Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knyght Author unknown, but usually referred to by scholars as the "Gawain Poet". This poet flourished about the middle of the 14th century. The following text is based on that found in SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT (Tolkien and Gordon, eds. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967). 1 Sithen the sege and the assaut watz sesed at Troye, 2 the borgh brittened and brent to brondegh and askez, 3 the tulk that the trammes of tresoun ther wroght 4 Watz tried for his tricherie, the trewest on erthe: 5 Hit watz Ennias the athel, and his highe kynde, 6 that sithen depreced prouinces, and patrounes bicome 7 Welneghe of al the wele in the west iles. 8 Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swythe, 9 With gret bobbaunce that burghe he biges vpon fyrst, 10 And neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat; 11 Tirius to Tuskan and teldes bigynnes, 12 Langaberde in Lumbardie lyftes vp homes, 13 And fer ouer the French flod Felix Brutus 14 On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he settez 15 wyth wynne, 16 Where werre and wrake and wonder 17 Bi sythez hatz wont therinne, 18 And oft bothe blysse and blunder 19 Ful skete hatz skyfted synne. 20 Ande quen this Bretayn watz bigged bi this burn rych, 21 Bolde bredden therinne, baret that lofden, 22 In mony turned tyme tene that wroghten. 23 Mo ferlyes on this folde han fallen here oft 24 then in any other that I wot, syn that ilk tyme. 25 Bot of alle that here bult, of Bretaygne kynges, 26 Ay watz Arthur the hendest, as I haf herde telle. 27 Forthi an aunter in erde I attle to schawe, 28 that a selly in sight summe men hit holden, 29 And an outtrage awenture of Arthurez wonderez. 30 If ghe wyl lysten this laye bot on littel quile, 31 I schal telle hit as-tit, as I in toun herde, 32 with tonge, 33 As hit is stad and stoken 34 In stori stif and stronge, 35 With lel letteres loken, 36 In londe so hatz ben longe. 37 this kyng lay at Camylot vpon Krystmasse 38 With mony luflych lorde, ledez of the best, 39 Rekenly of the Rounde Table alle tho rich brether, 40 With rych reuel oryght and rechles merthes. 41 ther tournayed tulkes by tymez ful mony, 42 Justed ful jolile thise gentyle knightes, 43 Sythen kayred to the court caroles to make. 44 For ther the fest watz ilyche ful fiften dayes, 45 With alle the mete and the mirthe that men couthe avyse; 46 Such glaum ande gle glorious to here, 47 Dere dyn vpon day, daunsyng on nyghtes, 48 Al watz hap vpon heghe in hallez and chambrez 49 With lordez and ladies, as leuest him thoght. 50 With all the wele of the worlde thay woned ther samen, 51 the most kyd knyghtez vnder Krystes seluen, 52 And the louelokkest ladies that euer lif haden, 53 And he the comlokest kyng that the court haldes; 54 For al watz this fayre folk in her first age, 55 on sille, 56 the hapnest vnder heuen, 57 Kyng hyghest mon of wylle; 58 Hit were now gret nye to neuen 59 So hardy a here on hille. 60 Wyle Nw gher watz so ghep that hit watz nwe cummen, 61 that day doubble on the dece watz the douth serued. 62 Fro the kyng watz cummen with knyghtes into the halle, 63 the chauntre of the chapel cheued to an ende, 64 Loude crye watz ther kest of clerkez and other, 65 Nowel nayted onewe, neuened ful ofte; 66 And sythen riche forth runnen to reche hondeselle, 67 gheghed gheres-ghiftes on high, ghelde hem bi hond, 68 Debated busyly aboute tho giftes; 69 Ladies laghed ful loude, thogh thay lost haden, 70 And he that wan watz not wrothe, that may ghe wel trawe. 71 Alle this mirthe thay maden to the mete tyme; 72 When thay had waschen worthyly thay wenten to sete, 73 the best burne ay abof, as hit best semed, 74 Whene Guenore, ful gay, graythed in the myddes, 75 Dressed on the dere des, dubbed al aboute, 76 Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer 77 Of tryed tolouse, and tars tapites innoghe, 78 that were enbrawded and beten wyth the best gemmes 79 that myght be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye, 80 in daye. 81 the comlokest to discrye 82 ther glent with yghen gray, 83 A semloker that euer he syghe 84 Soth moght no mon say. 85 Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued, 86 He watz so joly of his joyfnes, and sumquat childgered: 87 His lif liked hym lyght, he louied the lasse 88 Auther to longe lye or to longe sitte, 89 So bisied him his ghonge blod and his brayn wylde. 90 And also an other maner meued him eke 91 that he thurgh nobelay had nomen, he wolde neuer ete 92 Vpon such a dere day er hym deuised were 93 Of sum auenturus thyng an vncouthe tale, 94 Of sum mayn meruayle, that he myght trawe, 95 Of alderes, of armes, of other auenturus, 96 Other sum segg hym bisoght of sum siker knyght 97 To joyne wyth hym in iustyng, in joparde to lay, 98 Lede, lif for lyf, leue vchon other, 99 As fortune wolde fulsun hom, the fayrer to haue. 100 this watz the kynges countenaunce where he in court were, 101 At vch farand fest among his fre meny 102 in halle. 103 therfore of face so fere 104 He stightlez stif in stalle, 105 Ful ghep in that Nw ghere 106 Much mirthe he mas withalle. 107 Thus ther stondes in stale the stif kyng hisseluen, 108 Talkkande bifore the hyghe table of trifles ful hende. 109 There gode Gawan watz graythed Gwenore bisyde, 110 And Agrauayn a la dure mayn on that other syde sittes, 111 Bothe the kynges sistersunes and ful siker knightes; 112 Bischop Bawdewyn abof biginez the table, 113 And Ywan, Vryn son, ette with hymseluen. 114 thise were dight on the des and derworthly serued, 115 And sithen mony siker segge at the sidbordez. 116 then the first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes, 117 Wyth mony baner ful bryght that therbi henged; 118 Nwe nakryn noyse with the noble pipes, 119 Wylde werbles and wyght wakned lote, 120 that mony hert ful highe hef at her towches. 121 Dayntes dryuen therwyth of ful dere metes, 122 Foysoun of the fresche, and on so fele disches 123 that pine to fynde the place the peple biforne 124 For to sette the sylueren that sere sewes halden 125 on clothe. 126 Iche lede as he loued hymselue 127 ther laght withouten lothe; 128 Ay two had disches twelue, 129 Good ber and bryght wyn bothe. 130 Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more, 131 For vch wyghe may wel wit no wont that ther were. 132 An other noyse ful newe neghed biliue, 133 that the lude myght haf leue liflode to cach; 134 For vnethe watz the noyce not a whyle sesed, 135 And the fyrst cource in the court kyndely serued, 136 ther hales in at the halle dor an aghlich mayster, 137 On the most on the molde on mesure hyghe; 138 Fro the swyre to the swange so sware and so thik, 139 And his lyndes and his lymes so longe and so grete, 140 Half etayn in erde I hope that he were, 141 Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene, 142 And that the myriest in his muckel that myght ride; 143 For of bak and of brest al were his bodi sturne, 144 Both his wombe and his wast were worthily smale, 145 And alle his fetures folghande, in forme that he hade, 146 ful clene; 147 For wonder of his hwe men hade, 148 Set in his semblaunt sene; 149 He ferde as freke were fade, 150 And oueral enker-grene. 151 Ande al graythed in grene this gome and his wedes: 152 A strayte cote ful streght, that stek on his sides, 153 A mere mantile abof, mensked withinne 154 With pelure pured apert, the pane ful clene 155 With blythe blaunner ful bryght, and his hod bothe, 156 that watz laght fro his lokkez and layde on his schulderes; 157 Heme wel-haled hose of that same, 158 that spenet on his sparlyr, and clene spures vnder 159 Of bryght golde, vpon silk bordes barred ful ryche, 160 And scholes vnder schankes there the schalk rides; 161 And alle his vesture uerayly watz clene verdure, 162 Bothe the barres of his belt and other blythe stones, 163 that were richely rayled in his aray clene 164 Aboutte hymself and his sadel, vpon silk werkez. 165 that were to tor for to telle of tryfles the halue 166 that were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes and flyghes, 167 With gay gaudi of grene, the golde ay inmyddes. 168 the pendauntes of his payttrure, the proude cropure, 169 His molaynes, and alle the metail anamayld was thenne, 170 the steropes that he stod on stayned of the same, 171 And his arsounz al after and his athel skyrtes, 172 that euer glemered and glent al of grene stones; 173 the fole that he ferkkes on fyn of that ilke, 174 sertayn, 175 A grene hors gret and thikke, 176 A stede ful stif to strayne, 177 In brawden brydel quik-- 178 To the gome he watz ful gayn. 179 Wel gay watz this gome gered in grene, 180 And the here of his hed of his hors swete. 181 Fayre fannand fax vmbefoldes his schulderes; 182 A much berd as a busk ouer his brest henges, 183 that wyth his highlich here that of his hed reches 184 Watz euesed al vmbetorne abof his elbowes, 185 that half his armes ther-vnder were halched in the wyse 186 Of a kyngez capados that closes his swyre; 187 the mane of that mayn hors much to hit lyke, 188 Wel cresped and cemmed, wyth knottes ful mony 189 Folden in wyth fildore aboute the fayre grene, 190 Ay a herle of the here, an other of golde; 191 the tayl and his toppyng twynnen of a sute, 192 And bounden bothe wyth a bande of a bryght grene, 193 Dubbed wyth ful dere stonez, as the dok lasted, 194 Sythen thrawen wyth a thwong a thwarle knot alofte, 195 ther mony bellez ful bryght of brende golde rungen. 196 Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke that hym rydes, 197 Watz neuer sene in that sale wyth syght er that tyme, 198 with yghe. 199 He loked as layt so lyght, 200 So sayd al that hym syghe; 201 Hit semed as no mon myght 202 Vnder his dynttez dryghe. 203 Whether hade he no helme ne hawbergh nauther, 204 Ne no pysan ne no plate that pented to armes, 205 Ne no schafte ne no schelde to schwue ne to smyte, 206 Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe, 207 that is grattest in grene when greuez ar bare, 208 And an ax in his other, a hoge and vnmete, 209 A spetos sparthe to expoun in spelle, quoso myght. 210 the lenkthe of an elngherde the large hede hade, 211 the grayn al of grene stele and of golde hewen, 212 the bit burnyst bryght, with a brod egge 213 As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores, 214 the stele of a stif staf the sturne hit bi grypte, 215 that watz wounden wyth yrn to the wandez ende, 216 And al bigrauen with grene in gracios werkes; 217 A lace lapped aboute, that louked at the hede, 218 And so after the halme halched ful ofte, 219 Wyth tryed tasselez therto tacched innoghe 220 On botounz of the bryght grene brayden ful ryche. 221 this hathel heldez hym in and the halle entres, 222 Driuande to the heghe dece, dut he no wothe, 223 Haylsed he neuer one, bot heghe he ouer loked. 224 the fyrst word that he warp, `Wher is', he sayd, 225 `the gouernour of this gyng? Gladly I wolde 226 Se that segg in syght, and with hymself speke 227 raysoun.' 228 To knyghtez he kest his yghe, 229 And reled hym vp and doun; 230 He stemmed, and con studie 231 Quo walt ther most renoun. 232 Ther watz lokyng on lenthe the lude to beholde, 233 For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene myght 234 that a hathel and a horse myght such a hwe lach, 235 As growe grene as the gres and grener hit semed, 236 then grene aumayl on golde glowande bryghter. 237 Al studied that ther stod, and stalked hym nerre 238 Wyth al the wonder of the worlde what he worch schulde. 239 For fele sellyez had thay sen, bot such neuer are; 240 Forthi for fantoum and fayryghe the folk there hit demed. 241 therfore to answare watz arghe mony athel freke, 242 And al stouned at his steuen and stonstil seten 243 In a swoghe sylence thurgh the sale riche; 244 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lotez 245 in hyghe-- 246 I deme hit not al for doute, 247 Bot sum for cortaysye-- 248 Bot let hym that al schulde loute 249 Cast vnto that wyghe. 250 thenn Arthour bifore the high dece that auenture byholdez, 251 And rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer, 252 And sayde, `Wyghe, welcum iwys to this place, 253 the hede of this ostel Arthour I hat; 254 Light luflych adoun and lenge, I the praye, 255 And quat-so thy wylle is we schal wyt after.' 256 `Nay, as help me,' quoth the hathel, `he that on hyghe syttes, 257 To wone any quyle in this won, hit watz not myn ernde; 258 Bot for the los of the, lede, is lyft vp so hyghe, 259 And thy burgh and thy burnes best ar holden, 260 Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde, 261 the wyghtest and the worthyest of the worldes kynde, 262 Preue for to play wyth in other pure laykez, 263 And here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, 264 And that hatz wayned me hider, iwyis, at this tyme. 265 ghe may be seker bi this braunch that I bere here 266 that I passe as in pes, and no plyght seche; 267 For had I founded in fere in feghtyng wyse, 268 I haue a hauberghe at home and a helme bothe, 269 A schelde and a scharp spere, schinande bryght, 270 Ande other weppenes to welde, I wene wel, als; 271 Bot for I wolde no were, my wedez ar softer. 272 Bot if thou be so bold as alle burnez tellen, 273 thou wyl grant me godly the gomen that I ask 274 bi ryght.' 275 Arthour con onsware, 276 And sayd, `Sir cortays knyght, 277 If thou craue batayl bare, 278 Here faylez thou not to fyght.' 279 `Nay, frayst I no fyght, in fayth I the telle, 280 Hit arn aboute on this bench bot berdlez chylder. 281 If I were hasped in armes on a heghe stede, 282 Here is no mon me to mach, for myghtez so wayke. 283 Forthy I craue in this court a Crystemas gomen, 284 For hit is ghol and Nwe gher, and here ar ghep mony: 285 If any so hardy in this hous holdez hymseluen, 286 Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede, 287 that dar stifly strike a strok for an other, 288 I schal gif hym of my gyft thys giserne ryche, 289 this ax, that is heue innogh, to hondele as hym lykes, 290 And I schal bide the fyrst bur as bare as I sitte. 291 If any freke be so felle to fonde that I telle, 292 Lepe lyghtly me to, and lach this weppen, 293 I quit-clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen, 294 And I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on this flet, 295 Ellez thou wyl dight me the dom to dele hym an other 296 barlay, 297 And ghet gif hym respite, 298 A twelmonyth and a day; 299 Now hyghe, and let se tite 300 Dar any herinne oght say.' 301 If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were thanne 302 Alle the heredmen in halle, the hygh and the loghe. 303 the renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel, 304 And runischly his rede yghen he reled aboute, 305 Bende his bresed broghez, blycande grene, 306 Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse. 307 When non wolde kepe hym with carp he coghed ful hyghe, 308 Ande rimed hym ful richly, and ryght hym to speke: 309 `What, is this Arthures hous,' quoth the hathel thenne, 310 `that al the rous rennes of thurgh ryalmes so mony? 311 Where is now your sourquydrye and your conquestes, 312 Your gryndellayk and your greme, and your grete wordes? 