[Sidenote E: "but to save himself when it behoved him to suffer."]
[Sidenote F: All the renowned assembly he thanks full oft.]
[Footnote 1: vertuous (?).]

      III.

     [A] Thenne wat3 Gryngolet graye, at gret wat3 & huge,   [Fol. 118b.]
2048     & hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse,
     [B] Hym lyst prik for poynt, at proude hors enne;
         e wy3e wynne3 hym to, & wyte3 on his lyre,
         & sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swere3,
2052     "Here is a meyny in is mote, at on menske enkke3,
     [C] e mon hem maynteines, ioy mot ay haue;
         e leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde;
         3if ay for charyt cherysen a gest,
2056     & halden honour in her honde, e hael hem 3elde,
         at halde3 e heuen vpon hy3e, & also yow alle!
         & 3if I my3t lyf vpon londe lede any quyle,
         I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I my3t."
2060 [D] enn steppe3 he in-to stirop, & stryde3 alofte;
         His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit la3t,
         Gorde3 to Gryngolet, with his gilt hele3,
     [E] & he starte3 on e ston, stod he no lenger,
2064             to praunce;
             His hael on hors wat3 enne,
             at bere his spere & launce.
     [F]     "is kastel to Kryst I kenne,
2068         He gef hit ay god chaunce!"

[Sidenote A: Then was Gringolet arrayed,]
[Sidenote B: full ready to prick on.]
[Sidenote C: Gawayne returns thanks for the honour and kindness shown to
  him by all.]
[Sidenote D: He then steps into his saddle,]
[Sidenote E: and "starts on the stone" without more delay.]
[Sidenote F: "This castle to Christ I commend; may he give it ever good
  chance!"]

      IV.

     [A] The brygge wat3 brayde doun, & e brode 3ate3
         Vnbarred, & born open, vpon boe halue;
     [B] e burne blessed hym bilyue, & e brede3 passed;
2072     Prayses e porter, bifore e prynce kneled,
         Gef hym God & goud day, at Gawayn he saue;
     [C] & went on his way, with his wy3e one,
         at schulde teche hym to tourne to at tene place,
2076     er e ruful race he schulde re-sayue.
         ay bo3en bi bonkke3, er bo3e3 ar bare,
     [D] ay clomben bi clyffe3, er clenge3 e colde;
         e heuen wat3 vp halt, bot vgly er vnder,
2080     Mist muged on e mor, malt on e mounte3,
     [E] Vch hille hade a hatte, a myst-hakel huge;
         Broke3 byled, & breke, bi bonkke3 aboute,
         Schyre schaterande on schore3, er ay doun schowued.
2084     Welawylle wat3 e way, er ay bi wod schulden,        [Fol. 119.]
     [F] Til hit wat3 sone sesoun, at e sunne ryses,
                 at tyde;
     [G]     ay were on a hille ful hy3e,
2088         e quyte snaw lay bisyde;
     [H]     e burne at rod hym by
             Bede his mayster abide.

[Sidenote A: The gates are soon opened.]
[Sidenote B: The knight passes thereout,]
[Sidenote C: and goes on his way accompanied by his guide.]
[Sidenote D: They climb by cliffs,]
[Sidenote E: where each "hill had a hat and a mist-cloak,"]
[Sidenote F: until daylight.]
[Sidenote G: They were then on a "hill full high."]
[Sidenote H: The servant bade his master abide, saying,]

      V.

     [A] "For I haf wonnen yow hider, wy3e, at is tyme,
2092     & now nar 3e not fer fro at note place,
     [B] at 3e han spied & spuryed so specially after;
         Bot I schal say yow for soe, syen I yow knowe,
         & 3e ar a lede vpon lyue, at I wel louy,
2096     Wolde 3e worch bi my wytte, 3e wored e better.
     [C] e place at 3e prece to, ful perelous is halden;
     [D] er wone3 a wy3e in at waste, e worst vpon ere;
         For he is stiffe, & sturne, & to strike louies,
2100     & more he is en any mon vpon myddelerde,
     [E] & his body bigger en e best fowre.
         at ar in Arure3 hous, Hestor[1] oer oer.
         He cheue3 at chaunce at e chapel grene;
2104 [F] er passes non bi at place, so proude in his armes,
         at he ne dynne3 hym to dee, with dynt of his honde;
         For he is a mon methles, & mercy non vses,
     [G] For be hit chorle, oer chaplayn, at bi e chapel rydes,
2108     Monk, oer masse-prest, oer any mon elles,
         Hym ynk as queme hym to quelle, as quyk go hym seluen.
         For-y I say e as soe as 3e in sadel sitte,
         Com 3e ere, 3e be kylled, [I] may e kny3t rede,
2112     Trawe 3e me at trwely, a3 3e had twenty lyues
                 to spende;
     [H]     He hat3 wonyd here ful 3ore,
             On bent much baret bende,
2116 [I]     A3ayn his dynte3 sore,
             3e may not yow defende."

[Sidenote A: "I have brought you hither,]
[Sidenote B: ye are not now far from the noted place.]
[Sidenote C: Full perilous is it esteemed.]
[Sidenote D: The lord of that 'waste' is stiff and stern.]
[Sidenote E: His body is bigger 'than the best four in Arthur's house.']
[Sidenote F: None passes by the Green Chapel, 'that he does not ding to
  death with dint of his hand.']
[Sidenote G: For be it churl or chaplain, monk, mass-priest, 'or any man
  else,' he kills them all.]
[Sidenote H: He has lived there full long.]
[Sidenote I: Against his dints sore ye may not defend you.]
[Footnote 1: Hector (?).]

      VI.