313 Now is the reuel and the renoun of the Rounde Table 314 Ouerwalt wyth a worde of on wyghes speche, 315 For al dares for drede withoute dynt schewed!' 316 Wyth this he laghes so loude that the lorde greued; 317 the blod schot for scham into his schyre face 318 and lere; 319 He wex as wroth as wynde, 320 So did alle that ther were. 321 the kyng as kene bi kynde 322 then stod that stif mon nere, 323 Ande sayde, `Hathel, by heuen, thyn askyng is nys, 324 And as thou foly hatz frayst, fynde the behoues. 325 I know no gome that is gast of thy grete wordes; 326 Gif me now thy geserne, vpon Godez halue, 327 And I schal baythen thy bone that thou boden habbes.' 328 Lyghtly lepez he hym to, and laght at his honde. 329 then feersly that other freke vpon fote lyghtis. 330 Now hatz Arthure his axe, and the halme grypez, 331 And sturnely sturez hit aboute, that stryke wyth hit thoght. 332 the stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hyght, 333 Herre then ani in the hous by the hede and more. 334 Wyth sturne schere ther he stod he stroked his berde, 335 And wyth a countenaunce dryghe he drogh doun his cote, 336 No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dintez 337 then any burne vpon bench hade broght hym to drynk 338 of wyne. 339 Gawan, that sate bi the quene, 340 To the kyng he can enclyne: 341 `I beseche now with saghez sene 342 this melly mot be myne. 343 `Wolde ghe, worthilych lorde,' quoth Wawan to the kyng, 344 `Bid me boghe fro this benche, and stonde by yow there, 345 that I wythoute vylanye myght voyde this table, 346 And that my legge lady lyked not ille, 347 I wolde com to your counseyl bifore your cort ryche. 348 For me think hit not semly, as hit is soth knawen, 349 ther such an askyng is heuened so hyghe in your sale, 350 thagh ghe ghourself be talenttyf, to take hit to yourseluen, 351 Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten, 352 that vnder heuen I hope non hagherer of wylle, 353 Ne better bodyes on bent ther baret is rered. 354 I am the wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest, 355 And lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes the sothe-- 356 Bot for as much as ghe ar myn em I am only to prayse, 357 No bounte bot your blod I in my bode knowe; 358 And sythen this note is so nys that noght hit yow falles, 359 And I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, foldez hit to me; 360 And if I carp not comlyly, let alle this cort rych 361 bout blame.' 362 Ryche togeder con roun, 363 And sythen thay redden alle same 364 To ryd the kyng wyth croun, 365 And gif Gawan the game. 366 then comaunded the kyng the knyght for to ryse; 367 And he ful radly vpros, and ruchched hym fayre, 368 Kneled doun bifore the kyng, and cachez that weppen; 369 And he luflyly hit hym laft, and lyfte vp his honde, 370 And gef hym Goddez blessyng, and gladly hym biddes 371 that his hert and his honde schulde hardi be bothe. 372 `Kepe the cosyn,' quoth the kyng, `that thou on kyrf sette, 373 And if thou redegh hym ryght, redly I trowe 374 that thou schal byden the bur that he schal bede after.' 375 Gawan gotz to the gome with giserne in honde, 376 And he baldly hym bydez, he bayst neuer the helder. 377 then carppez to Sir Gawan the knyght in the grene, 378 `Refourme we oure forwardes, er we fyrre passe. 379 Fyrst I ethe the, hathel, how that thou hattes 380 that thou me telle truly, as I tryst may.' 381 `In god fayth,' quoth the goode knyght, `Gawan I hatte, 382 that bede the this buffet, quat-so bifallez after, 383 And at this tyme twelmonyth take at the an other 384 Wyth what weppen so thou wylt, and wyth no wygh ellez 385 on lyue.' 386 that other onswarez agayn, 387 `Sir Gawan, so mot I thryue 388 As I am ferly fayn 389 this dint that thou schal dryue. 390 `Bigog,' quoth the grene knyght, `Sir Gawan, me lykes 391 that I schal fange at thy fust that I haf frayst here. 392 And thou hatz redily rehersed, bi resoun ful trwe, 393 Clanly al the couenaunt that I the kynge asked, 394 Saf that thou schal siker me, segge, bi thi trawthe, 395 that thou schal seche me thiself, where-so thou hopes 396 I may be funde vpon folde, and foch the such wages 397 As thou deles me to-day bifore this douthe ryche.' 398 `Where schulde I wale the,' quoth Gauan, `where is thy place? 399 I wot neuer where thou wonyes, bi hym that me wroght, 400 Ne I know not the, knyght, by cort ne thi name. 401 Bot teche me truly therto, and telle me how thou hattes, 402 And I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me theder, 403 And that I swere the for sothe, and by my seker traweth.' 404 `that is innogh in Nwe gher, hit nedes no more', 405 Quoth the gome in the grene to Gawan the hende; 406 `ghif I the telle trwly, quen I the tape haue 407 And thou me smothely hatz smyten, smartly I the teche 408 Of my hous and my home and myn owen nome, 409 then may thou frayst my fare and forwardez holde; 410 And if I spende no speche, thenne spedez thou the better, 411 For thou may leng in thy londe and layt no fyrre-- 412 bot slokes! 413 Ta now thy grymme tole to the, 414 And let se how thou cnokez.' 415 `Gladly, sir, for sothe', 416 Quoth Gawan; his ax he strokes. 417 the grene knyght vpon grounde graythely hym dresses, 418 A littel lut with the hede, the lere he discouerez, 419 His longe louelych lokkez he layd ouer his croun, 420 Let the naked nec to the note schewe. 421 Gauan gripped to his ax, and gederes hit on hyght, 422 the kay fot on the folde he before sette, 423 Let him doun lyghtly lyght on the naked, 424 that the scharp of the schalk schyndered the bones, 425 And schrank thurgh the schyire grece, and schade hit in twynne, 426 that the bit of the broun stel bot on the grounde. 427 the fayre hede fro the halce hit to the erthe, 428 that fele hit foyned wyth her fete, there hit forth roled; 429 the blod brayd fro the body, that blykked on the grene; 430 And nawther faltered ne fel the freke neuer the helder, 431 Bot stythly he start forth vpon styf schonkes, 432 And runyschly he raght out, there as renkkez stoden, 433 Laght to his lufly hed, and lyft hit vp sone; 434 And sythen boghez to his blonk, the brydel he cachchez, 435 Steppez into stelbawe and strydez alofte, 436 And his hede by the here in his honde haldez; 437 And as sadly the segge hym in his sadel sette 438 As non vnhap had hym ayled, thagh hedlez he were 439 in stedde. 440 He brayde his bulk aboute, 441 that vgly bodi that bledde; 442 Moni on of hym had doute, 443 Bi that his resounz were redde. 444 For the hede in his honde he haldez vp euen, 445 Toward the derrest on the dece he dressez the face, 446 And hit lyfte vp the yghe-lyddez and loked ful brode, 447 And meled thus much with his muthe, as ghe may now here: 448 `Loke, Gawan, thou be graythe to go as thou hettez, 449 And layte as lelly til thou me, lude, fynde, 450 As thou hatz hette in this halle, herande thise knyghtes; 451 To the grene chapel thou chose, I charge the, to fotte 452 Such a dunt as thou hatz dalt--disserued thou habbez 453 To be ghederly gholden on Nw gheres morn. 454 the knyght of the grene chapel men knowen me mony; 455 Forthi me for to fynde if thou fraystez, faylez thou neuer. 456 therfore com, other recreaunt be calde the behoues.' 457 With a runisch rout the raynez he tornez, 458 Halled out at the hal dor, his hed in his hande, 459 that the fyr of the flynt flaghe fro fole houes. 460 To quat kyth he becom knwe non there, 461 Neuer more then thay wyste from quethen he watz wonnen. 462 What thenne? 463 the kyng and Gawen thare 464 At that grene thay laghe and grenne, 465 ghet breued watz hit ful bare 466 A meruayl among tho menne. 467 thagh Arther the hende kyng at hert hade wonder, 468 He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hyghe 469 To the comlych quene wyth cortays speche, 470 `Dere dame, to-day demay yow neuer; 471 Wel bycommes such craft vpon Cristmasse, 472 Laykyng of enterludez, to laghe and to syng, 473 Among thise kynde caroles of knyghtez and ladyez. 474 Neuer the lece to my mete I may me wel dres, 475 For I haf sen a selly, I may not forsake.' 476 He glent vpon Sir Gawen, and gaynly he sayde, 477 `Now, sir, heng vp thyn ax, that hatz innogh hewen'; 478 And hit watz don abof the dece on doser to henge, 479 ther alle men for meruayl myght on hit loke, 480 And bi trwe tytel therof to telle the wonder. 481 thenne thay boghed to a borde thise burnes togeder, 482 the kyng and the gode knyght, and kene men hem serued 483 Of alle dayntyez double, as derrest myght falle; 484 Wyth alle maner of mete and mynstralcie bothe, 485 Wyth wele walt thday, til worthed an ende 486 in londe. 487 Now thenk wel, Sir Gawan, 488 For wothe that thou ne wonde 489 this auenture for to frayn 490 that thou hatz tan on honde. 491 This hanselle hatz Arthur of auenturus on fyrst 492 In ghonge gher, for he gherned ghelpyng to here. 493 Thagh hym wordez were wane when thay to sete wenten, 494 Now ar thay stoken of sturne werk, stafful her hond. 495 Gawan watz glad to begynne those gomnez in halle, 496 Bot thagh the ende be heuy haf ghe no wonder; 497 For thagh men ben mery in mynde quen thay han mayn drynk, 498 A ghere ghernes ful gherne, and gheldez neuer lyke, 499 the forme to the fynisment foldez ful selden. 500 Forthi this ghol ouerghede, and the ghere after, 501 And vche sesoun serlepes sued after other: 502 After Crystenmasse com the crabbed lentoun, 503 that fraystez flesch wyth the fysche and fode more symple; 504 Bot thenne the weder of the worlde wyth wynter hit threpez, 505 Colde clengez adoun, cloudez vplyften, 506 Schyre schedez the rayn in schowrez ful warme, 507 Fallez vpon fayre flat, flowrez there schewen, 508 Bothe groundez and the greuez grene ar her wedez, 509 Bryddez busken to bylde, and bremlych syngen 510 For solace of the softe somer that sues therafter 511 bi bonk; 512 And blossumez bolne to blowe 513 Bi rawez rych and ronk, 514 then notez noble innoghe 515 Ar herde in wod so wlonk. 516 After the sesoun of somer wyth the soft wyndez 517 Quen Zeferus syflez hymself on sedez and erbez, 518 Wela wynne is the wort that waxes theroute, 519 When the donkande dewe dropez of the leuez, 520 To bide a blysful blusch of the bryght sunne. 521 Bot then hyghes heruest, and hardenes hym sone, 522 Warnez hym for the wynter to wax ful rype; 523 He dryues wyth droght the dust for to ryse, 524 Fro the face of the folde to flyghe ful hyghe; 525 Wrothe wynde of the welkyn wrastelez with the sunne, 526 the leuez lancen fro the lynde and lyghten on the grounde, 527 And al grayes the gres that grene watz ere; 528 thenne al rypez and rotez that ros vpon fyrst, 529 And thus ghirnez the ghere in ghisterdayez mony, 530 And wynter wyndez aghayn, as the worlde askez, 531 no fage, 532 Til Meghelmas mone 533 Watgh cumen wyth wynter wage; 534 then thenkkez Gawan ful sone 535 Of his anious uyage. 536 ghet quyl Al-hal-day with Arther he lenges; 537 And he made a fare on that fest for the frekez sake, 538 With much reuel and ryche of the Rounde Table. 539 Knyghtez ful cortays and comlych ladies 540 Al for luf of that lede in longynge thay were, 541 Bot neuer the lece ne the later thay neuened bot merthe: 542 Mony ioylez for that ientyle iapez ther maden. 543 For aftter mete with mournyng he melez to his eme, 544 And spekez of his passage, and pertly he sayde, 545 `Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask; 546 ghe knowe the cost of this cace, kepe I no more 547 To telle yow tenez therof neuer bot trifel; 548 Bot I am boun to the bur barely to-morne 549 To sech the gome of the grene, as God wyl me wysse.' 550 thenne the best of the burgh boghed togeder, 551 Aywan, and Errik, and other ful mony, 552 Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, the duk of Clarence, 553 Launcelot, and Lyonel, and Lucan the gode, 554 Sir Boos, and Sir Byduer, big men bothe, 555 And mony other menskful, with Mador de la Port. 556 Alle this compayny of court com the kyng nerre 557 For to counseyl the knyght, with care at her hert. 558 there watz much derue doel driuen in the sale 559 that so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on that ernde, 560 To dryghe a delful dynt, and dele no more 561 wyth bronde. 562 the knyght mad ay god chere, 563 And sayde, `Quat schuld I wonde? 564 Of destines derf and dere 565 What may mon do bot fonde?' 566 He dowellez ther al that day, and dressez on the morn, 567 Askez erly hys armez, and alle were thay broght. 568 Fyrst a tule tapit tyght ouer the flet, 569 And miche watz the gyld gere that glent theralofte; 570 the stif mon steppez theron, and the stel hondelez, 571 Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars, 572 And sythen a crafty capados, closed aloft, 573 that wyth a bryght blaunner was bounden withinne. 574 thenne set thay the sabatounz vpon the segge fotez, 575 His legez lapped in stel with luflych greuez, 576 With polaynez piched therto, policed ful clene, 577 Aboute his knez knaged wyth knotez of golde; 578 Queme quyssewes then, that coyntlych closed 579 His thik thrawen thyghez, with thwonges to tachched; 580 And sythen the brawden bryne of bryght stel ryngez 581 Vmbeweued that wygh vpon wlonk stuffe, 582 And wel bornyst brace vpon his bothe armes, 583 With gode cowters and gay, and glouez of plate, 584 And alle the godlych gere that hym gayn schulde 585 that tyde; 586 Wyth ryche cote-armure, 587 His gold sporez spend with pryde, 588 Gurde wyth a bront ful sure 589 With silk sayn vmbe his syde. 590 When he watz hasped in armes, his harnays watz ryche: 591 the lest lachet ouer loupe lemed of golde. 592 So harnayst as he watz he herknez his masse, 593 Offred and honoured at the heghe auter. 594 Sythen he comez to the kyng and to his cort-ferez, 595 Lachez lufly his leue at lordez and ladyez; 596 And thay hym kyst and conueyed, bikende hym to Kryst. 597 Bi that watz Gryngolet grayth, and gurde with a sadel 598 that glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges, 599 Ayquere naylet ful nwe, for that note ryched; 600 the brydel barred aboute, with bryght golde bounden; 601 the apparayl of the payttrure and of the proude skyrtez, 602 the cropore and the couertor, acorded wyth the arsounez; 603 And al watz rayled on red ryche golde naylez, 604 that al glytered and glent as glem of the sunne. 605 thenne hentes he the helme, and hastily hit kysses, 606 that watz stapled stifly, and stoffed wythinne. 607 Hit watz hyghe on his hede, hasped bihynde, 608 Wyth a lyghtly vrysoun ouer the auentayle, 609 Enbrawden and bounden wyth the best gemmez 610 On brode sylkyn borde, and bryddez on semez, 611 As papiayez paynted peruyng bitwene, 612 Tortors and trulofez entayled so thyk 613 As mony burde theraboute had ben seuen wynter 614 in toune. 615 the cercle watz more o prys 616 that vmbeclypped hys croun, 617 Of diamauntez a deuys 618 that bothe were bryght and broun. 619 Then thay schewed hym the schelde, that was of schyr goulez 620 Wyth the pentangel depaynt of pure golde hwez. 621 He braydez hit by the bauderyk, aboute the hals kestes, 622 that bisemed the segge semlyly fayre. 623 And quy the pentangel apendez to that prynce noble 624 I am in tent yow to telle, thof tary hyt me schulde: 625 Hit is a syngne that Salamon set sumquyle 626 In bytoknyng of trawthe, bi tytle that hit habbez, 627 For hit is a figure that haldez fyue poyntez, 628 And vche lyne vmbelappez and loukez in other, 629 And ayquere hit is endelez; and Englych hit callen 630 Oueral, as I here, the endeles knot. 631 Forthy hit acordez to this knyght and to his cler armez, 632 For ay faythful in fyue and sere fyue sythez 633 Gawan watz for gode knawen, and as golde pured, 634 Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertuez ennourned 635 in mote; 636 Forthy the pentangel nwe 637 He ber in schelde and cote, 638 As tulk of tale most trwe 639 And gentylest knyght of lote. 640 Fyrst he watz funden fautlez in his fyue wyttez, 641 And efte fayled neuer the freke in his fyue fyngres, 642 And alle his afyaunce vpon folde watz in the fyue woundez 643 that Cryst kaght on the croys, as the crede tellez; 644 And quere-so-euer thys mon in melly watz stad, 645 His thro thoght watz in that, thurgh alle other thyngez, 646 that alle his forsnes he feng at the fyue joyez 647 that the hende heuen-quene had of hir chylde; 648 At this cause the knyght comlyche hade 649 In the inore half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted, 650 that quen he blusched therto his belde neuer payred. 651 the fyft fyue that I finde that the frek vsed 652 Watz fraunchyse and felaghschyp forbe al thyng, 653 His clannes and his cortaysye croked were neuer, 654 And pite, that passez alle poyntez, thyse pure fyue 655 Were harder happed on that hathel then on any other. 656 Now alle these fyue sythez, for sothe, were fetled on this knyght, 657 And vchone halched in other, that non ende hade, 658 And fyched vpon fyue poyntez, that fayld neuer, 659 Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nouther, 660 Withouten ende at any noke I oquere fynde, 661 Whereeuer the gomen bygan, or glod to an ende. 662 therfore on his schene schelde schapen watz the knot 663 Ryally wyth red golde vpon rede gowlez, 664 that is the pure pentaungel wyth the peple called 665 with lore. 666 Now graythed is Gawan gay, 667 And laght his launce ryght thore, 668 And gef hem alle goud day, 669 He wende for euermore. 670 He sperred the sted with the spurez and sprong on his way, 671 So stif that the ston-fyr stroke out therafter. 672 Al that segh that semly syked in hert, 673 And sayde sothly al same segges til other, 674 Carande for that comly: `Bi Kryst, hit is scathe 675 that thou, leude, schal be lost, that art of lyf noble! 676 To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth, is not ethe. 677 Warloker to haf wroght had more wyt bene, 678 And haf dyght ghonder dere a duk to haue worthed; 679 A lowande leder of ledez in londe hym wel semez, 680 And so had better haf ben then britned to noght, 681 Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angardez pryde. 682 Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take 683 As knyghtez in cauelaciounz on Crystmasse gomnez!' 684 Wel much watz the warme water that waltered of yghen, 685 When that semly syre soght fro tho wonez 686 thad daye. 687 He made non abode, 688 Bot wyghtly went hys way; 689 Mony wylsum way he rode, 690 the bok as I herde say. 691 Now ridez this renk thurgh the ryalme of Logres, 692 Sir Gauan, on Godez halue, thagh hym no gomen thoght. 693 Oft leudlez alone he lengez on nyghtez 694 ther he fonde noght hym byfore the fare that he lyked. 695 Hade he no fere bot his fole bi frythez and dounez, 696 Ne no gome bot God bi gate wyth to karp, 697 Til that he neghed ful neghe into the Northe Walez. 698 Alle the iles of Anglesay on lyft half he haldez, 699 And farez ouer the fordez by the forlondez, 700 Ouer at the Holy Hede, til he hade eft bonk 701 In the wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde ther bot lyte 702 that auther God other gome wyth goud hert louied. 703 And ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekez that he met, 704 If thay hade herde any karp of a knyght grene, 705 In any grounde theraboute, of the grene chapel; 706 And al nykked hym wyth nay, that neuer in her lyue 707 thay seghe neuer no segge that watz of suche hwez 708 of grene. 709 the knyght tok gates straunge 710 In mony a bonk vnbene, 711 His cher ful oft con chaunge 712 that chapel er he myght sene. 713 Mony klyf he ouerclambe in contrayez straunge, 714 Fer floten fro his frendez fremedly he rydez. 715 At vche warthe other water ther the wyghe passed 716 He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were, 717 And that so foule and so felle that feght hym byhode. 718 So mony meruayl bi mount ther the mon fyndez, 719 Hit were to tore for to telle of the tenthe dole. 720 Sumwhyle wyth wormez he werrez, and with wolues als, 721 Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, that woned in the knarrez, 722 Bothe wyth bullez and berez, and borez otherquyle, 723 And etaynez, that hym anelede of the heghe felle; 724 Nade he ben dughty and dryghe, and Dryghtyn had serued, 725 Douteles he hade ben ded and dreped ful ofte. 726 For werre wrathed hym not so much that wynter nas wors, 727 When the colde cler water fro the cloudez schadde, 728 And fres er hit falle myght to the fale erthe; 729 Ner slayn wyth the slete he sleped in his yrnes 730 Mo nyghtez then innoghe in naked rokkez, 731 ther as claterande fro the crest the colde borne rennez, 732 And henged heghe ouer his hede in hard iisse-ikkles. 733 thus in peryl and payne and plytes ful harde 734 Bi contray cayrez this knyght, tyl Krystmasse euen, 735 al one; 736 the knyght wel that tyde 737 To Mary made his mone, 738 that ho hym red to ryde 739 And wysse hym to sum wone. 740 Bi a mounte on the morne meryly he rydes 741 Into a forest ful dep, that ferly watz wylde, 742 Highe hillez on vche a halue, and holtwodez vnder 743 Of hore okez ful hoge a hundreth togeder; 744 the hasel and the haghthorne were harled al samen, 745 With roghe raged mosse rayled aywhere, 746 With mony bryddez vnblythe vpon bare twyges, 747 that pitosly ther piped for pyne of the colde. 748 the gome vpon Gryngolet glydez hem vnder, 749 thurgh mony misy and myre, mon al hym one, 750 Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde 751 To se the seruyse of that syre, that on that self nyght 752 Of a burde watz borne oure baret to quelle; 753 And therfore sykyng he sayde, `I beseche the, lorde, 754 And Mary, that is myldest moder so dere, 755 Of sum herber ther heghly I myght here masse, 756 Ande thy matynez to-morne, mekely I ask, 757 And therto prestly I pray my pater and aue 758 and crede.' 759 He rode in his prayere, 760 And cryed for his mysdede, 761 He sayned hym in sythes sere, 762 And sayde `Cros Kryst me spede!' 763 Nade he sayned hymself, segge, bot thrye, 764 Er he watz war in the wod of a won in a mote, 765 Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder boghez 766 Of mony borelych bole aboute bi the diches: 767 A castel the comlokest that euer knyght aghte, 768 Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute, 769 With a pyked palays pyned ful thik, 770 that vmbeteghe mony tre mo then two myle. 771 that holde on that on syde the hathel auysed, 772 As hit schemered and schon thurgh the schyre okez; 773 thenne hatz he hendly of his helme, and heghly he thonkez 774 Jesus and sayn Gilyan, that gentyle ar bothe, 775 that cortaysly had hym kydde, and his cry herkened. 776 `Now bone hostel,' cothe the burne, `I beseche yow ghette!' 777 thenne gerdez he to Gryngolet with the gilt helez, 778 And he ful chauncely hatz chosen to the chef gate, 779 that broght bremly the burne to the bryge ende 780 in haste. 781 the bryge watz breme vpbrayde, 782 the ghatez wer stoken faste, 783 the wallez were wel arayed, 784 Hit dut no wyndez blaste. 785 the burne bode on blonk, that on bonk houed 786 Of the depe double dich that drof to the place; 787 the walle wod in the water wonderly depe, 788 Ande eft a ful huge heght hit haled vpon lofte 789 Of harde hewen ston vp to the tablez, 790 Enbaned vnder the abataylment in the best lawe; 791 And sythen garytez ful gaye gered bitwene, 792 Wyth mony luflych loupe that louked ful clene: 793 A better barbican that burne blusched vpon neuer. 794 And innermore he behelde that halle ful hyghe, 795 Towres telded bytwene, trochet ful thik, 796 Fayre fylyolez that fyghed, and ferlyly long, 797 With coruon coprounes craftyly sleghe. 798 Chalkwhyt chymnees ther ches he innoghe 799 Vpon bastel rouez, that blenked ful quyte; 800 So mony pynakle payntet watz poudred ayquere, 801 Among the castel carnelez clambred so thik, 802 that pared out of papure purely hit semed. 803 the fre freke on the fole hit fayr innoghe thoght, 804 If he myght keuer to com the cloyster wythinne, 805 To herber in that hostel whyl halyday lested, 806 auinant. 807 He calde, and sone ther com 808 A porter pure plesaunt, 809 On the wal his ernd he nome, 810 And haylsed the knyght erraunt. 811 `Gode sir,' quoth Gawan, `woldez thou go myn ernde 812 To the hegh lorde of this hous, herber to craue?' 813 `ghe, Peter,' quoth the porter, `and purely I trowee 814 that ghe be, wyghe, welcum to won quyle yow lykez.' 815 then ghede the wyghe gherne and com aghayn swythe, 816 And folke frely hym wyth, to fonge the knyght. 817 thay let doun the grete draght and derely out gheden, 818 And kneled doun on her knes vpon the colde erthe 819 To welcum this ilk wygh as worthy hom thoght; 820 thay gholden hym the brode ghate, gharked vp wyde, 821 And he hem raysed rekenly, and rod ouer the brygge. 822 Sere seggez hym sesed by sadel, quel he lyght, 823 And sythen stabeled his stede stif men innoghe. 824 Knyghtez and swyerez comen doun thenne 825 For to bryng this buurne wyth blys into halle; 826 Quen he hef vp his helme, ther highed innoghe 827 For to hent hit at his honde, the hende to seruen; 828 His bronde and his blasoun bothe thay token. 829 then haylsed he ful hendly tho hathelez vchone, 830 And mony proud mon ther presed that prynce to honour. 831 Alle hasped in his hegh wede to halle thay hym wonnen, 832 ther fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned. 833 thenne the lorde of the lede loutez fro his chambre 834 For to mete wyth menske the mon on the flor; 835 He sayde, `ghe ar welcum to welde as yow lykez 836 that here is; al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle 837 and welde.' 838 `Graunt mercy,' quoth Gawayn, 839 `ther Kryst hit yow forghelde.' 840 As frekez that semed fayn 841 Ayther other in armez con felde. 842 Gawayn glyght on the gome that godly hym gret, 843 And thught hit a bolde burne that the burgh aghte, 844 A hoge hathel for the nonez, and of hyghe eldee; 845 Brode, bryght, watz his berde, and al beuer-hwed, 846 Sturne, stif on the stryththe on stalworth schonkez, 847 Felle face as the fyre, and fre of hys speche; 848 And wel hym semed, for sothe, as the segge thught, 849 To lede a lortschyp in lee of leudez ful gode. 850 the lorde hym charred to a chambre, and chefly cumaundez 851 To delyuer hym a leude, hym loghly to serue; 852 And there were boun at his bode burnez innoghe, 853 that broght hym to a bryght boure, ther beddyng watz noble, 854 Of cortynes of clene sylk wyth cler golde hemmez, 855 And couertorez ful curious with comlych panez 856 Of bryght blaunner aboue, enbrawded bisydez, 857 Rudelez rennande on ropez, red golde ryngez, 858 Tapitez tyght to the woghe of tuly and tars, 859 And vnder fete, on the flet, of folghande sute. 860 ther he watz dispoyled, wyth spechez of myerthe, 861 the burn of his bruny and of his bryght wedez. 862 Ryche robes ful rad renkkez hym broghten, 863 For to charge, and to chaunge, and chose of the best. 864 Sone as he on hent, and happed therinne, 865 that sete on hym semly wyth saylande skyrtez, 866 the ver by his uisage verayly hit semed 867 Welnegh to vche hathel, alle on hwes 868 Lowande and lufly alle his lymmez vnder, 869 that a comloker knyght neuer Kryst made 870 hem thoght. 871 Whethen in worlde he were, 872 Hit semed as he moght 873 Be prynce withouten pere 874 In felde ther felle men foght. 875 A cheyer byfore the chemne, ther charcole brenned, 876 Watz graythed for Sir Gawan graythely with clothez, 877 Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes that koynt wer bothe; 878 And thenne a mere mantyle watz on that mon cast 879 Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche 880 And fayre furred wythinne with fellez of the best, 881 Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of the same; 882 And he sete in that settel semlych ryche, 883 And achaufed hym chefly, and thenne his cher mended. 884 Sone watz telded vp a tabil on trestez ful fayre, 885 Clad wyth a clene clothe that cler quyt schewed, 886 Sanap, and salure, and syluerin sponez. 887 the wyghe wesche at his wylle, and went to his mete. 888 Seggez hym serued semly innoghe 889 Wyth sere sewes and sete, sesounde of the best. 890 Double-felde, as hit fallez, and fele kyn fischez, 891 Summe baken in bred, summe brad on the gledez, 892 Summe sothen, summe in sewe sauered with spyces, 893 And ay sawes so sleghe that the segge lyked. 894 the freke calde hit a fest ful frely and ofte 895 Ful hendely, quen alle the hatheles rehayted hym at onez, 896 `As hende, 897 this penaunce now ghe take, 898 And eft hit schal amende.' 899 that mon much merthe con make, 900 For wyn in his hed that wende. 901 thenne watz spyed and spured vpon spare wyse 902 Bi preue poyntez of that prynce, put to hymseluen, 903 that he beknew cortaysly of the court that he were 904 that athel Arthure the hende haldez hym one, 905 that is the ryche ryal kyng of the Rounde Table, 906 And hit watz Wawen hymself that in that won syttez, 907 Comen to that Krystmasse, as case hym then lymped. 908 When the lorde hade lerned that he the leude hade, 909 Loude laghed he therat, so lef hit hym thoght, 910 And alle the men in that mote maden much joye 911 To apere in his presense prestly that tyme, 912 that alle prys and prowes and pured thewes 913 Apendes to hys persoun, and praysed is euer; 914 Byfore alle men vpon molde his mensk is the most. 915 Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere: 916 `Now schal we semlych se sleghtez of thewez 917 And the teccheles termes of talkyng noble, 918 Wich spede is in speche vnspurd may we lerne, 919 Syn we haf fonged that fyne fader of nurture. 920 God hatz geuen vus his grace godly for sothe, 921 that such a gest as Gawan grauntez vus to haue, 922 When burnez blythe of his burthe schal sitte 923 and synge. 