     [A] "For-y, goude sir Gawayn, let e gome one,
         & got3 a-way sum oer gate; vpon Godde3 halue;
2120 [B] Cayre3 bi sum oer kyth, er Kryst mot yow spede;
         & I schal hy3 me hom a3ayn, & hete yow fyrre,
     [C] at I schal swere bi God, & alle his gode hal3e3,     [Fol. 119b.]
         As help me God & e halydam, & oe3 in-noghe,
2124     at I schal lelly yow layne, & lance neuer tale,
         at euer 3e fondet to fle, for freke at I wyst."
         "Grant merci;" quod Gawayn, & gruchyng he sayde,
         "Wel worth e wy3e, at wolde3 my gode,
2128     & at lelly me layne, I leue wel ou wolde3!
     [D] Bot helde ou hit neuer so holde, & I here passed,
         Founded for ferde for to fle, in fourme at ou telle3,
         I were a kny3t kowarde, I my3t not[1] be excused.
2132 [E] Bot I wy1 to e chape1, for chaunce at may falle,
         & talk wyth at ilk tulk e tale at me lyste,
         Wore hit wele, oer wo, as e wyrde lyke3
                 hit hafe;
2136 [F]     a3e he be a sturn knape,
             To sti3tel, &[2] stad with staue,
     [G]     Ful wel con dry3tyn schape,
             His seruaunte3 forto saue."

[Sidenote A: Wherefore, good Sir Gawayne, let this man alone.]
[Sidenote B: Go by some other region,]
[Sidenote C: I swear by God and all His saints, that I will never say that
  ever ye attempted to flee from any man."]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne replies that to shun this danger would mark him as a
  "coward knight."]
[Sidenote E: To the Chapel, therefore, he will go,]
[Sidenote F: though the owner thereof were a stern knave.]
[Sidenote G: "Full well can God devise his servants for to save."]
[Footnote 1: mot, in MS.]
[Footnote 2: & &, in MS.]

      VII.

2140 [A] "Mary!" quod at oer mon, "now ou so much spelle3,
         at ou wylt yn awen nye nyme to y-seluen,
         & e lyst lese y lyf, e lette I ne kepe;
     [B] Haf here i helme on y hede, i spere in i honde,
2144     & ryde me doun is ilk rake, bi 3on rokke syde,
     [C] Til ou be bro3t to e boem of e brem valay;
     [D] enne loke a littel on e launde, on i lyfte honde,
     [E] & ou schal se in at slade e self chapel,
2148     & e borelych burne on bent, at hit kepe3.
         Now fare3 wel on Gode3 half, Gawayn e noble,
         For alle e golde vpon grounde I nolde go with e,
         Ne bere e fela3schip ur3 is fryth on fote fyrre."
2152 [F] Bi at e wy3e in e wod wende3 his brydel,
         Hit e hors with e hele3, as harde as he my3t,
         Lepe3 hym ouer e launde, & leue3 e kny3t ere,
                 al one.
2156 [G]     "Bi Godde3 self," quod Gawayn,
             "I wyl nauer grete ne grone,
     [H]     To Godde3 wylle I am ful bayn,
             & to hym I haf me tone."

[Sidenote A: "Mary!" quoth the other, "since it pleases thee to lose thy
  life,]
[Sidenote B: take thy helmet on thy head, and thy spear in thy hand, and
  ride down this path by yon rock-side,]
[Sidenote C: till thou come to the bottom of the valley;]
[Sidenote D: look a little to the left,]
[Sidenote E: and thou shalt see the Chapel itself and the man that guards
  it."]
[Sidenote F: Having thus spoken the guide takes leave of the knight.]
[Sidenote G: "By God's self," says Sir Gawayne, "I will neither weep nor
  groan.]
[Sidenote H: To God's will I am full ready."]

      VIII.

2160 [A] Thenne gyrde3 he to Gryngolet, & gedere3 e rake,      [Fol. 120.]
         Schowue3 in bi a schore, at a scha3e syde,
     [B] Ride3 ur3 e ro3e bonk, ry3t to e dale;
         & enne he wayted hym aboute, & wylde hit hym o3t,
2164 [C] & se3e no syngne of resette, bisyde3 nowhere,
         Bot hy3e bonkke3 & brent, vpon boe halue,
         & ru3e knokled knarre3, with knorned stone3;
         e skwe3 of e scowtes skayued[1] hym o3t.
2168     enne he houed, & wyth-hylde his hors at at tyde,
         & ofte chaunged his cher, e chapel to seche;
     [D] He se3 non suche in no syde, & selly hym o3t,
         Sone a lyttel on a launde, a lawe as hit we[re];
2172 [E] A bal3 ber3, bi a bonke, e brymme by-syde,
         Bi a for3 of a flode, at ferked are;
         e borne blubred er-inne, as hit boyled hade.
     [F] e kny3t kache3 his caple, & com to e lawe,
2176 [G] Li3te3 doun luflyly, & at a lynde tache3
         e rayne, & his riche, with a ro3e braunche;
     [H] en[n]e he bo3e3 to e ber3e, aboute hit he walke,
         D[e]batande with hym-self, quat hit be my3t.
2180     Hit hade a hole on e ende, & on ayer syde,
         & ouer-growen with gresse in glodes ay where,
         & al wat3 hol3 in-with, nobot an olde caue,
     [I] Or a creuisse of an olde cragge, he coue hit no3t deme
2184             with spelle,
             "We,[2] lorde," quod e gentyle kny3t,
             "Wheer is be e grene chapelle;
     [J]     He my3t aboute myd-ny3t,
2188         []e dele his matynnes telle!"

[Sidenote A: Then he pursues his journey,]
[Sidenote B: rides through the dale, and looks about.]
[Sidenote C: He sees no sign of a resting-place, but only high and steep
  banks.]
[Sidenote D: No chapel could he discern.]
[Sidenote E: At last he sees a hill by the side of a stream;]
[Sidenote F: thither he goes,]
[Sidenote G: alights and fastens his horse to a branch of a tree.]
[Sidenote H: He walks around the hill, debating with himself what it might
  be,]
[Sidenote I: and at last finds an old cave in the crag.]
[Sidenote J: He prays that about midnight he may tell his matins.]
[Footnote 1: skayned (?).]
[Footnote 2: wel (?).]

      IX.