924 In menyng of manerez mere 925 this burne now schal vus bryng, 926 I hope that may hym here 927 Schal lerne of luf-talkyng.' 928 Bi that the diner watz done and the dere vp 929 Hit watz negh at the niyght neghed the tyme. 930 Chaplaynez to the chapeles chosen the gate, 931 Rungen ful rychely, ryght as thay schulden, 932 To the hersum euensong of the hyghe tyde. 933 the lorde loutes therto, and the lady als, 934 Into a cumly closet coyntly ho entrez. 935 Gawan glydez ful gay and gos theder sone; 936 the lorde laches hym by the lappe and ledez hym to sytte, 937 And couthly hym knowez and callez hym his nome, 938 And sayde he watz the welcomest wyghe of the worlde; 939 And he hym thonkked throly, and ayther halched other, 940 And seten soberly samen the seruise quyle. 941 thenne lyst the lady to loke on the knyght, 942 thenne com ho of hir closet with mony cler burdez. 943 Ho watz the fayrest in felle, of flesche and of lyre, 944 And of compas and colour and costes, of alle other, 945 And wener then Wenore, as the wyghe thoght. 946 Ho ches thurgh the chaunsel to cheryche that hende. 947 An other lady hir lad bi the lyft honde, 948 that watz alder then ho, an auncian hit semed, 949 And heghly honowred with hathelez aboute. 950 Bot vnlyke on to loke tho ladyes were, 951 For if the ghonge watz ghep, gholghe watz that other; 952 Riche red on that on rayled ayquere, 953 Rugh ronkled chekez that other on rolled; 954 Kerchofes of that on, wyth mony cler perlez, 955 Hir brest and hir bryght throte bare displayed, 956 Schon schyrer then snawe that schedez on hillez; 957 that other wyth a gorger watz gered ouer the swyre, 958 Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with chalkquyte vayles, 959 Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ayquere, 960 Toreted and treleted with tryflez aboute, 961 that noght watz bare of that burde bot the blake broghes, 962 the tweyne yghen and the nase, the naked lyppez, 963 And those were soure to se and sellyly blered; 964 A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle, 965 for Gode! 966 Hir body watz schort and thik, 967 Hir buttokez balgh and brode, 968 More lykkerwys on to lyk 969 Watz that scho hade on lode. 970 When Gawayn glyght on that gay, that graciously loked, 971 Wyth leue laght of the lorde he lent hem aghaynes; 972 the alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe, 973 the loueloker he lappez a lyttel in armez, 974 He kysses hir comlyly, and knyghtly he melez. 975 thay kallen hym of aquoyntaunce, and he hit quyk askez 976 To be her seruaunt sothly, if hemself lyked. 977 thay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden 978 To chambre, to chemne, and chefly thay asken 979 Spycez, that vnsparely men speded hom to bryng, 980 And the wynnelych wyne therwith vche tyme. 981 the lorde luflych aloft lepez ful ofte, 982 Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony sythez, 983 Hent heghly of his hode, and on a spere henged, 984 And wayned hom to wynne the worchip therof, 985 that most myrthe myght meue that Crystenmas whyle-- 986 `And I schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth the best 987 Er me wont the wede, with help of my frendez.' 988 thus wyth laghande lotez the lorde hit tayt makez, 989 For to glade Sir Gawayn with gomnez in halle 990 that nyght, 991 Til that hit watz tyme 992 the lord comaundet lyght; 993 Sir Gawen his leue con nyme 994 And to his bed hym dight. 995 On the morne, as vch mon mynez that tyme 996 that Dryghtyn for oure destyne to deghe watz borne, 997 Wele waxez in vche a won in worlde for his sake; 998 So did hit there on that day thurgh dayntes mony: 999 Bothe at mes and at mele messes ful quaynt 1000 Derf men vpon dece drest of the best. 1001 the olde auncian wyf heghest ho syttez, 1002 the lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe; 1003 Gawan and the gay burde togeder thay seten, 1004 Euen inmyddez, as the messe metely come, 1005 And sythen thurgh al the sale as hem best semed. 1006 Bi vche grome at his degre graythely watz serued 1007 ther watz mete, ther watz myrthe, ther watz much ioye, 1008 that for to telle therof hit me tene were, 1009 And to poynte hit ghet I pyned me parauenture. 1010 Bot ghet I wot that Wawen and the wale burde 1011 Such comfort of her compaynye caghten togeder 1012 thurgh her dere dalyaunce of her derne wordez, 1013 Wyth clene cortays carp closed fro fylthe, 1014 that hor play watz passande vche prynce gomen, 1015 in vayres. 1016 Trumpez and nakerys, 1017 Much pypyng ther repayres; 1018 Vche mon tented hys, 1019 And thay two tented thayres. 1020 Much dut watz ther dryuen that day and that other, 1021 And the thryd as thro thronge in therafter; 1022 the ioye of sayn Jonez day watz gentyle to here, 1023 And watz the last of the layk, leudez ther thoghten. 1024 ther wer gestes to go vpon the gray morne, 1025 Forthy wonderly thay woke, and the wyn dronken, 1026 Daunsed ful dreghly wyth dere carolez. 1027 At the last, when hit watz late, thay lachen her leue, 1028 Vchon to wende on his way that watz wyghe stronge. 1029 Gawan gef hym god day, the godmon hym lachchez, 1030 Ledes hym to his awen chambre, the chymne bysyde, 1031 And there he draghez hym on dryghe, and derely hym thonkkez 1032 Of the wynne worschip that he hym wayued hade, 1033 As to honour his hous on that hyghe tyde, 1034 And enbelyse his burgh with his bele chere: 1035 `Iwysse sir, quyl I leue, me worthez the better 1036 that Gawayn hatz ben my gest at Goddez awen fest.' 1037 `Grant merci, sir,' quoth Gawayn, `in god fayth hit is yowrez, 1038 Al the honour is your awen--the heghe kyng yow ghelde! 1039 And I am wyghe at your wylle to worch youre hest, 1040 As I am halden therto, in hyghe and in loghe, 1041 bi right.' 1042 the lorde fast can hym payne 1043 To holde lenger the knyght; 1044 To hym answarez Gawayn 1045 Bi non way that he myght. 1046 Then frayned the freke ful fayre at himseluen 1047 Quat derue dede had hym dryuen at that dere tyme 1048 So kenly fro the kyngez kourt to kayre al his one, 1049 Er the halidayez holly were halet out of toun. 1050 `For sothe, sir,' quoth the segge, `ghe sayn bot the trawthe, 1051 A heghe ernde and a hasty me hade fro tho wonez, 1052 For I am sumned myselfe to sech to a place, 1053 I ne wot in worlde whederwarde to wende hit to fynde. 1054 I nolde bot if I hit negh myght on Nw gheres morne 1055 For alle the londe inwyth Logres, so me oure lorde help! 1056 Forthy, sir, this enquest I require yow here, 1057 that ghe me telle with trawthe if euer ghe tale herde 1058 Of the grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stondez, 1059 And of the knyght that hit kepes, of colour of grene. 1060 ther watz stabled bi statut a steuen vus bytwene 1061 To mete that mon at that mere, ghif I myght last; 1062 And of that ilk Nw ghere bot neked now wontez, 1063 And I wolde loke on that lede, if God me let wolde, 1064 Gladloker, bi Goddez sun, then any god welde! 1065 Forthi, iwysse, bi ghowre wylle, wende me bihoues, 1066 Naf I now to busy bot bare thre dayez, 1067 And me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde.' 1068 thenne laghande quoth the lorde, `Now leng the byhoues, 1069 For I schal teche yow to that terme bi the tymez ende, 1070 the grene chapayle vpon grounde greue yow no more; 1071 Bot ghe schal be in yowre bed, burne, at thyn ese, 1072 Quyle forth dayez, and ferk on the fyrst of the ghere, 1073 And cum to that merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow likez 1074 in spenne. 1075 Dowellez whyle New gheres daye, 1076 And rys, and raykez thenne, 1077 Mon schal yow sette in waye, 1078 Hit is not two myle henne.' 1079 thenne watz Gawan ful glad, and gomenly he laghed: 1080 `Now I thonk yow thryuandely thurgh alle other thynge, 1081 Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle 1082 Dowelle, and ellez do quat ghe demen.' 1083 thenne sesed hym the syre and set hym bysyde, 1084 Let the ladiez be fette to lyke hem the better. 1085 ther watz seme solace by hemself stille; 1086 the lorde let for luf lotez so myry, 1087 As wygh that wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he myght. 1088 thenne he carped to the knyght, criande loude, 1089 `ghe han demed to do the dede that I bidde; 1090 Wyl ghe halde this hes here at thys onez?' 1091 `ghe, sir, for sothe,' sayd the segge trwe, 1092 `Whyl I byde in yowre borghe, be bayn to ghowre hest.' 1093 `For ghe haf trauayled,' quoth the tulk, `towen fro ferre, 1094 And sythen waked me wyth, ghe arn not wel waryst 1095 Nauther of sostnaunce ne of slepe, sothly I knowe; 1096 ghe schal lenge in your lofte, and lyghe in your ese 1097 To-morn quyle the messequyle, and to mete wende 1098 When ghe wyl, wyth my wyf, that wyth yow schal sitte 1099 And comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne; 1100 ghe lende, 1101 And I schal erly ryse, 1102 On huntyng wyl I wende.' 1103 Gauayn grantez alle thyse, 1104 Hym heldande, as the hende. 1105 `ghet firre,' quoth the freke, `a forwarde we make: 1106 Quat-so-euer I wynne in the wod hit worthez to yourez, 1107 And quat chek so ghe acheue chaunge me therforne. 1108 Swete, swap we so, sware with trawthe, 1109 Quether, leude, so lymp, lere other better.' 1110 `Bi God,' quoth Gawayn the gode, `I grant thertylle, 1111 And that yow lyst for to layke, lef hit me thynkes.' 1112 `Who bryngez vus this beuerage, this bargayn is maked': 1113 So sayde the lorde of that lede; thay laghed vchone, 1114 thay dronken and daylyeden and dalten vntyghtel, 1115 thise lordez and ladyez, quyle that hem lyked; 1116 And sythen with Frenkysch fare and fele fayre lotez 1117 thay stoden and stemed and stylly speken, 1118 Kysten ful comlyly and kaghten her leue. 1119 With mony leude ful lyght and lemande torches 1120 Vche burne to his bed watz broght at the laste, 1121 ful softe. 1122 To bed ghet er thay ghede, 1123 Recorded couenauntez ofte; 1124 the olde lorde of that leude 1125 Cowthe wel halde layk alofte. 1126 Ful erly bifore the day the folk vprysen, 1127 Gestes that go wolde hor gromez thay calden, 1128 And thay busken vp bilyue blonkkez to sadel, 1129 Tyffen her takles, trussen her males, 1130 Richen hem the rychest, to ryde alle arayde, 1131 Lepen vp lyghtly, lachen her brydeles, 1132 Vche wyghe on his way ther hym wel lyked. 1133 the leue lorde of the londe watz not the last 1134 Arayed for the rydyng, with renkkez ful mony; 1135 Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse, 1136 With bugle to bent-felde he buskez bylyue. 1137 By that any daylyght lemed vpon erthe 1138 He with his hatheles on hyghe horsses weren. 1139 thenne thise cacheres that couthe cowpled hor houndez, 1140 Vnclosed the kenel dore and calde hem theroute, 1141 Blwe bygly in buglez thre bare mote; 1142 Braches bayed therfore and breme noyse maked; 1143 And thay chastysed and charred on chasyng that went, 1144 A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle, 1145 of the best. 1146 To trystors vewters ghod, 1147 Couples huntes of kest; 1148 ther ros for blastez gode 1149 Gret rurd in that forest. 1150 At the fyrst quethe of the quest quaked the wylde; 1151 Der drof in the dale, doted for drede, 1152 Highed to the hyghe, bot heterly thay were 1153 Restayed with the stablye, that stoutly ascryed. 1154 thay let the herttez haf the gate, with the hyghe hedes, 1155 the breme bukkez also with hor brode paumez; 1156 For the fre lorde hade defende in fermysoun tyme 1157 that ther schulde no mon meue to the male dere. 1158 the hindez were halden in with hay! and war! 1159 the does dryuen with gret dyn to the depe sladez; 1160 ther myght mon se, as thay slypte, slentyng of arwes-- 1161 At vche wende vnder wande wapped a flone-- 1162 that bigly bote on the broun with ful brode hedez. 1163 What! thay brayen, and bleden, bi bonkkez thay deghen, 1164 And ay rachches in a res radly hem folghes, 1165 Hunterez wyth hyghe horne hasted hem after 1166 Wyth such a crakkande kry as klyffes haden brusten. 1167 What wylde so atwaped wyghes that schotten 1168 Watz al toraced and rent at the resayt, 1169 Bi thay were tened at the hyghe and taysed to the wattrez; 1170 the ledez were so lerned at the loghe trysteres, 1171 And the grehoundez so grete, that geten hem bylyue 1172 And hem tofylched, as fast as frekez myght loke, 1173 ther-ryght. 1174 the lorde for blys abloy 1175 Ful oft con launce and lyght, 1176 And drof that day wyth joy 1177 Thus to the derk nyght. 1178 thus laykez this lorde by lynde-wodez euez, 1179 And Gawayn the god mon in gay bed lygez, 1180 Lurkkez quyl the daylyght lemed on the wowes, 1181 Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute; 1182 And as in slomeryng he slode, sleghly he herde 1183 A littel dyn at his dor, and dernly vpon; 1184 And he heuez vp his hed out of the clothes, 1185 A corner of the cortyn he caght vp a lyttel, 1186 And waytez warly thiderwarde quat hit be myght. 1187 Hit watz the ladi, loflyest to beholde, 1188 that drogh the dor after hir ful dernly and stylle, 1189 And boghed towarde the bed; and the burne schamed, 1190 And layde hym doun lystyly, and let as he slepte; 1191 And ho stepped stilly and stel to his bedde, 1192 Kest vp the cortyn and creped withinne, 1193 And set hir ful softly on the bed-syde, 1194 And lenged there selly longe to loke quen he wakened. 1195 the lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle, 1196 Compast in his concience to quat that cace myght 1197 Meue other amount--to meruayle hym thoght, 1198 Bot ghet he sayde in hymself, `More semly hit were 1199 To aspye wyth my spelle in space quat ho wolde.' 1200 then he wakenede, and wroth, and to hir warde torned, 1201 And vnlouked his yghe-lyddez, and let as hym wondered, 1202 And sayned hym, as bi his saghe the sauer to worthe, 1203 with hande. 1204 Wyth chynne and cheke ful swete, 1205 Bothe quit and red in blande, 1206 Ful lufly con ho lete 1207 Wyth lyppez smal laghande. 1208 `God moroun, Sir Gawayn,' sayde that gay lady, 1209 `ghe ar a sleper vnslyghe, that mon may slyde hider; 1210 Now ar ghe tan as-tyt! Bot true vus may schape, 1211 I schal bynde yow in your bedde, that be ghe trayst': 1212 Al laghande the lady lanced tho bourdez. 1213 `Goud moroun, gay,' quoth Gawayn the blythe, 1214 `Me schal worthe at your wille, and that me wel lykez, 1215 For I ghelde me ghederly, and gheghe after grace, 1216 And that is the best, be my dome, for me byhouez nede': 1217 And thus he bourded aghayn with mony a blythe laghter. 1218 `Bot wolde ghe, lady louely, then leue me grante, 1219 And deprece your prysoun, and pray hym to ryse, 1220 I wolde boghe of this bed, and busk me better; 1221 I schulde keuer the more comfort to karp yow wyth.' 1222 `Nay for sothe, beau sir,' sayd that swete, 1223 `ghe schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better, 1224 I schal happe yow here that other half als, 1225 And sythen karp wyth my knyght that I kaght haue; 1226 For I wene wel, iwysse, Sir Wowen ghe are, 1227 that alle the worlde worchipez quere-so ghe ride; 1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed 1229 With lordez, wyth ladyes, with alle that lyf bere. 1230 And now ghe ar here, iwysse, and we bot oure one; 1231 My lorde and his ledez ar on lenthe faren, 1232 Other burnez in her bedde, and my burdez als, 1233 the dor drawen and dit with a derf haspe; 1234 And sythen I haue in this hous hym that al lykez, 1235 I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit lastez, 1236 with tale. 1237 ghe ar welcum to my cors, 1238 Yowre awen won to wale, 1239 Me behouez of fyne force 1240 Your seruaunt be, and schale.' 1241 `In god fayth,' quoth Gawayn, `gayn hit me thynkkez, 1242 thagh I be not now he that ghe of speken; 1243 To reche to such reuerence as ghe reherce here 1244 I am wyghe vnworthy, I wot wel myseluen. 1245 Bi God, I were glad, and yow god thoght, 1246 At saghe other at seruyce that I sette myght 1247 To the plesaunce of your prys--hit were a pure ioye.' 1248 `In god fayth, Sir Gawayn,' quoth the gay lady, 1249 `the prys and the prowes that plesez al other, 1250 If I hit lakked other set at lyght, hit were littel daynte; 1251 Bot hit ar ladyes innoghe that leuer wer nowthe 1252 Haf the, hende, in hor holde, as I the habbe here, 1253 To daly with derely your daynte wordez, 1254 Keuer hem comfort and colen her carez, 1255 then much of the garysoun other golde that thay hauen. 1256 Bot I louue that ilk lorde that the lyfte haldez, 1257 I haf hit holly in my honde that al desyres, 1258 thurghe grace.' 1259 Scho made hym so gret chere, 1260 that watz so fayr of face, 1261 the knyght with speches skere 1262 Answared to vche a cace. 1263 `Madame,' quoth the myry mon, `Mary yow ghelde, 1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele, 1265 And other ful much of other folk fongen bi hor dedez, 1266 Bot the daynte that thay delen, for my disert nys euen, 1267 Hit is the worchyp of yourself, that noght bot wel connez.' 1268 `Bi Mary,' quoth the menskful, `me thynk hit an other; 1269 For were I worth al the wone of wymmen alyue, 1270 And al the wele of the worlde were in my honde, 1271 And I schulde chepen and chose to cheue me a lorde, 1272 For the costes that I haf knowen vpon the, knyght, here, 1273 Of bewte and debonerte and blythe semblaunt, 1274 And that I haf er herkkened and halde hit here trwee, 1275 ther schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen.' 1276 `Iwysse, worthy,' quoth the wyghe, `ghe haf waled wel better, 1277 Bot I am proude of the prys that ghe put on me, 1278 And, soberly your seruaunt, my souerayn I holde yow, 1279 And yowre knyght I becom, and Kryst yow forghelde.' 1280 thus thay meled of muchquat til mydmorn paste, 1281 And ay the lady let lyk as hym loued mych; 1282 the freke ferde with defence, and feted ful fayre-- 1283 `thagh I were burde bryghtest', the burde in mynde hade. 1284 the lasse luf in his lode for lur that he soght 1285 boute hone, 1286 the dunte that schulde hym deue, 1287 And nedez hit most be done. 1288 the lady thenn spek of leue, 1289 He granted hir ful sone. 1290 thenne ho gef hym god day, and wyth a glent laghed, 1291 And as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor wordez: 1292 `Now he that spedez vche spech this disport ghelde yow! 1293 Bot that ghe be Gawan, hit gotz in mynde.' 1294 `Querfore?' quoth the freke, and freschly he askez, 1295 Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes; 1296 Bot the burde hym blessed, and `Bi this skyl' sayde: 1297 `So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden, 1298 And cortaysye is closed so clene in hymseluen, 1299 Couth not lyghtly haf lenged so long wyth a lady, 1300 Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye, 1301 Bi sum towch of summe tryfle at sum talez ende.' 1302 then quoth Wowen: `Iwysse, worthe as yow lykez; 1303 I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a knyght fallez, 1304 And fire, lest he displese yow, so plede hit no more.' 1305 Ho comes nerre with that, and cachez hym in armez, 1306 Loutez luflych adoun and the leude kyssez. 1307 thay comly bykennen to Kryst ayther other; 1308 Ho dos hir forth at the dore withouten dyn more; 1309 And he ryches hym to ryse and rapes hym sone, 1310 Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede, 1311 Boghez forth, quen he watz boun, blythely to masse; 1312 And thenne he meued to his mete that menskly hym keped, 1313 And made myry al day, til the mone rysed, 1314 with game. 1315 Watz neuer freke fayrer fonge 1316 Bitwene two so dyngne dame, 1317 the alder and the ghonge; 1318 Much solace set thay same. 1319 And ay the lorde of the londe is lent on his gamnez, 1320 To hunt in holtez and hethe at hyndez barayne; 1321 Such a sowme he ther slowe bi that the sunne heldet, 1322 Of dos and of other dere, to deme were wonder. 1323 thenne fersly thay flokked in folk at the laste, 1324 And quykly of the quelled dere a querre thay maked. 1325 the best boghed therto with burnez innoghe, 1326 Gedered the grattest of gres that ther were, 1327 And didden hem derely vndo as the dede askez; 1328 Serched hem at the asay summe that ther were, 1329 Two fyngeres thay fonde of the fowlest of alle. 1330 Sythen thay slyt the slot, sesed the erber, 1331 Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, and the schyre knitten; 1332 Sythen rytte thay the foure lymmes, and rent of the hyde, 1333 then brek thay the bale, the bowelez out token 1334 Lystily for laucyng the lere of the knot; 1335 thay gryped to the gargulun, and graythely departed 1336 the wesaunt fro the wynt-hole, and walt out the guttez; 1337 then scher thay out the schulderez with her scharp knyuez, 1338 Haled hem by a lyttel hole to haue hole sydes. 1339 Sithen britned thay the brest and brayden hit in twynne, 1340 And eft at the gargulun bigynez on thenne, 1341 Ryuez hit vp radly ryght to the byght, 1342 Voydez out the avanters, and verayly therafter 1343 Alle the rymez by the rybbez radly thay lance; 1344 So ryde thay of by resoun bi the rygge bonez, 1345 Euenden to the haunche, that henged alle samen, 1346 And heuen hit vp al hole, and hwen hit of there, 1347 And that thay neme for the noumbles bi nome, as I trowe, 1348 bi kynde; 1349 Bi the byght al of the thyghes 1350 the lappez thay lance bihynde; 1351 To hewe hit in two thay hyghes, 1352 Bi the bakbon to vnbynde. 1353 Bothe the hede and the hals thay hwen of thenne, 1354 And sythen sunder thay the sydez swyft fro the chyne, 1355 And the corbeles fee thay kest in a greue; 1356 thenn thurled thay ayther thik side thurgh bi the rybbe, 1357 And henged thenne ayther bi hoghez of the fourchez, 1358 Vche freke for his fee, as fallez for to haue. 1359 Vpon a felle of the fayre best fede thay thayr houndes 1360 Wyth the lyuer and the lyghtez, the lether of the paunchez, 1361 And bred bathed in blod blende theramongez. 1362 Baldely thay blw prys, bayed thayr rachchez, 1363 Sythen fonge thay her flesche, folden to home, 1364 Strakande ful stoutly mony stif motez. 1365 Bi that the daylyght watz done the douthe watz al wonen 1366 Into the comly castel, ther the knyght bidez 1367 ful stille, 1368 Wyth blys and bryght fyr bette. 1369 the lorde is comen thertylle; 1370 When Gawayn wyth hym mette 1371 ther watz bot wele at wylle. 1372 Thenne comaunded the lorde in that sale to samen alle the meny, 1373 Bothe the ladyes on loghe to lyght with her burdes 1374 Bifore alle the folk on the flette, frekez he beddez 1375 Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne, 1376 And al godly in gomen Gawayn he called, 1377 Techez hym to the tayles of ful tayt bestes, 1378 Schewez hym the schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes. 1379 `How payez yow this play? Haf I prys wonnen? 1380 Haue I thryuandely thonk thurgh my craft serued?' 1381 `ghe iwysse,' quoth that other wyghe, `here is wayth fayrest 1382 that I segh this seuen ghere in sesoun of wynter.' 1383 `And al I gif yow, Gawayn,' quoth the gome thenne, 1384 `For by acorde of couenaunt ghe craue hit as your awen.' 1385 `this is soth,' quoth the segge, `I say yow that ilke: 1386 that I haf worthyly wonnen this wonez wythinne, 1387 Iwysse with as god wylle hit worthez to ghourez.' 1388 He hasppez his fayre hals his armez wythinne, 1389 And kysses hym as comlyly as he couthe awyse: 1390 `Tas yow there my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more; 1391 I wowche hit saf fynly, thagh feler hit were.' 1392 `Hit is god,' quoth the godmon, `grant mercy therfore. 1393 Hit may be such hit is the better, and ghe me breue wolde 1394 Where ghe wan this ilk wele bi wytte of yorseluen.' 1395 `that watz not forward,' quoth he, `frayst me no more. 1396 For ghe haf tan that yow tydez, trawe non other 1397 ghe mowe.' 1398 thay laghed, and made hem blythe 1399 Wyth lotez that were to lowe; 1400 To soper thay ghede as-swythe, 1401 Wyth dayntes nwe innowe. 1402 And sythen by the chymne in chamber thay seten, 1403 Wyghez the walle wyn weghed to hem oft, 1404 And efte in her bourdyng thay baythen in the morn 1405 To fylle the same forwardez that thay byfore maden: 1406 Wat chaunce so bytydez hor cheuysaunce to chaunge, 1407 What nwez so thay nome, at naght quen thay metten. 1408 thay acorded of the couenauntez byfore the court alle; 1409 the beuerage watz broght forth in bourde at that tyme, 1410 thenne thay louelych leghten leue at the last, 1411 Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue. 1412 Bi that the coke hade crowen and cakled bot thryse, 1413 the lorde watz lopen of his bedde, the leudez vchone; 1414 So that the mete and the masse watz metely delyuered, 1415 the douthe dressed to the wod, er any day sprenged, 1416 to chace; 1417 Hegh with hunte and hornez 1418 thurgh playnez thay passe in space, 1419 Vncoupled among tho thornez 1420 Rachez that ran on race. 1421 Sone thay calle of a quest in a ker syde, 1422 the hunt rehayted the houndez that hit fyrst mynged, 1423 Wylde wordez hym warp wyth a wrast noyce; 1424 the howndez that hit herde hastid thider swythe, 1425 And fellen as fast to the fuyt, fourty at ones; 1426 thenne such a glauer ande glam of gedered rachchez 1427 Ros, that the rocherez rungen aboute; 1428 Hunterez hem hardened with horne and wyth muthe. 1429 then al in a semble sweyed togeder, 1430 Bitwene a flosche in that fryth and a foo cragge; 1431 In a knot bi a clyffe, at the kerre syde, 1432 ther as the rogh rocher vnrydely watz fallen, 1433 thay ferden to the fyndyng, and frekez hem after; 1434 thay vmbekesten the knarre and the knot bothe, 1435 Wyghez, whyl thay wysten wel wythinne hem hit were, 1436 the best that ther breued watz wyth the blodhoundez. 1437 thenne thay beten on the buskez, and bede hym vpryse, 1438 And he vnsoundyly out soght seggez ouerthwert; 1439 On the sellokest swyn swenged out there, 1440 Long sythen fro the sounder that sighed for olde, 1441 For he watz breme, bor alther-grattest, 1442 Ful grymme quen he gronyed; thenne greued mony, 1443 For thre at the fyrst thrast he thryght to the erthe, 1444 And sparred forth good sped boute spyt more. 1445 thise other halowed hyghe! ful hyghe, and hay! hay! cryed, 1446 Haden hornez to mouthe, heterly rechated; 1447 Mony watz the myry mouthe of men and of houndez 1448 that buskkez after this bor with bost and wyth noyse 1449 to quelle. 1450 Ful oft he bydez the baye, 1451 And maymez the mute inn melle; 1452 He hurtez of the houndez, and thay 1453 Ful ghomerly ghaule and ghelle. 1454 Schalkez to schote at hym schowen to thenne, 1455 Haled to hym of her arewez, hitten hym oft; 1456 Bot the poyntez payred at the pyth that pyght in his scheldez, 1457 And the barbez of his browe bite non wolde-- 1458 thagh the schauen schaft schyndered in pecez, 1459 the hede hypped aghayn were-so-euer hit hitte. 1460 Bot quen the dyntez hym dered of her dryghe strokez, 1461 then, braynwod for bate, on burnez he rasez, 1462 Hurtez hem ful heterly ther he forth hyghez, 1463 And mony arghed therat, and on lyte droghen. 1464 Bot the lorde on a lyght horce launces hym after, 1465 As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowez, 1466 He rechated, and rode thurgh ronez ful thyk, 1467 Suande this wylde swyn til the sunne schafted. 1468 this day wyth this ilk dede thay dryuen on this wyse, 1469 Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde, 1470 Gawayn graythely at home, in gerez ful ryche 1471 of hewe. 1472 the lady noght forghate, 1473 Com to hym to salue; 1474 Ful erly ho watz hym ate 1475 His mode for to remwe. 1476 Ho commes to the cortyn, and at the knyght totes. 1477 Sir Wawen her welcumed worthy on fyrst, 1478 And ho hym gheldez aghayn ful gherne of hir wordez, 1479 Settez hir softly by his syde, and swythely ho laghez, 1480 And wyth a luflych loke ho layde hym thyse wordez: 1481 `Sir, ghif ghe be Wawen, wonder me thynkkez, 1482 Wyghe that is so wel wrast alway to god, 1483 And connez not of compaynye the costez vndertake, 1484 And if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, ghe kest hom of your mynde; 1485 thou hatz forgheten ghederly that ghisterday I taghtte 1486 Bi alder-truest token of talk that I cowthe.' 1487 `What is that?' quoth the wyghe, `Iwysse I wot neuer; 1488 If hit be sothe that ghe breue, the blame is myn awen.' 1489 `ghet I kende yow of kyssyng,' quoth the clere thenne, 1490 `Quere-so countenaunce is couthe quikly to clayme; 1491 that bicumes vche a knyght that cortaysy vses.' 1492 `Do way,' quoth that derf mon, `my dere, that speche, 1493 For that durst I not do, lest I deuayed were; 1494 If I were werned, I were wrang, iwysse, ghif I profered.' 1495 `Ma fay,' quoth the mere wyf, `ghe may not be werned, 1496 ghe ar stif innoghe to constrayne wyth strenkthe, ghif yow lykez, 1497 ghif any were so vilanous that yow devaye wolde.' 1498 `ghe, be God,' quoth Gawayn, `good is your speche, 1499 Bot threte is vnthryuande in thede ther I lende, 1500 And vche gift that is geuen not with goud wylle. 1501 I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lykez, 1502 ghe may lach quen yow lyst, and leue quen yow thynkkez, 1503 in space.' 1504 the lady loutez adoun, 1505 And comlyly kysses his face, 1506 Much speche thay ther expoun 1507 Of druryes greme and grace. 1508 `I woled wyt at yow, wyghe,' that worthy ther sayde, 1509 `And yow wrathed not therwyth, what were the skylle 1510 that so ghong and so ghepe as ghe at this tyme, 1511 So cortayse, so knyghtly, as ghe ar knowen oute-- 1512 And of alle cheualry to chose, the chef thyng alosed 1513 Is the lel layk of luf, the lettrure of armes; 1514 For to telle of this teuelyng of this trwe knyghtez, 1515 Hit is the tytelet token and tyxt of her werkkez, 1516 How ledes for her lele luf hor lyuez han auntered, 1517 Endured for her drury dulful stoundez, 1518 And after wenged with her walour and voyded her care, 1519 And broght blysse into boure with bountees hor awen-- 1520 And ghe ar knyght comlokest kyd of your elde, 1521 Your worde and your worchip walkez ayquere, 1522 And I haf seten by yourself here sere twyes, 1523 ghet herde I neuer of your hed helde no wordez 1524 that euer longed to luf, lasse ne more; 1525 And ghe, that ar so cortays and coynt of your hetes, 1526 Oghe to a ghonke thynk ghern to schewe 1527 And teche sum tokenez of trweluf craftes. 