     [A] "Now i-wysse," quod Wowayn, "wysty is here;
         is oritore is vgly, with erbe3 ouer-growen;
     [B] Wel biseme3 e wy3e wruxled in grene
2192     Dele here his deuocioun, on e deuele3 wyse;
         Now I fele hit is e fende, in my fyue wytte3,
         at hat3 stoken me is steuen, to strye me here;
     [C] is is a chapel of meschaunce, at chekke hit by-tyde,
2196     Hit is e corsedest kyrk, at euer i com inne!"
         With he3e helme on his hede, his launce in his honde, [Fol. 120b.]
     [D] He rome3 vp to e rokke of o ro3 wone3;
         ene herde he of at hy3e hil, in a harde roche,
2200 [E] Bi3onde e broke, in a bonk, a wonder breme noyse,
     [F] Quat! hit clatered in e clyff, as hit cleue schulde,
         As one vpon a gryndelston hade grounden a sye;
     [G] What! hit wharred, & whette, as water at a mulne,
2204     What! hit rusched, & ronge, rawe to here.
         enne "bi Godde," quod Gawayn, "at gere as[1] I trowe,
         Is ryched at e reuerence, me renk to mete,
                 bi rote;
2208         Let God worche we loo,
     [H]     Hit helppe3 me not a mote,
             My lif a3 I for-goo,
             Drede dot3 me no lote."

[Sidenote A: "Truly," says Sir Gawayne, "a desert is here,]
[Sidenote B: a fitting place for the man in green to 'deal here his
  devotions in devil fashion.']
[Sidenote C: It is most cursed kirk that ever I entered."]
[Sidenote D: Roaming about he hears a loud noise,]
[Sidenote E: from beyond the brook.]
[Sidenote F: It clattered like the grinding of a scythe on a grindstone.]
[Sidenote G: It whirred like a mill-stream.]
[Sidenote H: "Though my life I forgo," says the knight, "no noise shall
  terrify me."]
[Footnote 1: at, in MS.]

      X.

2212 [A] Thenne e kny3t con calle ful hy3e,
     [B] "Who sti3tle3 in is sted, me steuen to holde?
     [C] For now is gode Gawayn goande ry3t here,
         If any wy3e o3t wyl wynne hider fast,
2216     Oer now, oer neuer, his nede3 to spede."
     [D] "Abyde," quod on on e bonke, abouen ouer his hede,
         "& ou schal haf al in hast, at I e hy3t ones."
         3et he rusched on at rurde, rapely a rowe,
2220     & wyth quettyng a-wharf, er he wolde ly3t;
     [E] & syen he keuere3 bi a cragge, & come3 of a hole,
         Whyrlande out of a wro, wyth a felle weppen,
     [F] A dene3 ax nwe dy3t, e dynt with [t]o 3elde
2224     With a borelych bytte, bende by e halme,
         Fyled in a fylor, fowre fote large,
         Hit wat3 no lasse, bi at lace at lemed ful bry3t.
     [G] & e gome in e erene gered as fyrst,
2228     Boe e lyre & e legge3, lokke3, & berde,
         Saue at fayre on his fote he founde3 on e ere,
         Sette e stele to e stone, & stalked bysyde.
     [H] When he wan to e watter, er he wade nolde,
2232     He hypped ouer on hys ax, & orpedly stryde3,
         Bremly broe on a bent, at brode wat3 a-boute,
                 on snawe.
     [I]     Sir Gawayn e kny3t con mete.                      [Fol. 121.]
2236         He ne lutte hym no yng lowe,
     [J]     at oer sayde, "now, sir swete,
             Of steuen mon may e trowe."

[Sidenote A: Then cried he aloud,]
[Sidenote B: "Who dwells here discourse with me to hold?"]
[Sidenote C: Now is the good Gawayne going aright]
[Sidenote D: He hears a voice commanding him to abide where he is.]
[Sidenote E: Soon there comes out of a hole, with a fell weapon,]
[Sidenote F: a Danish axe, quite new,]
[Sidenote G: the "knight in green," clothed as before.]
[Sidenote H: When he reaches the stream, he hops over and strides about.]
[Sidenote I: He meets Sir Gawayne without obeisance.]
[Sidenote J: The other tells him that he is now ready for conversation]

      XI.

     [A] "Gawayn," quod at grene gome, "God e mot loke!
2240     I-wysse ou art welcom,[1] wy3e, to my place,
     [B] & ou hat3 tymed i trauayl as true[2] mon schulde;
     [C] & ou knowe3 e couenaunte3 kest vus by-twene,
         At is tyme twelmonyth ou toke at e falled,
2244 [D] & I schulde at is nwe 3ere 3eply e quyte.
     [E] & we ar in is valay, verayly oure one,
         Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vus like3;
     [F] Haf y[3] helme of y hede, & haf here y pay;
2248     Busk no more debate en I e bede enne,
         "When ou wypped of my hede at a wap one."
     [G] "Nay, bi God," quod Gawayn, "at me gost lante,
         I schal gruch e no grwe, for grem at falle3;
2252     Botsty3tel e vpon on strok, & I schal stonde stylle,
         & warp e no wernyng, to worch as e lyke3,
                 no whare."
     [H]     He lened with e nek, & lutte,
2256         & schewed at schyre al bare,
             & lette as he no3t dutte,
     [I]     For drede he wolde not dare.

[Sidenote A: "God preserve thee!" says the Green Knight,]
[Sidenote B: "as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel']
[Sidenote C: Thou knowest the covenant between us,]
[Sidenote D: that on New Year's day I should return thy blow]
[Sidenote E: Here we are alone,]
[Sidenote F: Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once."]
[Sidenote G: "By God," quoth Sir Gawayne, "I shall not begrudge thee thy
  will."]
[Sidenote H: Then he shows his bare neck,]
[Sidenote I: and appears undaunted.]
[Footnote 1: welcon, in MS.]
[Footnote 2: truee in MS.]
[Footnote 3: MS. y y.]

      XII.