1528 Why! ar ghe lewed, that alle the los weldez? 1529 Other elles ghe demen me to dille your dalyaunce to herken? 1530 For schame! 1531 I com hider sengel, and sitte 1532 To lerne at yow sum game; 1533 Dos, techez me of your wytte, 1534 Whil my lorde is fro hame.' 1535 `In goud faythe,' quoth Gawayn, `God yow forghelde! 1536 Gret is the gode gle, and gomen to me huge, 1537 that so worthy as ghe wolde wynne hidere, 1538 And pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your knyght 1539 With anyskynnez countenaunce, hit keuerez me ese; 1540 Bot to take the toruayle to myself to trwluf expoun, 1541 And towche the temez of tyxt and talez of armez 1542 To yow that, I wot wel, weldez more slyght 1543 Of that art, bi the half, or a hundreth of seche 1544 As I am, other euer schal, in erde ther I leue, 1545 Hit were a fole felefolde, my fre, by my trawthe. 1546 I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my myght, 1547 As I am hyghly bihalden, and euermore wylle 1548 Be seruaunt to yourseluen, so saue me Dryghtyn!' 1549 thus hym frayned that fre, and fondet hym ofte, 1550 For to haf wonnen hym to woghe, what-so scho thoght ellez; 1551 Bot he defended hym so fayr that no faut semed, 1552 Ne non euel on nawther halue, nawther thay wysten 1553 bot blysse. 1554 thay laghed and layked longe; 1555 At the last scho con hym kysse, 1556 Hir leue fayre con scho fonge 1557 And went hir waye, iwysse. 1558 The ruthes hym the renk and ryses to the masse, 1559 And sithen hor diner watz dyght and derely serued. 1560 the lede with the ladyez layked alle day, 1561 Bot the lorde ouer the londez launced ful ofte, 1562 Swez his vncely swyn, that swyngez bi the bonkkez 1563 And bote the best of his brachez the bakkez in sunder 1564 ther he bode in his bay, tel bawemen hit breken, 1565 And madee hym mawgref his hed for to mwe vtter, 1566 So felle flonez ther flete when the folk gedered. 1567 Bot ghet the styffest to start bi stoundez he made, 1568 Til at the last he watz so mat he myght no more renne, 1569 Bot in the hast that he myght he to a hole wynnez 1570 Of a rasse bi a rokk ther rennez the boerne. 1571 He gete the bonk at his bak, bigynez to scrape, 1572 the frothe femed at his mouth vnfayre bi the wykez, 1573 Whettez his whyte tuschez; with hym then irked 1574 Alle the burnez so bolde that hym by stoden 1575 To nye hym on-ferum, bot neghe hym non durst 1576 for wothe; 1577 He hade hurt so mony byforne 1578 that al thught thenne ful lothe 1579 Be more wyth his tusches torne, 1580 that breme watz and braynwod bothe, 1581 Til the knyght com hymself, kachande his blonk, 1582 Sygh hym byde at the bay, his burnez bysyde; 1583 He lyghtes luflych adoun, leuez his corsour, 1584 Braydez out a bryght bront and bigly forth strydez, 1585 Foundez fast thurgh the forth ther the felle bydez. 1586 the wylde watz war of the wyghe with weppen in honde, 1587 Hef hyghly the here, so hetterly he fnast 1588 that fele ferde for the freke, lest felle hym the worre. 1589 the swyn settez hym out on the segge euen, 1590 that the burne and the bor were bothe vpon hepez 1591 In the wyghtest of the water; the worre hade that other, 1592 For the mon merkkez hym wel, as thay mette fyrst, 1593 Set sadly the scharp in the slot euen, 1594 Hit hym vp to the hult, that the hert schyndered, 1595 And he gharrande hym ghelde, and ghedoun the water 1596 ful tyt. 1597 A hundreth houndez hym hent, 1598 that bremely con hym bite, 1599 Burnez him broght to bent, 1600 And doggez to dethe endite. 1601 There watz blawyng of prys in mony breme horne, 1602 Heghe halowing on highe with hathelez that myght; 1603 Brachetes bayed that best, as bidden the maysterez 1604 Of that chargeaunt chace that were chef huntes. 1605 thenne a wyghe that watz wys vpon wodcraftez 1606 To vnlace this bor lufly bigynnez. 1607 Fyrst he hewes of his hed and on highe settez, 1608 And sythen rendez him al roghe bi the rygge after, 1609 Braydez out the boweles, brennez hom on glede, 1610 With bred blent therwith his braches rewardez. 1611 Sythen he britnez out the brawen in bryght brode cheldez, 1612 And hatz out the hastlettez, as hightly bisemez; 1613 And ghet hem halchez al hole the haluez togeder, 1614 And sythen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges. 1615 Now with this ilk swyn thay swengen to home; 1616 the bores hed watz borne bifore the burnes seluen 1617 that him forferde in the forthe thurgh forse of his 1618 honde so stronge. 1619 Til he segh Sir Gawayne 1620 In halle hym poght ful longe; 1621 He calde, and he com gayn 1622 His feez ther for to fonge. 1623 the lorde ful lowde with lote and laghter myry, 1624 When he seghe Sir Gawayn, with solace he spekez; 1625 the goude ladyez were geten, and gedered the meyny, 1626 He schewez hem the scheldez, and schapes hem the tale 1627 Of the largesse and the lenthe, the lithernez alse 1628 Of the were of the wylde swyn in wod ther he fled. 1629 that other knyght ful comly comended his dedez, 1630 And praysed hit as gret prys that he proued hade, 1631 For suche a brawne of a best, the bolde burne sayde, 1632 Ne such sydes of a swyn segh he neuer are. 1633 thenne hondeled thay the hoge hed, the hende mon hit praysed, 1634 And let lodly therat the lorde for to here. 1635 `Now, Gawayn,' quoth the godmon, `this gomen is your awen 1636 Bi fyn forwarde and faste, faythely ghe knowe.' 1637 `Hit is sothe,' quoth the segge, `and as siker trwe 1638 Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawthe.' 1639 He hent the hathel aboute the halse, and hendely hym kysses, 1640 And eftersones of the same he serued hym there. 1641 `Now ar we euen,' quoth the hathel, `in this euentide 1642 Of alle the couenauntes that we knyt, sythen I com hider, 1643 bi lawe.' 1644 the lorde sayde, `Bi saynt Gile, 1645 ghe ar the best that I knowe! 1646 ghe ben ryche in a whyle, 1647 Such chaffer and ghe drowe.' 1648 thenne thay teldet tablez trestes alofte, 1649 Kesten clothen vpon; clere lyght thenne 1650 Wakned bi woghez, waxen torches; 1651 Seggez sette and serued in sale al aboute; 1652 Much glam and gle glent vp therinne 1653 Aboute the fyre vpon flet, and on fele wyse 1654 At the soper and after, mony athel songez, 1655 As coundutes of Krystmasse and carolez newe 1656 With al the manerly merthe that mon may of telle, 1657 And euer oure luflych knyght the lady bisyde. 1658 Such semblaunt to that segge semly ho made 1659 Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, that stalworth to plese, 1660 that al forwondered watz the wyghe, and wroth with hymseluen, 1661 Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir aghaynez, 1662 Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer the dede turned 1663 towrast. 1664 Quen thay hade played in halle 1665 As longe as hor wylle hom last, 1666 To chambre he con hym calle, 1667 And to the chemne thay past. 1668 Andre ther thay dronken, and dalten, and demed eft nwe 1669 To norne on the same note on Nwe gherez euen; 1670 Bot the knyght craued leue to kayre on the morn, 1671 For hit watz negh at the terme that he to schulde. 1672 the lorde hym letted of that, to lenge hym resteyed, 1673 And sayde, `As I am trwe segge, I siker my trawthe 1674 thou schal cheue to the grene chapel thy charres to make, 1675 Leude, on Nw gherez lyght, longe bifore pryme. 1676 Forthy thow lye in thy loft and lach thyn ese, 1677 And I schal hunt in this holt, and halde the towchez, 1678 Chaunge wyth the cheuisaunce, bi that I charre hider; 1679 For I haf fraysted the twys, and faythful I fynde the. 1680 Now "thrid tyme throwe best" thenk on the morne, 1681 Make we mery quyl we may and mynne vpon joye, 1682 For the lur may mon lach when-so mon lykez.' 1683 this watz graythely graunted, and Gawayn is lenged, 1684 Blithe broght watz hym drynk, and thay to bedde gheden 1685 with light. 1686 Sir Gawayn lis and slepes 1687 Ful stille and softe al night; 1688 the lorde that his craftez kepes, 1689 Ful erly he watz dight. 1690 After messe a morsel he and his men token; 1691 Miry watz the mornyng, his mounture he askes. 1692 Alle the hatheles that on horse schulde helden hym after 1693 Were boun busked on hor blonkkez bifore the halle ghatez. 1694 Ferly fayre watz the folde, for the forst clenged; 1695 In rede rudede vpon rak rises the sunne, 1696 And ful clere costez the clowdes of the welkyn. 1697 Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde, 1698 Rocheres roungen bi rys for rurde of her hornes; 1699 Summe fel in the fute ther the fox bade, 1700 Traylez ofte a traueres bi traunt of her wyles; 1701 A kenet kyres therof, the hunt on hym calles; 1702 His felaghes fallen hym to, that fnasted ful thike, 1703 Runnen forth in a rabel in his ryght fare, 1704 And he fyskez hem byfore; thay founden hym sone, 1705 And quen thay seghe hym with syght thay sued hym fast, 1706 Wreghande hym ful weterly with a wroth noyse; 1707 And he trantes and tornayeez thurgh mony tene greue, 1708 Hauilounez, and herkenez bi heggez ful ofte. 1709 At the last bi a littel dich he lepez ouer a spenne, 1710 Stelez out ful stilly bi a strothe rande, 1711 Went haf wylt of the wode with wylez fro the houndes; 1712 thenne watz he went, er he wyst, to a wale tryster, 1713 ther thre thro at a thrich thrat hym at ones, 1714 al graye. 1715 He blenched aghayn bilyue 1716 And stifly start on-stray, 1717 With alle the wo on lyue 1718 To the wod he went away. 1719 Thenne watz hit list vpon lif to lythen the houndez, 1720 When alle the mute hade hym met, menged togeder: 1721 Suche a sorghe at that syght thay sette on his hede 1722 As alle the clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes; 1723 Here he watz halawed, when hathelez hym metten, 1724 Loude he watz ghayned with gharande speche; 1725 ther he watz threted and ofte thef called, 1726 And ay the titleres at his tayl, that tary he ne myght; 1727 Ofte he watz runnen at, when he out rayked, 1728 And ofte reled in aghayn, so Reniarde watz wyle. 1729 And ghe he lad hem bi lagmon, the lorde and his meyny, 1730 On this maner bi the mountes quyle myd-ouer-vnder, 1731 Whyle the hende knyght at home holsumly slepes 1732 Withinne the comly cortynes, on the colde morne. 1733 Bot the lady for luf let not to slepe, 1734 Ne the purpose to payre that pyght in hir hert, 1735 Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir theder 1736 In a mery mantyle, mete to the erthe, 1737 that watz furred ful fyne with fellez wel pured, 1738 No hwef goud on hir hede bot the hagher stones 1739 Trased aboute hir tressour be twenty in clusteres; 1740 Hir thryuen face and hir throte throwen al naked, 1741 Hir brest bare bifore, and bihinde eke. 1742 Ho comez withinne the chambre dore, and closes hit hir after, 1743 Wayuez vp a wyndow, and on the wyghe callez, 1744 And radly thus rehayted hym with hir riche wordes, 1745 with chere: 1746 `A! mon, how may thou slepe, 1747 this morning is so clere?' 1748 He watz in drowping depe, 1749 Bot thenne he con hir here. 1750 In dregh droupyng of dreme draueled that noble, 1751 As mon that watz in mornyng of mony thro thoghtes, 1752 How that destine schulde that day dele hym his wyrde 1753 At the grene chapel, when he the gome metes, 1754 And bihoues his buffet abide withoute debate more; 1755 Bot quen that comly com he keuered his wyttes, 1756 Swenges out of the sweuenes, and swarez with hast. 1757 the lady luflych com laghande swete, 1758 Felle ouer his fayre face, and fetly hym kyssed; 1759 He welcumez hir worthily with a wale chere. 1760 He segh hir so glorious and gayly atyred, 1761 So fautles of hir fetures and of so fyne hewes, 1762 Wight wallande joye warmed his hert. 1763 With smothe smylyng and smolt thay smeten into merthe, 1764 that al watz blis and bonchef that breke hem bitwene, 1765 and wynne. 1766 thay lanced wordes gode, 1767 Much wele then watz therinne; 1768 Gret perile bitwene hem stod, 1769 Nif Mare of hir knyght mynne. 1770 For that prynces of pris depresed hym so thikke, 1771 Nurned hym so neghe the thred, that nede hym bihoued 1772 Other lach ther hir luf, other lodly refuse. 1773 He cared for his cortaysye, lest crathayn he were, 1774 And more for his meschef ghif he schulde make synne, 1775 And be traytor to that tolke that that telde aght. 1776 `God schylde,' quoth the schalk, `that schal not befalle!' 1777 With luf-laghyng a lyt he layd hym bysyde 1778 Alle the spechez of specialte that sprange of her mouthe. 1779 Quoth that burde to the burne, `Blame ghe disserue, 1780 ghif ghe luf not that lyf that ghe lye nexte, 1781 Bifore alle the wyghez in the worlde wounded in hert, 1782 Bot if ghe haf a lemman, a leuer, that yow lykez better, 1783 And folden fayth to that fre, festned so harde 1784 that yow lausen ne lyst--and that I leue nouthe; 1785 And that ghe telle me that now trwly I pray yow, 1786 For alle the lufez vpon lyue layne not the sothe 1787 for gile.' 1788 the knyght sayde, `Be sayn Jon,' 1789 And smethely con he smyle, 1790 `In fayth I welde right non, 1791 Ne non wil welde the quile.' 1792 `that is a worde,' quoth that wyght, `that worst is of alle, 1793 Bot I am swared for sothe, that sore me thinkkez. 1794 Kysse me now comly, and I schal cach hethen, 1795 I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may that much louyes.' 1796 Sykande ho sweghe doun and semly hym kyssed, 1797 And sithen ho seueres hym fro, and says as ho stondes, 1798 `Now, dere, at this departyng do me this ese, 1799 Gif me sumquat of thy gifte, thi gloue if hit were, 1800 that I may mynne on the, mon, my mournyng to lassen.' 1801 `Now iwysse,' quoth that wyghe, `I wolde I hade here 1802 the leuest thing for thy luf that I in londe welde, 1803 For ghe haf deserued, for sothe, sellyly ofte 1804 More rewarde bi resoun then I reche myght; 1805 Bot to dele yow for drurye that dawed bot neked, 1806 Hit is not your honour to haf at this tyme 1807 A gloue for a garysoun of Gawaynez giftez, 1808 And I am here an erande in erdez vncouthe, 1809 And haue no men wyth no malez with menskful thingez; 1810 that mislykez me, lade, for luf at this tyme, 1811 Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille 1812 ne pine.' 1813 `Nay, hende of hyghe honours,' 1814 Quoth that lufsum vnder lyne, 1815 `thagh I hade noght of yourez, 1816 ghet schulde ghe haue of myne.' 1817 Ho raght hym a riche rynk of red golde werkez, 1818 Wyth a starande ston stondande alofte 1819 that bere blusschande bemez as the bryght sunne; 1820 Wyt ghe wel, hit watz worth wele ful hoge. 1821 Bot the renk hit renayed, and redyly he sayde, 1822 `I wil no giftez, for Gode, my gay, at this tyme; 1823 I haf none yow to norne, ne noght wyl I take.' 1824 Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, and he hir bode wernes, 1825 And swere swyfte by his sothe that he hit sese nolde, 1826 And ho sore that he forsoke, and sayde therafter, 1827 `If ghe renay my rynk, to ryche for hit semez, 1828 ghe wolde not so hyghly halden be to me, 1829 I schal gif yow my girdel, that gaynes yow lasse.' 1830 Ho laght a lace lyghtly that leke vmbe hir sydez, 1831 Knit vpon hir kyrtel vnder the clere mantyle, 1832 Gered hit watz with grene sylke and with golde schaped, 1833 Noght bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngrez; 1834 And that ho bede to the burne, and blythely bisoght, 1835 thagh hit vnworthi were, that he hit take wolde. 1836 And he nay that he nolde neghe in no wyse 1837 Nauther golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende 1838 To acheue to the chaunce that he hade chosen there. 1839 `And therfore, I pray yow, displese yow noght, 1840 And lettez be your bisinesse, for I baythe hit yow neuer 1841 to graunte; 1842 I am derely to yow biholde 1843 Bicause of your sembelaunt, 1844 And euer in hot and colde 1845 To be your trwe seruaunt.' 1846 `Now forsake ghe this silke,' sayde the burde thenne, 1847 `For hit is symple in hitself? And so hit wel semez. 1848 Lo! so hit is littel, and lasse hit is worthy; 1849 Bot who-so knew the costes that knit ar therinne, 1850 He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture; 1851 For quat gome so is gorde with this grene lace, 1852 While he hit hade hemely halched aboute, 1853 ther is no hathel vnder heuen tohewe hym that myght, 1854 For he myght not be slayn for slyght vpon erthe.' 1855 then kest the knyght, and hit come to his hert 1856 Hit were a juel for the joparde that hym iugged were: 1857 When he acheued to the chapel his chek for to fech, 1858 Myght he haf slypped to be vnslayn, the sleght were noble. 1859 thenne he thulged with hir threpe and tholed hir to speke, 1860 And ho bere on hym the belt and bede hit hym swythe-- 1861 And he granted and hym gafe with a goud wylle-- 1862 And bisoght hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer, 1863 Bot to lelly layne fro hir lorde; the leude hym acordez 1864 that neuer wyghe schulde hit wyt, iwysse, bot thay twayne 1865 for noghte; 1866 He thonkked hir oft ful swythe, 1867 Ful thro with hert and thoght. 1868 Bi that on thrynne sythe 1869 Ho hatz kyst the knyght so toght. 1870 Thenne lachchez ho hir leue, and leuez hym there, 1871 For more myrthe of that mon moght ho not gete. 1872 When ho watz gon, Sir Gawayn gerez hym sone, 1873 Rises and riches hym in araye noble, 1874 Lays vp the luf-lace the lady hym raght, 1875 Hid hit ful holdely, ther he hit eft fonde. 1876 Sythen cheuely to the chapel choses he the waye, 1877 Preuely aproched to a prest, and prayed hym there 1878 that he wolde lyste his lyf and lern hym better 1879 How his sawle schulde be saued when he schuld seye hethen. 1880 there he schrof hym schyrly and schewed his mysdedez, 1881 Of the more and the mynne, and merci besechez, 1882 And of absolucioun he on the segge calles; 1883 And he asoyled hym surely and sette hym so clene 1884 As domezday schulde haf ben dight on the morn. 1885 And sythen he mace hym as mery among the fre ladyes, 1886 With comlych caroles and alle kynnes ioye, 1887 As neuer he did bot that daye, to the derk nyght, 1888 with blys. 1889 Vche mon hade daynte thare 1890 Of hym, and sayde, `Iwysse, 1891 thus myry he watz neuer are, 1892 Syn he com hider, er this.' 1893 Now hym lenge in that lee, ther luf hym bityde! 1894 ghet is the lorde on the launde ledande his gomnes. 1895 He hatz forfaren this fox that he folghed longe; 1896 As he sprent ouer a spenne to spye the schrewe, 1897 ther as he herd the howndes that hasted hym swythe, 1898 Renaud com richchande thurgh a roghe greue, 1899 And alle the rabel in a res ryght at his helez. 1900 the wyghe watz war of the wylde, and warly abides, 1901 And braydez out the bryght bronde, and at the best castez. 1902 And he schunt for the scharp, and schulde haf arered; 1903 A rach rapes hym to, ryght er he myght, 1904 And ryght bifore the hors fete thay fel on hym alle, 1905 And woried me this wyly wyth a wroth noyse. 1906 the lorde lyghtez bilyue, and lachez hym sone, 1907 Rased hym ful radly out of the rach mouthes, 1908 Haldez heghe ouer his hede, halowez faste, 1909 And ther bayen hym mony brath houndez. 1910 Huntes hyghed hem theder with hornez ful mony, 1911 Ay rechatande aryght til thay the renk seghen. 1912 Bi that watz comen his compeyny noble, 1913 Alle that euer ber bugle blowed at ones, 1914 And alle thise other halowed that hade no hornes; 1915 Hit watz the myriest mute that euer men herde, 1916 the rich rurd that ther watz raysed for Renaude saule 1917 with lote. 1918 Hor houndez thay ther rewarde, 1919 Her hedez thay fawne and frote, 1920 And sythen thay tan Reynarde, 1921 And tyruen of his cote. 1922 And thenne thay helden to home, for hit watz niegh nyght, 1923 Strakande ful stoutly in hor store hornez. 1924 the lorde is lyght at the laste at hys lef home, 1925 Fyndez fire vpon flet, the freke ther-byside, 1926 Sir Gawayn the gode, that glad watz withalle, 1927 Among the ladies for luf he ladde much ioye; 1928 He were a bleaunt of blwe that bradde to the erthe, 1929 His surkot semed hym wel that softe watz forred, 1930 And his hode of that ilke henged on his schulder, 1931 Blande al of blaunner were bothe al aboute. 1932 He metez me this godmon inmyddez the flore, 1933 And al with gomen he hym gret, and goudly he sayde, 1934 `I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwardez nouthe, 1935 that we spedly han spoken, ther spared watz no drynk.' 1936 then acoles he the knyght and kysses hym thryes, 1937 As sauerly and sadly as he hem sette couthe. 1938 `Bi Kryst,' quoth that other knyght, `ghe cach much sele 1939 In cheuisaunce of this chaffer, ghif ghe hade goud chepez.' 1940 `ghe, of the chepe no charg,' quoth chefly that other, 1941 `As is pertly payed the chepez that I aghte.' 1942 `Mary,' quoth that other mon, `myn is bihynde, 1943 For I haf hunted al this day, and noght haf I geten 1944 Bot this foule fox felle--the fende haf the godez!-- 1945 And that is ful pore for to pay for suche prys thinges 1946 As ghe haf thryght me here thro, suche thre cosses 1947 so gode.' 1948 `Inogh,' quoth Sir Gawayn, 1949 `I thonk yow, bi the rode', 1950 And how the fox watz slayn 1951 He tolde hym as thay stode. 1952 With merthe and mynstralsye, with metez at hor wylle, 1953 thay maden as mery as any men moghten-- 1954 With laghyne of ladies, with lotez of bordes 1955 Gawayn and the godemon so glad were thay bothe-- 1956 Bot if the douthe had doted, other dronken ben other. 1957 Bothe the mon and the meyny maden mony iapez, 1958 Til the sesoun watz seghen that thay seuer moste; 1959 Burnez to hor bedde behoued at the laste. 1960 thenne loghly his leue at the lorde fyrst 1961 Fochchez this fre mon, and fayre he hym thonkkez: 1962 `Of such a selly soiorne as I haf hade here, 1963 Your honour at this hyghe fest, the hyghe kyng yow ghelde! 1964 I ghef yow me for on of yourez, if yowreself lykez, 1965 For I mot nedes, as ghe wot, meue to-morne, 1966 And ghe me take sum tolke to teche, as ghe hyght, 1967 the gate to the grene chapel, as God wyl me suffer 1968 To dele on Nw gherez day the dome of my wyrdes.' 1969 `In god faythe,' quoth the godmon, `wyth a goud wylle 1970 Al that euer I yow hyght halde schal I rede.' 1971 ther asyngnes he a seruaunt to sett hym in the waye, 1972 And coundue hym by the downez, that he no drechch had, 1973 For to ferk thurgh the fryth and fare at the gaynest 1974 bi greue. 1975 the lorde Gawayn con thonk, 1976 Such worchip he wolde hym weue. 1977 then at tho ladyez wlonk 1978 the knyght hatz tan his leue. 1979 With care and wyth kyssyng he carppez hem tille, 1980 And fele thryuande thonkkez he thrat hom to haue, 1981 And thay ghelden hym aghayn gheply that ilk; 1982 thay bikende hym to Kryst with ful colde sykyngez. 1983 Sythen fro the meyny he menskly departes; 1984 Vche mon that he mette, he made hem a thonke 1985 For his seruyse and his solace and his sere pyne, 1986 that thay wyth busynes had ben aboute hym to serue; 1987 And vche segge as sore to seuer with hym there 1988 As thay hade wonde worthyly with that wlonk euer. 1989 then with ledes and lyght he watz ladde to his chambre 1990 And blythely broght to his bedde to be at his rest. 1991 ghif he ne slepe soundyly say ne dar I, 1992 For he hade muche on the morn to mynne, ghif he wolde, 1993 in thoght. 1994 Let hym lyghe there stille, 1995 He hatz nere that he soght; 1996 And ghe wyl a whyle be stylle 1997 I schal telle yow how thay wroght. 1998 Now neghez the Nw ghere, and the nyght passez, 1999 the day dryuez to the derk, as Dryghtyn biddez; 2000 Bot wylde wederez of the worlde wakned theroute, 2001 Clowdes kesten kenly the colde to the erthe, 2002 Wyth nyghe innoghe of the northe, the naked to tene; 2003 the snawe snitered ful snart, that snayped the wylde; 2004 the werbelande wynde wapped fro the hyghe, 2005 And drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete. 2006 the leude lystened ful wel that legh in his bedde, 2007 thagh he lowkez his liddez, ful lyttel he slepes; 2008 Bi vch kok that crue he knwe wel the steuen. 2009 Deliuerly he dressed vp, er the day sprenged, 2010 For there watz lyght of a laumpe that lemed in his chambre; 2011 He called to his chamberlayn, that cofly hym swared, 2012 And bede hym bryng hym his bruny and his blonk sadel; 2013 that other ferkez hym vp and fechez hym his wedez, 2014 And graythez me Sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse. 2015 Fyrst he clad hym in his clothez the colde for to were, 2016 And sythen his other harnays, that holdely watz keped, 2017 Bothe his paunce and his platez, piked ful clene, 2018 the ryngez rokked of the roust of his riche bruny; 2019 And al watz fresch as vpon fyrst, and he watz fayn thenne 2020 to thonk; 2021 He hade vpon vche pece, 2022 Wypped ful wel and wlonk; 2023 the gayest into Grece, 2024 the burne bede bryng his blonk. 2025 Whyle the wlonkest wedes he warp on hymseluen-- 2026 His cote wyth the conysaunce of the clere werkez 2027 Ennurned vpon veluet, vertuus stonez 2028 Aboute beten and bounden, enbrauded semez, 2029 And fayre furred withinne wyth fayre pelures-- 2030 ghet laft he not the lace, the ladiez gifte, 2031 that forgat not Gawayn for gode of hymseluen. 2032 Bi he hade belted the bronde vpon his balghe haunchez, 2033 thenn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute, 2034 Swythe swethled vmbe his swange swetely that knyght 2035 the gordel of the grene silke, that gay wel bisemed, 2036 Vpon that ryol red clothe that ryche watz to schewe. 2037 Bot wered not this ilk wyghe for wele this gordel, 2038 For pryde of the pendauntez, thagh polyst thay were, 2039 And thagh the glyterande golde glent vpon endez, 2040 Bot for to sauen hymself, when suffer hym byhoued, 2041 To byde bale withoute dabate of bronde hym to were 2042 other knyffe. 2043 Bi that the bolde mon boun 2044 Wynnez theroute bilyue, 2045 Alle the meyny of renoun 2046 He thonkkez ofte ful ryue. 2047 Thenne watz Gryngolet graythe, that gret watz and huge, 2048 And hade ben soiourned sauerly and in a siker wyse, 2049 Hym lyst prik for poynt, that proude hors thenne. 2050 the wyghe wynnez hym to and wytez on his lyre, 2051 And sayde soberly hymself and by his soth swerez: 2052 `Here is a meyny in this mote that on menske thenkkez, 2053 the mon hem maynteines, ioy mot thay haue; 2054 the leue lady on lyue luf hir bityde; 2055 ghif thay for charyte cherysen a gest, 2056 And halden honour in her honde, the hathel hem ghelde 2057 that haldez the heuen vpon hyghe, and also yow alle! 2058 And ghif I myght lyf vpon londe lede any quyle, 2059 I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I myght.' 2060 thenn steppez he into stirop and strydez alofte; 2061 His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit laght, 2062 Gordez to Gryngolet with his gilt helez, 2063 And he startez on the ston, stod he no lenger 2064 to praunce. 2065 His hathel on hors watz thenne, 2066 that bere his spere and launce. 2067 `this kastel to Kryst I kenne': 2068 He gef hit ay god chaunce. 2069 The brygge watz brayde doun, and the brode ghatez 2070 Vnbarred and born open vpon bothe halue. 2071 the burne blessed hym bilyue, and the bredez passed-- 2072 Prayses the porter bifore the prynce kneled, 2073 Gef hym God and goud day, that Gawayn he saue-- 2074 And went on his way with his wyghe one, 2075 that schulde teche hym to tourne to that tene place 2076 ther the ruful race he schulde resayue. 2077 thay boghen bi bonkkez ther boghez ar bare, 2078 thay clomben bi clyffez ther clengez the colde. 2079 the heuen watz vphalt, bot vgly ther-vnder; 2080 Mist muged on the mor, malt on the mountez, 2081 Vch hille hade a hatte, a myst-hakel huge. 2082 Brokez byled and breke bi bonkkez aboute, 2083 Schyre schaterande on schorez, ther thay doun schowued. 2084 Wela wylle watz the way ther thay bi wod schulden, 2085 Til hit watz sone sesoun that the sunne ryses 2086 that tyde. 2087 thay were on a hille ful hyghe, 2088 the quyte snaw lay bisyde; 2089 the burne that rod hym by 2090 Bede his mayster abide. 2091 `For I haf wonnen yow hider, wyghe, at this tyme, 2092 And now nar ghe not fer fro that note place 2093 that ghe han spied and spuryed so specially after; 2094 Bot I schal say yow for sothe, sythen I yow knowe, 2095 And ghe ar a lede vpon lyue that I wel louy, 2096 Wolde ghe worch bi my wytte, ghe worthed the better. 2097 the place that ghe prece to ful perelous is halden; 2098 ther wonez a wyghe in that waste, the worst vpon erthe, 2099 For he is stiffe and sturne, and to strike louies, 2100 And more he is then any mon vpon myddelerde, 2101 And his body bigger then the best fowre 2102 that ar in Arthurez hous, Hestor, other other. 2103 He cheuez that chaunce at the chapel grene, 2104 ther passes non bi that place so proude in his armes 2105 that he ne dyngez hym to dethe with dynt of his honde; 2106 For he is a mon methles, and mercy non vses, 2107 For be hit chorle other chaplayn that bi the chapel rydes, 2108 Monk other masseprest, other any mon elles, 2109 Hym thynk as queme hym to quelle as quyk go hymseluen. 2110 Forthy I say the, as sothe as ghe in sadel sitte, 2111 Com ghe there, ghe be kylled, may the knyght rede, 2112 Trawe ghe me that trwely, thagh ghe had twenty lyues 2113 to spende. 2114 He hatz wonyd here ful ghore, 2115 On bent much baret bende, 2116 Aghayn his dyntez sore 2117 ghe may not yow defende. 2118 `Forthy, goude Sir Gawayn, let the gome one, 2119 And gotz away sum other gate, vpon Goddez halue! 