     [A] Then e gome in e grene grayed hym swye,
2260     Gedere3 yp hys grymme tole, Gawayn to smyte;
     [B] With alle e bur in his body he ber hit on lofte,
         Munt as ma3tyly, as marre hym he wolde;
         Hade hit dryuen adoun, as dre3 as he atled,
2264     er hade ben ded of his dynt, at do3ty wat3 euer.
         Bot Gawayn on at giserne glyfte hym bysyde,
     [C] As hit com glydande adoun, on glode hym to schende,
     [D] & schranke a lytel with e schulderes, for e scharp yrne.
2268     at oer schalk wyth a schunt e schene wythhalde3,
     [E] & enne repreued he e prynce with mony prowde worde3:
     [F] "ou art not Gawayn," quod e gome, "at is so goud halden,
         at neuer ar3ed for no here, by hylle ne be vale,
2272 [G] & now ou fles for ferde, er ou fele harme3;         [Fol. 121b.]
         Such cowardise of at kny3t cowe I neuer here.
     [H] Nawer fyked I, ne fla3e, freke, quen ou myntest,
         Ne kest no kauelacion, in kynge3 hous Arthor,
2276 [I] My hede fla3 to my fote, & 3et fla3 I neuer;
         & ou, er any harme hent, ar3e3 in hert,
     [J] Wherfore e better burne me burde be called
                 er-fore."
2280 [K]     Quod G:, "I schunt one3,
             & so wyl I no more,
             Bot pa3 my hede falle on e stone3,
             I con not hit restore.

[Sidenote A: Then the man in green seizes his grim tool.]
[Sidenote B: With all his force he raises it aloft.]
[Sidenote C: As it came gliding down,]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne shrank a little with his shoulders.]
[Sidenote E: The other reproved him, saying,]
[Sidenote F: "Thou art not Gawayne that is so good esteemed,]
[Sidenote G: for thou fleest for fear before thou feelest harm.]
[Sidenote H: I never flinched when thou struckest.]
[Sidenote I: My head flew to my foot, yet I never fled,]
[Sidenote J: wherefore I ought to be called the better man."]
[Sidenote K: "I shunted once," says Gawayne, "but will no more.]

      XIII.

2284 [A] Bot busk, burne, bi i fayth, & bryng me to e poynt,
         Dele to me my destin, & do hit out of honde,
         For I schal stonde e a strok, & start no more,
         Til yn ax haue me hitte, haf here my trawe."
2288 [B] "Haf at e enne," quod at oer, & heue3 hit alofte,
         & wayte3 as wroely, as he wode were;
     [C] He mynte3 at hym ma3tyly, bot not e mon ryue3,[1]
         With-helde heterly h[i]s honde, er hit hurt my3t.
2292 [D] Gawayn grayely hit byde3, & glent with no membre,
         Bot stode stylle as e ston, oer a stubbe auer,
         at raeled is in roche grounde, with rote3 a hundreth.
         en muryly efte con he mele, e mon in e grene,
2296 [E] "So now ou hat3 i hert holle, hitte me bihou[e]s;
         Halde e now e hy3e hode, at Arur e ra3t,
         & kepe y kanel at is kest, 3if hit keuer may."
         G: ful gryndelly with greme enne sayde,
2300 [F] "Wy resch on, ou ro mon, ou rete3 to longe,
         I hope at i hert ar3e wyth yn awen seluen."
         "For soe," quod at oer freke, "so felly ou speke3,
         I wyl no lenger on lyte lette in ernde,
2304             ri3t nowe."
     [G]     enne tas he[2] hym strye to stryke,
             & frounses boe lyppe & browe,
             No meruayle a3 hym myslyke,
2308         at hoped of no rescowe.

[Sidenote A: Bring me to the point; deal me my destiny at once."]
[Sidenote B: "Have at thee, then," says the other.]
[Sidenote C: With that he aims at him a blow.]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne never flinches, but stands as still as a stone.]
[Sidenote E: "Now," says the Green Knight, "I must hit thee, since thy
  heart is whole."]
[Sidenote F: "Thrash on," says the other.]
[Sidenote G: Then the Green Knight makes ready to strike.]
[Footnote 1: ? ryne3 = touches.]
[Footnote 2: he he, in MS.]

      XIV.

     [A] He lyftes ly3tly his lome, & let hit doun fayre,
     [B] With e barbe of e bitte bi e bare nek               [Fol. 122.]
         a3 he homered heterly, hurt hym no more,
2312     Bot snyrt hym on at on syde, at seuered e hyde;
     [C] e scharp schrank to e flesche ur3 e schyre grece,
         at e schene blod over his schulderes schot to e ere.
     [D] & quen e burne se3 e blode blenk on e snawe,
2316     He sprit forth spenne fote more en a spere lene,
         Hent heterly his helme, & on his hed cast,
         Schot with his schuldere3 his fayre schelde vnder,
     [E] Brayde3 out a bry3t sworde, & bremely he speke3;
2320     Neuer syn at he wat3 burne borne of his moder,
         Wat3 he neuer in is worlde, wy3e half so blye:--
     [F] "Blynne, burne, of y bur, bede me no mo;
         I haf a stroke in is sted with-oute stryf hent,
2324 [G] & if ow reche3 me any mo, I redyly schal quyte,
         & 3elde 3ederly a3ayn, & er to 3e tryst,
                 & foo;
     [H]     Bot on stroke here me falle3,
2328         e couenaunt schop ry3t so,
             [Sikered][1] in Arure3 halle3,
             & er-fore, hende, now hoo!"

[Sidenote A: He let fall his loom on the bare]
[Sidenote B: neck of Sir Gawayne.]
[Sidenote C: The sharp weapon pierced the flesh so that the blood flowed.]
[Sidenote D: When the knight saw the blood on the snow,]
[Sidenote E: he unsheathed his sword, and thus spake:]
[Sidenote F: "Cease, man, of thy blow.]
[Sidenote G: If thou givest me any more, readily shall I requite thee.]
[Sidenote H: Our agreement stipulates only one stroke."]
[Footnote 1: Illegible.]

      XV.

     [A] The hael heldet hym fro, & on his ax rested,
2332     Sette e schaft vpon schore, & to be scharp lened,
     [B] & loked to e leude, at on e launde 3ede,
         How at do3ty dredles deruely er stonde3,
         Armed ful a3le3; in hert hit hym lyke3.
2336     enn he mele3 muryly, wyth a much steuen,
     [C] & wyth a r[a]ykande rurde he to e renk sayde,
         "Bolde burne, on is bent be not so gryndel;
         No mon here vn-manerly e mys-boden habbe,
2340     Ne kyd, bot as couenaunde, at kynge3 kort schaped;
     [D] I hy3t e a strok, & ou hit hat3, halde e wel payed,
         I relece e of e remnaunt, of ry3tes alle oer;
         3if[1] I deliuer had bene, a boffet, paraunter,
2344 [E] I coue wroeloker haf waret, [&] to e haf wro3t anger.[2]
         Fyrst I mansed e muryly, with a mynt one,
     [F] & roue e wyth no rof, sore with ry3t I e profered,
         For e forwarde that we fest in e fyrst ny3t,        [Fol. 122b.]
2348     & ou trystyly e trawe & trwly me halde3,
         Al e gayne ow me gef, as god mon shulde;
     [G] at oer munt for e morne, mon, I e profered,
         ou kyssedes my clere wyf, e cosse3 me ra3te3,
2352     For boe two here I e bede bot two bare myntes,
                 boute scae;
     [H]     Trwe mon trwe restore,
             enne ar mon drede no wae;
2356 [I]     At e rid ou fayled ore,
             & er-for at tappe ta e.

[Sidenote A: The Green Knight rested on his axe,]
[Sidenote B: looked on Sir Gawayne, who appeared bold and fearless,]
[Sidenote C: and addressed him as follows: "Bold knight, be not so wroth,]
[Sidenote D: I promised thee a stroke and thou hast it, be satisfied.]
[Sidenote E: I could have dealt worse with thee.]
[Sidenote F: I menaced thee with one blow for the covenant between us on
  the first night.]
[Sidenote G: Another I aimed at thee because thou kissedst my wife.]
[Sidenote H: A true man should restore truly, and then he need fear no
  harm.]
[Sidenote I: Thou failedst at the third time, and therefore take thee that
  tap. (See l. 1861.)]
[Footnote 1: uf, in MS.]
[Footnote 2: This word is doubtful.]

      XVI.

     [A]  For hit is my wede at ou were3, at ilke wouen girdel,
          Myn owen wyf hit e weued, I wot wel forsoe;
2360 [B] Now know I wel y cosses, & y costes als,
         & e wowyng of my wyf, I wro3t hit myseluen;
     [C] I sende hir to asay e, & sothly me ynkke3,
         On e fautlest freke, at euer on fote 3ede;
2364     As perle bi e quite pese is of prys more,
         So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi oer gay kny3te3.
     [D] Bot here you lakked a lyttel, sir, & lewte yow wonted,
         Bot at wat3 for no wylyde werke, ne wowyng nauer,
2368 [E] Bot for 3e lufed your lyf, e lasse I yow blame."
         at oer stif mon in study stod a gret whyle;
         So agreued for greme he gryed with-inne,
     [F] Alle e blode of his brest blende in his face,
2372     at al he schrank for schome, at e schalk talked.
         e forme worde vpon folde, at e freke meled,--
     [G] "Corsed worth cowarddyse & couetyse boe!
         In yow is vylany & vyse, at vertue disstrye3."
2376 [H] enne he ka3t to e knot, & e kest lawse3,
         Brayde broely e belt to e burne seluen:
         "Lo! er e falssyng, foule mot hit falle!
     [I] For care of y knokke cowardyse me ta3t
2380     To a-corde me with couetyse, my kynde to for-sake,
         at is larges & lewte, at longe3 to kny3te3.
     [J] Now am I fawty, & falce, & ferde haf ben euer;
         Of trecherye & vn-trawe boe bityde sor3e
2384             & care!
     [K]     I bi-knowe yow, kny3t, here stylle,                [Fol. 123.]
             Al fawty is my fare,
             Lete3 me ouer-take your wylle,
2388         & efle I schal be ware."

[Sidenote A: For my weed (woven by my wife) thou wearest.]
[Sidenote B: I know thy kisses and my wife's wooing.]
[Sidenote C: I sent her to try thee, and faultless I found thee.]
[Sidenote D: But yet thou sinnedst a little,]
[Sidenote E: for love of thy life."]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne stands confounded.]
[Sidenote G: "Cursed," he says, "be cowardice and covetousness both!"]
[Sidenote H: Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight.]
[Sidenote I: He curses his cowardice,]
[Sidenote J: and confesses himself to have been guilty of untruth.]
[Sidenote K: ]

      XVII.

     [A] Thenne lo3e at oer leude, & luflyly sayde,
         "I halde hit hardily[1] hole, e harme at I hade;
     [B] ou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of y mysses,
2392     & hat3 e penaunce apert, of e poynt of myn egge,
     [C] I halde e polysed of at ply3t, & pured as clene,
         As ou hade3 neuer forfeted, syen ou wat3 fyrst borne.
     [D] & I gif e, sir, e gurdel at is golde hemmed;
2396     For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye
         enk vpon is ilke repe, er ou forth rynge3
         Among prynces of prys, & is a pure token
     [E] Of e chaunce of e grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3;
2400 [F] & 3e schal in is nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3,
         & we schyn reuel e remnaunt of is ryche fest,
                 ful bene."
             er laed hym fast e lorde,
2404         & sayde, "with my wyf, I wene,
             We schal yow wel acorde,
             at wat3 your enmy kene."

[Sidenote A: Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:]
[Sidenote B: "Thou art confessed so clean,]
[Sidenote C: that I hold thee as pure as if thou hadst never been guilty.]
[Sidenote D: I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle,]
[Sidenote E: as a token of thy adventure at the Green Chapel.]
[Sidenote F: Come again to my abode, and abide there for the remainder of
  the festival."]
[Footnote 1: hardilyly, in MS.]

      XVIII.

     [A] "Nay, for soe," quod e segge, & sesed hys helme,
2408      & hat3 hit of hendely, & e hael onkke3,
     [B] "I haf soiorned sadly, sele yow bytyde,
         & he 3elde hit yow 3are, at 3arkke3 al menskes!
     [C] & comaunde3 me to at cortays, your comlych fere,
2412     Boe at on & at oer, myn honoured ladye3.
         at us hor kny3t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled.
     [D] Bot hit is no ferly, a3 a fole madde,
         & ur3 wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor3e;
2416 [E] For so wat3 Adam in erde with one bygyled,
         & Salamon with fele sere, & Samson eft sone3,
         Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde, & Dauyth er-after
         Wat3 blended with Barsabe, at much bale oled.
2420     Now ese were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne huge,
     [F] To luf hom wel, & leue hem not, a leude at coue,
         For es wer forne[1] e freest at fol3ed alle e sele,     [Fol.]
         Ex-ellently of alle yse oer, vnder heuen-ryche,          [123b.]
2424             at mused;
             & alle ay were bi-wyled,
             With[2] wymmen at ay vsed,
     [G]     a3 I be now bigyled,
2428         Me ink me burde be excused."

[Sidenote A: "Nay, forsooth," says Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: "I have sojourned sadly, but bliss betide thee!]
[Sidenote C: Commend me to your comely wife and that other lady who have
  beguiled me.]
[Sidenote D: But it is no marvel for a man to be brought to grief through a
  woman's wiles.]
[Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women.]
[Sidenote F: How could a man love them and believe them not?]
[Sidenote G: Though I be now beguiled, methinks I should be excused.]
[Footnote 1: forme (?)]
[Footnote 2: with wyth, in MS.]

      XIX.

     [A] "Bot your gordel," quod G: "God yow for-3elde!
         at wyl I welde wyth good wylle, not for e wynne golde,
         Ne e saynt, ne e sylk, ne e syde pendaundes,
2432     For wele, ne for worchyp, ne for e wlonk werkke3,
     [B] Bot in syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte;
         When I ride in renoun, remorde to myseluen
         e faut & e fayntyse of e flesche crabbed,
2436     How tender hit is to entyse teches of fyle;
     [C] & us, quen pryde schal me pryk, for prowes of armes,
     [D] e loke to is luf lace schal lee my hert.
         Bot on I wolde yow pray, displeses yow neuer;
2440     Syn 3e be lorde of e 3onde[r] londe, er I haf lent inne,
         Wyth yow wyth worschyp,--e wy3e hit yow 3elde
         at vp-halde3 e heuen, & on hy3 sitte3,--
     [E] How norne 3e yowre ry3t nome, & enne no more?"
2444     "at schal I telle e trwly," quod at oer enne,
     [F] "Bernlak de Hautdesert I hat in is londe,
         ur3 my3t of Morgne la Faye, at in my hous lenges,
         &[1] koyntyse of clergye, bi craftes wel lerned,
2448     e maystres of Merlyn, mony ho[2] taken;
         For ho hat3 dalt drwry ful dere sum tyme,
         With at conable klerk, at knowes alle your kny3te3
                 at hame;
2452         Morgne e goddes,
             er-fore hit is hir name;
     [G]     Welde3 non so hy3e hawtesse,
             at ho ne con make ful tame.

[Sidenote A: But God reward you for your girdle.]
[Sidenote B: I will wear it in remembrance of my fault.]
[Sidenote C: And when pride shall prick me,]
[Sidenote D: a look to this lace shall abate it.]
[Sidenote E: But tell me your right name and I shall have done."]
[Sidenote F: The Green Knight replies, "I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert,
  through might of Morgain la Fey, the pupil of Merlin.]
[Sidenote G: She can tame even the haughtiest.]
[Footnote 1: in (?).]
[Footnote 2: ho hat3 (?).]

      XX.

2456 [A] Ho wayned me vpon is wyse to your wynne halle,
         For to assay e surquidre, 3if hit soth were,
         at rennes of e grete renoun of e Rounde Table;
         Ho wayned me is wonder, your wytte3 to reue,
2460 [B] For to haf greued Gaynour, & gart hir to dy3e.         [Fol. 124.]
         With gopnyng[1] of at ilke gomen, at gostlych speked,
         With his hede in his honde, bifore e hy3e table.
         at is ho at is at home, e auncian lady;
2464 [C] Ho is euen yn aunt, Arure3 half suster,
         e duches do3ter of Tyntagelle, at dere Vter after
     [D] Hade Arur vpon, at ael is nowe.
         erfore I ee e, hael, to com to y naunt,
2468     Make myry in my hous, my meny e louies,
         & I wol e as wel, wy3e, bi my faythe,
         As any gome vnder God, for y grete traue."
     [E] & he nikked hym naye, he nolde bi no wayes;
2472     ay acolen & kyssen, [bikennen] ayer oer
         To e prynce of paradise, & parten ry3t ere,
                 on coolde;
     [F]     Gawayn on blonk ful bene,
2476         To e kynge3 bur3 buske3 bolde,
             & e kny3t in e enker grene,
             Whider-warde so euer he wolde.

[Sidenote A: It was she who caused me to test the renown of the Round
  Table,]
[Sidenote B: hoping to grieve Guenever and cause her death through fear.]
[Sidenote C: She is even thine aunt.]
[Sidenote D: Therefore come to her and make merry in my house."]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne refuses to return with the Green Knight.]
[Sidenote F: On horse full fair he bends to Arthur's hall.]
[Footnote 1: glopnyng (?).]

      XXI.

     [A] Wylde waye3 in e worlde Wowen now ryde3,
2480     On Gryngolet, at e grace hade geten of his lyue;
     [B] Ofte he herbered in house, & ofte al eroute,
         & mony a-venture in vale, & venquyst ofte,
         at I ne ty3t, at is tyme, in tale to remene.
2484 [C] e hurt wat3 hole, at he hade hent in his nek,
     [D] & e blykkande belt he bere eraboute,
         A belef as a bauderyk, bounden bi his syde,
         Loken vnder his lyfte arme, e lace, with a knot,
2488 [E] In tokenyng he wat3 tane in tech of a faute;
     [F] & us he commes to e court, kny3t al in sounde.
     [G] er wakned wele in at wone, when wyst e grete,
         at gode G: wat3 commen, gayn hit hym o3t;
2492 [H] e kyng kysse3 e kny3t, & e whene alce,
         & syen mony syker kny3t, at so3t hym to haylce,
     [I] Of his fare at hym frayned, & ferlyly he telles;
         Biknowo3 alle e costes of care at he hade,--
2496     e chaunce of e chapel, e chere of e kny3t,
     [J] e luf of e ladi, e lace at e last.                [Fol. 124b.]
         e nirt in e nek he naked hem schewed,
     [K] at he la3t for his vnleute at e leudes hondes,
2500             for blame;
             He tened quen he schulde telle,
     [L]     He groned for gref & grame;
             e blod in his face con melle,
2504         When he hit schulde schewe, for schame.

[Sidenote A: Wild ways now Gawayne rides.]
[Sidenote B: Oft he harboured in house and oft thereout.]
[Sidenote C: The wound in his neck became whole.]
[Sidenote D: He still carried about him the belt,]
[Sidenote E: in token of his fault.]
[Sidenote F: Thus he comes to the Court of King Arthur.]
[Sidenote G: Great then was the joy of all.]
[Sidenote H: The king and his knights ask him concerning his journey.]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne tells them of his adventures,]
[Sidenote J: the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace.]
[Sidenote K: He showed them the cut in his neck.]
[Sidenote L: He groaned for grief and shame, and the blood rushed into his
  face.]

      XXII.

     [A] "Lo! lorde," quod e leude, & e lace hondeled,
         "is is e bende of is blame I bere [in] my nek,
         is is e lae & e losse, at I la3t haue,
2508 [B] Of couardise & couetyse, at I haf ca3t are,
         is is e token of vn-trawe, at I am tan inne,
     [C] & I mot nede3 hit were, wyle I may last;
         For non may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit,
2512     For er hit one3 is tachched, twynne wil hit neuer."
     [D] e kyng comforte3 e kny3t, & alle e court als,
         La3en loude er-at, & luflyly acorden,
         at lordes & ladis, at longed to e Table,
2516 [E] Vche burne of e broer-hede a bauderyk schulde haue,
         A bende, a belef hym aboute, of a bry3t grene,
     [F] & at, for sake of at segge, in swete to were.
         For at wat3 acorded e renoun of e Rounde Table,
2520 [G] & he honoured at hit hade, euer-more after,
         As hit is breued in e best boke of romaunce.
     [H] us in Arthurus day is aunter bitidde,
         e Brutus bokees er-of beres wyttenesse;
2524     Syen Brutus, e bolde burne, bo3ed hider fyrst,
         After e segge & e asaute wat3 sesed at Troye,
                 I-wysse;
             Mony auntere3 here bi-forne,
2528         Haf fallen suche er is:
     [I]     Now at bere e croun of orne,
             He bryng vus to his blysse! AMEN.

[Sidenote A: "Lo!" says he, handling the lace, "this is the band of blame,]
[Sidenote B: a token of my cowardice and covetousness,]
[Sidenote C: I must needs wear it as long as I live."]
[Sidenote D: The king comforts the knight, and all the court too.]
[Sidenote E: Each knight of the brotherhood agrees to wear a bright green
  belt,]
[Sidenote F: for Gawayne's sake,]
[Sidenote G: who ever more honoured it.]
[Sidenote H: Thus in Arthur's day this adventure befell.]
[Sidenote I: He that bore the crown of thorns bring us to His bliss!]

       *       *       *       *       *

NOTES.

Line 8 Ricchis turns, goes,
       The king ...
      Ricchis his reynys and the Renke metys:
      Girden to gedur with ere grete speires.--T.B. l. 1232.

37    is kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse.
      Camalot, in Malory's "Morte Arthure," is said to be the same as
      Winchester. Ritson supposes it to be Caer-went, in Monmouthshire,
      and afterwards confounded with Caer-wynt, or Winchester. But
      popular tradition here seems the best guide, which assigned the site
      of Camalot to the ruins of a castle on a hill, near the church of
      South Cadbury, in Somersetshire (Sir F. Madden).

65    Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte.
      Christmas celebrated anew, mentioned full often.
      Sir F. Madden leaves the word nayted unexplained in his Glossary
      to "Syr Gawayne."

124   syluener = sylueren, i.e. silver dishes.

139   lyndes = lendes, loins.

142   in his muckel, in his greatness.

184   Wat3 euesed al umbe-torne--? was trimmed, all cut evenly around;
      umbe-torne may be an error for vmbe-corue = cut round.

216   in gracios werkes. Sir F. Madden reads gracons for gracios, and
      suggests Greek as the meaning of it.

244-5 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3
              in hy3e.
      As all were fallen asleep so ceased their words
              in haste (suddenly).
      Sir F. Madden reads slaked horlote3, instead of slaked hor lote3,
      which, according to his glossary, signifies drunken vagabonds.
      He evidently takes horlote3 to be another (and a very uncommon) form
      of harlote3 = harlots. But harlot, or vagabond, would be a very
      inappropriate term to apply to the noble Knights of the Round Table.
      Moreover, slaked never, I think, means drunken. The general sense of
      the verb slake is to let loose, lessen, cease. Cf. lines 411-2,
      where sloke, another form of slake, occurs with a similar meaning:
                 -- layt no fyrre;
                      bot slokes.
                 -- seek no further,
                      but stop (cease).
      Sir F. Madden suggests blows as the explanation of slokes. It
      is, however, a verb in the imperative mood.

286   Brayn. Mtzner suggests brayn-wod.

296   barlay = par loi. This word is exceedingly common in the T. Book
      (see l. 3391).
        I bid you now, barlay, with besines at all
        at ye set you most soverainly my suster to gete.--T.B. l. 2780.

394   siker. Sir F. Madden reads swer.

440   bluk. Sir F. Madden suggests blunk (horse). I am inclined to keep to
      the reading of the MS., and explain bluk as = bulk = trunk. Cf. the
      use of the word Blok in "Early English Alliterative Poems,"
      p. 100, l. 272.

558   derue doel, etc. = great grief. Sir F. Madden reads derne, i.e. secret,
      instead of derue (= derf). Cf. line 564.

577   knaged, fastened.
        The braunches were borly, sum of bright gold,
        With leuys full luffly, light of the same;
        With burions aboue bright to beholde;
        And fruit on yt fourmyt of fairest of shap,
        Of mony kynd that was knyt, knagged aboue.--T.B. l. 4973.

629     & ay quere hit is endele3, etc.
	And everywhere it is endless, etc.
      Sir F. Madden reads emdele3, i.e. with equal sides.

652   for-be = for-bi = surpassing, beyond.

681   for Hadet read Halet = haled = exiled (?). See line 1049.

806   auinant = auenaunt, pleasantly. Sir F. Madden reads amnant.

954   of. Should we not read on (?).

957     at oer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer e swyre.
      The gorger or wimple is stated first to have appeared in Edward the
      First's reign, and an example is found on the monument of Aveline,
      Countess of Lancaster, who died in 1269. From the poem, however, it
      would seem that the gorger was confined to elderly ladies (Sir F.
      Madden).

968     More lykker-wys on to lyk,
        Wat3 at scho had on lode.

	A more pleasant one to like,
        Was that (one) she had under her control.

988   tayt = lively, and hence pleasant, agreeable.

1015  in vayres, in purity.

1020  dut = dunt (?) = dint (?), referring to sword-sports.

1022  sayn[t] Ione3 day. This is the 27th of December, and the last of the
      feast. Sometimes the Christmas festivities were prolonged to New
      Year's Day (Sir F. Madden).

1047  derne dede = secret deed. I would prefer to read derue dede =
      great deed. Cf. lines 558, 564.

1053  I wot in worlde, etc. = I not (I know not) in worlde, etc.

1054    I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,
        For alle e londe in-wyth Logres, etc.
      I would not [delay to set out], unless I might approach it on New
      Year's morn, for all the lands within England, etc.

1074  in spenne = in space = in the interval = meanwhile. See line 1503.

1160  slentyng of arwes. Sir F. Madden reads sleutyng.
        "Of drawyn swordis sclentyng to and fra,
        The brycht mettale, and othir armouris seir,
        Quharon the sonnys blenkis betis cleir,
        Glitteris and schane, and vnder bemys brycht,
        Castis ane new twynklyng or a lemand lycht."
            (G. Douglas' neid, Vol. i, p. 421.)

1281   let lyk = appeared pleased.

1283    a3 I were burde bry3test, e burde in mynde hade, etc.
      The sense requires us to read:
        a3 ho were burde bry3test, e burne in mynde hade, etc.
      i.e., Though she were lady fairest, the knight in mind had, etc.

1440    Long sythen [seuered] for e sounder at wi3t for-olde
      Long since separated from the sounder or herd that fierce (one)
      for-aged (grew very old).
        "Now to speke of the boore, the fyrste year he is
        A pygge of the sounder callyd, as haue I blys;
        The secounde yere an hogge, and soo shall he be,
        And an hoggestere, whan he is of yeres thre;
        And when he is foure yere, a boor shall he be,
        From the sounder of the swyne thenne departyth he;
        A synguler is he soo, for alone he woll go."
            (Book of St. Alban's, ed. 1496, sig. d., i.)

1476  totes = looks, toots.
        Sho went up wightly by a walle syde.
        To the toppe of a toure and tot ouer the water.--T.B. l. 862.

1623  A verb [? lalede = cried] seems wanting after lorde.

1702  fnasted, breathed.
        These balfull bestes were, as the boke tellus,
        Full flaumond of fyre with fnastyng of logh.--T.B. l. 168.

1710  a strothe rande = a rugged path. Cf. the phrases tene greue, l. 1707;
      ro3e greue, l. 1898.

1719    Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list, etc.
      Should we not read:
        Thenne wat3 hit list vpon lif, etc.
      i.e., Then was there joy in life, etc.

1729  bi lag = be-lagh(?) = below (?).

1780  lyf = lef(?), beloved (one).

1869    Ho hat3 kyst e kny3t so to3t.
        She has kissed the knight so courteous.
      Sir F. Madden explains to3t, promptly. To3t seems to be the same as
      the Northumbrian taght in the following extract from the "Morte
      Arthure":
        "There come in at the fyrste course, before the kyng seluene,
        Bare hevedys that ware bryghte, burnyste with sylver,
        Alle with taghte mene and towne in togers fulle ryche."--(p. 15.)
      The word towne (well-behaved) still exists in wan-ton, the
      original meaning of which was ill-mannered, ill-bred.

1909  bray hounde3 = bra hounde3, i.e. fierce hounds.

1995  He hat3 nere at he so3t = He wat3 nere at he so3t = He was near to
      that which he sought.

2160  gedere3 e rake = takes the path or way.

2167    e skwe3 of e scowtes skayued hym o3t.
      The shadows of the hills appeared wild (desolate) to him. Sir F.
      Madden reads skayned, of which he gives no explanation.
      Skayued = skayfed, seems to be the N. Prov. English scafe, wild.
      Scotch schaivie, wild, mad. O.N. skeifr. Sw. skef, awry, distorted.

2204  ronge = clattered.

2211    Drede dot3 me no lote =
        No noise shall cause me to dread (fear).

2357    & er-for at tappe ta e.
        And therefore take thee that tap.
      ta e = take thee. Sir F. Madden reads tae = taketh. See l. 413,
      where to e rhymes with sothe. We have no imperatives in th in
      this poem.

2401  We schyn reuel, etc. Sir F. Madden reads wasch yn reuel.
      But schyn = shall. See Glossary to "Alliterative Poems."

2474  on-coolde = on-colde = coldly = sorrowfully.

2489  in-sounde = soundly, well. Cf. in-blande = together;
      in-lyche, alike; inmydde3, amidst.





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