2120 Cayrez bi sum other kyth, ther Kryst mot yow spede, 2121 And I schal hygh me hom aghayn, and hete yow fyrre 2122 that I schal swere bi God and alle his gode halghez, 2123 As help me God and the halydam, and othez innoghe, 2124 that I schal lelly yow layne, and lance neuer tale 2125 that euer ghe fondet to fle for freke that I wyst.' 2126 `Grant merci', quoth Gawayn, and gruchyng he sayde: 2127 `Wel worth the, wyghe, that woldez my gode, 2128 And that lelly me layne I leue wel thou woldez. 2129 Bot helde thou hit neuer so holde, and I here passed, 2130 Founded for ferde for to fle, in fourme that thou tellez, 2131 I were a knyght kowarde, I myght not be excused. 2132 Bot I wyl to the chapel, for chaunce that may falle, 2133 And talk wyth that ilk tulk the tale that me lyste, 2134 Worthe hit wele other wo, as the wyrde lykez 2135 hit hafe. 2136 thaghe he be a sturn knape 2137 To stightel, and stad with staue, 2138 Ful wel con Dryghtyn schape 2139 His seruauntez for to saue.' 2140 `Mary!' quoth that other mon, `now thou so much spellez, 2141 that thou wylt thyn awen nye nyme to thyseluen, 2142 And the lyst lese thy lyf, the lette I ne kepe. 2143 Haf here thi helme on thy hede, thi spere in thi honde, 2144 And ryde me doun this ilk rake bi ghon rokke syde, 2145 Til thou be broght to the bothem of the brem valay; 2146 thenne loke a littel on the launde, on thi lyfte honde, 2147 And thou schal se in that slade the self chapel, 2148 And the borelych burne on bent that hit kepez. 2149 Now farez wel, on Godez half, Gawayn the noble! 2150 For alle the golde vpon grounde I nolde go wyth the, 2151 Ne bere the felaghschip thurgh this fryth on fote fyrre.' 2152 Bi that the wyghe in the wod wendez his brydel, 2153 Hit the hors with the helez as harde as he myght, 2154 Lepez hym ouer the launde, and leuez the knyght there 2155 al one. 2156 `Bi Goddez self,' quoth Gawayn, 2157 `I wyl nauther grete ne grone; 2158 To Goddez wylle I am ful bayn, 2159 And to hym I haf me tone.' 2160 Thenne gyrdez he to Gryngolet, and gederez the rake, 2161 Schowuez in bi a schore at a schaghe syde, 2162 Ridez thurgh the roghe bonk ryght to the dale; 2163 And thenne he wayted hym aboute, and wylde hit hym thoght, 2164 And seghe no syngne of resette bisydez nowhere, 2165 Bot hyghe bonkkez and brent vpon bothe halue, 2166 And rughe knokled knarrez with knorned stonez; 2167 the skwez of the scowtes skayned hym thoght. 2168 thenne he houed, and wythhylde his hors at that tyde, 2169 And ofte chaunged his cher the chapel to seche: 2170 He segh non suche in no syde, and selly hym thoght, 2171 Saue, a lyttel on a launde, a lawe as hit were; 2172 A balgh bergh bi a bonke the brymme bysyde, 2173 Bi a forgh of a flode that ferked thare; 2174 the borne blubred therinne as hit boyled hade. 2175 the knyght kachez his caple, and com to the lawe, 2176 Lightez doun luflyly, and at a lynde tachez 2177 the rayne and his riche with a roghe braunche. 2178 thenne he boghez to the berghe, aboute hit he walkez, 2179 Debatande with hymself quat hit be myght. 2180 Hit hade a hole on the ende and on ayther syde, 2181 And ouergrowen with gresse in glodes aywhere, 2182 And al watz holgh inwith, nobot an olde caue, 2183 Or a creuisse of an olde cragge, he couthe hit noght deme 2184 with spelle. 2185 `We! Lorde,' quoth the gentyle knyght, 2186 `Whether this be the grene chapelle? 2187 Here myght aboute mydnyght 2188 the dele his matynnes telle! 2189 `Now iwysse,' quoth Wowayn, `wysty is here; 2190 this oritore is vgly, with erbez ouergrowen; 2191 Wel bisemez the wyghe wruxled in grene 2192 Dele here his deuocioun on the deuelez wyse. 2193 Now I fele hit is the fende, in my fyue wyttez, 2194 that hatz stoken me this steuen to strye me here. 2195 this is a chapel of meschaunce, that chekke hit bytyde! 2196 Hit is the corsedest kyrk that euer I com inne!' 2197 With heghe helme on his hede, his launce in his honde, 2198 He romez vp to the roffe of the rogh wonez. 2199 thene herde he of that hyghe hil, in a harde roche 2200 Bighonde the broke, in a bonk, a wonder breme noyse, 2201 Quat! hit clatered in the clyff, as hit cleue schulde, 2202 As one vpon a gryndelston hade grounden a sythe. 2203 What! hit wharred and whette, as water at a mulne; 2204 What! hit rusched and ronge, rawthe to here. 2205 thenne `Bi Godde,' quoth Gawayn, `that gere, as I trowe, 2206 Is ryched at the reuerence me, renk, to mete 2207 bi rote. 2208 Let God worche! "We loo"-- 2209 Hit helppez me not a mote. 2210 My lif thagh I forgoo, 2211 Drede dotz me no lote.' 2212 Thenne the knyght con calle ful hyghe: 2213 `Who stightlez in this sted me steuen to holde? 2214 For now is gode Gawayn goande ryght here. 2215 If any wyghe oght wyl, wynne hider fast, 2216 Other now other neuer, his nedez to spede.' 2217 `Abyde', quoth on on the bonke abouen ouer his hede, 2218 `And thou schal haf al in hast that I the hyght ones.' 2219 ghet he rusched on that rurde rapely a throwe. 2220 And wyth quettyng awharf, er he wolde lyght; 2221 And sythen he keuerez bi a cragge, and comez of a hole, 2222 Whyrlande out of a wro wyth a felle weppen, 2223 A denez ax nwe dyght, the dynt with to ghelde, 2224 With a borelych bytte bende by the halme, 2225 Fyled in a fylor, fowre fote large-- 2226 Hit watz no lasse bi that lace that lemed ful bryght-- 2227 And the gome in the grene gered as fyrst, 2228 Bothe the lyre and the leggez, lokkez and berde, 2229 Saue that fayre on his fote he foundez on the erthe, 2230 Sette the stele to the stone, and stalked bysyde. 2231 When he wan to the watter, ther he wade nolde, 2232 He hypped ouer on hys ax, and orpedly strydez, 2233 Bremly brothe on a bent that brode watz aboute, 2234 on snawe. 2235 Sir Gawayn the knyght con mete, 2236 He ne lutte hym nothyng lowe; 2237 that other sayde, `Now, sir swete, 2238 Of steuen mon may the trowe.' 2239 `Gawayn,' quoth that grene gome, `God the mot loke! 2240 Iwysse thou art welcom, wyghe, to my place, 2241 And thou hatz tymed thi trauayl as truee mon schulde, 2242 And thou knowez the couenauntez kest vus bytwene: 2243 At this tyme twelmonyth thou toke that the falled, 2244 And I schulde at this Nwe ghere gheply the quyte. 2245 And we ar in this valay verayly oure one; 2246 Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vus likez. 2247 Haf thy helme of thy hede, and haf here thy pay. 2248 Busk no more debate then I the bede thenne 2249 When thou wypped of my hede at a wap one.' 2250 `Nay, bi God,' quoth Gawayn, `that me gost lante, 2251 I schal gruch the no grwe for grem that fallez. 2252 Bot styghtel the vpon on strok, and I schal stonde stylle 2253 And warp the no wernyng to worch as the lykez, 2254 nowhare.' 2255 He lened with the nek, and lutte, 2256 And schewed that schyre al bare, 2257 And lette as he noght dutte; 2258 For drede he wolde not dare. 2259 Then the gome in the grene graythed hym swythe, 2260 Gederez vp hys grymme tole Gawayn to smyte; 2261 With alle the bur in his body he ber hit on lofte, 2262 Munt as maghtyly as marre hym he wolde; 2263 Hade hit dryuen adoun as dregh as he atled, 2264 ther hade ben ded of his dynt that doghty watz euer. 2265 Bot Gawayn on that giserne glyfte hym bysyde, 2266 As hit com glydande adoun on glode hym to schende, 2267 And schranke a lytel with the schulderes for the scharp yrne. 2268 that other schalk wyth a schunt the schene wythhaldez, 2269 And thenne repreued he the prynce with mony prowde wordez: 2270 `thou art not Gawayn,' quoth the gome, `that is so goud halden, 2271 that neuer arghed for no here by hylle ne be vale, 2272 And now thou fles for ferde er thou fele harmez! 2273 Such cowardise of that knyght cowthe I neuer here. 2274 Nawther fyked I ne flaghe, freke, quen thou myntest, 2275 Ne kest no kauelacion in kyngez hous Arthor. 2276 My hede flagh to my fote, and ghet flagh I neuer; 2277 And thou, er any harme hent, arghez in hert; 2278 Wherfore the better burne me burde be called 2279 therfore.' 2280 Quoth Gawayn, `I schunt onez, 2281 And so wyl I no more; 2282 Bot thagh my hede falle on the stonez, 2283 I con not hit restore. 2284 `Bot busk, burne, bi thi fayth, and bryng me to the poynt. 2285 Dele to me my destine, and do hit out of honde, 2286 For I schal stonde the a strok, and start no more 2287 Til thyn ax haue me hitte: haf here my trawthe.' 2288 `Haf at the thenne!' quoth that other, and heuez hit alofte, 2289 And waytez as wrothely as he wode were. 2290 He myntez at hym maghtyly, bot not the mon rynez, 2291 Withhelde heterly his honde, er hit hurt myght. 2292 Gawayn graythely hit bydez, and glent with no membre, 2293 Bot stode stylle as the ston, other a stubbe auther 2294 that ratheled is in roche grounde with rotez a hundreth. 2295 then muryly efte con he mele, the mon in the grene: 2296 `So, now thou hatz thi hert holle, hitte me bihous. 2297 Halde the now the hyghe hode that Arthur the raght, 2298 And kepe thy kanel at this kest, ghif hit keuer may.' 2299 Gawayn ful gryndelly with greme thenne sayde: 2300 `Wy! thresch on, thou thro mon, thou thretez to longe; 2301 I hope that thi hert arghe wyth thyn awen seluen.' 2302 `For sothe,' quoth that other freke, `so felly thou spekez, 2303 I wyl no lenger on lyte lette thin ernde 2304 right nowe.' 2305 thenne tas he hym strythe to stryke, 2306 And frounsez bothe lyppe and browe; 2307 No meruayle thagh hym myslyke 2308 that hoped of no rescowe. 2309 He lyftes lyghtly his lome, and let hit doun fayre 2310 With the barbe of the bitte bi the bare nek; 2311 thagh he homered heterly, hurt hym no more 2312 Bot snyrt hym on that on syde, that seuered the hyde. 2313 the scharp schrank to the flesche thurgh the schyre grece, 2314 that the schene blod ouer his schulderes schot to the erthe; 2315 And quen the burne segh the blode blenk on the snawe, 2316 He sprit forth spenne-fote more then a spere lenthe, 2317 Hent heterly his helme, and on his hed cast, 2318 Schot with his schulderez his fayre schelde vnder, 2319 Braydez out a bryght sworde, and bremely he spekez-- 2320 Neuer syn that he watz burne borne of his moder 2321 Watz he neuer in this worlde wyghe half so blythe-- 2322 `Blynne, burne, of thy bur, bede me no mo! 2323 I haf a stroke in this sted withoute stryf hent, 2324 And if thow rechez me any mo, I redyly schal quyte, 2325 And ghelde ghederly aghayn--and therto ghe tryst-- 2326 and foo. 2327 Bot on stroke here me fallez-- 2328 the couenaunt schop ryght so, 2329 Fermed in Arthurez hallez-- 2330 And therfore, hende, now hoo!' 2331 The hathel heldet hym fro, and on his ax rested, 2332 Sette the schaft vpon schore, and to the scharp lened, 2333 And loked to the leude that on the launde ghede, 2334 How that doghty, dredles, deruely ther stondez 2335 Armed, ful aghlez: in hert hit hym lykez. 2336 thenn he melez muryly wyth a much steuen, 2337 And wyth a rynkande rurde he to the renk sayde: 2338 `Bolde burne, on this bent be not so gryndel. 2339 No mon here vnmanerly the mysboden habbez, 2340 Ne kyd bot as couenaunde at kyngez kort schaped. 2341 I hyght the a strok and thou hit hatz, halde the wel payed; 2342 I relece the of the remnaunt of ryghtes alle other. 2343 Iif I deliuer had bene, a boffet paraunter 2344 I couthe wrotheloker haf waret, to the haf wroght anger. 2345 Fyrst I mansed the muryly with a mynt one, 2346 And roue the wyth no rof-sore, with ryght I the profered 2347 For the forwarde that we fest in the fyrst nyght, 2348 And thou trystyly the trawthe and trwly me haldez, 2349 Al the gayne thow me gef, as god mon schulde. 2350 that other munt for the morne, mon, I the profered, 2351 thou kyssedes my clere wyf--the cossez me raghtez. 2352 For bothe two here I the bede bot two bare myntes 2353 boute scathe. 2354 Trwe mon trwe restore, 2355 thenne thar mon drede no wathe. 2356 At the thrid thou fayled thore, 2357 And therfor that tappe ta the. 2358 `For hit is my wede that thou werez, that ilke wouen girdel, 2359 Myn owen wyf hit the weued, I wot wel for sothe. 2360 Now know I wel thy cosses, and thy costes als, 2361 And the wowyng of my wyf: I wroght hit myseluen. 2362 I sende hir to asay the, and sothly me thynkkez 2363 On the fautlest freke that euer on fote ghede; 2364 As perle bi the quite pese is of prys more, 2365 So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi other gay knyghtez. 2366 Bot here yow lakked a lyttel, sir, and lewte yow wonted; 2367 Bot that watz for no wylyde werke, ne wowyng nauther, 2368 Bot for ghe lufed your lyf; the lasse I yow blame.' 2369 that other stif mon in study stod a gret whyle, 2370 So agreued for greme he gryed withinne; 2371 Alle the blode of his brest blende in his face, 2372 that al he schrank for schome that the schalk talked. 2373 the forme worde vpon folde that the freke meled: 2374 `Corsed worth cowarddyse and couetyse bothe! 2375 In yow is vylany and vyse that vertue disstryez.' 2376 thenne he kaght to the knot, and the kest lawsez, 2377 Brayde brothely the belt to the burne seluen: 2378 `Lo! ther the falssyng, foule mot hit falle! 2379 For care of thy knokke cowardyse me taght 2380 To acorde me with couetyse, my kynde to forsake, 2381 that is larges and lewte that longez to knyghtez. 2382 Now am I fawty and falce, and ferde haf ben euer 2383 Of trecherye and vntrawthe: bothe bityde sorghe 2384 and care! 2385 I biknowe yow, knyght, here stylle, 2386 Al fawty is my fare; 2387 Letez me ouertake your wylle 2388 And efte I schal be ware.' 2389 Thenn loghe that other leude and luflyly sayde: 2390 `I halde hit hardily hole, the harme that I hade. 2391 thou art confessed so clene, beknowen of thy mysses, 2392 And hatz the penaunce apert of the poynt of myn egge, 2393 I halde the polysed of that plyght, and pured as clene 2394 As thou hadez neuer forfeted sythen thou watz fyrst borne; 2395 And I gif the, sir, the gurdel that is golde-hemmed, 2396 For hit is grene as my goune. Sir Gawayn, ghe maye 2397 thenk vpon this ilke threpe, ther thou forth thryngez 2398 Among prynces of prys, and this a pure token 2399 Of the chaunce of the grene chapel at cheualrous knyghtez. 2400 And ghe schal in this Nwe gher aghayn to my wonez, 2401 And we schyn reuel the remnaunt of this ryche fest 2402 ful bene.' 2403 ther lathed hym fast the lorde 2404 And sayde: `With my wyf, I wene, 2405 We schal yow wel acorde, 2406 that watz your enmy kene.' 2407 `Nay, for sothe,' quoth the segge, and sesed hys helme, 2408 And hatz hit of hendely, and the hathel thonkkez, 2409 `I haf soiorned sadly; sele yow bytyde, 2410 And he ghelde hit yow ghare that gharkkez al menskes! 2411 And comaundez me to that cortays, your comlych fere, 2412 Bothe that on and that other, myn honoured ladyez, 2413 that thus hor knyght wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled. 2414 Bot hit is no ferly thagh a fole madde, 2415 And thurgh wyles of wymmen be wonen to sorghe, 2416 For so watz Adam in erde with one bygyled, 2417 And Salamon with fele sere, and Samson eftsonez-- 2418 Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde--and Dauyth therafter 2419 Watz blended with Barsabe, that much bale tholed. 2420 Now these were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne