{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_14568/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_14568","id":"gutenberg_14568","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14568","summary":null,"tags":["Arthurian romances","Category: British Literature","Category: Classics of Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Early English Text Society","Gawain (Legendary character) -- Romances","Poetry"],"text":"Sir Gawayne\n\nand\n\nThe Green Knight:\n\n\nAN ALLITERATIVE ROMANCE-POEM,\n(AB. 1360 A.D.)\n\n\nBY THE AUTHOR OF\n\"EARLY ENGLISH ALLITERATIVE POEMS.\"\n\n\nRE-EDITED FROM COTTON. MS. NERO, A.x., IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM,\nBY\nRICHARD MORRIS,\nEDITOR OF HAMPOLE'S \"PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE,\"\n\"EARLY ENGLISH ALLITERATIVE POEMS,\" ETC.;\nMEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY.\n\n\nSECOND EDITION, REVISED, 1869.\n\nLONDON\nMDCCCLXIV.\n\nJOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.\n\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nPREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.\n\nIn re-editing the present romance-poem I have been saved all labour of\ntranscription by using the very accurate text contained in Sir F. Madden's\n\"Syr Gawayne.\"\n\nI have not only read his copy with the manuscript, but also the\nproof-sheets as they came to hand, hoping by this means to give the reader\na text free from any errors of transcription.\n\nThe present edition differs from that of the earlier one in having the\ncontractions of the manuscript expanded and side-notes added to the text to\nenable the reader to follow with some degree of ease the author's pleasant\nnarrative of Sir Gawayne's adventures.\n\nThe Glossary is taken from Sir F. Madden's \"Syr Gawayne,\"[1] to which, for\nthe better interpretation of the text, I have made several additions, and\nhave, moreover, glossed nearly all the words previously left unexplained.\n\nFor a description of the Manuscript, and particulars relating to the\nauthorship and dialect of the present work, the reader is referred to the\npreface to Early English Alliterative Poems.\n\nR.M.\n\n  LONDON,\n  December 22, 1864.\n\n  [Footnote 1: Sir F. Madden has most generously placed at the disposal of\n  the Early English Text Society any of his works which it may determine to\n  re-edit.]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nINTRODUCTION.\n\nNo Knight of the Round Table has been so highly honoured by the old\nRomance-writers as Sir Gawayne, the son of Loth, and nephew to the renowned\nArthur. They delighted to describe him as Gawayne the good, a man matchless\non mould, the most gracious that under God lived, the hardiest of hand, the\nmost fortunate in arms, and the most polite in hall, whose knowledge,\nknighthood, kindly works, doings, doughtiness, and deeds of arms were known\nin all lands.\n\nWhen Arthur beheld the dead body of his kinsman lying on the ground bathed\nin blood, he is said to have exclaimed, \"O righteous God, this blood were\nworthy to be preserved and enshrined in gold!\" Our author, too, loves to\nspeak of his hero in similar terms of praise, calling him the knight\nfaultless in his five wits, void of every offence, and adorned with every\nearthly virtue. He represents him as one whose trust was in the five\nwounds, and in whom the five virtues which distinguished the true knight\nwere more firmly established than in any other on earth.\n\nThe author of the present story, who, as we know from his religious poems,\nhad an utter horror of moral impurity, could have chosen no better subject\nfor a romance in which amusement and moral instruction were to be combined.\nIn the following tale he shows how the true knight, though tempted sorely\nnot once alone, but twice, nay thrice, breaks not his vow of chastity, but\nturns aside the tempter's shafts with the shield of purity and arm of\nfaith, and so passes scatheless through the perilous defile of trial and\nopportunity seeming safe.\n\nBut while our author has borrowed many of the details of his story from the\n\"Roman de Perceval\" by Chrestien de Troyes, he has made the narrative more\nattractive by the introduction of several original and highly interesting\npassages which throw light on the manners and amusements of our ancestors.\n\nThe following elaborate descriptions are well deserving of especial\nnotice:--\n\n    I. The mode of completely arming a knight (ll. 568-589).\n\n    II. The hunting and breaking the deer (ll. 1126-1359).\n\n    III. The hunting and unlacing the wild boar (ll. 1412-1614).\n\n    IV. A fox hunt (ll. 1675-1921).\n\nThe following is an outline of the story of Gawayne's adventures, more or\nless in the words of the writer himself:--\n\n    Arthur, the greatest of Britain's kings, holds the Christmas festival\n    at Camelot, surrounded by the celebrated knights of the Round Table,\n    noble lords, the most renowned under heaven, and ladies the loveliest\n    that ever had life (ll. 37-57). This noble company celebrate the New\n    Year by a religious service, by the bestowal of gifts, and the most\n    joyous mirth. Lords and ladies take their seats at the table--Queen\n    Guenever, the grey-eyed, gaily dressed, sits at the da\u00efs, the high\n    table, or table of state, where too sat Gawayne and Ywain together with\n    other worthies of the Round Table (ll. 58-84, 107-115). Arthur, in mood\n    as joyful as a child, his blood young and his brain wild, declares that\n    he will not eat nor sit long at the table until some adventurous thing,\n    some uncouth tale, some great marvel, or some encounter of arms has\n    occurred to mark the return of the New Year (ll. 85-106).\n\n    The first course was announced with cracking of trumpets, with the\n    noise of nakers and noble pipes.\n\n      \"Each two had dishes twelve,\n      Good beer and bright wine both.\"\n\n    Scarcely was the first course served when another noise than that of\n    music was heard. There rushes in at the hall-door a knight of gigantic\n    stature--the greatest on earth--in measure high. He was clothed\n    entirely in green, and rode upon a green foal (ll. 116-178). Fair wavy\n    hair fell about the shoulders of the Green Knight, and a great beard\n    like a bush hung upon his breast (ll. 179-202).\n\n    The knight carried no helmet, shield, or spear, but in one hand a holly\n    bough, and in the other an axe \"huge and unmeet,\" the edge of which was\n    as keen as a sharp razor (ll. 203-220). Thus arrayed, the Green Knight\n    enters the hall without saluting any one. The first word that he\n    uttered was, \"Where is the govenour of this gang? gladly would I see\n    him and with himself speak reason.\" To the knights he cast his eye,\n    looking for the most renowned. Much did the noble assembly marvel to\n    see a man and a horse of such a hue, green as the grass. Even greener\n    they seemed than green enamel on bright gold. Many marvels had they\n    seen, but none such as this. They were afraid to answer, but sat\n    stone-still in a dead silence, as if overpowered by sleep;\n\n      \"Not all from fear, but some for courtesy\" (ll. 221-249).\n\n    Then Arthur before the high da\u00efs salutes the Green Knight, bids him\n    welcome, and entreats him to stay awhile at his Court. The knight says\n    that his errand is not to abide in any dwelling, but to seek the most\n    valiant of the heroes of the Round Table that he may put his courage to\n    the proof, and thus satisfy himself as to the fame of Arthur's court.\n    \"I come,\" he says, \"in peace, as ye may see by this branch that I bear\n    here. Had I come with hostile intentions, I should not have left my\n    hauberk, helmet, shield, sharp spear, and other weapons behind me. But\n    because I desire no war, 'my weeds are softer.' If thou be so bold as\n    all men say, thou wilt grant me the request I am about to make.\" \"Sir\n    courteous knight,\" replies Arthur, \"if thou cravest battle only, here\n    failest thou not to fight.\" \"Nay,\" says the Green Knight, \"I seek no\n    fighting. Here about on this bench are only beardless children. Were I\n    arrayed in arms on a high steed no man here would be a match for me\n    (ll. 250-282). But it is now Christmas time, and this is the New Year,\n    and I see around me many brave ones;--if any be so bold in his blood\n    that dare strike a stroke for another, I shall give him this rich axe\n    to do with it whatever he pleases. I shall abide the first blow just as\n    I sit, and will stand him a stroke, stiff on this floor, provided that\n    I deal him another in return.\n\n      And yet give I him respite,\n      A twelvemonth and a day;\n      Now haste and let see tite (soon)\n      Dare any here-in ought say.'\"\n\n    If he astounded them at first, much more so did he after this speech,\n    and fear held them all silent. The knight, righting himself in his\n    saddle, rolls fiercely his red eyes about, bends his bristly green\n    brows, and strokes his beard awaiting a reply. But finding none that\n    would carp with him, he exclaims, \"What! is this Arthur's house, the\n    fame of which has spread through so many realms? Forsooth, the renown\n    of the Round Table is overturned by the word of one man's speech, for\n    all tremble for dread without a blow being struck!\" (ll. 283-313). With\n    this he laughed so loud that Arthur blushed for very shame, and waxed\n    as wroth as the wind. \"I know no man,\" he says, \"that is aghast at thy\n    great words. Give me now thy axe and I will grant thee thy request!\"\n    Arthur seizes the axe, grasps the handle, and sternly brandishes it\n    about, while the Green Knight, with a stern cheer and a dry\n    countenance, stroking his beard and drawing down his coat, awaits the\n    blow (ll. 314-335). Sir Gawayne, the nephew of the king, beseeches his\n    uncle to let him undertake the encounter; and, at the earnest entreaty\n    of his nobles, Arthur consents \"to give Gawayne the game\" (ll.\n    336-365).\n\n    Sir Gawayne then takes possession of the axe, but, before the blow is\n    dealt, the Green Knight asks the name of his opponent. \"In good faith,\"\n    answers the good knight, \"Gawayne I am called, that bids thee to this\n    buffet, whatever may befall after, and at this time twelvemonth will\n    take from thee another, with whatever weapon thou wilt, and with no\n    wight else alive.\" \"By Gog,\" quoth the Green Knight, \"it pleases me\n    well that I shall receive at thy fist that which I have sought\n    here--moreover thou hast truly rehearsed the terms of the\n    covenant,--but thou shalt first pledge me thy word that thou wilt seek\n    me thyself, wheresoever on earth thou believest I may be found, and\n    fetch thee such wages as thou dealest me to-day before this company of\n    doughty ones.\" \"Where should I seek thee?\" replies Gawayne, \"where is\n    thy place? I know not thee, thy court, or thy name. I wot not where\n    thou dwellest, but teach me thereto, tell me how thou art called, and I\n    shall endeavour to find thee,--and that I swear thee for truth and by\n    my sure troth.\" \"That is enough in New Year,\" says the groom in green,\n    \"if I tell thee when I have received the tap. When thou hast smitten\n    me, then smartly I will teach thee of my house, my home, and my own\n    name, so that thou mayest follow my track and fulfil the covenant\n    between us. If I spend no speech, then speedest thou the better, for\n    then mayest thou remain in thy own land and seek no further; but cease\n    thy talking[1] (ll. 366-412). Take now thy grim tool to thee and let us\n    see how thou knockest.\" \"Gladly, sir, for sooth,\" quoth Gawayne, and\n    his axe he brandishes.\n\n      [Footnote 1: This, I think, is the true explanation of slokes.]\n\n    The Green Knight adjusts himself on the ground, bends slightly his\n    head, lays his long lovely locks over his crown, and lays bare his neck\n    for the blow. Gawayne then gripped the axe, and, raising it on high,\n    let it fall quickly upon the knight's neck and severed the head from\n    the body. The fair head fell from the neck to the earth, and many\n    turned it aside with their feet as it rolled forth. The blood burst\n    from the body, yet the knight never faltered nor fell; but boldly he\n    started forth on stiff shanks and fiercely rushed forward, seized his\n    head, and lifted it up quickly. Then he runs to his horse, the bridle\n    he catches, steps into his stirrups and strides aloft. His head by the\n    hair he holds in his hands, and sits as firmly in his saddle as if no\n    mishap had ailed him, though headless he was (ll. 413-439). He turned\n    his ugly trunk about--that ugly body that bled,--and holding the head\n    in his hand, he directed the face toward the \"dearest on the dais.\" The\n    head lifted up its eyelids and looked abroad, and thus much spoke with\n    its mouth as ye may now hear:\n\n    \"Loke, Gawayne, thou be prompt to go as thou hast promised, and seek\n    till thou find me according to thy promise made in the hearing of these\n    knights. Get thee to the Green Chapel, I charge thee, to fetch such a\n    dint as thou hast dealt, to be returned on New Year's morn. As the\n    Knight of the Green Chapel I am known to many, wherefore if thou\n    seekest thou canst not fail to find me. Therefore come, or recreant be\n    called.\" With a fierce start the reins he turns, rushes out of the\n    hall-door, his head in his hand, so that the fire of the flint flew\n    from the hoofs of his foal. To what kingdom he belonged knew none\n    there, nor knew they from whence he had come. What then?\n\n      \"The king and Gawayne there\n      At that green (one) they laugh and grin.\"\n\n    Though Arthur wondered much at the marvel, he let no one see that he\n    was at all troubled about it, but full loudly thus spake to his comely\n    queen with courteous speech:\n\n    \"Dear dame, to-day be never dismayed, well happens such craft at\n    Christmas time. I may now proceed to meat, for I cannot deny that I\n    have witnessed a wondrous adventure this day\" (ll. 440-475).\n\n    He looked upon Sir Gawayne and said, \"Now, sir, hang up thine axe, for\n    enough has it hewn.\" So the weapon was hung up on high that all might\n    look upon it, and \"by true title thereof tell the wonder.\" Then all the\n    knights hastened to their seats at the table, so did the king and our\n    good knight, and they were there served with all dainties, \"with all\n    manner of meat and minstrelsy.\"\n\n    Though words were wanting when they first to seat went, now are their\n    hands full of stern work, and the marvel affords them good subject for\n    conversation. But a year passes full quickly and never returns,--the\n    beginning is seldom like the end; wherefore this Christmas passed away\n    and the year after, and each season in turn followed after another (ll.\n    476-520). Thus winter winds round again, and then Gawayne thinks of his\n    wearisome journey (ll. 521-535). On All-hallows day Arthur entertains\n    right nobly the lords and ladies of his court in honour of his nephew,\n    for whom all courteous knights and lovely ladies were in great grief.\n    Nevertheless they spoke only of mirth, and, though joyless themselves,\n    made many a joke to cheer the good Sir Gawayne (ll. 536-565). Early on\n    the morrow Sir Gawayne, with great ceremony, is arrayed in his armour\n    (ll. 566-589), and thus completely equipped for his adventure he first\n    hears mass, and afterwards takes leave of Arthur, the knights of the\n    Round Table, and the lords and ladies of the court, who kiss him and\n    commend him to Christ. He bids them all good day, as he thought, for\n    evermore (ll. 590-669);\n\n      \"Very much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day.\"\n\n    Now rides our knight through the realms of England with no companion\n    but his foal, and no one to hold converse with save God alone. From\n    Camelot, in Somersetshire, he proceeds through Gloucestershire and the\n    adjoining counties into Montgomeryshire, and thence through North Wales\n    to Holyhead, adjoining the Isle of Anglesea (ll. 670-700), from which\n    he passes into the very narrow peninsula  of Wirral, in Cheshire, where\n    dwelt but few that loved God or man. Gawayne enquires after the Green\n    Knight of the Green Chapel, but all the inhabitants declare that they\n    have never seen \"any man of such hues of green.\"\n\n    The knight thence pursues his journey by strange paths, over hill and\n    moor, encountering on his way not only serpents, wolves, bulls, bears,\n    and boars, but wood satyrs and giants. But worse than all those,\n    however, was the sharp winter, \"when the cold clear water shed from the\n    clouds, and froze ere it might fall to the earth. Nearly slain with the\n    sleet he slept in his armour, more nights than enough, in naked rocks\"\n    (ll. 701-729).\n\n    Thus in peril and plight the knight travels on until Christmas-eve, and\n    to Mary he makes his moan that she may direct him to some abode. On the\n    morn he arrives at an immense forest, wondrously wild, surrounded by\n    high hills on every side, where he found hoary oaks full huge, a\n    hundred together. The hazel and the hawthorn intermingled were all\n    overgrown with moss, and upon their boughs sat many sad birds that\n    piteously piped for pain of the cold. Gawayne besought the Lord and\n    Mary to guide him to some habitation where he might hear mass (ll.\n    730-762). Scarcely had he crossed himself thrice, when he perceived a\n    dwelling in the wood set upon a hill. It was the loveliest castle he\n    had ever beheld. It was pitched on a prairie, with a park all about it,\n    enclosing many a tree for more than two miles. It shone as the sun\n    through the bright oaks (ll. 763-772).\n\n    Gawayne urges on his steed Gringolet, and finds himself at the \"chief\n    gate.\" He called aloud, and soon there appeared a \"porter\" on the wall,\n    who demanded his errand.\n\n    \"Good sir,\" quoth Gawayne, \"wouldst thou go to the high lord of this\n    house, and crave a lodging for me?\"\n\n    \"Yea, by Peter!\" replied the porter, \"well I know that thou art welcome\n    to dwell here as long as thou likest.\"\n\n    The drawbridge is soon let down, and the gates opened wide to receive\n    the knight. Many noble ones hasten to bid him welcome (ll. 773-825).\n    They take away his helmet, sword, and shield, and many a proud one\n    presses forward to do him honour. They bring him into the hall, where a\n    fire was brightly burning upon the hearth. Then the lord of the land[1]\n    comes from his chamber and welcomes Sir Gawayne, telling him that he is\n    to consider the place as his own. Our knight is next conducted to a\n    bright bower, where was noble bedding--curtains of pure silk, with\n    golden hems, and Tarsic tapestries upon the walls and the floors (ll.\n    826-859). Here the knight doffed his armour and put on rich robes,\n    which so well became him, that all declared that a more comely knight\n    Christ had never made (ll. 860-883).\n\n      [Footnote 1: Gawayne is now in the castle of the Green Knight, who,\n      divested of his elvish or supernatural character, appears to our\n      knight merely as a bold one with a beaver-hued beard.]\n\n    A table is soon raised, and Gawayne, having washed, proceeds to meat.\n    Many dishes are set before him--\"sews\" of various kinds, fish of all\n    kinds, some baked in bread, others broiled on the embers, some boiled,\n    and others seasoned with spices. The knight expresses himself well\n    pleased, and calls it a most noble and princely feast.\n\n    After dinner, in reply to numerous questions, he tells his host that he\n    is Gawayne, one of the Knights of the Round Table. When this was made\n    known great was the joy in the hall. Each one said softly to his\n    companion, \"Now we shall see courteous behaviour and learn the terms of\n    noble discourse, since we have amongst us 'that fine father of\n    nurture.' Truly God has highly favoured us in sending us such a noble\n    guest as Sir Gawayne\" (ll. 884-927). At the end of the Christmas\n    festival Gawayne desires to take his departure from the castle, but his\n    host persuades him to stay, promising to direct him to the Green Chapel\n    (about two miles from the castle), that he may be there by the\n    appointed time (ll. 1029-1082).\n\n    A covenant is made between them, the terms of which were that the lord\n    of the castle should go out early to the chase, that Gawayne meanwhile\n    should lie in his loft at his ease, then rise at his usual hour, and\n    afterwards sit at table with his hostess, and that at the end of the\n    day they should make an exchange of whatever they might obtain in the\n    interim. \"Whatever I win in the wood,\" says the lord, \"shall be yours,\n    and what thou gettest shall be mine\" (ll. 1083-1125).\n\n    Full early before daybreak the folk uprise, saddle their horses, and\n    truss their mails. The noble lord of the land, arrayed for riding, eats\n    hastily a sop, and having heard mass, proceeds with a hundred hunters\n    to hunt the wild deer (ll. 1126-1177).\n\n    All this time Gawayne lies in his gay bed. His nap is disturbed by a\n    little noise at the door, which is softly opened. He heaves up his head\n    out of the clothes, and, peeping through the curtains, beholds a most\n    lovely lady (the wife of his host). She came towards the bed, and the\n    knight laid himself down quickly, pretending to be asleep. The lady\n    stole to the bed, cast up the curtains, crept within, sat her softly on\n    the bed-side, and waited some time till the knight should awake. After\n    lurking awhile under the clothes considering what it all meant, Gawayne\n    unlocked his eyelids, and put on a look of surprise, at the same time\n    making the sign of the cross, as if afraid of some hidden danger (ll.\n    1178-1207). \"Good morrow, sir,\" said that fair lady, \"ye are a careless\n    sleeper to let one enter thus. I shall bind you in your bed, of that be\n    ye sure.\" \"Good morrow,\" quoth Gawayne, \"I shall act according to your\n    will with great pleasure, but permit me to rise that I may the more\n    comfortably converse with you.\" \"Nay, beau sir,\" said that sweet one,\n    \"ye shall not rise from your bed, for since I have caught my knight I\n    shall hold talk with him. I ween well that ye are Sir Gawayne that all\n    the world worships, whose honour and courtesy are so greatly praised.\n    Now ye are here, and we are alone (my lord and his men being afar off,\n    other men, too, are in bed, so are my maidens), and the door is safely\n    closed, I shall use my time well while it lasts. Ye are welcome to my\n    person to do with it as ye please, and I will be your servant\" (ll.\n    1208-1240).\n\n    Gawayne behaves most discreetly, for the remembrance of his forthcoming\n    adventure at the Green Chapel prevents him from thinking of love (ll.\n    1205-1289). At last the lady takes leave of the knight by catching him\n    in her arms and kissing him (ll. 1290-1307). The day passes away\n    merrily, and at dusk the Lord of the castle returns from the chase. He\n    presents the venison to Gawayne according to the previous covenant\n    between them. Our knight gives his host a kiss as the only piece of\n    good fortune that had fallen to him during the day. \"It is good,\" says\n    the other, \"and would be much better if ye would tell me where ye won\n    such bliss\" (ll. 1308-1394). \"That was not in our covenant,\" replies\n    Gawayne, \"so try me no more.\" After much laughing on both sides they\n    proceed to supper, and afterwards, while the choice wine is being\n    carried round, Gawayne and his host renew their agreement. Late at\n    night they take leave of each other and hasten to their beds. \"By the\n    time that the cock had crowed and cackled thrice\" the lord was up, and\n    after \"meat and mass\" were over the hunters make for the woods, where\n    they give chase to a wild boar who had grown old and mischievous (ll.\n    1395-1467).\n\n    While the sportsmen are hunting this \"wild swine\" our lovely knight\n    lies in his bed. He is not forgotten by the lady, who pays him an early\n    visit, seeking to make further trial of his virtues. She sits softly by\n    his side and tells him that he has forgotten what she taught him the\n    day before (ll. 1468-1486). \"I taught you of kissing,\" says she; \"that\n    becomes every courteous knight.\" Gawayne says that he must not take\n    that which is forbidden him. The lady replies that he is strong enough\n    to enforce his own wishes. Our knight answers that every gift not given\n    with a good will is worthless. His fair visitor then enquires how it is\n    that he who is so skilled in the true sport of love and so renowned a\n    knight, has never talked to her of love (ll. 1487-1524). \"You ought,\"\n    she says, \"to show and teach a young thing like me some tokens of\n    true-love's crafts; I come hither and sit here alone to learn of you\n    some game; do teach me of your wit while my lord is from home.\" Gawayne\n    replies that he cannot undertake the task of expounding true-love and\n    tales of arms to one who has far more wisdom than he possesses. Thus\n    did our knight avoid all appearance of evil, though sorely pressed to\n    do what was wrong (ll. 1525-1552). The lady, having bestowed two kisses\n    upon Sir Gawayne, takes her leave of him (ll. 1553-1557).\n\n    At the end of the day the lord of the castle returns home with the\n    shields and head of the wild boar. He shows them to his guest, who\n    declares that \"such a brawn of a beast, nor such sides of a swine,\" he\n    never before has seen. Gawayne takes possession of the spoil according\n    to covenant, and in return he bestows two kisses upon his host, who\n    declares that his guest has indeed been rich with \"such chaffer\" (ll.\n    1558-1647).\n\n    After much persuasion, Gawayne consents to stop at the castle another\n    day (ll. 1648-1685). Early on the morrow the lord and his men hasten to\n    the woods, and come upon the track of a fox, the hunting of which\n    affords them plenty of employment and sport (ll. 1686-1730). Meanwhile\n    our good knight sleeps soundly within his comely curtains. He is again\n    visited by the lady of the castle. So gaily was she attired, and so\n    \"faultless of her features,\" that great joy warmed the heart of Sir\n    Gawayne. With soft and pleasant smiles \"they smite into mirth,\" and are\n    soon engaged in conversation. Had not Mary thought of her knight, he\n    would have been in great peril (ll. 1731-1769). So sorely does the fair\n    one press him with her love, that he fears lest he should become a\n    traitor to his host. The lady enquires whether he has a mistress to\n    whom he has plighted his troth. The knight swears by St John that he\n    neither has nor desires one. This answer causes the dame to sigh for\n    sorrow, and telling him that she must depart, she asks for some gift,\n    if it were only a glove, by which she might \"think on the knight and\n    lessen her grief\" (ll. 1770-1800). Gawayne assures her that he has\n    nothing worthy of her acceptance; that he is on an \"uncouth errand,\"\n    and therefore has \"no men with no mails containing precious things,\"\n    for which he is truly sorry.\n\n    Quoth that lovesome (one)--\n\n      \"Though I had nought of yours,\n       Yet should ye have of mine.\n\n    Thus saying, she offers him a rich ring of red gold \"with a shining\n    stone standing aloft,\" that shone like the beams of the bright sun. The\n    knight refused the gift, as he had nothing to give in return. \"Since ye\n    refuse my ring,\" says the lady, \"because it seems too rich, and ye\n    would not be beholden to me, I shall give you my girdle that is less\n    valuable\" (ll. 1801-1835). But Gawayne replies that he will not accept\n    gold or reward of any kind, though \"ever in hot and in cold\" he will be\n    her true servant.\n\n    \"Do ye refuse it,\" asks the lady, \"because it seems simple and of\n    little value? Whoso knew the virtues that are knit therein would\n    estimate it more highly. For he who is girded with this green lace\n    cannot be wounded or slain by any man under heaven.\" The knight thinks\n    awhile, and it strikes him that this would be a \"jewel for the\n    jeopardy\" that he had to undergo at the Green Chapel. So he not only\n    accepts the lace, but promises to keep the possession of it a secret\n    (ll. 1836-1865). By that time the lady had kissed him thrice, and she\n    then takes \"her leave and leaves him there.\"\n\n    Gawayne rises, dresses himself in noble array, and conceals the \"love\n    lace\" where he might find it again. He then hies to mass, shrives him\n    of his misdeeds, and obtains absolution. On his return to the hall he\n    solaces the ladies with comely carols and all kinds of joy (ll.\n    1866-1892). The dark night came, and then the lord of the castle,\n    having slain the fox, returns to his \"dear home,\" where he finds a fire\n    brightly turning and his guest amusing the ladies (ll. 1893-1927).\n    Gawayne, in fulfilment of his agreement, kisses his host thrice.[1] \"By\n    Christ,\" quoth the other knight, \"ye have caught much bliss. I have\n    hunted all this day and nought have I got but the skin of this foul fox\n    (the devil have the goods!), and that is full poor for to pay for such\n    precious things\" (ll. 1928-1951).\n\n    After the usual evening's entertainment, Gawayne retires to rest. The\n    next morning, being New Year's day, is cold and stormy. Snow falls, and\n    the dales are full of drift. Our knight in his bed locks his eyelids,\n    but full little he sleeps. By each cock that crows he knows the hour,\n    and before day-break he calls for his chamberlain, who quickly brings\n    him his armour (ll. 1952-2014). While Gawayne clothed himself in his\n    rich weeds he forgot not the \"lace, the lady's gift,\" but with it\n    doubly girded his loins. He wore it not for its rich ornaments, \"but to\n    save himself when it behoved him to suffer,\" and as a safeguard against\n    sword or knife (ll. 2015-2046).\n\n    Having thanked his host and all the renowned assembly for the great\n    kindness he had experienced at their hands, \"he steps into stirrups and\n    strides aloft\" (ll. 2047-2068).\n\n    The drawbridge is let down, and the broad gates unbarred and borne open\n    upon both sides, and the knight, after commending the castle to Christ,\n    passes thereout and goes on his way accompanied by his guide, that\n    should teach him to turn to that place where he should receive the\n    much-dreaded blow. They climb over cliffs, where each hill had a hat\n    and a mist-cloak, until the next morn, when they find themselves on a\n    full high hill covered with snow. The servant bids his master remain\n    awhile, saying, \"I have brought you hither at this time, and now ye are\n    not far from that noted place that ye have so often enquired after. The\n    place that ye press to is esteemed full perilous, and there dwells a\n    man in that waste the worst upon earth, for he is stiff and stern and\n    loves to strike, and greater is he than any man upon middle-earth, and\n    his body is bigger than the best four in Arthur's house. He keeps the\n    Green Chapel; there passes none by that place, however proud in arms,\n    that he does not 'ding him to death with dint of his hand.' He is a man\n    immoderate and 'no mercy uses,' for be it churl or chaplain that by the\n    chapel rides, monk or mass-priest, or any man else, it is as pleasant\n    to him to kill them as to go alive himself. Wherefore I tell thee\n    truly, 'come ye there, ye be killed, though ye had twenty lives to\n    spend. He has dwelt there long of yore, and on field much sorrow has\n    wrought. Against his sore dints ye may not defend you' (ll. 2069-2117).\n    Therefore, good Sir Gawayne, let the man alone, and for God's sake go\n    by some other path, and then I shall hie me home again. I swear to you\n    by\n\n    [Footnote 1: He only in part keeps to his covenant, as he holds back\n    the love-lace.]\n\n    God and all His saints that I will never say that ever ye attempted to\n    flee from any man.\"\n\n    Gawayne thanks his guide for his well-meant kindness, but declares that\n    to the Green Chapel he will go, though the owner thereof be \"a stern\n    knave,\" for God can devise means to save his servants.\n\n    \"Mary!\" quoth the other, \"since it pleases thee to lose thy life I will\n    not hinder thee. Have thy helmet on thy head, thy spear in thy hand,\n    and ride down this path by yon rock-side, till thou be brought to the\n    bottom of the valley. Then look a little on the plain, on thy left\n    hand, and thou shalt see in that slade the chapel itself, and the burly\n    knight that guards it (ll. 2118-2148). Now, farewell Gawayne the noble!\n    for all the gold upon ground I would not go with thee nor bear thee\n    fellowship through this wood 'on foot farther.'\" Thus having spoken, he\n    gallops away and leaves the knight alone.\n\n    Gawayne now pursues his journey, rides through the dale, and looks\n    about. He sees no signs of a resting-place, but only high and steep\n    banks, and the very shadows of the high woods seemed wild and\n    distorted. No chapel, however, could he discover. After a while he sees\n    a round hill by the side of a stream; thither he goes, alights, and\n    fastens his horse to the branch of a tree. He walks about the hill,\n    debating with himself what it might be. It had a hole in the one end\n    and on each side, and everywhere overgrown with grass, but whether it\n    was only an old cave or a crevice of an old crag he could not tell (ll.\n    2149-2188).\n\n    \"Now, indeed,\" quoth Gawayne, \"a desert is here; this oratory is ugly\n    with herbs overgrown. It is a fitting place for the man in green to\n    'deal here his devotions after the devil's manner.' Now I feel it is\n    the fiend (the devil) in my five wits that has covenanted with me that\n    he may destroy me. This is a chapel of misfortune--evil betide it! It\n    is the most cursed kirk that ever I came in.\" With his helmet on his\n    head, and spear in his hand, he roams up to the rock, and then he hears\n    from that high hill beyond the brook a wondrous wild noise. Lo! it\n    clattered in the cliff as if one upon a grindstone were grinding a\n    scythe. It whirred like the water at a mill, and rushed and re-echoed,\n    terrible to hear. \"Though my life I forgo,\" says Gawayne, \"no noise\n    shall cause me to fear.\"\n\n    Then he cried aloud, \"Who dwells in this place, discourse with me to\n    hold? For now is good Gawayne going right here if any brave wight will\n    hie him hither, either now or never\" (ll. 2189-2216).\n\n    \"Abide,\" quoth one on the bank above, over his head, \"and thou shalt\n    have all in haste that I promised thee once.\"\n\n    Soon there comes out of a hole in the crag, with a fell weapon a Danish\n    axe quite new, the \"man in the green,\" clothed as at first as his legs,\n    locks and beard. But now he is on foot and walks on the earth. When he\n    reaches the stream, he hops over and boldly strides about. He meets Sir\n    Gawayne, who tells him that he is quite ready to fulfil his part of the\n    compact. \"Gawayne,\" quoth that 'green gome' (man), \"may God preserve\n    thee! Truly thou art welcome to my place, 'and thou hast timed thy\n    travel' as a true man should. Thou knowest the covenants made between\n    us, at this time twelve-month, that on New Year's day I should return\n    thee thy blow. We are now in this valley by ourselves, and can do as we\n    please (ll. 2217-2246). Have, therefore, thy helmet off thy head, and\n    'have here thy pay.' Let us have no more talk than when thou didst\n    strike off my head with a single blow.\"\n\n    \"Nay, by God!\" quoth Gawayne, \"I shall not begrudge thee thy will for\n    any harm that may happen, but will stand still while thou strikest.\"\n\n    Then he stoops a little and shows his bare neck, unmoved by any fear.\n    The Green Knight takes up his \"grim tool,\" and with all his force\n    raises it aloft, as if he meant utterly to destroy him. As the axe came\n    gliding down Gawayne \"shrank a little with the shoulders from the sharp\n    iron.\" The other withheld his weapon, and then reproved the prince with\n    many proud words. \"Thou art not Gawayne that is so good esteemed, that\n    never feared for no host by hill nor by vale, for now thou fleest for\n    fear before thou feelest harm (ll. 2247-2272). Such cowardice of that\n    knight did I never hear. I never flinched nor fled when thou didst aim\n    at me in King Arthur's house. My head flew to my feet and yet I never\n    fled, wherefore I deserve to be called the better man.\"\n\n    Quoth Gawayne, \"I shunted once, but will do so no more, though my head\n    fall on the stones. But hasten and bring me to the point; deal me my\n    destiny, and do it out of hand, for I shall stand thee a stroke and\n    start no more until thine axe has hit me--have here my troth.\" \"Have at\n    thee, then,\" said the other, and heaves the axe aloft, and looks as\n    savagely as if he were mad. He aims at the other mightily, but\n    withholds his hand ere it might hurt. Gawayne readily abides the blow\n    without flinching with any member, and stood still as a stone or a tree\n    fixed in rocky ground with a hundred roots.\n\n    Then merrily the other did speak, \"Since now thou hast thy heart whole\n    it behoves me to strike, so take care of thy neck.\" Gawayne answers\n    with great wroth, \"Thrash on, thou fierce man, thou threatenest too\n    long; I believe thy own heart fails thee.\"\n\n    \"Forsooth,\" quoth the other, \"since thou speakest so boldly, I will no\n    longer delay\" (ll. 2273-2304). Then, contracting \"both lips and brow,\"\n    he made ready to strike, and let fall his axe on the bare neck of Sir\n    Gawayne. \"Though he hammered\" fiercely, he only \"severed the hide,\"\n    causing the blood to flow. When Gawayne saw his blood on the snow, he\n    quickly seized his helmet and placed it on his head. Then he drew out\n    his bright sword, and thus angrily spoke: \"Cease, man, of thy blow, bid\n    me no more. I have received a stroke in this place without opposition,\n    but if thou givest me any more readily shall I requite thee, of that be\n    thou sure. Our covenant stipulates one stroke, and therefore now\n    cease.\"\n\n    The Green Knight, resting on his axe, looks on Sir Gawayne, as bold and\n    fearless he there stood, and then with a loud voice thus addresses the\n    knight: \"Bold knight, be not so wroth, no man here has wronged thee\n    (ll. 2305-2339); I promised thee a stroke, and thou hast it, so hold\n    thee well pleased. I could have dealt much worse with thee, and caused\n    thee much sorrow. Two blows I aimed at thee, for twice thou kissedst my\n    fair wife; but I struck thee not, because thou restoredst them to me\n    according to agreement. At the third time thou failedst, and therefore\n    I have given thee that tap. That woven girdle, given thee by my own\n    wife, belongs to me. I know well thy kisses, thy conduct also, and the\n    wooing of my wife, for I wrought it myself. I sent her to try thee, and\n    truly methinks thou art the most faultless man that ever on foot went.\n    Still, sir, thou wert wanting in good faith; but as it proceeded from\n    no immorality, thou being only desirous of saving thy life, the less I\n    blame thee.\"\n\n    Gawayne stood confounded, the blood rushed into his face, and he shrank\n    within himself for very shame. \"Cursed,\" he cried, \"be cowardice and\n    covetousness both; in you are villany and vice, that virtue destroy.\"\n    Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight in green,\n    cursing his cowardice and covetousness. The Green Knight, laughing,\n    thus spoke: \"Thou hast confessed so clean, and acknowledged thy faults,\n    that I hold thee as pure as thou hadst never forfeited since thou wast\n    first born. I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle as a token of thy\n    adventure at the Green Chapel. Come now to my castle, and we shall\n    enjoy together the festivities of the New Year\" (ll. 2340-2406).\n\n    \"Nay, forsooth,\" quoth the knight, \"but for your kindness may God\n    requite you. Commend me to that courteous one your comely wife, who\n    with her crafts has beguiled me. But it is no uncommon thing for a man\n    to come to sorrow through women's wiles; for so was Adam beguiled with\n    one, and Solomon with many. Samson was destroyed by Delilah, and David\n    suffered much through Bathsheba. 'It were indeed great bliss for a\n    man to love them well and believe them not.' Since the greatest\n    upon earth were so beguiled, methinks I should be excused. But God\n    reward you for your girdle, which I will ever wear in remembrance of my\n    fault, and when pride shall exalt me, a look to this love-lace shall\n    lessen it (ll. 2407-2438). But since ye are the lord of yonder land,\n    from whom I have received so much honour, tell me truly your right\n    name, and I shall ask no more questions.\"\n\n    Quoth the other, \"I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert, through might of\n    Morgain la Fay, who dwells in my house. Much has she learnt of Merlin,\n    who knows all your knights at home. She brought me to your hall for to\n    essay the prowess of the Round Table. She wrought this wonder to\n    bereave you of your wits, hoping to have grieved Guenever and\n    affrighted her to death by means of the man that spoke with his head in\n    his hand before the high table. She is even thine aunt, Arthur's half\n    sister; wherefore come to thine aunt, for all my household love thee.\"\n\n    Gawayne refuses to accompany the Green Knight, and so, with many\n    embraces and kind wishes, they separate--the one to his castle, the\n    other to Arthur's court.\n\n    After passing through many wild ways, our knight recovers from the\n    wound in his neck, and at last comes safe and sound to the court of\n    King Arthur. Great then was the joy of all; the king and queen kiss\n    their brave knight, and make many enquiries about his journey. He tells\n    them of his adventures, hiding nothing--\"the chance of the chapel, the\n    cheer of the knight, the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace.\"\n    Groaning for grief and shame he shows them the cut in his neck, which\n    he had received for his unfaithfulness (ll. 2439-2504). The king and\n    his courtiers comfort the knight--they laugh loudly at his adventures,\n    and unanimously agree that those lords and ladies that belonged to the\n    Round Table, and each knight of the brotherhood should ever after wear\n    a bright green belt for Gawayne's sake. And he upon whom it was\n    conferred honoured it evermore after.\n\n    Thus in Arthur's time this adventure befell, whereof the \"Brutus Books\"\n    bear witness (ll. 2505-2530).\n\nI need not say that the Brutus Books we possess do not contain the\nlegend here set forth, though it is not much more improbable than some of\nthe statements contained in them. If the reader desires to know the\nrelation in which this and the like stories stand to the original Arthur\nlegends, he will find it discussed in Sir F. Madden's Preface to his\nedition of \"Syr Gawayne,\" which also contains a sketch of the very\ndifferent views taken of Sir Gawayne by the different Romance writers.\n\nInto this and other literary questions I do not enter here, as I\nhave nothing to add to Sir F. Madden's statements; but in the text of the\nPoem I have differed from him in some few readings, which will be found\nnoticed in the Notes and Glossary.\n\nAs the manuscript is fast fading, I am glad that the existence of the Early\nEnglish Text Society has enabled us to secure a wider diffusion of its\ncontents before the original shall be no longer legible.\n\nWe want nothing but an increased supply of members to enable us to give to\na large circle of readers many an equally interesting record of Early\nEnglish minds.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\nNOTE: The Old English \"yogh\" characters have been translated both\nupper and lower-case yoghs to digit 3's. There are Unicode\nallocations for these (in HTML Ȝ and ȝ) but at present\nno font which implements these. Substiting the digit 3 seemed a\nworkable compromise which anybody can read. The linked html\n\"Old English 'yogh' file\" uses Ȝ and ȝ representations,\nand is included for users with specialist fonts.\n\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\n\n\n\nSYR GAWAYN AND THE GRENE KNY3T.\n\n[FYTTE THE FIRST.]\n\n      I.\n\n     [A] Si\u00feen \u00fee sege & \u00fee assaut wat3 sesed at Troye,         [Fol. 91a.]\n         \u00dee bor3 brittened & brent to bronde3 & aske3,\n         \u00dee tulk \u00feat \u00fee trammes of tresoun \u00feer wro3t,\n   4     Wat3 tried for his tricherie, \u00fee trewest on erthe;\n         Hit wat3 Ennias \u00fee athel, & his highe kynde,\n         \u00deat si\u00feen depreced prouinces, & patrounes bicome\n         Welne3e of al \u00fee wele in \u00fee west iles,\n   8 [B] Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swy\u00fee,\n         With gret bobbaunce \u00feat bur3e he biges vpon fyrst,\n         & neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat;\n         Ticius to Tuskan [turnes,] & teldes bigynnes;\n  12     Langaberde in Lumbardie lyftes vp homes;\n     [C] & fer ouer \u00fee French flod Felix Brutus\n         On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he sette3,\n                 wyth wynne;\n  16 [D]     Where werre, & wrake, & wonder,\n             Bi sy\u00fee3 hat3 wont \u00feer-inne,\n     [E]     & oft bo\u00fee blysse & blunder\n             Ful skete hat3 skyfted synne.\n\n[Sidenote A: After the siege of Troy]\n[Sidenote B: Romulus built Rome,]\n[Sidenote C: and Felix Brutus founded Britain,]\n[Sidenote D: a land of war and wonder,]\n[Sidenote E: and oft of bliss and blunder.]\n\n      II.\n\n  20     Ande quen \u00feis Bretayn wat3 bigged bi \u00feis burn rych,\n     [A] Bolde bredden \u00feer-inne, baret \u00feat lofden,\n         In mony turned tyme tene \u00feat wro3ten;\n         Mo ferlyes on \u00feis folde han fallen here oft\n  24 [B] \u00deen in any o\u00feer \u00feat I wot, syn \u00feat ilk tyme.\n     [C] Bot of alle \u00feat here bult of Bretaygne kynges\n         Ay wat3 Arthur \u00fee hendest; as I haf herde telle;\n         For-\u00fei an aunter in erde I attle to schawe,            [Fol. 91b.]\n  28     \u00deat a selly in si3t summe men hit holden,\n         & an outtrage awenture of Arthure3 wondere3;\n     [D] If 3e wyl lysten \u00feis laye bot on littel quile,\n         I schal telle hit, as-tit, as I in toun herde,\n  32             with tonge;\n             As hit is stad & stoken,\n             In stori stif & stronge,\n             With lel letteres loken,\n  36         In londe so hat3 ben longe.\n\n[Sidenote A: Bold men increased in the Land,]\n[Sidenote B: and many marvels happened.]\n[Sidenote C: Of all Britain's kings Arthur was the noblest.]\n[Sidenote D: Listen a while and ye shall hear the story of an \"outrageous\n  adventure.\"]\n\n      III.\n\n     [A] \u00deis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse,\n         With mony luflych lorde, lede3 of \u00fee best,\n     [B] Rekenly of \u00fee rounde table alle \u00feo rich bre\u00feer,\n  40     With rych reuel ory3t, & rechles mer\u00fees;\n         \u00deer tournayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony,\n         Iusted ful Iolil\u00e9 \u00feise gentyle kni3tes,\n         Sy\u00feen kayred to \u00fee court, caroles to make.\n  44 [C] For \u00feer \u00fee fest wat3 ilyche ful fiften dayes,\n         With alle \u00fee mete & \u00fee mir\u00fee \u00feat men cou\u00fee a-vyse;\n         Such glaumande gle glorious to here,\n         Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on ny3tes,\n  48 [D] Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3,\n         With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest him \u00feo3t;\n         With all \u00fee wele of \u00fee worlde \u00feay woned \u00feer samen,\n     [E] \u00dee most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryste seluen,\n  52     & \u00fee louelokkest ladies \u00feat euer lif haden,\n         & he \u00fee comlokest kyng \u00feat \u00fee court haldes;\n         For al wat3 \u00feis fayre folk in her first age,\n                 on sille;\n  56 [F]     \u00dee hapnest vnder heuen,\n             Kyng hy3est mon of wylle,\n             Hit were[1] now gret nye to neuen\n             So hardy a here on hille.\n\n[Sidenote A: Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast,]\n[Sidenote B: with all the knights of the Round Table,]\n[Sidenote C: full fifteen days.]\n[Sidenote D: All was joy in hall and chamber,]\n[Sidenote E: among brave knights and lovely ladies,]\n[Sidenote F: the happiest under heaven.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. werere.]\n\n      IV.\n\n  60 [A] Wyle nw 3er wat3 so 3ep \u00feat hit wat3 nwe cummen,\n         \u00deat day doubble on \u00fee dece wat3 \u00fee douth serued,\n         Fro \u00fee kyng wat3 cummen with kny3tes in to \u00fee halle,\n         \u00dee chauntre of \u00fee chapel cheued to an ende;\n  64     Loude crye wat3 \u00feer kest of clerke3 & o\u00feer,\n         Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte;                   [Fol. 92]\n         & sy\u00feen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle,\n     [B] 3e3ed 3eres 3iftes on hi3, 3elde hem bi hond,\n  68     Debated busyly aboute \u00feo giftes;\n         Ladies la3ed ful loude, \u00feo3 \u00feay lost haden,\n         & he \u00feat wan wat3 not wrothe, \u00feat may 3e wel trawe.\n     [C] Alle \u00feis mir\u00fee \u00feay maden to \u00fee mete tyme;\n  72     When \u00feay had waschen, wor\u00feyly \u00feay wenten to sete,\n         \u00dee best burne ay abof, as hit best semed;\n     [D] Whene Guenore ful gay, gray\u00feed in \u00fee myddes.\n         Dressed on \u00fee dere des, dubbed al aboute,\n  76     Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer\n         Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites in-noghe,\n         \u00deat were enbrawded & beten wyth \u00fee best gemmes,\n         \u00deat my3t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye,\n  80             in daye;\n     [E]     \u00dee comlokest to discrye,\n             \u00deer glent with y3en gray,\n             A semloker \u00feat euer he sy3e,\n  84         Soth mo3t no mon say.\n\n[Sidenote A: They celebrate the New Year with great joy.]\n[Sidenote B: Gifts are demanded and bestowed.]\n[Sidenote C: Lords and ladies take their seats at the table.]\n[Sidenote D: Queen Guenever appears gaily dressed.]\n[Sidenote E: A lady fairer of form might no one say he had ever before\n  seen.]\n\n      V.\n\n     [A] Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued,\n         He wat3 so Ioly of his Ioyfnes, & sum-quat child gered,\n         His lif liked hym ly3t, he louied \u00fee lasse\n  88 [B] Au\u00feer to lenge lye, or to longe sitte,\n         So bi-sied him his 3onge blod & his brayn wylde;\n         & also ano\u00feer maner meued him eke,\n         \u00deat he \u00feur3 nobelay had nomen, ho wolde neuer ete\n  92     Vpon such a dere day, er hym deuised were\n     [C] Of sum auenturus \u00feyng an vncou\u00fee tale,\n         Of sum mayn meruayle, \u00feat he my3t trawe,\n         Of[1] alderes, of armes, of o\u00feer auenturus,\n  96     O\u00feer sum segg hym bi-so3t of sum siker kny3t,\n         To Ioyne wyth hym in iustyng in Iopard\u00e9 to lay,\n         Lede lif for lyf, leue vchon o\u00feer,\n         As fortune wolde fulsun hom \u00fee fayrer to haue.\n 100     \u00deis wat3 [\u00fee] kynges countenaunce where he in court were,\n         At vch farand fest among his fre meny,\n                 in halle;                                      [Fol. 92b.]\n     [D]     \u00deer-fore of face so fere.\n 104         He sti3tle3 stif in stalle,\n             Ful 3ep in \u00feat nw 3ere,\n             Much mirthe he mas with alle.\n\n[Sidenote A: Arthur would not eat,]\n[Sidenote B: nor would he long sit]\n[Sidenote C: until he had witnessed a \"wondrous adventure\" of some kind.]\n[Sidenote D: He of face so bold makes much mirth with all.]\n[Footnote 1: Of of, in MS.]\n\n      VI.\n\n     [A] Thus \u00feer stondes in stale \u00fee stif kyng his-seluen,\n 108     Talkkande bifore \u00fee hy3e table of trifles ful hende\n     [B] There gode Gawan wat3 gray\u00feed, Gwenore bisyde\n     [C] & Agrauayn a la dure mayn on \u00feat o\u00feer syde sittes\n         Bo\u00fee \u00fee kynges sister sunes, & ful siker kni3tes;\n 112 [D] Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gine3 \u00fee table,\n     [E] & Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hym-seluen;\n         \u00deise were di3t on \u00fee des, & derwor\u00fely serued,\n         & si\u00feen mony siker segge at \u00fee sidborde3.\n 116 [F] \u00deen \u00fee first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes,\n         Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, \u00feat \u00feer-bi henged,\n         Nwe nakryn noyse with \u00fee noble pipes,\n         Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote,\n 120     \u00deat mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches;\n     [G] Dayntes dryuen \u00feer-wyth of ful dere metes,\n         Foysoun of \u00fee fresche, & on so fele disches,\n         \u00deat pine to fynde \u00fee place \u00fee peple bi-forne\n 124     For to sette \u00fee syluener,[1] \u00feat sere sewes halden,\n                 on clothe;\n             Iche lede as he loued hym-selue\n             \u00deer laght with-outen lo\u00fee,\n 128 [H]     Ay two had disches twelue,\n     [I]     Good ber, & bry3t wyn bo\u00fee.\n\n[Sidenote A: The king talks with his knights.]\n[Sidenote B: Gawayne,]\n[Sidenote C: Agravayn,]\n[Sidenote D: Bishop Bawdewyn,]\n[Sidenote E: and Ywain sit on the dais.]\n[Sidenote F: The first course is served with cracking of trumpets.]\n[Sidenote G: It consisted of all dainties in season.]\n[Sidenote H: Each two had dishes twelve,]\n[Sidenote I: good beer and bright wine both.]\n[Footnote 1: svlueren (?) (dishes).]\n\n      VII.\n\n     [A] Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more,\n         For vch wy\u021de may wel wit no wont \u00feat \u00feer were;\n 132 [B] An o\u00feer noyse ful newe ne3ed biliue,\n         \u00deat \u00fee lude my3t haf leue lif-lode to cach.\n         For vne\u00fee wat3 \u00fee noyce not a whyle sesed,\n         & \u00fee fyrst cource in \u00fee court kyndely serued,\n 136 [C] \u00deer hales in at \u00fee halle dor an aghlich mayster,\n         On \u00fee most on \u00fee molde on mesure hyghe;\n         Fro \u00fee swyre to \u00fee swange so sware & so \u00feik,\n     [D] & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete,\n 140     Half etayn in erde I hope \u00feat he were.                  [Fol. 93.]\n     [E] Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene,\n         & \u00feat \u00fee myriest in his muckel \u00feat my3t ride;\n     [F] For of bak & of brest al were his bodi sturne,\n 144 [G] Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale,\n         & alle his fetures fol3ande, in forme \u00feat he hade,\n                 ful clene;\n             For wonder of his hwe men hade,\n 148         Set in his semblaunt sene;\n             He ferde as freke were fade,\n             & ouer-al enker grene.\n\n[Sidenote A: There was no want of anything.]\n[Sidenote B: Scarcely had the first course commenced,]\n[Sidenote C: when there rushes in at the hall-door a knight;]\n[Sidenote D: the tallest on earth]\n[Sidenote E: he must have been.]\n[Sidenote F: His back and breast were great,]\n[Sidenote G: but his belly and waist were small.]\n\n      VIII.\n\n     [A] Ande al gray\u00feed in grene \u00feis gome & his wedes,\n 152     A strayt cote ful stre3t, \u00feat stek on his sides,\n         A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne,\n         With pelure pured apert \u00fee pane ful clene,\n         With bly\u00fee blaunner ful bry3t, & his hod bo\u00fee,\n 156     \u00deat wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes\n         Heme wel haled, hose of \u00feat same grene,\n     [B] \u00deat spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder,\n         Of bry3t golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche\n 160     & scholes vnder schankes, \u00feere \u00fee schalk rides;\n         & alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure,\n         Bo\u00fee \u00fee barres of his belt & o\u00feer bly\u00fee stones,\n         \u00deat were richely rayled in his aray clene,\n 164 [C] Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3,\n         \u00deat were to tor for to telle of tryfles \u00fee halue,\n         \u00deat were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es,\n         With gay gaudi of grene, \u00fee golde ay in myddes;\n 168     \u00dee pendauntes of his payttrure, \u00fee proude cropure\n         His molaynes, & alle \u00fee metail anamayld was \u00feenne\n         \u00dee steropes \u00feat he stod on, stayned of \u00fee same,\n         & his arsoun3 al after, & his a\u00feel sturtes,\n 172     \u00deat euer glemered[1] & glent al of grene stones.\n     [D] \u00dee fole \u00feat he ferkkes on, fyn of \u00feat ilke,\n                 sertayn;\n             A grene hors gret & \u00feikke,\n 176 [E]     A stede ful stif to strayne,\n             In brawden brydel quik,\n             To \u00fee gome he wat3 ful gayn.                       [Fol. 93b.]\n\n[Sidenote A: He was clothed entirely in green.]\n[Sidenote B: His spurs were of bright gold.]\n[Sidenote C: His saddle was embroidered with birds and flies.]\n[Sidenote D: The foal that he rode upon was green;]\n[Sidenote E: it was a steed full stiff to guide.]\n[Footnote 1: glemed (?).]\n\n      IX.\n\n     [A] Wel gay wat3 \u00feis gome gered in grene,\n 180     & \u00fee here of his hed of his hors swete;\n         Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes;\n     [B] A much berd as[1] a busk ouer his brest henges,\n         \u00deat wyth his hi3lich here, \u00feat of his hed reches,\n 184     Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes,\n         \u00deat half his armes \u00feer vnder were halched in \u00fee wyse\n         Of a kynge3 capados, \u00feat closes his swyre.\n     [C] \u00dee mane of \u00feat mayn hors much to hit lyke,\n 188     Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony,\n         Folden in wyth fildore aboute \u00fee fayre grene,\n         Ay a herle of \u00fee here, an o\u00feer of golde;\n     [D] \u00dee tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute,\n 192     & bounden bo\u00fee wyth a bande of a bry3t grene,\n         Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as \u00fee dok lasted,\n         Sy\u00feen \u00ferawen wyth a \u00fewong a \u00fewarle knot alofte,\n         \u00deer mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen.\n 196 [E] Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke \u00feat hym rydes,\n         Wat3 neuer sene in \u00feat sale wyth sy3t er \u00feat tyme,\n                 with y3e;\n             He loked as layt so ly3t,\n 200         So sayd al \u00feat hym sy3e,\n     [F]     Hit semed as no mon my3t,\n             Vnder his dyntte3 dry3e.\n\n[Sidenote A: Gaily was the knight attired.]\n[Sidenote B: His great beard, like a bush, hung on his breast.]\n[Sidenote C: The horse's mane was decked with golden threads.]\n[Sidenote D: Its tail was bound with a green band.]\n[Sidenote E: Such a foal nor a knight were never before seen.]\n[Sidenote F: It seemed that no man might endure his dints.]\n[Footnote 1: as as, in MS.]\n\n      X.\n\n     [A] Whe\u00feer hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nau\u00feer,\n 204     Ne no pysan, ne no plate \u00feat pented to armes,\n         Ne no schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte,\n     [B] Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe,\n         \u00deat is grattest in grene, when greue3 ar bare,\n 208 [C] & an ax in his o\u00feer, a hoge & vn-mete,\n         A spetos spar\u00fee to expoun in spelle quo-so my3t;\n         \u00dee hede of an eln3erde \u00fee large lenk\u00fee hade,\n         \u00dee grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen,\n 212 [D] \u00dee bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge,\n         As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores;\n         \u00dee stele of a stif staf \u00fee sturne hit bi-grypte,\n         \u00deat wat3 wounden wyth yrn to \u00fee wande3 ende,            [Fol. 94.]\n 216 [E] & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios[1] werkes;\n         A lace lapped aboute, \u00feat louked at \u00fee hede,\n         & so after \u00fee halme halched ful ofte,\n         Wyth tryed tassele3 \u00feerto tacched in-noghe,\n 220 [F] On botoun3 of \u00fee bry3t grene brayden ful ryche.\n         \u00deis ha\u00feel helde3 hym in, & \u00fee halle entres,\n         Driuande to \u00fee he3e dece, dut he no wo\u00fee,\n     [G] Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked.\n 224     \u00dee fyrst word \u00feat he warp, \"wher is,\" he sayd,\n     [H] \"\u00dee gouernour of \u00feis gyng? gladly I wolde\n         Se \u00feat segg in sy3t, & with hym self speke\n                 raysoun.\"\n 228         To kny3te3 he kest his y3e,\n             & reled hym vp & doun,\n     [I]     He stemmed & con studie,\n             Quo walt \u00feer most renoun.\n\n[Sidenote A: The knight carried neither spear nor shield,]\n[Sidenote B: In one hand was a holly bough,]\n[Sidenote C: in the other an axe,]\n[Sidenote D: the edge of which was as keen as a sharp razor,]\n[Sidenote E: and the handle was encased in iron, curiously \"graven with\n  green, in gracious works.\"]\n[Sidenote F: Thus arrayed the Green Knight enters the hall,]\n[Sidenote G: without saluting any one.]\n[Sidenote H: He asks for the \"governor\" of the company,]\n[Sidenote I: and looks for the most renowned.]\n[Footnote 1: looks like gracons in MS.]\n\n      XI.\n\n 232 [A] Ther wat3 lokyng on len\u00fee, \u00fee lude to be-holde,\n         For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t,\n         \u00deat a ha\u00feel & a horse my3t such a hwe lach,\n     [B] As growe grene as \u00fee gres & grener hit semed,\n 236     \u00deen grene aumayl on golde lowande bry3ter;\n         Al studied \u00feat \u00feer stod, & stalked hym nerre,\n     [C] Wyth al \u00fee wonder of \u00fee worlde, what he worch schulde.\n         For fele sellye3 had \u00feay sen, bot such neuer are,\n 240     For-\u00fei for fantoum & fayry3e \u00fee folk \u00feere hit demed;\n     [D] \u00deer-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony a\u00feel freke,\n         & al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten,\n     [E] In a swoghe sylence \u00feur3 \u00fee sale riche\n 244     As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3\n                 in hy3e;\n             I deme hit not al for doute,\n     [F]     Bot sum for cortaysye,\n 248         Bot let hym \u00feat al schulde loute,\n             Cast vnto \u00feat wy3e.\n\n[Sidenote A: Much they marvel to see a man and a horse]\n[Sidenote B: as green as grass.]\n[Sidenote C: Never before had they seen such a sight as this.]\n[Sidenote D: They were afraid to answer,]\n[Sidenote E: and were as silent as if sleep had taken possession of them;]\n[Sidenote F: some from fear and others from courtesy.]\n\n      XII.\n\n     [A] \u00deenn Ar\u00feour bifore \u00fee hi3 dece \u00feat auenture byholde3,\n         & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer,\n 252     & sayde, \"wy3e, welcum iwys to \u00feis place,\n     [B] \u00dee hede of \u00feis ostel Arthour I hat,                    [Fol. 94b.]\n         Li3t luflych adoun, & lenge, I \u00fee praye,\n         & quat so \u00fey wylle is, we schal wyt after.\"\n 256 [C] \"Nay, as help me,\" quod \u00fee ha\u00feel, \"he \u00feat on hy3e syttes,\n         To wone any quyle in \u00feis won, hit wat3 not myn ernde;\n         Bot for \u00fee los of \u00fee lede is lyft vp so hy3e,\n         & \u00fey bur3 & \u00fey burnes best ar holden,\n 260     Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde,\n     [D] \u00dee wy3test & \u00fee wor\u00feyest of \u00fee worldes kynde,\n         Preue for to play wyth in o\u00feer pure layke3;\n         & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,\n 264     & \u00feat hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at \u00feis tyme.\n         3e may be seker bi \u00feis braunch \u00feat I bere here,\n     [E] \u00deat I passe as in pes, & no ply3t seche;\n         For had I founded in fere, in fe3tyng wyse,\n 268 [F] I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme bo\u00fee,\n         A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,\n         Ande o\u00feer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als,\n         Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer.\n 272     Bot if \u00feou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen,\n         \u00deou wyl grant me godly \u00fee gomen \u00feat I ask,\n                 bi ry3t.\"\n     [G]     Arthour con onsware,\n 276         & sayd, \"sir cortays kny3t,\n             If \u00feou craue batayl bare,\n             Here fayle3 \u00feou not to fy3t.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Arthur salutes the Green Knight.]\n[Sidenote B: bids him welcome, and invites him to stay awhile.]\n[Sidenote C: The knight says that he will not tarry.]\n[Sidenote D: He seeks the most valiant that he may prove him.]\n[Sidenote E: He comes in peace.]\n[Sidenote F: At home, however, he has both shield and spear.]\n[Sidenote G: Arthur assures him that he shall not fail to find an opponent\n  worthy of him.]\n\n      XIII.\n\n     [A] \"Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I \u00fee telle,\n 280 [B] Hit arn aboute on \u00feis bench bot berdle3 chylder;\n         If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede,\n     [C] Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so[1] wayke.\n         For-\u00fey I craue in \u00feis court a crystmas gomen,\n 284 [D] For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony;\n         If any so hardy in \u00feis hous holde3 hym-seluen,\n     [E] Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede,\n         \u00deat dar stifly strike a strok for an o\u00feer,\n 288     I schal gif hym of my gyft \u00feys giserne ryche,\n     [F] \u00deis ax, \u00feat is heu\u00e9 in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,\n         & I schal bide \u00fee fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte.        [Fol. 95.]\n         If any freke be so felle to fonde \u00feat I telle,\n 292     Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach \u00feis weppen,\n         I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,\n     [G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on \u00feis flet,\n         Elle3 \u00feou wyl di3t me \u00fee dom to dele hym an o\u00feer,\n 296             barlay;\n             & 3et gif hym respite,\n     [H]     A twelmonyth & a day;--\n             Now hy3e, & let se tite\n 300         Dar any her-inne o3t say.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"I seek no fight,\" says the knight.]\n[Sidenote B: \"'Here are only beardless children.']\n[Sidenote C: Here is no man to match me.]\n[Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,]\n[Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,']\n[Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;]\n[Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return]\n[Sidenote H: within a twelvemonth and a day.\"]\n[Footnote 1: MS. fo.]\n\n      XIV.\n\n     [A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were \u00feanne\n         Alle \u00fee hered-men in halle, \u00fee hy3 & \u00fee lo3e;\n     [B] \u00dee renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel,\n 304     & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute,\n     [C] Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene,\n     [D] Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse.\n         When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e,\n 308     Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke:\n     [E] \"What, is \u00feis Ar\u00feures hous,\" quod \u00fee ha\u00feel \u00feenne,\n         \"\u00deat al \u00fee rous rennes of, \u00feur3 ryalmes so mony?\n         Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes,\n 312     Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes?\n     [F] Now is \u00fee reuel & \u00fee renoun of \u00fee rounde table\n         Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche;\n         For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed!\"\n 316     Wyth \u00feis he la3es so loude, \u00feat \u00fee lorde greued;\n     [G] \u00dee blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face\n                 & lere;\n     [H]     He wex as wroth as wynde,\n 320         So did alle \u00feat \u00feer were\n             \u00dee kyng as kene bi kynde,\n             \u00deen stod \u00feat stif mon nere.\n\n[Sidenote A: Fear kept all silent.]\n[Sidenote B: The knight rolled his red eyes about,]\n[Sidenote C: and bent his bristly green brows.]\n[Sidenote D: Waving his beard awhile, he exclaimed:]\n[Sidenote E: \"What! is this Arthur's court?]\n[Sidenote F: Forsooth the renown of the Round Table is overturned 'with a\n  word of one man's speech.'\"]\n[Sidenote G: Arthur blushes for shame.]\n[Sidenote H: He waxes as wroth as the wind.]\n\n      XV.\n\n     [A] Ande sayde, \"ha\u00feel, by heuen \u00feyn askyng is nys,\n 324     & as \u00feou foly hat3 frayst, fynde \u00fee be-houes;\n         I know no gome \u00feat is gast of \u00fey grete wordes.\n         Gif me now \u00fey geserne, vpon gode3 halue,\n         & I schal bay\u00feen \u00fey bone, \u00feat \u00feou boden habbes.\"\n 328     Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde;           [Fol. 95b.]\n         \u00deen feersly \u00feat o\u00feer freke vpon fote ly3tis.\n     [B] Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & \u00fee halme grype3,\n         & sturnely sture3 hit aboute, \u00feat stryke wyth hit \u00feo3t.\n 332     \u00dee stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t,\n         Herre \u00feen ani in \u00fee hous by \u00fee hede & more;\n     [C] Wyth sturne schere[1] \u00feer he stod, he stroked his berde,\n         & wyth a countenaunce dry3e he dro3 doun his cote,\n 336     No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dinte3,\n         \u00deen any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk\n                 of wyne,\n     [D]     Gawan, \u00feat sate bi \u00fee quene,\n 340         To \u00fee kyng he can enclyne,\n             \"I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene,\n             \u00deis melly mot be myne.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: He assures the knight that no one is afraid of his great\n  words.]\n[Sidenote B: Arthur seizes his axe.]\n[Sidenote C: The knight, stroking his beard, awaits the blow, and with a\n  \"dry countenance\" draws down his coat.]\n[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne beseeches the king to let him undertake the blow.]\n[Footnote 1: chere (?).]\n\n      XVI.\n\n         \"Wolde 3e, wor\u00feilych lorde,\" quod Gawan to \u00fee kyng,\n 344 [A] \"Bid me bo3e fro \u00feis benche, & stonde by yow \u00feere,\n         \u00deat I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde \u00feis table,\n         & \u00feat my legge lady lyked not ille,\n         I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche.\n 348 [B] For me \u00feink hit not semly, as hit is so\u00fe knawen,\n         \u00deer such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale,\n         \u00dea33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen,\n     [C] Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten,\n 352     \u00deat vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle,\n         Ne better bodyes on bent, \u00feer baret is rered;\n     [D] I am \u00fee wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest,\n         & lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes \u00fee so\u00fee,\n 356     Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse,\n         No bount\u00e9 bot your blod I in my bod\u00e9 knowe;\n         & sy\u00feen \u00feis note is so nys, \u00feat no3t hit yow falles,\n         & I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me,\n 360     & if I carp not comlyly, let alle \u00feis cort rych,\n                bout blame.\"\n     [E]    Ryche to-geder con roun,\n            & sy\u00feen \u00feay redden alle same,\n 364        To ryd \u00fee kyng wyth croun,\n            & gif Gawan \u00fee game.\n\n[Sidenote A: He asks permission to leave the table; he says,]\n[Sidenote B: it is not meet that Arthur should be active in the matter,]\n[Sidenote C: while so many bold ones sit upon bench.]\n[Sidenote D: Although the weakest, he is quite ready to meet the Green\n  Knight.]\n[Sidenote E: The nobles entreat Arthur to \"give Gawayne the game.\"]\n\n      XVII.\n\n         \u00deen comaunded \u00fee kyng \u00fee kny3t for to ryse;             [Fol. 96.]\n         & he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,\n 368 [A] Kneled doun bifore \u00fee kyng, & cache3 \u00feat weppen;\n         & he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,\n         & gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes\n     [B] \u00deat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be bo\u00fee.\n 372     \"Kepe \u00fee cosyn,\" quod \u00fee kyng, \"\u00feat \u00feou on kyrf sette,\n         & if \u00feou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe,\n         \u00deat \u00feou schal byden \u00fee bur \u00feat he schal bede after.\n         Gawan got3 to \u00fee gome, with giserne in honde,\n 376     & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer \u00fee helder\n     [C] \u00deen carppe3 to sir Gawan \u00fee kny3t in \u00fee grene,\n         \"Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe.\n         Fyrst I e\u00fee \u00fee, ha\u00feel, how \u00feat \u00feou hattes,\n 380     \u00deat \u00feou me telle truly, as I tryst may?\"\n     [D] \"In god fayth,\" quod \u00fee goode kny3t, \"Gawan I hatte,\n         \u00deat bede \u00fee \u00feis buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after,\n         & at \u00feis tyme twelmonyth take at \u00fee ano\u00feer,\n 384     Wyth what weppen so[1] \u00feou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3,\n                 on lyue.\"\n             \u00deat o\u00feer on-sware3 agayn,\n             \"Sir Gawan, so mot I \u00feryue,\n 388 [E]     As I am ferly fayn.\n             \u00deis dint \u00feat \u00feou schal dryue.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: The king gives his nephew his weapon,]\n[Sidenote B: and tells him to keep heart and hand steady.]\n[Sidenote C: The Green Knight enquires the name of his opponent.]\n[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne tells him his name, and declares that he is\n  willing to give and receive a blow.]\n[Sidenote E: The other thereof is glad.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. fo.]\n\n      XVIII.\n\n     [A] \"Bigog,\" quod \u00fee grene kny3t, \"sir Gawan, melykes,\n         \u00deat I schal fange at \u00fey fust \u00feat I haf frayst here;\n 392     & \u00feou hat3 redily rehersed, bi resoun ful trwe,\n         Clanly al \u00fee couenaunt \u00feat I \u00fee kynge asked,\n         Saf \u00feat \u00feou schal siker me, segge, bi \u00fei traw\u00fee,\n         \u00deat \u00feou schal seche me \u00fei-self, where-so \u00feou hopes\n 396     I may be funde vpon folde, & foch \u00fee such wages\n     [B] As \u00feou deles me to day, bifore \u00feis dou\u00fee ryche.\"\n     [C] \"Where schulde I wale \u00fee,\" quod Gauan, \"where is \u00fey place?\n         I wot neuer where \u00feou wonyes, bi hym \u00feat me wro3t,\n 400     Ne I know not \u00fee, kny3t, \u00fey cort, ne \u00fei name.\n     [D] Bot teche me truly \u00feer-to, & telle me howe \u00feou hattes,\n         & I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me \u00feeder,\n         & \u00feat I swere \u00fee for so\u00fee, & by my seker trawe\u00fe.\"      [Fol. 96b.]\n 404     \"\u00deat is in-nogh in nwe 3er, hit nedes no more,\"\n         Quod \u00fee gome in \u00fee grene to Gawan \u00fee hende,\n     [E] \"3if I \u00fee telle trwly, quen I \u00fee tape haue,\n         & \u00feou me smo\u00feely hat3 smyten, smartly I \u00fee teche\n 408     Of my hous, & my home, & myn owen nome,\n         \u00deen may \u00feou frayst my fare, & forwarde3 holde,\n     [F] & if I spende no speche, \u00feenne spede3 \u00feou \u00fee better,\n         For \u00feou may leng in \u00fey londe, & layt no fyrre,\n 412             bot slokes;\n     [G]     Ta now \u00fey grymme tole to \u00fee,\n             & let se how \u00feou cnoke3.\"\n             \"Gladly sir, for so\u00fee,\"\n 416         Quod Gawan; his ax he strokes.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"It pleases me well, Sir Gawayne,\" says the Green Knight,\n  \"that I shall receive a blow from thy fist; but thou must swear that thou\n  wilt seek me,]\n[Sidenote B: to receive the blow in return.\"]\n[Sidenote C: \"Where shall I seek thee?\" says Sir Gawayne;]\n[Sidenote D: \"tell me thy name and abode and I will find thee.\"]\n[Sidenote E: \"When thou hast smitten me,\" says the knight, \"then tell I\n  thee of my home and name;]\n[Sidenote F: if I speak not at all, so much the better for thee.]\n[Sidenote G: Take now thy grim tool, and let us see how thou knockest.\"]\n\n      XIX.\n\n     [A] The grene kny3t vpon grounde gray\u00feely hym dresses,\n         A littel lut with \u00fee hede, \u00fee lere he discouere3,\n     [B] His longe louelych lokke3 he layd ouer his croun.\n 420     Let \u00fee naked nec to \u00fee note schewe.\n         Gauan gripped to his ax, & gederes hit on hy3t,\n         \u00dee kay fot on \u00fee folde he be-fore sette,\n     [C] Let hit doun ly3tly ly3t on \u00fee naked,\n 424     \u00deat \u00fee scharp of \u00fee schalk schyndered \u00fee bones,\n     [D] & schrank \u00feur3 \u00fee schyire grece, & scade hit in twynne,\n         \u00deat \u00fee bit of \u00fee broun stel bot on \u00fee grounde.\n     [E] \u00dee fayre hede fro \u00fee halce hit [felle] to \u00fee er\u00fee,\n 428 [F] \u00deat fele hit foyned wyth her fete, \u00feere hit forth roled;\n         \u00dee blod brayd fro \u00fee body, \u00feat blykked on \u00fee grene;\n     [G] & naw\u00feer faltered ne fel \u00fee freke neuer \u00fee helder,\n         Bot sty\u00fely he start forth vpon styf schonkes,\n 432 [H] & ru[n]yschly he ra3t out, \u00feere as renkke3 stoden,\n         La3t to his lufly hed, & lyft hit vp sone;\n         & sy\u00feen bo3e3 to his blonk, \u00fee brydel he cachche3,\n     [I] Steppe3 in to stel bawe & stryde3 alofte,\n 436 [J] & his hede by \u00fee here in his honde halde3;\n         & as sadly \u00fee segge hym in his sadel sette,\n         As non vnhap had hym ayled, \u00fea3 hedle3 he[1] we[re],\n                 in stedde;\n 440 [K]     He brayde his bluk[2] aboute,\n             \u00deat vgly bodi \u00feat bledde,                           [Fol. 97.]\n             Moni on of hym had doute,\n             Bi \u00feat his resoun3 were redde.\n\n[Sidenote A: The Green Knight]\n[Sidenote B: puts his long lovely locks aside and lays bare his neck.]\n[Sidenote C: Sir Gawayne lets fall his axe]\n[Sidenote D: and severs the head from the body.]\n[Sidenote E: The head falls to the earth.]\n[Sidenote F: Many kick it aside with their feet.]\n[Sidenote G: The knight never falters;]\n[Sidenote H: he rushes forth, seizes his head,]\n[Sidenote I: steps into the saddle,]\n[Sidenote J: holding the while the head in his hand by the hair,]\n[Sidenote K: and turns his horse about.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. ho.]\n[Footnote 2: blunk (?).]\n\n      XX.\n\n 444     For \u00fee hede in his honde he halde3 vp euen,\n     [A] To-ward \u00fee derrest on \u00fee dece he dresse3 \u00fee face,\n         & hit lyfte vp \u00fee y3e-lydde3, & loked ful brode,\n     [B] & meled \u00feus much with his muthe, as 3e may now here.\n 448     \"Loke, Gawan, \u00feou be gray\u00fee to go as \u00feou hette3,\n         & layte as lelly til \u00feou me, lude, fynde,\n     [C] As \u00feou hat3 hette in \u00feis halle, herande \u00feise kny3tes;\n     [D] To \u00fee grene chapel \u00feou chose, I charge \u00fee to fotte,\n 452     Such a dunt as \u00feou hat3 dalt disserued \u00feou habbe3,\n     [E] To be 3ederly 3olden on nw 3eres morn;\n         \u00dee kny3t of \u00fee grene chapel men knowen me mony;\n     [F] For-\u00fei me forto fynde if \u00feou frayste3, fayle3 \u00feou neuer,\n 456 [G] \u00deer-fore com, o\u00feer recreaunt be calde \u00fee be-houeus.\"\n         With a runisch rout \u00fee rayne3 he torne3,\n     [H] Halled out at \u00fee hal-dor, his hed in his hande,\n         \u00deat \u00fee fyr of \u00fee flynt fla3e fro fole houes.\n 460     To quat kyth he be-com, knwe non \u00feere,\n         Neuermore \u00feen \u00feay wyste fram que\u00feen. he wat3 wonnen;\n                 what \u00feenne?\n             \u00dee kyng & Gawen \u00feare,\n 464 [I]     At \u00feat grene \u00feay la3e & grenne,\n             3et breued wat3 hit ful bare,\n             A meruayl among \u00feo menne.\n\n[Sidenote A: The head lifts up its eyelids,]\n[Sidenote B: and addresses Sir Gawayne; \"Look thou, be ready to go as thou\n  hast promised,]\n[Sidenote C: and seek till thou findest me.]\n[Sidenote D: Get thee to the Green Chapel,]\n[Sidenote E: there to receive a blow on New Year's morn.]\n[Sidenote F: Fail thou never;]\n[Sidenote G: come, or recreant be called.\"]\n[Sidenote H: The Green Knight then rushes out of the hall, his head in his\n  hand.]\n[Sidenote I: At that green one Arthur and Gawayne \"laugh and grin.\"]\n\n      XXI.\n\n     [A] \u00dea3 Ar\u00feer \u00fee hende kyng at hert hade wonder,\n 468     He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e\n         To \u00fee comlych quene, wyth cortays speche,\n     [B] \"Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer;\n         Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse,\n 472     Laykyng of enterlude3, to la3e & to syng.\n         Among \u00feise, kynde caroles of kny3te3 & ladye3;\n     [C] Neuer-\u00fee-lece to my mete I may me wel dres,\n         For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake.\"\n 476     He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde,\n     [D] \"Now sir, heng vp \u00feyn ax, \u00feat hat3 in-nogh hewen.\"\n         & hit wat3 don abof \u00fee dece, on doser to henge,        [Fol. 97b.]\n         \u00deer alle men for meruayl my3t on hit loke,\n 480     & bi trwe tytel \u00feer-of to telle \u00fee wonder.\n     [E] \u00deenne \u00feay bo3ed to a borde \u00feise burnes to-geder,\n         \u00dee kyng & \u00fee gode kny3t, & kene men hem serued\n         Of alle dayntye3 double, as derrest my3t falle,\n 484     Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie bo\u00fee;\n         Wyth wele walt \u00feay \u00feat day, til wor\u00feed an ende,\n                 in londe.\n     [F]     Now \u00feenk wel, sir Gawan,\n 488         For wo\u00fee \u00feat \u00feou ne wonde,\n             \u00deis auenture forto frayn,\n             \u00deat \u00feou hat3 tan on honde.\n\n[Sidenote A: Arthur addresses the queen:]\n[Sidenote B: \"Dear dame, be not dismayed; such marvels well become the\n  Christmas festival;]\n[Sidenote C: I may now go to meat.]\n[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne, hang up thine axe.]\n[Sidenote E: The king and his knights sit feasting at the board till day is\n  ended.]\n[Sidenote F: Now beware, Sir Gawayne, lest thou fail to seek the adventure\n  that thou hast taken in hand.]\n\n[FYTTE THE SECOND.]\n\n      I.\n\n     [A] This hanselle hat3 Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,\n 492     In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here,\n         Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when \u00feay to sete wenten;\n         Now ar \u00feay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.\n         Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne \u00feose gomne3 in halle,\n 496     Bot \u00fea3 \u00fee ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder;\n         For \u00fea3 men ben mery in mynde, quen \u00feay han mayn drynk,\n     [B] A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke,\n         \u00dee forme to \u00fee fynisment folde3 ful selden.\n 500     For-\u00fei \u00feis 3ol ouer-3ede, & \u00fee 3ere after,\n         & vche sesoun serlepes sued after o\u00feer;\n     [C] After crysten-masse com \u00fee crabbed lentoun,\n         \u00deat frayste3 flesch wyth \u00fee fysche & fode more symple\n 504     Bot \u00feenne \u00fee weder of \u00fee worlde wyth wynter hit \u00ferepe3,\n     [D] Colde clenge3 adoun, cloude3 vp-lyften,\n         Schyre schede3 \u00fee rayn in schowre3 ful warme,\n         Falle3 vpon fayre flat, flowre3 \u00feere schewen,\n 508 [E] Bo\u00fee grounde3 & \u00fee greue3 grene ar her wede3,\n     [F] Brydde3 busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,\n     [G] For solace of \u00fee softe somer \u00feat sues \u00feer after,\n                 bi bonk;\n 512 [H]     & blossume3 bolne to blowe,\n             Bi rawe3 rych & ronk,\n     [I]     \u00deen note3 noble in-no3e,\n             Ar herde in wod so wlonk.                            [Fol. 98]\n\n[Sidenote A: This marvel serves to keep up a brisk conversation in Court.]\n[Sidenote B: The year passes full quickly and never returns.]\n[Sidenote C: After Christmas comes the \"crabbed Lenten.\"]\n[Sidenote D: Spring sets in and warm showers descend;]\n[Sidenote E: the groves become green,]\n[Sidenote F: birds build and sing,]\n[Sidenote G: for joy of the summer that follows;]\n[Sidenote H: blossoms begin to bloom,]\n[Sidenote I: and noble notes are heard in the woods]\n\n      II.\n\n 516 [A] After \u00fee sesoun of somer wyth \u00fee soft wynde3,\n         Quen 3eferus syfle3 hym-self on sede3 & erbe3,\n     [B] Wela-wynne is \u00fee wort \u00feat woxes \u00feer-oute.\n         When \u00fee donkande dewe drope3 of \u00fee leue3,\n 520     To bide a blysful blusch of \u00fee bry3t sunne.\n     [C] Bot \u00feen hy3es heruest, & hardenes hym sone.\n         Warne3 hym for \u00fee wynter to wax ful rype;\n     [D] He dryues wyth dro3t \u00fee dust for to ryse.\n 524     Fro \u00fee face of \u00fee folde to fly3e ful hy3e;\n         Wro\u00fee wynde of \u00fee welkyn wrastele3 with \u00fee sunne,\n     [E] \u00dee leue3 lancen fro \u00fee lynde, & ly3ten on \u00fee grounde,\n     [F] & al grayes \u00fee gres, \u00feat grene wat3 ere;\n 528     \u00deenne al rype3 & rote3 \u00feat ros vpon fyrst,\n         & \u00feus 3irne3 \u00fee 3ere in 3isterdaye3 mony,\n     [G] & wynter wynde3 a3ayn, as \u00fee worlde aske3\n                 no sage.\n 532         Til me3el-mas mone,\n             Wat3 cumen wyth wynter wage;\n     [H]     \u00deen \u00feenkke3 Gawan ful sone,\n             Of his anious uyage.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then the soft winds of summer,]\n[Sidenote B: beautiful are the flowers wet with dew-drops.]\n[Sidenote C: But harvest approaches soon,]\n[Sidenote D: and drives the dust about.]\n[Sidenote E: The leaves drop off the trees,]\n[Sidenote F: the grass becomes gray, and all ripens and rots.]\n[Sidenote G: Winter winds round again,]\n[Sidenote H: and then Sir Gawayne thinks of his dread journey.]\n\n      III.\n\n 536 [A] 3et quyl al-hal-day with Ar\u00feer he lenges,\n         & he made a fare on \u00feat fest, for \u00fee freke3 sake,\n         With much reuel & ryche of \u00fee rounde table;\n         Kny3te3 ful cortays & comlych ladies,\n 540     Al for luf of \u00feat lede in longynge \u00feay were,\n         Bot neuer-\u00fee-lece ne \u00fee later \u00feay neuened bot mer\u00fee,\n         Mony ioyle3 for \u00feat ientyle iape3 \u00feer maden.\n     [B] For aftter mete, with mournyng he mele3 to his eme,\n 544     & speke3 of his passage, & pertly he sayde,\n     [C] \"Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask;\n         3e knowe \u00fee cost of \u00feis cace, kepe I no more\n         To telle yow tene3 \u00feer-of neuer bot trifel;\n 548 [D] Bot I am boun to \u00fee bur barely to morne,\n         To sech \u00fee gome of \u00fee grene, as god wyl me wysse.\"\n         \u00deenne \u00fee best of \u00fee bur3 bo3ed to-geder,\n         Aywan, & Errik, & o\u00feer ful mony,\n 552     Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, \u00fee duk of Clarence,          [Fol. 98b.]\n         Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan \u00fee gode,\n         Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men bo\u00fee,\n     [E] & mony o\u00feer menskful, with Mador de la Port.\n 556     Alle \u00feis compayny of court com \u00fee kyng nerre,\n         For to counseyl \u00fee kny3t, with care at her hert;\n     [F] \u00deere wat3 much derue[1] doel driuen in \u00fee sale,\n         \u00deat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on \u00feat ernde,\n 560     To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more\n                 wyth bronde.\n             \u00dee kny3t mad ay god chere,\n             & sayde, \"quat schuld I wonde,\n 564 [G]     Of destines derf & dere,\n             What may mon do bot fonde?\"\n\n[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's\n  sake.]\n[Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:]\n[Sidenote C: \"Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,]\n[Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight.\"]\n[Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him.]\n[Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall.]\n[Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear.]\n[Footnote 1: derne (?).]\n\n      IV.\n\n     [A] He dowelle3 \u00feer al \u00feat day, and dresse3 on \u00fee morn,\n         Aske3 erly hys arme3, & alle were \u00feay bro3t\n 568 [B] Fyrst a tule tapit, ty3t ouer \u00fee flet,\n         & miche wat3 \u00fee gyld gere \u00feat glent \u00feer alofte;\n     [C] \u00dee stif mon steppe3 \u00feeron, & \u00fee stel hondole3,\n     [D] Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars,\n 572     & sy\u00feen a crafty capados, closed aloft,\n         \u00deat wyth a bry3t blaunner was bounden with-inne;\n     [E] \u00deenne set \u00feay \u00fee sabatoun3 vpon \u00fee segge fote3,\n         His lege3 lapped in stel with luflych greue3,\n 576     With polayne3 piched \u00feer-to, policed ful clene,\n         Aboute his kne3 knaged wyth knote3 of golde;\n     [F] Queme quyssewes \u00feen, \u00feat coyntlych closed\n         His thik \u00ferawen \u00fey3e3 with \u00fewonges to-tachched;\n 580 [G] & sy\u00feen \u00fee brawden bryne of bry3t stel rynge3,\n         Vmbe-weued \u00feat wy3, vpon wlonk stuffe;\n     [H] & wel bornyst brace vpon his bo\u00fee armes,\n         With gode cowters & gay, & gloue3 of plate,\n 584     & alle \u00fee godlych gere \u00feat hym gayn schulde\n                 \u00deat tyde;\n     [I]     Wyth ryche cote armure,\n     [J]     His gold spore3 spend with pryde,\n 588 [K]     Gurde wyth a bront ful sure,\n             With silk sayn vmbe his syde.\n\n[Sidenote A: On the morn he asks for his arms.]\n[Sidenote B: A carpet is spread on the floor,]\n[Sidenote C: and he steps thereon.]\n[Sidenote D: He is dubbed in a doublet of Tarsic silk, and a well-made\n  hood.]\n[Sidenote E: They set steel slices on his feet, and lap his legs in steel\n  greaves.]\n[Sidenote F: Fair cuisses enclose his thighs,]\n[Sidenote G: and afterwards they put on the steel habergeon,]\n[Sidenote H: well-burnished braces, elbow pieces, and gloves of plate.]\n[Sidenote I: Over all this is placed the coat armour.]\n[Sidenote J: His spurs are then fixed,]\n[Sidenote K: and his sword is attached to his side by a silken girdle.]\n\n      V.\n\n     [A] When he wat3 hasped in armes, his harnays wat3 ryche,  [Fol. 99a.]\n         \u00dee lest lachet ou[\u00fe]er loupe lemed of golde;\n 592     So harnayst as he wat3 he herkne3 his masse,\n         Offred & honoured at \u00fee he3e auter;\n     [B] Sy\u00feen he come3 to \u00fee kyng & to his cort fere3,\n         Lache3 lufly his leue at lorde3 & ladye3;\n 596     & \u00feay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst.\n     [C] Bi \u00feat wat3 Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel,\n         \u00deat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges,\n         Ay quere naylet ful nwe for \u00feat note ryched;\n 600     \u00dee brydel barred aboute, with bry3t golde bounden;\n     [D] \u00dee apparayl of \u00fee payttrure, & of \u00fee proude skyrte3,\n         \u00dee cropore, & \u00fee couertor, acorded wyth \u00fee arsoune3;\n         & al wat3 rayled on red ryche golde nayle3,\n 604     \u00deat al glytered & glent as glem of \u00fee sunne.\n     [E] \u00deenne hentes he \u00fee holme, & hastily hit kysses,\n         \u00deat wat3 stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne:\n         Hit wat3 hy3e on his hede, hasped bihynde,\n 608 [F] Wyth a ly3tli vrysoun ouer \u00fee auentayle,\n     [G] Enbrawden & bounden wyth \u00fee best gemme3,\n         On brode sylkyn borde, & brydde3 on seme3,\n         As papiaye3 paynted pernyng bitwene,\n 612     Tortors & trulofe3 entayled so \u00feyk,\n         As mony burde \u00feer aboute had ben seuen wynter\n                 in toune;\n     [H]     \u00dee cercle wat3 more o prys,\n 616         \u00deat vmbe-clypped hys croun,\n             Of diamaunte3 a deuys,\n             \u00deat bo\u00fee were bry3t & broun.\n\n[Sidenote A: Thus arrayed the knight hears mass,]\n[Sidenote B: and afterwards takes leave of Arthur and his court.]\n[Sidenote C: By that time his horse Gringolet was ready,]\n[Sidenote D: the harness of which glittered like the \"gleam of the sun.\"]\n[Sidenote E: Then Sir Gawayne sets his helmet upon his head,]\n[Sidenote F: fastened behind with a \"urisoun,\"]\n[Sidenote G: richly embroidered with gems.]\n[Sidenote H: The circle around the helmet was decked with diamonds.]\n\n      VI.\n\n     [A] Then \u00feay schewed hym \u00fee schelde, \u00feat was of schyr goule3,\n 620     Wyth \u00fee pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwe3;\n         He brayde3 hit by \u00fee baude-ryk, aboute \u00fee hals kestes,\n         \u00deat bisemed \u00fee segge semlyly fayre.\n     [B] & quy \u00fee pentangel apende3 to \u00feat prynce noble,\n 624     I am in tent yow to telle, \u00feof tary hyt me schulde;\n         Hit is a syngne \u00feat Salamon set sum-quyle,\n         In bytoknyng of traw\u00fee, bi tytle \u00feat hit habbe3,\n         For hit is a figure \u00feat halde3 fyue poynte3,            [Fol. 99b]\n 628     & vche lyne vmbe-lappe3 & louke3 in o\u00feer,\n     [C] & ay quere hit is endele3,[1] & Englych hit callen\n         Ouer-al, as I here, \u00fee endeles knot.\n         For-\u00fey hit acorde3 to \u00feis kny3t, & to his cler arme3,\n 632     For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue sy\u00fee3,\n     [D] Gawan wat3 for gode knawen, & as golde pured,\n         Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertue3[2] ennourned\n                 in mote;\n 636         For-\u00fey \u00fee pen-tangel nwe\n             He ber in schelde & cote,\n     [E]     As tulk of tale most trwe,\n             & gentylest kny3t of lote.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then they show him his shield with the \"pentangle\" of pure\n  gold.]\n[Sidenote B: The \"pentangle\" was devised by Solomon as a token of truth.]\n[Sidenote C: It is called the endless knot]\n[Sidenote D: It well becomes the good Sir Gawayne,]\n[Sidenote E: a knight the truest of speech and the fairest of form.]\n[Footnote 1: MS emdele3.]\n[Footnote 2: MS verertue3]\n\n      VII.\n\n 640 [A] Fyrst he wat3 funden fautle3 in his fyue wytte3,\n         & efte fayled neuer \u00fee freke in his fyue fyngres,\n     [B] & alle his afyaunce vpon folde wat3 in \u00fee fyue wounde3\n         \u00deat Cryst ka3t on \u00fee croys, as \u00fee crede telle3;\n 644     & quere-so-euer \u00feys mon in melly wat3 stad,\n         His \u00fero \u00feo3t wat3 in \u00feat, \u00feur3 alle o\u00feer \u00feynge3,\n         \u00deat alle his forsnes he fong at \u00fee fyue ioye3,\n         \u00deat \u00fee hende heuen quene had of hir chylde;\n 648     At \u00feis cause \u00fee kny3t comlyche hade\n     [C] In \u00fee more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted,\n         \u00deat quen he blusched \u00feerto, his belde neuer payred.\n         \u00dee fyrst[1] fyue \u00feat I finde \u00feat \u00fee frek vsed,\n 652     Wat3 fraunchyse, & fela3schyp for-be[2] al \u00feyng;\n     [D] His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer,\n         & pite, \u00feat passe3 alle poynte3, \u00feyse pure fyue\n         Were harder happed on \u00feat ha\u00feel \u00feen on any o\u00feer.\n 656     Now alle \u00feese fyue sy\u00fee3, forso\u00fee, were fetled on \u00feis kny3t,\n         & vchone halched in o\u00feer, \u00feat non ende hade,\n         & fyched vpon fyue poynte3, \u00feat fayld neuer,\n         Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nou\u00fe[er],\n 660     With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde,\n         Where-euer \u00fee gomen bygan, or glod to an ende.\n     [E] \u00deer-fore on his schene schelde schapen wat3 \u00fee knot,\n         \u00deus alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowle3,\n 664     \u00deat is \u00fee pure pentaungel wyth \u00fee peple called,         [Fol. 100]\n                 with lore.\n             Now gray\u00feed is Gawan gay,\n     [F]     & la3t his launce ry3t \u00feore,\n 668         & gef hem alle goud day,\n             He wende for euer more.\n\n[Sidenote A: He was found faultless in his five wits.]\n[Sidenote B: His trust was in the five wounds.]\n[Sidenote C: The image of the Virgin was depicted upon his shield.]\n[Sidenote D: In cleanness and courtesy he was never found wanting,]\n[Sidenote E: therefore was the endless knot fastened on his shield.]\n[Sidenote F: Sir Gawayne seizes his lance and bids all \"good day.\"]\n[Footnote 1: MS fyft.]\n[Footnote 2: for-bi (?).]\n\n      VIII.\n\n     [A] He sperred \u00fee sted with \u00fee spure3, & sprong on his way,\n         So stif \u00feat \u00fee ston fyr stroke out \u00feer-after;\n 672 [B] Al \u00feat se3 \u00feat semly syked in hert,\n         & sayde so\u00fely al same segges til o\u00feer,\n         Carande for \u00feat comly, \"bi Kryst, hit is sca\u00fee,\n         \u00deat \u00feou, leude, schal be lost, \u00feat art of lyf noble!\n 676 [C] To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not e\u00fee;\n         Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene,\n         & haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue wor\u00feed;\n     [D] A lowande leder of lede3 in londe hym wel seme3,\n 680     & so had better haf ben \u00feen britned to no3t,\n     [E] Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angarde3 pryde.\n         Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take,\n         As kny3te3 in caueloun3 on cryst-masse gomne3!\"\n 684 [F] Wel much wat3 \u00fee warme water \u00feat waltered of y3en,\n         When \u00feat semly syre so3t fro \u00feo wone3\n                 \u00feat[1] daye;\n             He made non abode,\n 688         Bot wy3tly went hys way,\n     [G]     Mony wylsum way he rode,\n             \u00dee bok as I herde say.\n\n[Sidenote A: He spurs his horse and goes on his way.]\n[Sidenote B: All that saw that seemly one mourned in their hearts.]\n[Sidenote C: They declared that his equal was not to be found upon earth.]\n[Sidenote D: It would have been better for him to have been a leader of\n  men,]\n[Sidenote E: than to die by the hands of \"an elvish man.\"]\n[Sidenote F: Much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day.]\n[Sidenote G: Meanwhile many a weary way goes Sir Gawayne.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. \u00fead.]\n\n      IX.\n\n     [A] Now ride3 \u00feis renk \u00feur3 \u00fee ryalme of Logres,\n 692     Sir Gauan on Gode3 halue, \u00fea3 hym no gomen \u00feo3t;\n         Oft, leudle3 alone, he lenge3 on ny3te3,\n         \u00deer he fonde no3t hym byfore \u00fee fare \u00feat he lyked;\n     [B] Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frythe3 & doune3,\n 696     Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,\n     [C] Til \u00feat he ne3ed ful noghe[1] in to \u00fee Nor\u00fee Wale3;\n         Alle \u00fee iles of Anglesay on lyft half he halde3,\n         & fare3 ouer \u00fee forde3 by \u00fee for-londe3,\n 700 [D] Ouer at \u00fee Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk\n         In \u00fee wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde \u00feer bot lyte\n     [E] \u00deat au\u00feer God o\u00feer gome wyth goud hert louied.         [Fol. 100b]\n         & ay he frayned, as he ferde, at freke3 \u00feat he met,\n 704 [F] If \u00feay hade herde any karp of a kny3t grene,\n         In any grounde \u00feer-aboute, of \u00fee grene chapel;[2]\n         & al nykked hym wyth nay, \u00feat neuer in her lyue\n     [G] \u00deay se3e neuer no segge \u00feat wat3 of suche hwe3\n 708             of grene.\n             \u00dee kny3t tok gates straunge,\n             In mony a bonk vnbene,\n     [H]     His cher ful oft con chaunge,\n 712         \u00deat chapel er he my3t sene.\n\n[Sidenote A: Now rides the knight through the realms of England.]\n[Sidenote B: He has no companion but his horse.]\n[Sidenote C: No men does he see till he approaches North Wales.]\n[Sidenote D: From Holyhead he passes into Wirral.]\n[Sidenote E: There he finds but few that loved God or man.]\n[Sidenote F: He enquires after the Green Knight of the Green Chapel,]\n[Sidenote G: but can gain no tidings of him.]\n[Sidenote H: His cheer oft changed before he found the Chapel.]\n[Footnote 1: nyghe (?).]\n[Footnote 2: MS. clapel.]\n\n      X.\n\n     [A] Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contraye3 straunge,\n         Fer floten fro his frende3 fremedly he ryde3;\n     [B] At vche war\u00fee o\u00feer water \u00feer \u00fee wy3e passed,\n 716     He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were,\n         & \u00feat so foule & so felle, \u00feat fe3t hym by-hode;\n     [C] So mony meruayl hi mount \u00feer \u00fee mon fynde3,\n         Hit were to tore for to telle of \u00fee ten\u00fee dole.\n 720 [D] Sumwhyle wyth worme3 he werre3, & with wolues als,\n         Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, \u00feat woned in \u00fee knarre3,\n     [E] Bo\u00fee wyth bulle3 & bere3, & bore3 o\u00feer-quyle,\n         & etayne3, \u00feat hym a-nelede, of \u00fee he3e felle;\n 724 [F] Nade he ben du3ty & dry3e, & dry3tyn had serued,\n         Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte.\n     [G] For werre wrathed hym not so much, \u00feat wynter was wors,\n         When \u00fee colde cler water fro \u00fee cloude3 schadden,\n 728     & fres er hit falle my3t to \u00fee fale er\u00fee;\n         Ner slayn wyth \u00fee slete he sleped in his yrnes,\n         Mo ny3te3 \u00feen in-noghe in naked rokke3,\n         \u00deer as claterande fro \u00fee crest \u00fee colde borne renne3,\n 732     & henged he3e ouer his hede in hard \u00ffsse-ikkles.\n     [H] \u00deus in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde,\n         Bi contray carye3 \u00feis kny3t, tyl kryst-masse euen,\n                 al one;\n 736         \u00dee kny3t wel \u00feat tyde,\n     [I]     To Mary made his mone.\n             \u00deat ho hym red to ryde,\n             & wysse hym to sum wone.                           [Fol. 101.]\n\n[Sidenote A: Many a cliff he climbed over;]\n[Sidenote B: many a ford and stream he crossed, and everywhere he found a\n  foe.]\n[Sidenote C: It were too tedious to tell the tenth part of his adventures]\n[Sidenote D: with serpents, wolves, and wild men;]\n[Sidenote E: with bulls, bears, and boars.]\n[Sidenote F: Had he not been both brave and good, doubtless he had been\n  dead.]\n[Sidenote G: The sharp winter was far worse than any war that ever troubled\n  him.]\n[Sidenote H: Thus in peril he travels till Christmas-eve.]\n[Sidenote I: To the Virgin Mary he prays to guide him to some abode.]\n\n      XI.\n\n 740 [A] Bi a mounte on \u00fee morne meryly he rydes,\n         Into a forest ful dep, \u00feat ferly wat3 wylde,\n         Hi3e hille3 on vche a halue, & holt wode3 vnder,\n     [B] Of hore oke3 fill hoge a hundreth to-geder;\n 744     \u00dee hasel & \u00fee ha3-\u00feorne were harled al samen,\n         With ro3e raged mosse rayled ay-where,\n     [C] With mony brydde3 vnbly\u00fee vpon bare twyges,\n         \u00deat pitosly \u00feer piped for pyne of \u00fee colde.\n 748     \u00dee gome vpon Gryngolet glyde3 hem vnder,\n     [D] \u00deur3 mony misy & myre, mon al hym one,\n         Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde,\n         To se \u00fee seruy[1] of \u00feat syre, \u00feat on \u00feat self ny3t\n 752     Of a burde wat3 borne, oure baret to quelle;\n     [E] & \u00feerfore sykyng he sayde, \"I be-seche \u00fee, lorde,\n         & Mary, \u00feat is myldest moder so dere.\n         Of sum herber, \u00feer he3ly I my3t here masse.\n 756     Ande \u00fey matyne3 to-morne, mekely I ask,\n         & \u00feer-to prestly I pray my pater & aue,\n                 & crede.\"\n             He rode in his prayere,\n 760         & cryed for his mysdede,\n     [F]     He sayned hym in sy\u00fees sere,\n             & sayde \"cros Kryst me spede!\"\n\n[Sidenote A: On the morn Sir Gawayne finds himself in a deep forest,]\n[Sidenote B: where were old oaks many a hundred.]\n[Sidenote C: Many sad birds upon bare twigs piped piteously for the cold.]\n[Sidenote D: Through many a mire he goes, that he may celebrate the birth\n  of Christ.]\n[Sidenote E: He beseeches the Virgin Mary to direct him to some lodging\n  where he may hear mass.]\n[Sidenote F: Blessing himself, he says, \"Cross of Christ, speed me!\"]\n[Footnote 1: seruyce (?).]\n\n      XII.\n\n     [A] Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot \u00ferye,\n 764     Er he wat3 war in \u00fee wod of a won in a mote.\n     [B] Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder bo3e3,\n         Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi \u00fee diches;\n     [C] A castel \u00fee comlokest \u00feat euer kny3t a3te,\n 768     Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,\n         With a pyked palays, pyned ful \u00feik,\n         \u00deat vmbe-te3e mony tre mo \u00feen two myle.\n         \u00deat holde on \u00feat on syde \u00fee ha\u00feel auysed,\n 772 [D] As hit schemered & schon \u00feur3 \u00fee schyre oke3;\n         \u00deenne hat3 he hendly of his helme, & he3ly he \u00feonke3\n         Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, \u00feat gentyle ar bo\u00fee,\n         \u00deat cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened.     [Fol. 101b.]\n 776     \"Now bone hostel,\" co\u00fee \u00fee burne, \"I be-seche yow 3ette!\"\n         \u00deenne gedere3 he to Gryngolet with \u00fee gilt hele3,\n     [E] & he ful chauncely hat3 chosen to \u00fee chef gate,\n         \u00deat bro3t bremly \u00fee burne to \u00fee bryge ende,\n 780             in haste;\n     [F]     \u00dee bryge wat3 breme vp-brayde,\n             \u00dee 3ate3 wer stoken faste,\n             \u00dee walle3 were wel arayed,\n 784         Hit dut no wynde3 blaste.\n\n[Sidenote A: Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice]\n[Sidenote B: when he saw a dwelling in the wood, set on a hill,]\n[Sidenote C: the comeliest castle that knight ever owned.]\n[Sidenote D: It shone as the sun through the bright oaks.]\n[Sidenote E: Sir Gawayne goes to the chief gate,]\n[Sidenote F: and finds the draw-bridge raised, and the gates shut fast.]\n\n      XIII.\n\n     [A] \u00dee burne bode on bonk, \u00feat on blonk houed,\n         Of \u00fee depe double dich \u00feat drof to \u00fee place,\n         \u00dee walle wod in \u00fee water wonderly depe,\n 788 [B] Ande eft a ful huge he3t hit haled vpon lofte,\n         Of harde hewen ston vp to \u00fee table3,\n     [C] Enbaned vnder \u00fee abataylment, in \u00fee best lawe;\n         & sy\u00feen garyte3 ful gaye gered bi-twene,\n 792     Wyth mony luflych loupe, \u00feat louked ful clene;\n         A better barbican \u00feat burne blusched vpon neuer;\n         & innermore he be-helde \u00feat halle ful hy3e,\n     [D] Towre telded bytwene trochet ful \u00feik,\n 796     Fayre fylyole3 \u00feat fy3ed, & ferlyly long,\n     [E] With coruon coprounes, craftyly sle3e;\n         Chalk whyt chymnees \u00feer ches he in-no3e,\n         Vpon bastel roue3, \u00feat blenked ful quyte;\n 800     So mony pynakle payntet wat3 poudred ay quere,\n         Among \u00fee castel carnele3, clambred so \u00feik,\n         \u00deat pared out of papure purely hit semed.\n     [F] \u00dee fre freke on \u00fee fole hit fayr in-n[o]ghe \u00feo3t,\n 804     If he my3t keuer to com \u00fee cloyster wyth-inne,\n         To herber in \u00feat hostel, whyl halyday lested\n                 auinant;\n     [G]     He calde, & sone \u00feer com\n 808         A porter pure plesaunt,\n             On \u00fee wal his ernd he nome,\n             & haylsed \u00fee kny3t erraunt.\n\n[Sidenote A: The knight abides on the bank,]\n[Sidenote B: and observes the \"huge height,\"]\n[Sidenote C: with its battlements and watch towers.]\n[Sidenote D: Bright and long were its round towers,]\n[Sidenote E: with their well-made capitals.]\n[Sidenote F: He thinks it fair enough if he might only come within the\n  cloister.]\n[Sidenote G: He calls, and soon there comes a porter to know the knight's\n  errand.]\n\n      XIV.\n\n     [A] \"Gode sir,\" quod Gawan, \"wolde3 \u00feou go myn ernde,\n 812     To \u00fee he3 lorde of \u00feis hous, herber to craue?\"\n         \"3e, Peter,\" quod \u00fee porter, \"& purely I trowe,[1]     [Fol. 102.]\n     [B] \u00deat 3e be, wy3e, welcum to won quyle yow lyke3.\"\n         \u00deen 3ede \u00feat wy3e a3ayn awy\u00fee,\n 816     & folke frely hym wyth, to fonge \u00fee kny3t;\n     [C] \u00deay let doun \u00fee grete dra3t, & derely out 3eden,\n         & kneled doun on her knes vpon \u00fee colde er\u00fee,\n         To welcum \u00feis ilk wy3, as wor\u00fey hom \u00feo3t;\n 820 [D] \u00deay 3olden hym \u00fee brode 3ate, 3arked vp wyde,\n         & he hem raysed rekenly, & rod ouer \u00fee brygge;\n         Sere segge3 hym sesed by sadel, quel[2] he ly3t,\n     [E] & sy\u00feen stabeled his stede stif men in-no3e.\n 824 [F] Kny3te3 & swyere3 comen doun \u00feenne,\n         For to bryng \u00feis burne[3] wyth blys in-to halle;\n     [G] Quen he hef vp his helme, \u00feer hi3ed in-noghe\n         For to hent hit at his honde, \u00fee hende to seruen,\n 828     His bronde & his blasoun bo\u00fee \u00feay token.\n         \u00deen haylsed he ful hendly \u00feo ha\u00feele3 vch one,\n         & mony proud mon \u00feer presed, \u00feat prynce to honour;\n         Alle hasped in his he3 wede to halle \u00feay hym wonnen,\n 832     \u00deer fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned.\n     [H] \u00deenne \u00fee lorde of \u00fee lede loute3 fro his chambre,\n         For to mete wyth menske \u00fee mon on \u00fee flor;\n         He sayde, \"3e ar welcum to welde as yow lyke3,\n 836     \u00deat here is, al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle\n                 & welde.\"\n             \"Graunt mercy,\" quod Gawayn,\n             \"\u00deer Kryst hit yow for-3elde,\"\n 840 [I]     As freke3 \u00feat semed fayn,\n             Ay\u00feer o\u00feer in arme3 con felde.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Good sir,\" says Gawayne, \"ask the high lord of this house to\n  grant me a lodging.\"]\n[Sidenote B: \"You are welcome to dwell here as long as you like,\" replied\n  the porter.]\n[Sidenote C: The draw-bridge is let down,]\n[Sidenote D: and the gate is opened wide to receive him.]\n[Sidenote E: His horse is well stabled.]\n[Sidenote F: Knights and squires bring Gawayne into the hall.]\n[Sidenote G: Many a one hastens to take his helmet and sword.]\n[Sidenote H: The lord of the country bids him welcome,]\n[Sidenote I: and they embrace each other.]\n[Footnote 1: trowoe, MS.]\n[Footnote 2: quyle (?) or quen (?).]\n[Footnote 3: buurne, MS.]\n\n      XV.\n\n     [A] Gawayn gly3t on \u00fee gome \u00feat godly hym gret,\n     [B] & \u00feu3t hit a bolde burne \u00feat \u00fee bur3 a3te,\n 844     A hoge ha\u00feel for \u00fee none3, & of hyghe elde;[1]\n     [C] Brode bry3t wat3 his berde, & al beuer hwed,\n         Sturne stif on \u00fee stry\u00fe\u00fee on stal-worth schonke3,\n     [D] Felle face as \u00fee fyre, & fre of hys speche;\n 848     & wel hym semed for so\u00fee, as \u00fee segge \u00feu3t,\n         To lede a lortschyp in lee of leude3 ful gode.\n     [E] \u00dee lorde hym charred to a chambre, & chefly cumaunde3[2]   [Fol.]\n         To delyuer hym a leude, hym lo3ly to serue;                [102b.]\n 852     & \u00feere were boun at his bode burne3 in-no3e,\n     [F] \u00deat bro3t hym to a bry3t boure, \u00feer beddyng wat3 noble,\n         Of cortynes of clene sylk, wyth cler golde hemme3,\n     [G] & couertore3 ful curious, with comlych pane3,\n 856     Of bry3t blaunnier a-boue enbrawded bisyde3,\n         Rudele3 rennande on rope3, red golde rynge3,\n     [H] Tapyte3 ty3t to \u00fee wo3e, of tuly & tars,\n         & vnder fete, on \u00fee flet, of fol3ande sute.\n 860 [I] \u00deer he wat3 dispoyled, wyth speche3 of myer\u00fee,\n         \u00dee burn of his bruny, & of his bry3t wede3;\n     [J] Ryche robes ful rad renkke3 hem[3] bro3ten,\n         For to charge, & to chaunge, & chose of \u00fee best.\n 864     Sone as he on hent, & happed \u00feer-inne,\n         \u00deat sete on hym[4] semly, wyth saylande skyrte3,\n     [K] \u00dee ver by his uisage verayly hit semed\n         Wel ne3 to vche ha\u00feel alle on hwes,\n 868     Lowande & lufly, alle his lymme3 vnder,\n     [L] \u00deat a comloker kny3t neuer Kryst made,\n                 hem \u00feo3t;\n             Whe\u00feen in worlde he were,\n 872         Hit semed as he my3t\n             Be prynce with-outen pere,\n             In felde \u00feer felle men fy3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: Gawayne looks on his host;]\n[Sidenote B: a big bold one he seemed.]\n[Sidenote C: Beaver-hued was his broad beard,]\n[Sidenote D: and his face as \"fell as the fire.\"]\n[Sidenote E: The lord leads Gawayne to a chamber, and assigns him a page to\n  wait upon him.]\n[Sidenote F: In this bright bower was noble bedding;]\n[Sidenote G: the curtains were of pure silk with golden hems;]\n[Sidenote H: Tarsic tapestries covered the walls and the floor.]\n[Sidenote I: Here the knight doffed his armour,]\n[Sidenote J: and put on rich robes,]\n[Sidenote K: which well became him.]\n[Sidenote L: A more comely knight Christ never made.]\n[Footnote 1: eldee, MS.]\n[Footnote 2: clesly, MS.]\n[Footnote 3: hym (?).]\n[Footnote 4: MS. hyn.]\n\n      XVI.\n\n     [A] A cheyer by-fore \u00fee chemn\u00e9, \u00feer charcole brenned,\n 876     Wat3 gray\u00feed for sir Gawan, gray\u00feely with clo\u00fee3,\n         Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, \u00fea[t] koynt wer bo\u00fee;\n     [B] & \u00feenne a mere mantyle wat3 on \u00feat mon cast,\n         Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche,\n 880     & fayre furred wyth-inne with felle3 of \u00fee best,\n         Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of \u00fee same;\n         & he sete in \u00feat settel semlych ryche,\n         & achaufed hym chefly,[1] & \u00feenne his cher mended.\n 884 [C] Sone wat3 telded vp a tapit, on treste3 ful fayre,\n     [D] Clad wyth a clene clo\u00fee, \u00feat cler quyt schewed,\n         Sanap, & salure, & syluer-in spone3;\n         \u00dee wy3e wesche at his wylle, & went to his mete        [Fol. 103.]\n 888     Segge3 hym serued semly in-no3e,\n     [E] Wyth sere sewes & sete,[2] sesounde of \u00fee best,\n         Double felde, as hit falle3, & fele kyn fische3;\n     [F] Summe baken in bred, summe brad on \u00fee glede3,\n 892 [G] Summe so\u00feen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces,\n         & ay sawes[3] so sle3e3, \u00feat \u00fee segge lyked.\n         \u00dee freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte,\n     [H] Ful hendely, quen alle \u00fee ha\u00feeles re-hayted hym at one3\n 896             as hende;\n             \"\u00deis penaunce now 3e take,\n             & eft hit schal amende;\"\n     [I]     \u00deat mon much mer\u00fee con make.\n 900         For wyn in his hed \u00feat wende.\n\n[Sidenote A: A chair is placed for Sir Gawayne before the fireplace.]\n[Sidenote B: A mantle of fine linen, richly embroidered, is thrown over\n  him.]\n[Sidenote C: A table is soon raised,]\n[Sidenote D: and the knight, having washed, proceeded to meat.]\n[Sidenote E: He is served with numerous dishes;]\n[Sidenote F: with fish baked and broiled,]\n[Sidenote G: or boiled and seasoned with spices.]\n[Sidenote H: He calls it a full noble feast,]\n[Sidenote I: and much mirth he makes, for the wine is in his head.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. cefly.]\n[Footnote 2: swete (?).]\n[Footnote 3: sewes (?).]\n\n      XVII.\n\n     [A] \u00deenne wat3 spyed & spured vpon spare wyse.\n         Bi preue poynte3 of \u00feat prynce, put to hym-seluen,\n         \u00deat he be-knew cortaysly of \u00fee court \u00feat he were,\n 904 [B] \u00deat a\u00feel Arthure \u00fee hende halde3 hym one,\n         \u00deat is \u00fee ryche ryal kyng of \u00fee rounde table;\n         & hit wat3 Wawen hym-self \u00feat in \u00feat won sytte3,\n         Comen to \u00feat krystmasse, as case hym \u00feen lymped.\n 908 [C] When \u00fee lorde hade lerned \u00feat he \u00fee leude hade,\n         Loude la3ed he \u00feerat, so lef hit hym \u00feo3t,\n     [D] & alle \u00fee men in \u00feat mote maden much joye,\n         To apere in his presense prestly \u00feat tyme,\n 912     \u00deat alle prys, & prowes, & pured \u00feewes\n         Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,\n         By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is \u00fee most.\n     [E] Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,\n 916 [F] \"Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of \u00feewe3,\n         & \u00fee teccheles termes of talkyng noble,\n         Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,\n     [G] Syn we haf fonged \u00feat fyne fader of nurture;\n 920     God hat3 geuen vus his grace godly for so\u00fee,\n         \u00deat such a gest as Gawan graunte3 vus to haue,\n         When burne3 bly\u00fee of his bur\u00fee schal sitte\n                 & synge.\n 924         In menyng of manere3 mere,\n             \u00deis burne now schal vus bryng,                    [Fol. 103b.]\n     [H]     I hope \u00feat may hym here,\n             Schal lerne of luf-talkyng.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,]\n[Sidenote B: tells the prince that he is of Arthur's court.]\n[Sidenote C: When this was made known,]\n[Sidenote D: great was the joy in the hall.]\n[Sidenote E: Each one said softly to his mate,]\n[Sidenote F: \"Now we shall see courteous manners and hear noble speech,]\n[Sidenote G: for we have amongst us the 'father of nurture.']\n[Sidenote H: He that may him hear shall learn of love-talking.\"]\n\n      XVIII.\n\n 928 [A] Bi \u00feat \u00fee diner wat3 done, & \u00fee dere vp,\n         Hit wat3 ne3 at \u00fee niy3t ne3ed \u00fee tyme;\n         Chaplayne3[1] to \u00fee chapeles chosen \u00fee gate,\n         Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as \u00feay schulden,\n 932 [B] To \u00fee hersum euensong of \u00fee hy3e tyde.\n         \u00dee lorde loutes \u00feerto, & \u00fee lady als,\n         In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entre3;\n         Gawan glyde3 ful gay, & gos \u00feeder sone;\n 936     \u00dee lorde laches hym by \u00fee lappe, & lede3 hym to sytte,\n         & cou\u00fely hym knowe3, & calle3 hym his nome,\n         & sayde he wat3 \u00fee welcomest wy3e of \u00fee worlde;\n     [C] & he hym \u00feonkked \u00feroly, & ay\u00feer halched o\u00feer.\n 940     & seten soberly samen \u00fee seruise-quyle;\n         \u00deenne lyst \u00fee lady to loke on \u00fee kny3t.\n     [D] \u00deenne com ho of hir closet, with mony cler burde3,\n         Ho wat3 \u00fee fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre,\n 944     & of compas, & colour, & costes of alle o\u00feer,\n     [E] & wener \u00feen Wenore, as \u00fee wy3e \u00feo3t.\n         He ches \u00feur3 \u00fee chaunsel, to cheryche \u00feat hende;\n     [F] An o\u00feer lady hir lad bi \u00fee lyft honde,\n 948     \u00deat wat3 alder \u00feen ho, an auncian hit semed,\n         & he3ly honowred with ha\u00feele3 aboute.\n     [G] Bot yn-lyke on to loke \u00feo ladyes were,\n     [H] For if \u00fee 3onge wat3 3ep, 3ol3e wat3 \u00feat o\u00feer;\n 952     Riche red on \u00feat on rayled ay quere,\n     [I] Rugh ronkled cheke3 \u00feat o\u00feer on rolled;\n         Kerchofes of \u00feat on wyth mony cler perle3\n     [J] Hir brest & hir bry3t \u00ferote bare displayed,\n 956     Schon schyrer \u00feen snawe, \u00feat scheder[2] on hille3;\n         \u00deat o\u00feer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer \u00fee swyre,\n         Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles,\n     [K] Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere,\n 960     Toret & treieted with tryfle3 aboute,\n     [L] \u00deat no3t wat3 bare of \u00feat burde bot \u00fee blake bro3es.   [Fol. 104.]\n         \u00dee tweyne y3en, & \u00fee nase, \u00fee naked lyppe3,\n         & \u00feose were soure to se, & sellyly blered;\n 964     A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,\n                 for gode;\n     [M]     Hir body wat3 schort & \u00feik.\n     [N]     Hir buttoke3 bay & brode,\n 968         More lykker-wys on to lyk,\n             Wat3 \u00feat scho hade on lode.\n\n[Sidenote A: After dinner the company go to the chapel,]\n[Sidenote B: to hear the evensong of the great season.]\n[Sidenote C: The lord of the castle and Sir Gawayne sit together during\n  service.]\n[Sidenote D: His wife, accompanied by her maids, leaves her seat.]\n[Sidenote E: She appeared even fairer than Guenever.]\n[Sidenote F: An older lady (an ancient one she seemed) led her by the\n  hand.]\n[Sidenote G: Very unlike were these two.]\n[Sidenote H: if the young one was fair the other was yellow,]\n[Sidenote I: and had rough and wrinkled cheeks.]\n[Sidenote J: The younger had breast and throat \"bare displayed.\"]\n[Sidenote K: The ancient one exposed only her \"black brows,\" her two eyes,]\n[Sidenote L: nose, and naked lips, all sour and bleared.]\n[Sidenote M: Her body was short and thick;]\n[Sidenote N: her buttocks broad and round.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. [claplayne3.]]\n[Footnote 2: schedes (?).]\n\n      XIX.\n\n     [A] When Gawayn gly3t on \u00feat gay, \u00feat graciously loked,\n         Wyth leue la3t of \u00fee lorde he went hem a3aynes;\n 972 [B] \u00dee alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,\n         \u00dee loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,\n     [C] He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;\n         \u00deay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3\n 976 [D] To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.\n         \u00deay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden\n     [E] To chambre, to chemn\u00e9, & chefly \u00feay asken\n     [F] Spyce3, \u00feat vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,\n 980     & \u00fee wynne-lych wyne \u00feer-with vche tyme.\n         \u00dee lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,\n         Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony sy\u00fee3.\n     [G] Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,\n 984     & wayned hom to wynne \u00fee worchip \u00feer-of,\n     [H] \u00deat most myr\u00fee my3t mene[1] \u00feat crystenmas whyle;\n         \"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth \u00fee best,\n         Er me wont \u00fee wede3, with help of my frende3.\"\n 988     \u00deus wyth la3ande lote3 \u00fee lorde hit tayt[2] make3,\n     [I] For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle\n                 \u00feat ny3t;\n             Til \u00feat hit wat3 tyme,\n 992         \u00dee kyng comaundet ly3t,\n     [J]     Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,\n             & to his bed hym di3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: With permission of the lord,]\n[Sidenote B: Sir Gawayne salutes the elder,]\n[Sidenote C: but the younger he kisses,]\n[Sidenote D: and begs to be her servant.]\n[Sidenote E: To chamber all go,]\n[Sidenote F: where spices and wine are served.]\n[Sidenote G: The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear.]\n[Sidenote H: He who makes most mirth is to win it.]\n[Sidenote I: Night approaches, and then]\n[Sidenote J: Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest.]\n[Footnote 1: meue (?).]\n[Footnote 2: layt (?).]\n\n      XX.\n\n     [A] On \u00fee morne, as vch mon myne3 \u00feat tyme,\n 996 [B] [\u00de]at dry3tyn for oure destyn\u00e9 to de3e wat3 borne,\n         Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;\n     [C] So did hit \u00feere on \u00feat day, \u00feur3 dayntes mony;\n         Bo\u00fee at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt              [Fol. 104b.]\n1000     Derf men vpon dece drest of \u00fee best.\n     [D] \u00dee olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3;\n         \u00dee lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;\n     [E] Gawan & \u00fee gay burde to-geder \u00feay seten,\n1004     Euen in-mydde3, as \u00fee messe metely come;\n         & sy\u00feen \u00feur3 al \u00fee sale, as hem best semed,\n     [F] Bi vche grome at his degre gray\u00feely wat3 serued.\n         \u00deer wat3 mete, \u00feer wat3 myr\u00fee, \u00feer wat3 much ioye,\n1008     \u00deat for to telle \u00feerof hit me tene were,\n         & to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture;\n     [G] Bot 3et I wot \u00feat Wawen & \u00fee wale burde\n         Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder,\n1012     \u00deur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3,\n         Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fyl\u00fee;\n         & hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen,\n                 in vayres;\n1016 [H]     Trumpe3 & nakerys,\n             Much pypyng \u00feer repayres,\n             Vche mon tented hys,\n             & \u00feay two tented \u00feayres.\n\n[Sidenote A: On Christmas morn,]\n[Sidenote B: joy reigns in every dwelling in the world.]\n[Sidenote C: So did it in the castle where our knight abode.]\n[Sidenote D: The lord and \"the old ancient wife\" sit together.]\n[Sidenote E: Gawayne sits by the wife of his host.]\n[Sidenote F: It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the\n  joy that abounded everywhere.]\n[Sidenote G: Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from\n  each other's conversation.]\n[Sidenote H: Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds.]\n\n      XXI.\n\n1020 [A] Much dut wat3 \u00feer dryuen \u00feat day & \u00feat o\u00feer,\n         & \u00fee \u00feryd as \u00fero \u00feronge in \u00feerafter;\n     [B] \u00dee ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here,\n         & wat3 \u00fee last of \u00fee layk, leude3 \u00feer \u00feo3ten.\n1024     \u00deer wer gestes to go vpon \u00fee gray morne,\n         For-\u00fey wonderly \u00feay woke, & \u00fee wyn dronken,\n         Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3;\n     [C] At \u00fee last, when hit wat3 late, \u00feay lachen her leue,\n1028     Vchon to wende on his way, \u00feat wat3 wy3e stronge.\n         Gawan gef hym god-day, \u00fee god mon hym lachche3,\n         Ledes hym to his awen chambre, \u00fe[e] chymn\u00e9 bysyde,\n     [D] & \u00feere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym \u00feonkke3,\n1032     Of \u00fee wynne worschip &[1] he hym wayned hade,\n         As to honour his hous on \u00feat hy3e tyde,\n         & enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere.\n         \"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me wor\u00fee3 \u00fee better,\n1036     \u00deat Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest.\"     [Fol. 105.]\n         \"Grant merci[2] sir,\" quod Gawayn, \"in god fayth hit is yowre3,\n         Al \u00fee honour is your awen, \u00fee he3e kyng yow 3elde;\n         & I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest,\n1040     As I am halden \u00feer-to, in hy3e & in lo3e,\n                 bi ri3t.\"\n     [E]     \u00dee lorde fast can hym payne,\n             To holde lenger \u00fee kny3t,\n1044         To hym answre3 Gawayn,\n             Bi non way \u00feat he my3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: Great was the joy for three days.]\n[Sidenote B: St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival.]\n[Sidenote C: On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the\n  castle.]\n[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure\n  of his visit.]\n[Sidenote E: He endeavours to keep the knight at his court.]\n[Footnote 1: \u00feat (?).]\n[Footnote 2: nerci, in MS.]\n\n      XXII.\n\n     [A] Then frayned \u00fee freke ful fayre at him-seluen,\n         Quat derne[1] dede had hym dryuen, at \u00feat dere tyme,\n1048     So kenly fro \u00fee kynge3 kourt to kayre al his one,\n         Er \u00fee halidaye3 holly were halet out of toun?\n     [B] \"For so\u00fee sir,\" quod \u00fee segge, \"3e sayn bot \u00fee traw\u00fee\n         A he3e ernde & a hasty me hade fro \u00feo wone3,\n1052     For I am sumned my selfe to sech to a place,\n         I wot[2] in worlde wheder warde to wende, hit to fynde;\n         I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,\n         For alle \u00fee londe in-wyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!\n1056     For-\u00fey, sir, \u00feis enquest I require yow here,\n     [C] \u00deat 3e me telle with traw\u00fee, if euer 3e tale herde\n         Of \u00fee grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stonde3,\n         & of \u00fee kny3t \u00feat hit kepes, of colour of grene?\n1060     \u00deer wat3 stabled bi statut a steuen vus by-twene,\n     [D] To mete \u00feat mon at \u00feat mere, 3if I my3t last;\n         & of \u00feat ilk nw3ere hot neked now wonte3,\n         & I wolde loke on \u00feat lede, if God me let wolde,\n1064     Gladloker, bi Godde3 sun, \u00feen any god welde!\n         For-\u00fei, I-wysse, bi 3owre wylle, wende me bi-houes,\n     [E] Naf I now to busy bot bare \u00fere daye3,\n         & me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde.\"\n1068 [F] \u00deenne la3ande quod \u00fee lorde, \"now leng \u00fee by-houes,\n         For I schal teche yow to \u00fea[t] terme bi \u00fee tyme3 ende,\n         \u00dee grene chapayle vpon grounde, greue yow no more;\n         Bot 3e schal be in yowre bed, burne, at \u00feyn ese,\n1072     Quyle forth dayej, & ferk on pe fyrst of pe 3ere,\n         & cum to \u00feat merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow like3   [Fol. 105b]\n                 in spenne;\n             Dowelle3 whyle new 3eres daye,\n1076         & rys, & rayke3 \u00feenne,\n     [G]     Mon schal yow sette in waye,\n             Hit is not two myle henne.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: He desires to know what had driven Sir Gawayne from Arthur's\n  court before the end of the Christmas holidays.]\n[Sidenote B: The knight replies that \"a high errand and a hasty one\" had\n  forced him to leave the court.]\n[Sidenote C: He asks his host whether he has ever heard of the Green\n  Chapel,]\n[Sidenote D: for he has to be there on New Year's-day.]\n[Sidenote E: He wonld as lief die as fail in his errand.]\n[Sidenote F: The prince tells Sir Gawayne that he will teach him the way.]\n[Sidenote G: The Green chapel is not more than two miles from the castle.]\n[Footnote 1: derue (?).]\n[Footnote 2: not (?).]\n\n      XXIII.\n\n     [A] \u00deenne wat3 Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he la3ed,--\n1080     \"Now I \u00feonk yow \u00feryuandely \u00feur3 alle o\u00feer \u00feynge,\n     [B] Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle\n         Dowelle, & elle3 do quat 3e demen.\"\n         \u00deenne sesed hym \u00fee syre, & set hym bysyde,\n1084 [C] Let \u00fee ladie3 be fette, to lyke hem \u00fee better;\n         \u00deer wat3 seme solace by hem-self stille;\n         \u00dee lorde let for luf lote3 so myry,\n         As wy3 \u00feat wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he my3t.\n1088     \u00deenne he carped to \u00fee kny3t, criande loude,\n     [D] \"3e han demed to do \u00fee dede \u00feat I bidde;\n         Wyl 3e halde \u00feis hes here at \u00feys one3?\"\n         \"3e sir, for-so\u00fee,\" sayd \u00fee segge trwe,\n1092     \"Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest.\"\n         \"For 3e haf trauayled,\" quod \u00fee tulk, \"towen fro ferre,\n         & sy\u00feen waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,\n     [E] Nau\u00feer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, so\u00fely I knowe;\n1096     3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,\n     [F] To morn quyle \u00fee messe-quyle, & to mete wende,\n         When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, \u00feat wyth yow schal sitte,\n         & comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,\n1100             3e lende;\n             & I schal erly ryse,\n             On huntyng wyl I wende.\"\n     [G]     Gauayn grante3 alle \u00feyse,\n1104         Hym heldande, as \u00fee hende.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then was Gawayne glad,]\n[Sidenote B: and consents to tarry awhile at the castle.]\n[Sidenote C: The ladies are brought in to solace him.]\n[Sidenote D: The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one\n  request;]\n[Sidenote E: That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,]\n[Sidenote F: and then go to meat with his hostess.]\n[Sidenote G: Gawayne accedes to his request.]\n\n      XXIV.\n\n     [A] \"3et firre,\" quod \u00fee freke, \"a forwarde we make;\n         Quat-so-euer I wynne in \u00fee wod, hit wor\u00fee3 to youre3,\n     [B] & quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me \u00feer-forne;\n1108     Swete, swap we so, sware with traw\u00fee,\n         Que\u00feer, leude, so lymp lere o\u00feer better.\"\n         \"Bi God,\" quod Gawayn \u00fee gode, \"I grant \u00feer-tylle,\n         & \u00feat yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me \u00feynkes.         [Fol. 106.]\n1112 [C] \"Who bringe3 vus \u00feis beuerage, \u00feis bargayn is maked:\"\n         So sayde \u00fee lorde of \u00feat lede; \u00feay la3ed vchone,\n         \u00deay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,[1]\n         \u00deise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle \u00feat hem lyked;\n1116     & sy\u00feen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3\n         \u00deay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,\n         Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.\n     [D] With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,\n1120     Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at \u00fee laste,\n                 ful softe;\n             To bed 3et er \u00feay 3ede,\n             Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;\n1124         \u00dee olde lorde of \u00feat leude,[2]\n             Cow\u00fee wel halde layk a-lofte.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Whatsoever,\" says the host, \"I win in the wood shall be\n  yours,]\n[Sidenote B: and what check you achieve shall be mine.\"]\n[Sidenote C: A bargain is made between them.]\n[Sidenote D: Night approaches and each \"to his bed was brought at the\n  last.\"]\n[Footnote 1: vntyl ny3te (?).]\n[Footnote 2: lede (?).]\n\n[FYTTE THE THIRD.]\n\n      I.\n\n     [A] Ful erly bifore \u00fee day \u00fee folk vp-rysen,\n         Gestes \u00feat go wolde, hor grome3 \u00feay calden,\n1128 [B] & \u00feay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel,\n         Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,\n         Richen hem \u00fee rychest, to ryde alle arayde,\n         Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles,\n1132 [C] Vche wy3e on his way, \u00feer hym wel lyked.\n     [D] \u00dee leue lorde of \u00fee londe wat3 not \u00fee last,\n         A-rayed for \u00fee rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony;\n     [E] Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,\n1136     With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue;\n     [F] By \u00feat \u00feat any day-ly3t lemed vpon er\u00fee,\n         He with his ha\u00feeles on hy3e horsses weren.\n     [G] \u00deenne \u00feise cacheres \u00feat cou\u00fee, cowpled hor hounde3,\n1140     Vnclosed \u00fee kenel dore, & calde hem \u00feer-oute,\n     [H] Blwe bygly in bugle3 \u00fere bare mote;\n         Braches bayed \u00feerfore, & breme noyse maked,\n     [I] & \u00feay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng \u00feat went;\n1144     A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,\n                 of \u00fee best;\n     [J]     To trystors vewters 3od,\n             Couples huntes of kest,\n1148         \u00deer ros for blaste3 gode,                         [Fol. 106b.]\n     [K]     Gret rurd in \u00feat forest.\n\n[Sidenote A: Before day-break folks uprise,]\n[Sidenote B: saddle their horses, and truss their mails.]\n[Sidenote C: Each goes where it pleases him best.]\n[Sidenote D: The noble lord of the land arrays himself for riding.]\n[Sidenote E: He eats a sop hastily and goes to mass.]\n[Sidenote F: Before day-light he and his men are on their horses.]\n[Sidenote G: Then the hounds are called out and coupled.]\n[Sidenote H: Three short notes are blown by the bugles.]\n[Sidenote I: A hundred hunters join in the chase.]\n[Sidenote J: To the stations the \"fewters\" go,]\n[Sidenote K: and the dogs are cast off.]\n\n      II.\n\n     [A] At \u00fee fyrst quethe of \u00fee quest quaked \u00fee wylde;\n         Der drof in \u00fee dale, doted for drede,\n1152     Hi3ed to \u00fee hy3e, bot heterly \u00feay were\n     [B] Restayed with \u00fee stablye, \u00feat stoutly ascryed;\n     [C] \u00deay let \u00fee hertte3 haf \u00fee gate, with \u00fee hy3e hedes,\n         \u00dee breme bukke3 also, with hor brode paume3;\n1156     For \u00fee fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme,\n         \u00deat \u00feer schulde no mon mene[1] to \u00fee male dere.\n     [D] \u00dee hinde3 were halden in, with hay & war,\n         \u00dee does dryuen with gret dyn to \u00fee depe slade3;\n1160     \u00deer my3t mon se, as \u00feay slypte, slentyng of arwes,\n     [E] At vche [\u00feat] wende vnder wande wapped a flone,\n         \u00deat bigly bote on \u00fee broun, with ful brode hede3,\n     [F] What! \u00feay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 \u00feay de3en.\n1164     & ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es,\n         Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after,\n     [G] Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten;\n         What wylde so at-waped wy3es \u00feat schotten,\n1168     Wat3 al to-raced & rent, at \u00fee resayt.\n         Bi \u00feay were tened at \u00fee hy3e, & taysed to \u00fee wattre3,\n         \u00dee lede3 were so lerned at \u00fee lo3e trysteres,\n         & \u00fee gre-hounde3 so grete, \u00feat geten hem bylyue,\n1172     & hem to fylched, as fast as freke3 my3t loke,\n                 \u00feer ry3t.\n     [H]     \u00dee lorde for blys abloy\n             Ful oft con launce & ly3t,\n1176 [I]     & drof \u00feat day wyth Ioy\n             Thus to \u00fee derk ny3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: Roused by the clamour the deer rush to the heights,]\n[Sidenote B: but are soon driven back.]\n[Sidenote C: The harts and bucks are allowed to pass,]\n[Sidenote D: but the hinds and does are driven back to the shades.]\n[Sidenote E: As they fly they are shot by the bowmen.]\n[Sidenote F: The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in\n  pursuit.]\n[Sidenote G: Those that escaped the arrows are killed by the hounds.]\n[Sidenote H: The lord waxes joyful in the chase,]\n[Sidenote I: which lasted till the approach of night.]\n[Footnote 1: meue (?).]\n\n      III.\n\n     [A] \u00deus layke3 \u00feis lorde by lynde wode3 eue3,\n         & G. \u00fee god mon, in gay bed lyge3,\n1180 [B] Lurkke3 quyl \u00fee day-ly3t lemed on \u00fee wowes,\n         Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;\n         & as in slomeryng he slode, sle3ly he herde\n     [C] A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;\n1184     & he heue3 vp his hed out of \u00fee clo\u00fees,\n         A corner of \u00fee cortyn he ca3t vp a lyttel,             [Fol. 107.]\n         & wayte3 warly \u00feider-warde, quat hit be my3t.\n     [D] Hit wat3 \u00fee ladi, loflyest to be-holde,\n1188     \u00deat dro3 \u00fee dor after hir ful dernly[1] & stylle,\n     [E] & bo3ed to-warde \u00fee bed; & \u00fee burne schamed.\n         & layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte.\n     [F] & ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde,\n1192 [G] Kest vp \u00fee cortyn, & creped with-inne,\n         & set hir ful softly on \u00fee bed-syde,\n         & lenged \u00feere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.\n         \u00dee lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,\n1196 [H] Compast in his concience to quat \u00feat cace my3t\n         Mene o\u00feer amount, to meruayle hym \u00feo3t;\n         Bot 3et he sayde in hym-self, \"more semly hit were\n         To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde.\"\n1200 [I] \u00feen he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned,\n     [J] & vn-louked his y3e-lydde3, & let as hym wondered,\n         & sayned hym, as bi his sa3e \u00fee sauer to worthe,\n                 with hande;\n1204         Wyth chynne & cheke ful swete,\n             Bo\u00fee quit & red in-blande,\n             Ful lufly con ho lete,\n             Wyth lyppe3 smal la3ande.\n\n[Sidenote A: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.]\n[Sidenote B: under \"coverture full clear\".]\n[Sidenote C: He hears a noise at his door.]\n[Sidenote D: A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly.]\n[Sidenote E: She approaches the bed.]\n[Sidenote F: Gawayne pretends to be asleep.]\n[Sidenote G: The lady casts up the curtain and sits on the bedside.]\n[Sidenote H: Gawayne has much wonder thereat.]\n[Sidenote I: He rouses himself up,]\n[Sidenote J: unlocks his eyes, and looks as if he were astonished.]\n[Footnote 1: deruly (?).]\n\n      IV.\n\n1208 [A] \"God moroun, sir Gawayn,\" sayde \u00feat fayr lady,\n         \"3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, \u00feat mon may slyde hider;\n         Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape,\n     [B] I schal bynde yow in your bedde, \u00feat be 3e trayst:\"\n1212     Al la3ande \u00fee lady lanced \u00feo bourde3.\n     [C] \"Goud moroun g[aye],\"[1] quod Gawayn \u00fee bly\u00fee,\n         \"Me schal wor\u00fee at your wille, & \u00feat me wel lyke3,\n         For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace,\n1216     & \u00feat is \u00fee best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;\"\n         & \u00feus he bourded a-3ayn with mony a bly\u00fee la3ter.\n     [D] \"Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, \u00feen leue me grante,\n         & de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse,\n1220     I wolde bo3e of \u00feis bed, & busk me better,\n         I schulde keuer \u00fee more comfort to karp yow wyth.\"\n     [E] \"Nay, for so\u00fee, beau sir,\" sayd \u00feat swete,             [Fol. 107b]\n         \"3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,\n1224 [F] I schal happe yow here \u00feat o\u00feer half als,\n         & sy\u00feen karp wyth my kny3t \u00feat I ka3t haue;\n     [G] For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are,\n         \u00deat alle \u00fee worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride;\n1228     Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed\n     [H] With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle \u00feat lyf bere.\n         & now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;\n     [I] \"My lorde & his lede3 ar on len\u00fee faren,\n1232 [J] O\u00feer burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als,\n     [K] \u00dee dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;\n     [L] & sy\u00feen I haue in \u00feis hous hym \u00feat al lyke3,\n         I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3,\n1236             with tale;\n     [M]     3e ar welcum to my cors,\n             Yowre awen won to wale,\n             Me be-houe3 of fyne force,\n1240 [N]     Your seruaunt be & schale.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Good morrow\", says the lady, \"ye are a careless sleeper to\n  let one enter thus.]\n[Sidenote B: I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure.\"]\n[Sidenote C: \"Good morrow,\" says the knight, \"I am well pleased to be at\n  your service;]\n[Sidenote D: but permit me to rise and dress myself.\"]\n[Sidenote E: \"Nay, beau sir,\" said that sweet one,]\n[Sidenote F: \"I shall hold talk with you here.]\n[Sidenote G: I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships.]\n[Sidenote H: We are by ourselves;]\n[Sidenote I: My lord and his men are far off.]\n[Sidenote J: Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens.]\n[Sidenote K: The door is safely closed.]\n[Sidenote L: Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my\n  time well while it lasts.]\n[Sidenote M: Ye are welcome to my body.]\n[Sidenote N: I shall be your servant.\"]\n[Footnote 1: This word is illegible in the MS.]\n\n      V.\n\n         \"In god fayth,\" quod Gawayn, \"gayn hit me \u00feynkke3,\n     [A] \u00dea3 I be not now he \u00feat 3e of speken;\n         To reche to such reuerence as 3e reherce here\n1244     I am wy3e vn-wor\u00fey, I wot wel my-seluen;\n         Bi God, I were glad, & yow god \u00feo3t,\n     [B] At sa3e o\u00feer at seruyce \u00feat I sette my3t\n         To \u00fee plesaunce of your prys, hit were a pure ioye.\"\n1248     \"In god fayth, sir Gawayn,\" quod \u00fee gay lady,\n         \"\u00dee prys & \u00fee prowes \u00feat plese3 al o\u00feer,\n         If I hit lakked, o\u00feer set at ly3t, hit were littel daynt\u00e9;\n     [C] Bot hit ar ladyes in-no3e, \u00feat leuer wer now\u00fee\n1252     Haf \u00fee hende in hor holde, as I \u00fee habbe here,\n         To daly witt derely your daynt\u00e9 worde3,\n         Keuer hem comfort, & colen her care3,\n     [D] \u00deen much of \u00fee garysourn o\u00feer golde \u00feat[1] \u00feay hauen;\n1256     Bot I louue[2] \u00feat ilk lorde \u00feat \u00fee lyfte halde3,\n         I haf hit holly in my honde \u00feat al desyres,\n                 \u00feur3e grace.\"\n             Scho made hym so gret chere,\n1260         \u00deat wat3 so fayr of face,                          [Fol. 108.]\n     [E]     \u00dee kny3t with speches skere,\n             A[n]swared to vche a cace.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"I am unworthy,\" says Sir Gawayne, \"to reach to such reverence\n  as ye rehearse.]\n[Sidenote B: I shall be glad, however, to please you by word, or service.\"]\n[Sidenote C: \"There are ladies,\" says his visitor, \"who would prefer thy\n  company]\n[Sidenote D: to much of the gold that they possess.\"]\n[Sidenote E: The knight answers the lady's questions.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. \u00feat \u00feat.]\n[Footnote 2: louie or loune (?).]\n\n      VI.\n\n     [A] \"Madame,\" quod \u00fee myry mon, \"Mary yow 3elde,\n1264     For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,\n         & o\u00feer ful much of o\u00feer folk fongen hor dede3;\n         Bot \u00fee daynt\u00e9 \u00feat \u00feay delen for my disert nysen,\n         Hit is \u00fee worchyp of your-self, \u00feat no3t hot wel conne3.\"\n1268 [B] \"Bi Mary,\" quod \u00fee menskful, \"me \u00feynk hit ano\u00feer;\n         For were I worth al \u00fee wone of wymmen alyue,\n         & al \u00fee wele of \u00fee worlde were in my honde,\n     [C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,\n1272     For \u00fee costes \u00feat I haf knowen vpun \u00fee kny3t here,\n         Of bewt\u00e9, & debonert\u00e9, & bly\u00fee semblaunt,\n     [D] & \u00feat I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,\n         \u00deer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen.\"\n1276     \"I-wysse, wor\u00fey,\" quod \u00fee wy3e, \"3e haf waled wel better,\n     [E] Bot I am proude of \u00fee prys \u00feat 3e put on me,\n         & soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,\n         & yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde.\"\n1280     \u00deus \u00feay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,\n         & ay \u00fee lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych;\n     [F] \u00dee freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.\n         \u00dea3 I were burde bry3test, \u00fee burde in mynde hade,\n1284     \u00dee lasse luf in his lode, for lur \u00feat he so3t,\n                 boute hone;\n             \u00dee dunte \u00feat schulde[2] hym deue,\n             & nede3 hit most be done;\n1288 [G]     \u00dee lady \u00feenn spek of leue.\n             He granted hir ful sone.\n\n[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that\n  of all others.]\n[Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,]\n[Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,]\n[Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth.]\n[Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and\n  faithful servant.]\n[Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of\n  love.]\n[Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne.]\n[Footnote 1: and (?)]\n[Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS.]\n\n      VII.\n\n     [A] \u00deenne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed.\n         & as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3:\n1292 [B] \"Now he \u00feat spede3 vche spech, \u00feis disport 3elde yow!\n         Bot \u00feat 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde.\"\n         \"Quer-fore?\" quod \u00fee freke, & freschly he aske3,\n         Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;\n1296     Bot \u00fee burde hym blessed, & bi \u00feis skyl sayde,\n         \"So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden,                   [Fol. 108b.]\n         & cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,\n     [C] Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,\n1300     Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,\n         Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende.\"\n     [D] \u00deen quod Wowen, \"I-wysse, wor\u00fee as yow lyke3,\n         I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3,\n1304     & fire[1] lest he displese yow, so[2] plede hit no more.\"\n     [E] Ho comes nerre with \u00feat, & cache3 hym in arme3,\n         Loute3 luflych adoun, & \u00fee leude kysse3;\n         \u00deay comly bykennen to Kryst ay\u00feer o\u00feer;\n1308     Ho dos hir forth at \u00fee dore, with-outen dyn more.\n         & he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,\n     [F] Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,\n         Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, bly\u00feely to masse,\n1312     & \u00feenne he meued to his mete, \u00feat menskly hym keped,\n     [G] & made myry al day til \u00fee mone rysed,\n                 with game;\n             With[3] neuer freke fayrer fonge,\n1316 [H]     Bitwene two so dyngne dame,\n             \u00dee alder & \u00fee 3onge,\n             Much solace set \u00feay same.\n\n[Sidenote A: With a laughing glance, she says,]\n[Sidenote B: \"I am doubtful whether ye be Gawayne.]\n[Sidenote C: Were it he, surely, ere this, he would have craved a kiss.\"]\n[Sidenote D: \"I shall kiss,\" says the knight, \"at your commandment.\"]\n[Sidenote E: With that the lady catches him in her arms and kisses him.]\n[Sidenote F: Gawayne then rises and goes to mass.]\n[Sidenote G: He makes mirth all day till the moon rises,]\n[Sidenote H: between the \"two dames,\" the older and the younger.]\n[Footnote 1: fere (?).]\n[Footnote 2: fo, in MS.]\n[Footnote 3: Was (?) Nas (?).]\n\n      VIII.\n\n     [A] And ay \u00fee lorde of \u00fee londe is lent on his gamne3,\n1320     To hunt in holte3 & he\u00fee, at hynde3 barayne,\n         Such a sowme he \u00feer slowe bi \u00feat \u00fee sunne heldet,\n         Of dos & of o\u00feer dere, to deme were wonder.\n         \u00deenne fersly \u00feay flokked in folk at \u00fee laste,\n1324 [B] & quykly of \u00fee quelled dere a querr\u00e9 \u00feay maked;\n         \u00dee best bo3ed \u00feerto, with burne3 in-noghe,\n     [C] Gedered \u00fee grattest of gres \u00feat \u00feer were,\n         & didden hem derely vndo, as \u00fee dede aske3;\n1328 [D] Serched hem at \u00fee asay, summe \u00feat \u00feer were,\n         Two fyngeres \u00feay fonde of \u00fee fowlest of alle;\n     [E] Sy\u00feen \u00feay slyt \u00fee slot, sesed \u00fee erber,\n     [F] Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, & \u00fee schyre knitten;\n1332     Sy\u00feen rytte \u00feay \u00fee foure lymmes, & rent of \u00fee hyde,\n     [G] \u00deen brek \u00feay \u00fee bale, \u00fee bale3 out token,\n     [H] Lystily forlancyng, & bere of \u00fee knot;                 [Fol. 109.]\n          \u00deay gryped to \u00fee gargulun, & gray\u00feely departed\n1336 [I] \u00dee wesaunt fro \u00fee wynt-hole, & walt out \u00fee gutte3;\n         \u00deen scher \u00feay out \u00fee schuldere3 with her scharp knyue3,\n     [J] Haled hem by a lyttel hole, to haue hole sydes;\n         Si\u00feen britned \u00feay \u00fee brest, & brayden hit in twynne,\n1340     & eft at \u00fee gargulun bigyne3 on \u00feenne,\n     [K] Ryue3 hit vp radly, ry3t to \u00fee by3t,\n         Voyde3 out \u00fee a-vanters, & verayly \u00feerafter\n         Alle \u00fee ryme3 by \u00fee rybbe3 radly \u00feay lance;\n1344     So ryde \u00feay of by resoun bi \u00fee rygge bone3,\n         Euenden to \u00fee haunche, \u00feat henged alle samen,\n         & heuen hit vp al hole, & hwen hit of \u00feere,\n         & \u00feat \u00feayneme for \u00fee noumbles, bi nome as I trowe,\n1348             bi kynde;\n     [L]     Bi \u00fee by3t al of \u00fee \u00fey3es,\n             \u00dee lappe3 \u00feay lance bi-hynde,\n     [M]     To hewe hit in two \u00feay hy3es,\n1352         Bi \u00fee bak-bon to vnbynde.\n\n[Sidenote A: Meanwhile the lord of the land and his men hunt in woods and\n  heaths.]\n[Sidenote B: Quickly of the killed a \"quarry\" they make.]\n[Sidenote C: Then they set about breaking the deer.]\n[Sidenote D: They take away the assay or fat,]\n[Sidenote E: then they slit the slot and remove the erber.]\n[Sidenote F: They afterwards rip the four limbs and rend off the hide.]\n[Sidenote G: They next open the belly]\n[Sidenote H: and take out the bowels.]\n[Sidenote I: They then separate the weasand from the windhole and throw out\n  the guts.]\n[Sidenote J: The shoulders are cut out, and the breast divided into\n  halves.]\n[Sidenote K: The numbles are next removed.]\n[Sidenote L: By the fork of the thighs,]\n[Sidenote M: the flaps are hewn in two by the backbone.]\n\n      IX.\n\n     [A] Bo\u00fee \u00fee hede & \u00fee hals \u00feay hwen of \u00feenne,\n         & sy\u00feen sunder \u00feay \u00fee syde3 swyft fro \u00fee chyne,\n         & \u00fee corbeles fee \u00feay kest in a greue;[1]\n1356     \u00deenn \u00feurled \u00feay ay\u00feer \u00feik side \u00feur3, bi \u00fee rybbe,\n         & henged \u00feenne a[y]\u00feer bi ho3es of \u00fee fourche3,\n         Vche freke for his fee, as falle3 forto haue.\n         Vpon a felle of \u00fee fayre best, fede \u00feay \u00feayr houndes,\n1360 [B] Wyth \u00fee lyuer & \u00fee ly3te3, \u00fee le\u00feer of \u00fee paunche3,\n         & bred ba\u00feed in blod, blende \u00feer amonge3;\n         Baldely \u00feay blw prys, bayed \u00feayr rachche3,\n     [C] Sy\u00feen fonge \u00feay her flesche folden to home,\n1364     Strakande ful stoutly mony stif mote3.\n         Bi \u00feat \u00fee dayly3t wat3 done, \u00fee douthe wat3 al wonen\n         In-to \u00fee comly castel, \u00feer \u00fee kny3t bide3\n                 ful stille;\n1368         Wyth blys & bry3t fyr bette,\n             \u00dee lord is comen \u00feer-tylle,\n     [D]     When Gawayn wyth hym mette,\n             \u00deer wat3 bot wele at wylle.\n\n[Sidenote A: After this the head and neck are cut off, and the sides\n  severed from the chine.]\n[Sidenote B: With the liver, lights and paunches, they feed the hounds.]\n[Sidenote C: Then they make for home.]\n[Sidenote D: Gawayne goes out to meet his host.]\n[Footnote 1: grene (?).]\n\n      X.\n\n1372 [A] Thenne comaunded \u00fee lorde in \u00feat sale to samen alle \u00fee meny,[Fol.]\n         Bo\u00fee \u00fee ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes,           [109b.]\n     [B] Bi-fore alle \u00fee folk on \u00fee flette, freke3 he bedde3\n         Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;\n1376 [C] & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,\n         Teche3 hym to \u00fee tayles of ful tayt bestes,\n         Schewe3 hym \u00fee schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.\n     [D] \"How paye3 yow \u00feis play? haf I prys wonnen?\n1380     Haue I \u00feryuandely \u00feonk \u00feur3 my craft serued?\"\n         \"3e I-wysse,\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer wy3e, \"here is wayth fayrest\n     [E] \u00deat I se3 \u00feis seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter.\"\n         \"& al I gif yow, Gawayn,\" quod \u00fee gome \u00feenne,\n1384     \"For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen.\"\n         \"\u00deis is soth,\" quod \u00fee segge, \"I say yow \u00featilke,\n         &[1] I haf worthyly \u00feis wone3 wyth-inne,\n     [F] I-wysse with as god wylle hit wor\u00fee3 to 3oure3.\"\n1388     He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne,\n         & kysses hym as comlyly as he[2] cou\u00fee awyse:\n         \"Tas yow \u00feere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,\n         I wowche hit saf fynly, \u00fea3 feler hit were.\"\n1392     \"Hit is god,\" quod \u00fee god mon, \"grant mercy \u00feerfore,\n     [G] Hit may be such, hit is \u00fee better, &[1] 3e me breue wolde\n         Where 3e wan \u00feis ilk wele, biwytte of hor[3] seluen?\"\n     [H] \"\u00deat wat3 not forward,\" quod he, \"frayst me no more,\n1396     For 3e haftan \u00feat yow tyde3, trawe3e non o\u00feer\n                 3e mowe.\"\n             \u00deay la3ed, & made hem bly\u00fee,\n     [I]     Wyth lote3 \u00feat were to lowe,\n1400         To soper \u00feay 3ede asswy\u00fee,\n             Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.\n\n[Sidenote A: The lord commands all his household to assemble,]\n[Sidenote B: and the venison to be brought before him.]\n[Sidenote C: He calls Gawayne,]\n[Sidenote D: and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his\n  success in the chase.]\n[Sidenote E: On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take\n  the whole according to a former agreement between them.]\n[Sidenote F: Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return.]\n[Sidenote G: His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal.]\n[Sidenote H: As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to\n  his question.]\n[Sidenote I: They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and\n  enough.]\n[Footnote 1: And = an.]\n[Footnote 2: ho, in MS.]\n[Footnote 3: your (?).]\n\n      XI.\n\n     [A] And sy\u00feen by \u00fee chymn\u00e9 in chamber \u00feay seten.\n     [B] Wy3e3 \u00fee walle wyn we3ed to hem oft,\n1404     & efte in her bourdyng \u00feay bay\u00feen in \u00fee morn,\n         To fylle \u00fee same forwarde3 \u00feat \u00feay by-fore maden,\n     [C] \u00deat chaunce so bytyde3 hor cheuysaunce to chaunge,\n         What nwe3 so \u00feay nome, at na3t quen \u00feay metten\n1408     \u00deay acorded of \u00fee couenaunte3 byfore \u00fee court alle;\n         \u00dee beuerage wat3 bro3t forth in bourde at \u00feat tyme;    [Fol. 110.]\n     [D] \u00deenne \u00feay louelych le3ten leue at \u00fee last,\n         Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.\n1412 [E] Bi \u00feat \u00fee coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot \u00feryse,\n         \u00dee lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] \u00fee leude3 vch one,\n         So \u00feat \u00fee mete & \u00fee masse wat3 metely delyuered;\n         \u00dee douthe dressed to \u00fee wod, er any day sprenged,\n1416             to chace;\n     [F]     He3 with hunte & horne3,\n             \u00deur3 playne3 \u00feay passe in space,\n             Vn-coupled among \u00feo \u00feorne3,\n1420         Rache3 \u00feat ran on race.\n\n[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit.]\n[Sidenote B: Wine is carried round.]\n[Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement.]\n[Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed.]\n[Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up.]\n[Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase.]\n[Footnote 1: crowed (?).]\n\n      XII.\n\n     [A] Sone \u00feay calle of a quest in aker syde,\n         \u00dee hunt re-hayted \u00fee hounde3, \u00feat hit fyrst mynged,\n     [B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;\n1424     \u00dee hownde3 \u00feat hit herde, hastid \u00feider swy\u00fee,\n         & fellen as fast to \u00fee fuyt, fourty at ones;\n         \u00deenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3\n         Ros, \u00feat \u00fee rochere3 rungen aboute;\n1428     Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.\n     [C] \u00deen al in a sembl\u00e9 sweyed to-geder,\n         Bitwene a flosche in \u00feat fryth, & a foo cragge;\n         In a knot, bi a clyffe, at \u00fee kerre syde,\n1432     \u00deer as \u00fee rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen,\n         [\u00deay] ferden to \u00fee fyndyng, & freke3 hem after;\n     [D] \u00deay vmbe-kesten \u00fee knarre & \u00fee knot bo\u00fee.\n         Wy3e3, whyl \u00feay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,\n1436     \u00dee best \u00feat \u00feer breued wat3 wyth \u00fee blod hounde3.\n     [E] \u00deenne \u00feay beten on \u00fee buske3, & bede hym vp ryse,\n         & he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-\u00fewert,\n     [F] On \u00fee sellokest swyn swenged out \u00feere,\n1440     Long sythen for[1] \u00fee sounder \u00feat wi3t for-olde,\n         For he wat3 b[este &] bor al\u00feer grattest,\n         [And eue]re quen he gronyed, \u00feenne greued mony,\n     [G] For [\u00fere a]t \u00fee fyrst \u00ferast he \u00fery3t to \u00fee er\u00fee,\n1444     & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,\n         [Ande \u00feay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed\n         Haden horne3 to mou\u00fee heterly rechated;               [Fol. 110b.]\n     [H] Mony wat3 \u00fee myry mouthe of men & of hounde3,\n1448     \u00deat buskke3 after \u00feis bor, with bost & wyth noyse,\n                 To quelle;\n             Ful oft he byde3 \u00fee baye,\n             & mayme3 \u00fee mute Inn-melle,\n1452 [I]     He hurte3 of \u00fee hounde3, & \u00feay\n             Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.\n\n[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,]\n[Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once.]\n[Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff.]\n[Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,]\n[Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes.]\n[Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,]\n[Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground.]\n[Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him.]\n[Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and\n  yell.]\n[Footnote 1: fro (?).]\n\n      XIII.\n\n     [A] Schalke3 to schote at hym schowen to \u00feenne,\n         Haled to hym of her arewe3, hitten hym oft;\n1456     Bot \u00fee poynte3 payred at \u00fee pyth \u00feat py3t in his schelde3,\n         & \u00fee barbe3 of his browe bite non wolde,\n     [B] \u00dea3 \u00fee schauen schaft schyndered in pece3,\n         \u00dee hede hypped a3ayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;\n1460 [C] Bot quon \u00fee dynte3 hym dered of her dry3e stroke3,\n         \u00deen, brayn-wod for bate, on burne3 he rase3,\n     [D] Hurte3 hem ful heterly \u00feer he forth hy3e3,\n         & mony ar3ed \u00feerat, & on-lyte dro3en.\n1464     Bot \u00fee lorde on a ly3t horce launces hym after,\n     [E] As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowe3,\n         He rechated, & r[ode][1] \u00feur3 rone3 ful \u00feyk,\n         Suande \u00feis wy[ld]e swyn til \u00fee sunne schafted.\n1468 [F] \u00deis day wyth \u00feis ilk dede \u00feay dryuen on \u00feis wyse,\n         Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,\n     [G] Gawayn gray\u00feely at home, in gere3 ful ryche\n                 of hewe;\n1472         \u00dee lady no3t for3ate,\n             Com to hym to salue,\n             Ful erly ho wat3 hym ate,\n             His mode forto remwe.\n\n[Sidenote A: The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,]\n[Sidenote B: but they glide off shivered in pieces.]\n[Sidenote C: Enraged with the blows,]\n[Sidenote D: he attacks the hunters.]\n[Sidenote E: The lord of the land blows his bugle,]\n[Sidenote F: and pursues the boar.]\n[Sidenote G: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.]\n[Footnote 1: The MS. is here almost illegible.]\n\n      XIV.\n\n1476 [A] Ho commes to \u00fee cortyn, & at \u00fee kny3t totes,\n         Sir Wawen her welcumed wor\u00fey on fyrst,\n         & ho hym 3elde3 a3ayn, ful 3erne of hir worde3,\n     [B] Sette3 hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swy\u00feely ho la3e3,\n1480     & wyth a luflych loke ho layde[1] hym \u00feyse worde3:\n         \"Sir, 3if 3e be Wawen, wonder me \u00feynkke3,\n         Wy3e \u00feat is so wel wrast alway to god,\n         & conne3 not of compaynye \u00fee coste3 vnder-take,\n1484     & if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, 3e kest hom of your mynde;[Fol.]\n     [C] \u00deou hat3 for-3eten 3ederly \u00feat 3isterday I ta3tte           [111]\n           alder-truest token of talk \u00feat I cow\u00fee.\"\n         \"What is \u00feat?\" quod \u00fee wyghe, \"I-wysse I wot neuer,\n1488     If hit be sothe \u00feat 3e breue, \u00fee blame is myn awen.\"\n     [D] \"3et I kende yow of kyssyng,\" quod \u00fee clere \u00feenne,\n         \"Quere-so countenaunce is cou\u00fee, quikly to clayme,\n         \u00deat bicumes vche a kny3t, \u00feat cortaysy vses.\"\n1492     \"Do way,\" quod \u00feat derf mon, \"my dere, \u00feat speche,\n     [E] For \u00feat durst I not do, lest I denayed were,\n         If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, 3if I profered.\"\n         \"Ma fay,\" quod \u00fee mere wyf, \"3e may not be werned,\n1496 [F] 3e ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenk\u00fee, 3if yow lyke3,\n         3if any were so vilanous \u00feat yow denaye[2] wolde.\"\n         \"3e, be God,\" quod Gawayn, \"good is your speche,\n         Bot \u00ferete is vn-\u00feryuande in \u00feede \u00feer I lende,\n1500 [G] & vche gift \u00feat is geuen not with goud wylle;\n         I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lyke3,\n         3e may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow \u00feynkke3,\n                 in space.\"\n1504 [H]     \u00dee lady loute3 a-doun,\n             & comlyly kysses his face,\n             Much speche \u00feay \u00feer expoun,\n             Of druryes greme & grace.\n\n[Sidenote A: The lady of the castle again visits Sir Gawayne.]\n[Sidenote B: Softly she sits by his side,]\n[Sidenote C: and tells the knight that he has forgotten what she taught him\n  the day before.]\n[Sidenote D: \"I taught you of kissing,\" she says, \"that becomes every\n  knight.\"]\n[Sidenote E: Gawayne says that he must not take that which is forbidden.]\n[Sidenote F: He is told that he is strong enough to enforce it.]\n[Sidenote G: The knight replies that every gift is worthless that is not\n  given willingly.]\n[Sidenote H: The lady stoops down and kisses him.]\n[Footnote 1: sayde (?).]\n[Footnote 2: de vaye, in MS.]\n\n      XV.\n\n1508 [A] \"I woled[1] wyt at yow, wy3e,\" \u00feat wor\u00fey \u00feer sayde,\n         \"& yow wrathed not \u00feer-wyth, what were \u00fee skylle,\n         \u00deat so 3ong & so 3epe, as 3e [ar] at \u00feis tyme,\n         So cortayse, so kny3tyly, as 3e ar knowen oute,\n1512 [B] & of alle cheualry to chose, \u00fee chef \u00feyng a-losed,\n         Is[2] \u00fee lel layk of luf, \u00fee lettrure of armes;\n         F[or] to telle of \u00feis tenelyng of \u00feis trwe kny3te3,\n         Hit is \u00fee tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkke3,\n1516     How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyue3 han auntered,\n         Endured for her drury dulful stounde3,\n         & after wenged with her walour & voyded her care,\n     [C] & bro3t blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen.\n1520     & 3e ar kny3t com-lokest kyd of your elde,\n         Your worde & your worchip walke3 ay quere,            [Fol. 111b.]\n         & I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,\n     [D] 3et herde I neuer of your hed helde no worde3\n1524     \u00deat euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;\n     [E] & 3e, \u00feat ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,\n         Oghe to a 3onke \u00feynk 3ern to schewe,\n         & teche sum tokene3 of trweluf craftes.\n1528     Why ar 3e lewed, \u00feat alle \u00fee los welde3,\n         O\u00feer elles 3e demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken?\n                 for schame!\n             I com hider sengel, & sitte,\n1532         To lerne at yow sum game,\n     [F]     Dos, teche3 me of your wytte,\n             Whil my lorde is fro hame.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"I would learn,\" she says, \"why you, who are so young and\n  active,]\n[Sidenote B: so skilled in the true sport of love,]\n[Sidenote C: and so renowned a knight,]\n[Sidenote D: have never talked to me of love.]\n[Sidenote E: You ought to show a young thing like me some token of\n  'true-love's crafts.']\n[Sidenote F: So teach me of your 'wit' while my lord is from home.\"]\n[Footnote 1: wolde (?).]\n[Footnote 2: In (?).]\n\n      XVI.\n\n     [A] \"In goud fay\u00fee,\" quod Gawayn, \"God yow for3elde,\n1536     Gret is \u00fee gode gle, & gomen to me huge,\n         \u00deat so wor\u00fey as 3e wolde wynne hidere,\n         & pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your kny3t,\n         With any skynne3 countenaunce, hit keuere3 me ese;\n1540 [B] Bot to take \u00fee toruayle[1] to my-self, to trwluf expoun,\n         & towche \u00fee teme3 of tyxt, & tale3 of arme3,\n         To yow \u00feat, I wot wel, welde3 more sly3t\n         Of \u00feat art, bi \u00fee half, or a hundreth of seche\n1544     As I am, o\u00feer euer schal, in erde \u00feer I leue,\n         Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my traw\u00fee.\n     [C] I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my my3t,\n         As I am hy3ly bihalden, & euer-more wylle\n1548 [D] Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dry3tyn!\"\n         \u00deus hym frayned \u00feat fre, & fondet hym ofte,\n         Forto haf wonnen hym to wo3e, what-so scho \u00feo3t elle3,\n     [E] Bot he de fended hym so fayr, \u00feat no faut semed,\n1552     Ne non euel on naw\u00feer halue, naw\u00feer \u00feay wysten,\n                 bot blysse;\n             \u00deay la3ed & layked longe,\n             At \u00fee last scho con hym kysse,\n1556 [F]     Hir leue fayre con scho fonge,\n             & went hir waye Iwysse.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"It is a great pleasure to me,\" says Sir Gawayne, \"to hear you\n  talk,]\n[Sidenote B: but I cannot undertake the task to expound true-love and tales\n  of arms.]\n[Sidenote C: I will, however, act according to your will,]\n[Sidenote D: and ever be your servant.\"]\n[Sidenote E: Thus Gawayne defends himself.]\n[Sidenote F: The lady having kissed the knight, takes leave of him.]\n[Footnote 1: tornayle (?).]\n\n      XVII.\n\n     [A] Then ru\u00fees hym \u00fee renk, & ryses to \u00fee masse,\n         & si\u00feen hor diner wat3 dy3t & derely serued.           [Fol. 112.]\n1560 [B] \u00dee lede with \u00fee ladye3 layked alle day,\n         Bot \u00fee lorde ouer \u00fee londe3 launced ful ofte,\n         Swe3 his vncely swyn, \u00feat swynge3 bi \u00fee bonkke3,\n     [C] & bote \u00fee best of his brache3 \u00fee bakke3 in sunder;\n1564     \u00deer he bode in his bay, tel[1] bawe-men hit breken,\n         & made[2] hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter;\n     [D] So felle flone3 per flete, when \u00fee folk gedered;\n         Bot 3et \u00fee styffest to start bi stounde3 he made,\n1568     Til at \u00fee last he wat3 so mat, he my3t no more renne,\n     [E] Bot in \u00fee hast \u00feat he my3t, he to a hole wynne3,\n         Of a rasse, bi a rokk, \u00feer renne3 \u00fee boerne,\n         He gete \u00fee bonk at his bak, bigyne3 to scrape,\n1572 [F] \u00dee fro\u00fee femed[3] at his mouth vnfayre bi \u00fee wyke3,\n         Whette3 his whyte tusche3; with hym \u00feen irked\n         Alle \u00fee burne3 so bolde, \u00feat hym by stoden,\n     [G] To nye hym on-ferum, bot ne3e hym non durst\n1576             for wo\u00fee;\n             He hade hurt so mony byforne,\n             \u00deat al \u00feu3t[4] \u00feenne ful lo\u00fee,\n     [H]     Be more wyth his tusche3 torne,\n1580         \u00deat breme wat3 [&] brayn-wod bothe.\n\n[Sidenote A: Gawayne rises, hears mass, and then dines.]\n[Sidenote B: Meanwhile the lord pursues the wild boar,]\n[Sidenote C: that bit the backs of his hounds asunder,]\n[Sidenote D: and caused the stiffest of the hunters to start.]\n[Sidenote E: The boar runs into a hole in a rock by the side of a brook.]\n[Sidenote F: The froth foams at his mouth.]\n[Sidenote G: None durst approach him,]\n[Sidenote H: so many had he torn with his tusks.]\n[Footnote 1: til (?).]\n[Footnote 2: madee, in MS.]\n[Footnote 3: fomed (?).]\n[Footnote 4: \u00feo3t (?).]\n\n      XVIII.\n\n     [A] Til \u00fee kny3t com hym-self, kachande his blonk,\n         Sy3 hym byde at \u00fee bay, his burne3 bysyde,\n     [B] He ly3tes luflych[1] adoun, leue3 his corsour,\n1584     Brayde3 out a bry3t bront, & bigly forth stryde3,\n         Founde3 fast \u00feur3 \u00fee forth, \u00feer \u00fee felle byde3,\n     [C] \u00dee wylde wat3 war of \u00fee wy3e with weppen in honde,\n         Hef hy3ly \u00fee here, so hetterly he fnast,\n1588     \u00deat fele ferde for \u00fee freke3,[2] lest felle hym \u00fee worre;\n     [D] \u00dee swyn sette3 hym out on \u00fee segge euen,\n         \u00deat \u00fee burne & \u00fee bor were bo\u00fee vpon hepe3,\n         In \u00fee wy3t-est of \u00fee water, \u00fee worre hade \u00feat o\u00feer;\n1592 [E] For \u00fee mon merkke3 hym wel, as \u00feay mette fyrst,\n         Set sadly \u00fee scharp in \u00fee slot euen,\n     [F] Hit hym vp to \u00fee hult, \u00feat \u00fee hert schyndered,\n         & he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] \u00fee water,\n1596             ful tyt;\n             A hundreth hounde3 hym hent,                      [Fol. 112b.]\n     [G]     \u00deat bremely con hym bite,\n             Burne3 him bro3t to bent,\n1600         & dogge3 to dethe endite.\n\n[Sidenote A: The knight, seeing the boar at bay,]\n[Sidenote B: alights from his horse,]\n[Sidenote C: and seeks to attack him with his sword.]\n[Sidenote D: The \"swine sets out\" upon the man,]\n[Sidenote E: who, aiming well,]\n[Sidenote F: wounds him in the pit of the stomach.]\n[Sidenote G: The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. luslych.]\n[Footnote 2: freke (?).]\n[Footnote 3: 3ede doun (?).]\n\n      XIX.\n\n     [A] There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,\n         He3e halowing on hi3e, with ha\u00feele3 \u00feat my3t;\n     [B] Brachetes bayed \u00feat best, as bidden \u00fee maystere3,\n1604     Of \u00feat chargeaunt chace \u00feat were chef huntes.\n     [C] \u00deenne a wy3e \u00feat wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,\n         To vnlace \u00feis bor lufly bigynne3;\n     [D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,\n1608     & sy\u00feen rende3 him al roghe bi \u00fee rygge after,\n     [E] Brayde3 out \u00fee boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,\n         With bred blent \u00feer-with his braches rewarde3;\n         Sy\u00feen he britne3 out \u00fee brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,\n1612 [F] & hat3 out \u00fee hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;\n     [G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole \u00fee halue3 to-geder,\n         & sy\u00feen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.\n         Now with \u00feis ilk swyn \u00feay swengen to home;\n1616 [H] \u00dee bores hed wat3 borne bifore \u00fee burnes seluen,\n         \u00deat him for-ferde in \u00fee for\u00fee, \u00feur3 forse of his honde,\n                 so stronge;\n             Til he se3 sir Gawayne,\n1620         In halle hym \u00feo3t ful longe,\n     [I]     He calde, & he com gayn,\n             His fee3 \u00feer for to fonge.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then was there blowing of horns]\n[Sidenote B: and baying of hounds.]\n[Sidenote C: One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar.]\n[Sidenote D: First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back.]\n[Sidenote E: He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and\n  therewith rewards his hounds.]\n[Sidenote F: Then the hastlets are removed.]\n[Sidenote G: The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole.]\n[Sidenote H: The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home.]\n[Sidenote I: Gawayne is called to receive the spoil.]\n\n      XX.\n\n     [A] \u00dee lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,\n1624     When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;\n         \u00dee goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered \u00fee meyny,\n     [B] He schewe3 hem \u00fee schelde3, & schapes hem \u00fee tale,\n         Of \u00fee largesse, & \u00fee len\u00fee, \u00fee li\u00feerne3 alse,\n1628     Of \u00fee were of \u00fee wylde swyn, in wod \u00feer he fled.\n         \u00deat o\u00feer kny3t ful comly comended his dede3,\n         & praysed hit as gret prys, \u00feat he proued hade;\n     [C] For suche a brawne of a best, \u00fee bolde burne sayde,\n1632     Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.\n         \u00deenne hondeled \u00feay \u00fee hoge hed, \u00fee hende mon hit praysed,\n         & let lodly \u00feerat \u00fee lorde forte here:                 [Fol. 113.]\n     [D] \"Now Gawayn,\" quod \u00fee god mon, \"\u00feis gomen is your awen,\n1636     Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe.\"\n         \"Hit is sothe,\" quod \u00fee segge, \"& as siker trwe;\n         Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my traw\u00fee.\"\n     [E] He [hent] \u00fee ha\u00feel aboute \u00fee halse, & hendely hym kysses,\n1640     & efter-sones of \u00fee same he serued hym \u00feere.\n         \"Now ar we euen,\" quod \u00fee ha\u00feel, \"in \u00feis euen-tide,\n         Of alle \u00fee couenauntes \u00feat we knyt, sy\u00feen I com hider,\n                 bi lawe;\"\n1644 [F]     \u00dee lorde sayde, \"bi saynt Gile,\n             3e ar \u00fee best \u00feat I knowe,\n             3e ben ryche in a whyle,\n             Such chaffer & 3e drowe.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir\n  Gawayne,]\n[Sidenote B: He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of\n  its length and breadth.]\n[Sidenote C: Such a \"brawn of a beast,\" Sir Gawayne says, he never has\n  seen.]\n[Sidenote D: Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant,]\n[Sidenote E: and in return kisses his host,]\n[Sidenote F: who declares his guest to be the best he knows.]\n\n      XXI.\n\n1648 [A] \u00deenne \u00feay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,\n     [B] Kesten clo\u00fee3 vpon, clere ly3t \u00feenne\n     [C] Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches\n         Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute;\n1652 [D] Much glam & gle glent vp \u00feer-inne,\n         Aboute \u00fee fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,\n     [E] At \u00fee soper & after, mony a\u00feel songe3,\n         As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,\n1656     With alle \u00fee manerly mer\u00fee \u00feat mon may of telle.\n     [F] & euer oure luflych kny3t \u00fee lady bi-syde;\n         Such semblaunt to \u00feat segge semly ho made,\n     [G] Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, \u00feat stalworth to plese,\n1660     \u00deat al for-wondered wat3 \u00fee wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,\n         Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,\n         Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer \u00fee dede turned\n                 to wrast;\n1664 [H]     Quen \u00feay hade played in halle,\n             As longe as hor wylle hom last,\n     [I]     To chambre he[1] con hym calle,\n             & to \u00fee chem-ne \u00feay past.\n\n[Sidenote A: Tables are raised aloft,]\n[Sidenote B: cloths cast upon them,]\n[Sidenote C: and torches are lighted.]\n[Sidenote D: With much mirth and glee,]\n[Sidenote E: supper is served in the hall,]\n[Sidenote F: and ever our lovely knight by the lady sits,]\n[Sidenote G: who does all she can to please her companion.]\n[Sidenote H: When they had long played in the hall,]\n[Sidenote I: they proceeded \"to chamber.\"]\n[Footnote 1: ho (?).]\n\n      XXII.\n\n1668 [A] Ande \u00feer \u00feay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe,\n         To norne on \u00fee same note, on nwe3ere3 euen;\n     [B] Bot \u00fee kny3t craued leue, to kayre on \u00fee morn,\n         For hit wat3 ne3 at \u00fee terme, \u00feat he to[1] schulde.\n1672     \u00dee lorde hym letted of \u00feat, to lenge hym resteyed,    [Fol. 113b.]\n     [C] & sayde, \"as I am trwe segge, I siker my traw\u00fee,\n     [D] \u00deou schal cheue to \u00fee grene chapel, \u00fey charres to make,\n         Leude, on nw3ere3 ly3t, longe bifore pryme:\n1676     For-\u00fey \u00feow lye in \u00fey loft, & lach \u00feyn ese,\n         & I schal hunt in \u00feis holt, & halde \u00fee towche3,\n         Chaunge wyth \u00fee cheuisaunce, bi \u00feat I charre hider;\n         For I haf fraysted \u00fee twys, & faythful I fynde \u00fee,\n1680     Now \u00ferid tyme \u00ferowe best \u00feenk on \u00fee morne,\n         Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye,\n         For \u00fee lur may mon lach, when so mon lyke3.\"\n         \u00deis wat3 gray\u00feely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged,\n1684 [E] Bli\u00fee bro3t wat3 hym drynk, & \u00feay to bedde 3eden,\n                 with li3t;\n     [F]     Sir G: lis & slepes,\n             Ful stille & softe al ni3t;\n1688 [G]     \u00dee lorde \u00feat his crafte3 kepes,\n             Ful erly he wat3 di3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: There they drank and discoursed.]\n[Sidenote B: Gawayne begs leave to depart on the morrow.]\n[Sidenote C: His host swears to him,]\n[Sidenote D: that he shall come to the Green Chapel on New Year's morn long\n  before prime.]\n[Sidenote E: Our knight consents to remain for another night.]\n[Sidenote F: Full still and softly he sleeps all night.]\n[Sidenote G: Early in the morning the lord is up.]\n[Footnote 1: te (?).]\n\n      XXIII.\n\n     [A] After messe a morsel[1] he & his men token,\n         Miry wat3 \u00fee mornyng, his mounture he askes;\n1692 [B] Alle \u00fee ha\u00feeles \u00feat on horse schulde helden hym after,\n         Were boun busked on hor blonkke3, bi-fore[2] \u00fee halle 3ate3;\n     [C] Ferly fayre wat3 \u00fee folde, for \u00fee forst clenged,\n         In rede rudede vpon rak rises \u00fee sunne,\n1696 [D] & ful clere coste3[3] \u00fee clowdes of \u00fee welkyn.\n         Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,\n         Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;\n     [E] Summe fel in \u00fee fute, \u00feer \u00fee fox bade,\n1700     Trayle3 ofte a trayteres[4], bi traunt of her wyles;\n         A kenet kryes \u00feerof, \u00fee hunt on hym calles,\n         His fela3es fallen hym to, \u00feat fnasted ful \u00feike,\n     [F] Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ry3t fare;\n1704     & he fyske3 hem by-fore, \u00feay founden hym sone,\n     [G] & quen \u00feay seghe hym with sy3t, \u00feay sued hym fast,\n         Wre3ande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;\n     [H] & he trantes & tornayee3 \u00feur3 mony tene greue;\n1708     Hamloune3, & herkene3, bi hegge3 ful ofte;\n     [I] At \u00fee last bi a littel dich he lepe3 ouer a spenn\u00e9,    [Fol. 114.]\n         Stele3 out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,\n     [J] Went haf wylt of \u00fee wode, with wyle3 fro \u00fee houndes,\n1712     \u00deenne wat3 he went, er he wyst, to[5] a wale tryster,\n     [K] \u00deer \u00fere \u00fero at a \u00ferich \u00ferat hym at ones,\n                 al graye;\n     [L]     He blenched a3ayn bilyue,\n1716         & stifly start onstray,\n             With alle \u00fee wo on lyue,\n     [M]     To \u00fee wod he went away.\n\n[Sidenote A: After mass, a morsel he take with his men.]\n[Sidenote B: Then were all on their horses before the hall-gates.]\n[Sidenote C: It was a clear frosty morning.]\n[Sidenote D: The hunters, dispersed by a wood's side,]\n[Sidenote E: come upon the track of a fox,]\n[Sidenote F: which is followed up by the hounds.]\n[Sidenote G: They soon get sight of the game,]\n[Sidenote H: and pursue him through many a rough grove.]\n[Sidenote I: The fox at last leaps over a spinny,]\n[Sidenote J: and by a rugged path seeks to get clear from the hounds.]\n[Sidenote K: He comes upon one of the hunting stations, where he is\n  attacked by the dogs.]\n[Sidenote L: However, he slips them,]\n[Sidenote M: and makes again for the wood.]\n[Footnote 1: MS. nnorsel.]\n[Footnote 2: bi-forere, in MS.]\n[Footnote 3: caste3 (?).]\n[Footnote 4: trayveres (?).]\n[Footnote 5: to to, in MS.]\n\n      XXIV.\n\n     [A] Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list to ly\u00feen \u00fee hounde3,\n1720     When alle \u00fee mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,\n         Suche a sor3e at \u00feat sy3t \u00feay sette on his hede,\n         As alle \u00fee clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;\n     [B] Here he wat3 halawed, when ha\u00feele3 hym metten,\n1724     Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche;\n     [C] \u00deer he wat3 \u00fereted, & ofte \u00feef called,\n         & ay \u00fee titleres at his tayl, \u00feat tary he ne my3t;\n         Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked,\n1728 [D] & ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wyl\u00e9.\n     [E] & 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, \u00fee lorde & his meyny;\n         On \u00feis maner bi \u00fee mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder,\n     [F] Whyle \u00fee hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3,\n1732     With-inne \u00fee comly cortynes, on \u00fee colde morne.\n         Bot \u00fee lady for luf let not to slepe,\n         Ne \u00fee purpose to payre, \u00feat py3t in hir hert,\n         Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir \u00feeder,\n1736 [G] In a mery mantyle, mete to \u00fee er\u00fee,\n         \u00deat wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured,\n         No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot \u00fee ha3er stones\n         Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;\n1740 [H] Hir \u00feryuen face & hir \u00ferote \u00ferowen al naked,\n         Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.\n     [I] Ho come3 with-inne \u00fee chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,\n     [J] Wayne3[1] vp a wyndow, & on \u00fee wy3e calle3,\n1744     & radly \u00feus re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3,\n                 with[2] chere;\n     [K]     \"A! mon, how may \u00feou slepe,\n     [L]     \u00deis morning is so clere?\"                         [Fol. 114b.]\n1748         He wat3 in drowping depe,\n             Bot \u00feenne he con hir here.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,]\n[Sidenote B: and the hallooing of the hunters.]\n[Sidenote C: There the fox was threatened and called a thief.]\n[Sidenote D: But Reynard was wily,]\n[Sidenote E: and led them astray over mounts.]\n[Sidenote F: Meanwhile the knight at home soundly sleeps within his comely\n  curtains.]\n[Sidenote G: The lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle,]\n[Sidenote H: her throat and bosom all bare,]\n[Sidenote I: comes to Gawayne's chamber,]\n[Sidenote J: opens a window, and says,]\n[Sidenote K: \"Ah! man, how canst thou sleep,]\n[Sidenote L: this morning is so clear?\"]\n[Footnote 1: wayue3(?).]\n[Footnote 2: bi, \u00e0 sec. manu.]\n\n      XXV.\n\n     [A] In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled \u00feat noble,\n         As mon \u00feat wat3 in mornyng of mony \u00fero \u00feo3tes,\n1752     How \u00feat destin\u00e9 schulde \u00feat day [dy3t] his wyrde,\n         At \u00fee grene chapel, when he \u00fee gome metes,\n         & bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more;\n     [B] Bot quen \u00feat comly he keuered his wyttes,\n1756     Swenges out of \u00fee sweuenes, & sware3 with hast.\n         \u00dee lady luflych com la3ande swete,\n     [C] Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed;\n         He welcume3 hir wor\u00feily, with a wale chere;\n1760     He se3 hir so glorious, & gayly atyred,\n         So fautles of hir fetures, & of so fyne hewes,\n     [D] Wi3t wallande Ioye warmed his hert;\n         With smo\u00fee smylyng & smolt \u00feay smeten in-to mer\u00fee,\n1764     \u00deat al wat3 blis & bonchef, \u00feat breke hem bi-twene,\n                 & wynne,\n             \u00deay lanced wordes gode,\n             Much wele \u00feen wat3 \u00feer-inne,\n1768 [E]     Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,\n             Nif mare of hir kny3t mynne.\n\n[Sidenote A: The knight was then dreaming of his forthcoming adventure at\n  the Green Chapel.]\n[Sidenote B: He awakes and speaks to his fair visitor,]\n[Sidenote C: who sweetly kisses him.]\n[Sidenote D: Great joy warms the heart of Sir Gawayne,]\n[Sidenote E: and \"great peril between them stood.\"]\n\n      XXVI.\n\n     [A] For \u00feat prynce of pris de-presed hym so \u00feikke.\n         Nurned hym so ne3e \u00fee \u00fered, \u00feat nede hym bi-houed,\n1772     O\u00feer lach \u00feer hir luf, o\u00feer lodly re-fuse;\n         He cared for his cortaysye, lest cra\u00feayn he were,\n     [B] & more for his meschef, 3if he schulde make synne,\n         & be traytor to \u00feat tolke, \u00feat \u00feat telde a3t.\n1776     \"God schylde,\" quod \u00fee schalk, \"\u00feat schal not be-falle!\"\n         With luf-la3yng a lyt, he layd hym by-syde\n         Alle \u00fee speche3 of specialt\u00e9 \u00feat sprange of her mouthe.\n         Quod \u00feat burde to \u00fee burne, \"blame 3e disserue,\n1780     3if 3e luf not \u00feat lyf \u00feat 3e lye nexte,\n         Bifore alle \u00fee wy3e3 in \u00fee worlde, wounded in hert,\n     [C] Bot if 3e haf a lemman, a leuer, \u00feat yow lyke3 better,\n         & folden fayth to \u00feat fre, festned so harde,\n1784     \u00deat yow lausen ne lyst, & \u00feat I leue nou\u00fee;            [Fol. 115.]\n         And \u00feat 3e telle me \u00feat, now trwly I pray yow,\n         For alle \u00fee lufe3 vpon lyue, layne not \u00fee so\u00fee,\n                 for gile.\"\n1788 [D]     \u00dee kny3t sayde, \"be sayn Ion,\"\n             & sme\u00feely con he smyle,\n             \"In fayth I welde ri3t non,\n             Ne non wil welde \u00fee quile.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: The knight is sorely pressed.]\n[Sidenote B: He fears lest he should become a traitor to his host.]\n[Sidenote C: The lady inquire whether he has a mistress that he loves\n  better than her.]\n[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne swears by St. John that he neither has nor desires\n  one.]\n\n      XXVII.\n\n1792     \"\u00deat is a worde,\" quod \u00feat wy3t, \"\u00feat worst is of alle,\n         Bot I am swared for so\u00fee, \u00feat sore me \u00feinkke3;\n     [A] Kysse me now coraly, & I schal cach he\u00feen,\n         I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may \u00feat much louyes.\"\n1796     Sykande ho swe3e doun, & semly hym kyssed,\n         & si\u00feen ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes,\n         \"Now, dere, at \u00feis de-partyng, do me \u00feis ese,\n     [B] Gif me sumquat of \u00fey gifte, \u00fei gloue if[1] hit were,\n1800 [C] \u00deat I may mynne on \u00fee mon, my mournyng to lassen.\"\n         \"Now Iwysse,\" quod \u00feat wy3e, \"I wolde I hade here\n         \u00dee leuest \u00feing for \u00fey luf, \u00feat I in londe welde,\n     [D] For 3e haf deserued, forso\u00fee, sellyly ofte\n1804     More rewarde bi resoun, \u00feen I reche my3t,\n         Bot to dele yow for drurye, \u00feat dawed bot neked;\n         Hit is not your honour to haf at \u00feis tyme\n         A gloue for a garysoun, of Gawayne3 gifte3,\n1808     & I am here [on] an erande in erde3 vncou\u00fee,\n     [E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful \u00feinge3;\n         \u00deat mislyke3 me, lad\u00e9, for luf at \u00feis tyme,[2]\n         Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille,\n1812             ne pine.\"\n     [F]     \"Nay, hende of hy3e honours,\"\n             Quod \u00feat lufsum vnder lyne,\n     [G]     \"\u00dea3 I hade o3t[3] of youre3,\n1816         3et schulde 3e haue of myne.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: She then kisses him, sighing for sorrow.]\n[Sidenote B: She desires some gift,]\n[Sidenote C: by which to remember him.]\n[Sidenote D: Gawayne tells her that she is worthy of a better gift than he\n  can bestow.]\n[Sidenote E: He has no men with mails containing precious things.]\n[Sidenote F: Then says that lovesome,]\n[Sidenote G: \"Though I had nought of yours, yet should ye have of mine.\"]\n[Footnote 1: of, in MS.]\n[Footnote 2: tyne, in MS.]\n[Footnote 3: no3t (?).]\n\n      XXVIII.\n\n     [A] Ho ra3t hym a riche rynk[1] of red golde werke3,\n         Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,\n         \u00deat bere blusschande beme3 as \u00fee bry3t sunne;\n1820     Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge.\n     [B] Bot \u00fee renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,\n         \"I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at \u00feis tyme;       [Fol. 115b.]\n     [C] I haf none yow to norne, ne no3t wyl I take.\"\n1824     Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,\n         & swere swyftel[y] his sothe, \u00feat he hit sese nolde;\n     [D] & ho sore \u00feat he forsoke, & sayde \u00feer-after,\n         \"If 3e renay my rynk, to ryche for hit seme3,\n1828     3e wolde not so hy3ly halden be to me,\n         I schal gif yow my girdel, \u00feat gaynes yow lasse.\"\n         Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, \u00feat[2] leke vmbe hir syde3,\n     [E] Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder \u00fee clere mantyle,\n1832     Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,\n         No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3;\n         & \u00feat ho bede to \u00fee burne, & bly\u00feely bi-so3t\n     [F] \u00dea3 hit vn-wor\u00fei were, \u00feat he hit take wolde.\n1836     & he nay \u00feat he nolde neghe in no wyse,\n     [G] Nau\u00feer golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende,\n         To acheue to \u00fee chaunce \u00feat he hade chosen \u00feere.\n         \"& \u00feerfore, I pray yow, displese yow no3t,\n1840     & lette3 be your bisinesse, for I bay\u00fee hit yow neuer\n                 to graunte;\n             I am derely to yow biholde,\n             Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,\n1844 [H]     & euer in hot & colde\n             To be your trwe seruaunt.\n\n[Sidenote A: She offers him a gold ring,]\n[Sidenote B: but he refuses to accept it,]\n[Sidenote C: as he has none to give in return.]\n[Sidenote D: Very sorrowful was that fair one on account of his refusal.]\n[Sidenote E: She takes off her \"girdle,\"]\n[Sidenote F: and beseeches him to take it.]\n[Sidenote G: Gawayne again refuses to accept anything,]\n[Sidenote H: but promises, \"ever in hot and in cold, to be her true\n  servant.\"]\n[Footnote 1: ryng (?).]\n[Footnote 2: \u00feat \u00feat, in MS.]\n\n      XXIX.\n\n     [A] \"Now forsake 3e \u00feis silke.\" sayde \u00fee burde \u00feenne,\n         \"For hit is symple in hit-self. & so hit wel seme3?\n1848     Lo! so hit is littel, & lasse hit is wor\u00fey;\n     [B] Bot who-so knew \u00fee costes \u00feat knit ar \u00feer-inne,\n         He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture;\n     [C] For quat gome so is gorde with \u00feis grene lace,\n1852     While he hit hade hemely halched aboute,\n         \u00deer is no ha\u00feel vnder heuen to-hewe hym \u00feat my3t;\n     [D] For he my3t not he slayn, for sly3t vpon er\u00fee.\"\n         \u00deen kest \u00fee kny3t, & hit come to his hert,\n1856 [E] Hit were a Iuel for \u00fee Iopard\u00e9, \u00feat hym iugged were,\n         When he acheued to \u00fee chapel, his chek forto fech;\n     [F] My3[1] he haf slypped to \u00fee vn-slayn, \u00fee sle3t were noble.\n         \u00deenne ho \u00feulged with hir \u00ferepe, & \u00feoled hir to speke,  [Fol. 116.]\n1860     & ho bere on hym \u00fee belt, & bede hit hym swy\u00fee,\n     [G] & he granted, & [ho] hym gafe with a goud wylle,\n         & biso3t hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer,\n         Bot to lelly layne for[2] hir lorde; \u00fee leude hym acorde3.\n1864     \u00deat neuer wy3e schulde hit wyt, Iwysse, bot \u00feay twayne,\n                 for no3te;\n             He \u00feonkked hir oft ful swy\u00fee,\n             Ful \u00fero with hert & \u00feo3t.\n1868 [H]     Bi \u00feat on \u00ferynne sy\u00fee,\n             He hat3 kyst \u00fee kny3t so to3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Do you refuse it,\" says the lady, because it is simple?]\n[Sidenote B: Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses, would highly prize\n  it.]\n[Sidenote C: For he who is girded with this green lace,]\n[Sidenote D: cannot be wounded or slain.\"]\n[Sidenote E: The knight thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel.]\n[Sidenote F: The lady presses him to accept the lace.]\n[Sidenote G: He consents not only to take the girdle, but to keep the\n  possession of it a secret.]\n[Sidenote H: By that time the lady has kissed him thrice.]\n[Footnote 1: my3t (?).]\n[Footnote 2: fro (?).]\n\n      XXX.\n\n     [A] Thenne lachche3 ho hir leue, & leue3 hym \u00feere,\n         For more myr\u00fee of \u00feat mon mo3t ho not gete;\n1872 [B] When ho[1] wat3 gon, sir G. gere3 hym sone,\n         Rises, & riches hym in araye noble,\n     [C] Lays vp \u00fee luf-lace, \u00fee lady hym ra3t,\n         Hid hit ful holdely, \u00feer he hit eft fonde;\n1876     Sy\u00feen cheuely to \u00fee chapel choses he \u00fee waye,\n     [D] Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym \u00feere\n         \u00deat he wolde lyfte[2] his lyf, & lern hym better,\n         How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye he\u00feen.\n1880 [E] \u00deere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdede3,\n         Of \u00fee more & \u00fee mynne, & merci beseche3,\n     [F] & of absolucioun he on \u00fee segge calles;\n         & he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene,\n1884 [G] As dome3-day schulde haf ben di3t on \u00fee morn.\n         & sy\u00feen he mace hym as mery among \u00fee fre ladyes,\n     [H] With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye,\n         As neuer he did bot \u00feat daye, to \u00fee derk ny3t,\n1888             with blys;\n             Vche mon hade daynte \u00feare,\n     [I]     Of hym, & sayde Iwysse,\n     [J]     \u00deus myry he wat3 neuer are,\n1892         Syn he com hider, er \u00feis.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then she takes her leave.]\n[Sidenote B: Gawayne then dresses himself,]\n[Sidenote C: and conceals the love-lace about his person.]\n[Sidenote D: He then hies to mass,]\n[Sidenote E: and shrives him of his misdeeds.]\n[Sidenote F: and prays for absolution.]\n[Sidenote G: He returns to the hall, and makes himself so merry among the\n  ladies,]\n[Sidenote H: with comely carols,]\n[Sidenote I: that they said,]\n[Sidenote J: \"Thus merry was he never before since hither he came.\"]\n[Footnote 1: he, in MS.]\n[Footnote 2: lyste (?).]\n\n      XXXI.\n\n     [A] Now hym lenge in \u00feat lee, \u00feer luf hym bi-tyde;\n         3et is \u00fee lorde on \u00fee launde, ledande his gomnes,\n     [B] He hat3 forfaren \u00feis fox, \u00feat he fol3ed longe;\n1896     As he sprent ouer a spenn\u00e9, to spye \u00fee schrewe,\n         \u00deer as he herd \u00fee howndes, \u00feat hasted hym swy\u00fee,      [Fol. 116b.]\n     [C] Renaud com richchande \u00feur3 a ro3e greue,\n         & alle \u00fee rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.\n1900 [D] \u00dee wy3e wat3 war of \u00fee wylde, & warly abides,\n         & brayde3 out \u00fee bry3t bronde, & at \u00fee best caste3;\n         & he schunt for \u00fee scharp, & schulde haf arered,\n     [E] A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,\n1904     & ry3t bifore \u00fee hors fete \u00feay fel on hym alle,\n         & woried me \u00feis wyly wyth a wroth noyse.\n     [F] \u00dee lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by[1] sone,\n         Rased hym ful radly out of \u00fee rach mou\u00fees,\n1908     Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,\n         & \u00feer bayen hym mony bray[2] hounde3;\n     [G] Huntes hy3ed hem \u00feeder, with horne3 ful mony,\n         Ay re-chatande ary3t til \u00feay \u00fee renk se3en;\n1912     Bi \u00feat wat3 comen his compeyny noble,\n         Alle \u00feat euer ber bugle blowed at ones,\n     [H] & alle \u00feise o\u00feer halowed, \u00feat hade no hornes,\n         Hit wat3 \u00fee myriest mute \u00feat euer men herde,\n1916     \u00dee rich rurd \u00feat \u00feer wat3 raysed for renaude saule,\n                 with lote;\n     [I]     Hor hounde3 \u00feay \u00feer rewarde,\n             Her[3] hede3 \u00feay fawne & frote,\n1920 [J]     & sy\u00feen \u00feay tan reynarde,\n             & tyrnen of his cote.\n\n[Sidenote A: Gawayne's host is still in the field.]\n[Sidenote B: He has destroyed the fox.]\n[Sidenote C: He spied Reynard coming through a \"rough grove,\"]\n[Sidenote D: and tried to hit him with his sword.]\n[Sidenote E: The fox \"shunts,\" and is seized by one of the dogs.]\n[Sidenote F: The lord takes him out of the hound's mouth.]\n[Sidenote G: Hunters hasten thither with horns full many.]\n[Sidenote H: It was the merriest meet that ever was heard.]\n[Sidenote I: The hounds are rewarded,]\n[Sidenote J: and then they take Reynard and \"turn off his coat.\"]\n[Footnote 1: hym (?).]\n[Footnote 2: bra\u00fe (?).]\n[Footnote 3: Her her, in MS.]\n\n      XXXII.\n\n     [A] & \u00feenne \u00feay helden to home, for hit wat3 nie3 ny3t,\n         Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horne3;\n1924 [B] \u00dee lorde is ly3t at \u00fee laste at hys lef home,\n         Fynde3 fire vpon flet, \u00fee freke \u00feer by-side,\n         Sir Gawayn \u00fee gode, \u00feat glad wat3 with alle,\n     [C] Among \u00fee ladies for luf he ladde much ioye,\n1928     He were a bleaunt of blwe, \u00feat bradde to \u00fee er\u00fee,\n         His surkot semed hym wel, \u00feat softe wat3 forred,\n         & his hode of \u00feat ilke henged on his schulder,\n     [D] Blande al of blaunner were bo\u00fee al aboute.\n1932     He mete3 me \u00feis god mon in mydde3 \u00fee flore,\n         & al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde,\n         \"I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwarde3 nou\u00fee,\n         \u00deat we spedly han spoken, \u00feer spared wat3 no drynk;\"   [Fol. 117.]\n1936 [E] \u00deen acoles he [\u00fee] kny3t, & kysses hym \u00feryes,\n     [F] As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette cou\u00fee.\n     [G] \"Bi Kryst,\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer kny3t, \"3e cach much sele,\n         In cheuisaunce of \u00feis chaffer, 3if 3e hade goud chepe3.\"\n1940     \"3e of \u00fee chepe no charg,\" quod chefly \u00feat o\u00feer,\n         \"As is pertly payed \u00fee chepe3 \u00feat I a3te.\"\n         \"Mary,\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer mon, \"myn is bi-hynde,\n     [H] For I haf hunted al \u00feis day, & no3t haf I geten,\n1944 [I] Bot \u00feis foule fox felle, \u00fee fende haf \u00fee gode3,\n     [J] & \u00feat is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys \u00feinges,\n         As 3e haf \u00fery3t me here, \u00fero suche \u00fere cosses,\n                 so gode.\"\n1948         \"I-no3,\" quod sir Gawayn,\n             \"I \u00feonk yow, bi \u00fee rode;\"\n     [K]     & how \u00fee fox wat3 slayn,\n             He tolde hym, as \u00feay stode.\n\n[Sidenote A: The hunters then hasten home.]\n[Sidenote B: The lord at last alights at his dear home,]\n[Sidenote C: where he finds Gawayne amusing the ladies.]\n[Sidenote D: The knight comes forward and welcomes his host,]\n[Sidenote E: and according to covenant kisses him thrice.]\n[Sidenote F: (See l. 1868.)]\n[Sidenote G: \"By Christ,\" says the other, \"ye have had much bliss!\"]\n[Sidenote H: I have hunted all day and have gotten nothing,]\n[Sidenote I: but the skin of this foul fox,]\n[Sidenote J: a poor reward for three such kisses.\"]\n[Sidenote K: He then tells him how the fox was slain.]\n\n      XXXIII.\n\n1952 [A] With mer\u00fee & mynstralsye, wyth mete3 at hor wylle,\n         \u00deay maden as mery as any men mo3ten,\n         With la3yng of ladies, with lote3 of bordes;\n         Gawayn & \u00fee gode mon so glad were \u00feay bo\u00fee,\n1956     Bot if \u00fee douthe had doted, o\u00feer dronken ben o\u00feer,\n         Bo\u00fee \u00fee mon & \u00fee meyny maden mony iape3,\n     [B] Til \u00fee sesoun wat3 se3en, \u00feat \u00feay seuer moste;\n         Burne3 to hor bedde be-houed at \u00fee laste.\n1960 [C] \u00deenne lo3ly his leue at \u00fee lorde fyrst\n         Fochche3 \u00feis fre mon, & fayre he hym \u00feonkke3;\n     [D] \"Of such a sellyly[1] soiorne, as I haf hade here,\n         Your honour, at \u00feis hy3e fest, \u00fee hy3e kyng yow 3elde!\n1964     I 3ef yow me for on of youre3, if yowre-self lyke3,\n         For I mot nedes, as 3e wot, meue to morne;\n     [E] & 3e me take sum tolke, to teche, as 3e hy3t,\n         \u00dee gate to \u00fee grene chapel, as god wyl me suffer\n1968     To dele, on nw3ere3 day, \u00fee dome of my wyrdes.\"\n         \"In god fay\u00fee,\" quod \u00fee god mon. \"wyth a goud wylle;\n         Al \u00feat euer I yow hy3t, halde schal I rede.\"\n     [F] \u00deer asyngnes he a seruaunt, to sett hym in \u00fee waye,\n1972     & coundue hym by \u00fee downe3, \u00feat he no drechch had,    [Fol. 117b.]\n         For to f[e]rk \u00feur3 \u00fee fryth, & fare at \u00fee gaynest,\n                 bi greue.\n             \u00dee lorde Gawayn con \u00feonk,\n1976         Such worchip he wolde hym weue;\n     [G]     \u00deen at \u00feo ladye3 wlonk.\n             \u00dee kny3t hat3 tan his leue.\n\n[Sidenote A: With much mirth and minstrelsy they made merry,]\n[Sidenote B: until the time came for them to part.]\n[Sidenote C: Gawayne takes leave of his host.]\n[Sidenote D: and thanks him for his happy \"sojourn.\"]\n[Sidenote E: He asks for a man to teach him the way to the Green Chapel.]\n[Sidenote F: A servant is assigned to him,]\n[Sidenote G: and then he takes leave of the ladies,]\n[Footnote 1: selly (?).]\n\n      XXXIV.\n\n     [A] With care & wyth kyssyng he carppe3 hem tille,\n1980     & fele \u00feryuande \u00feonkke3 he \u00ferat hom to haue,\n         & \u00feay 3elden hym a3ay[n] 3eply \u00feat ilk;\n     [B] \u00deay bikende hym to Kryst, with ful colde sykynge3.\n     [C] Sy\u00feen fro \u00fee meyny he menskly de-partes;\n1984     Vche mon \u00feat he mette, he made hem a \u00feonke,\n         For his seruyse, & his solace, & his sere pyne,\n         \u00deat \u00feay wyth busynes had ben, aboute hym to serue;\n         & vche segge as sore, to seuer with hym \u00feere,\n1988     As \u00feay hade wonde wor\u00feyly with \u00feat wlonk euer.\n     [D] \u00deen with ledes & ly3t he wat3 ladde to his chambre,\n         & blybely bro3t to his bedde, to be at his rest;\n         3if he ne slepe soundyly, say ne dar I,\n1992 [E] For he hade muche on \u00fee morn to mynne, 3if he wolde,\n                 in \u00feo3t;\n     [F]     Let hym ly3e \u00feere stille,\n             He hat3[1] nere \u00feat he so3t,\n1996 [G]     & 3e wyl a whyle be stylle,\n             I schal telle yow how \u00feay wro3t.\n\n[Sidenote A: kissing them sorrowfully.]\n[Sidenote B: They commend him to Christ.]\n[Sidenote C: He then departs, thanking each one he meets \"for his service\n  and solace.\"]\n[Sidenote D: He retires to rest but sleeps but little,]\n[Sidenote E: for much has he to think of on the morrow.]\n[Sidenote F: Let him there lie still.]\n[Sidenote G: Be still awhile, and I shall tell how they wrought.]\n[Footnote 1: wat3 (?).]\n\n[FYTTE THE FOURTH.]\n\n      I.\n\n     [A] Now ne3e3 \u00fee nw3ere, & \u00fee ny3t passe3,\n         \u00dee day dryue3 to \u00fee derk, as dry3tyn bidde3;\n2000 [B] Bot wylde wedere3 of \u00fee worlde wakned \u00feeroute,\n         Clowdes kesten kenly \u00fee colde to \u00fee er\u00fee,\n         Wyth ny3e[1] in-noghe of \u00fee nor\u00fee, \u00fee naked to tene;\n     [C] \u00dee snawe snitered ful snart, \u00feat snayped \u00fee wylde;\n2004     \u00dee werbelande wynde wapped fro \u00fee hy3e,\n     [D] & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete.\n         \u00dee leude lystened ful wel, \u00feat le3 in his bedde,\n     [E] \u00dea3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes;\n2008     Bi vch kok \u00feat crue, he knwe wel \u00fee steuen.\n         De-liuerly he dressed vp, er \u00fee day sprenged,          [Fol. 118.]\n         For \u00feere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, \u00feat lemed in his chambre;\n     [F] He called to his chamberlayn, \u00feat cofly hym swared,\n2012     & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel;\n         \u00deat o\u00feer ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3,\n         & gray\u00fee3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse.\n         Fyrst he clad hym in his clo\u00fee3, \u00fee colde for to were;\n2016     & sy\u00feen his o\u00feer harnays, \u00feat holdely wat3 keped,\n         Bo\u00fee his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene,\n     [G] \u00dee rynge3[2] rokked of \u00fee roust, of his riche bruny;\n         & al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn \u00feenne\n2020             to \u00feonk;\n             He hade vpon vche pece,\n             Wypped ful wel & wlonk;\n     [H]     \u00dee gayest in to Grece,\n2024         \u00dee burne bede bryng his blonk.\n\n[Sidenote A: New Year's Day approaches.]\n[Sidenote B: The weather is stormy.]\n[Sidenote C: Snow falls.]\n[Sidenote D: The dales are full of drift.]\n[Sidenote E: Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows.]\n[Sidenote F: He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his\n  armour.]\n[Sidenote G: Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon.]\n[Sidenote H: The knight then calls for his steed.]\n[Footnote 1: nywe (?).]\n[Footnote 2: rynke3 (?).]\n\n      II.\n\n     [A] Whyle \u00fee wlonkest wedes he warp on hym-seluen;\n         His cote, wyth be conysaunce of \u00fee clere werke3,\n         Ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus[1] stone3,\n2028     Aboute beten, & bounden, enbrauded seme3,\n         & fayre furred with-inne wyth fayre pelures.\n     [B] 3et laft he not \u00fee lace, \u00fee ladie3 gifte,\n         \u00deat for-gat not Gawayn, for gode of hym-seluen;\n2032     Bi he hade belted \u00fee bronde vpon his bal3e haunche3,\n     [C] \u00deenn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute;\n         Swy\u00fee swe\u00feled vmbe his swange swetely, \u00feat kny3t,\n         \u00dee gordel of \u00fee grene silke, \u00feat gay wel bisemed,\n2036     Vpon \u00feat ryol red clo\u00fee, \u00feat ryche wat3 to schewe.\n     [D] Bot wered not \u00feis ilk wy3e for wele \u00feis gordel,\n         For pryde of \u00fee pendaunte3, \u00fea3 polyst \u00feay were,\n         & \u00fea3 \u00fee glyterande golde glent vpon ende3,\n2040 [E] Bot forto sauen hym-self, when suffer hym by-houed,\n         To byde bale with-oute dabate, of bronde hym to were,\n                 o\u00feer knyffe;\n             Bi \u00feat \u00fee bolde mon boun,\n2044         Wynne3 \u00feeroute bilyue,\n     [F]     Alle \u00fee meyny of renoun,\n             He \u00feonkke3 ofte ful ryue.\n\n[Sidenote A: While he clothed himself in his rich weeds,]\n[Sidenote B: he forgot not the \"lace,\" the lady's gift,]\n[Sidenote C: but with it doubly girded his loins.]\n[Sidenote D: He wore it not for its rich ornaments,]\n[Sidenote E: \"but to save himself when it behoved him to suffer.\"]\n[Sidenote F: All the renowned assembly he thanks full oft.]\n[Footnote 1: vertuous (?).]\n\n      III.\n\n     [A] Thenne wat3 Gryngolet gray\u00fee, \u00feat gret wat3 & huge,   [Fol. 118b.]\n2048     & hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse,\n     [B] Hym lyst prik for poynt, \u00feat proude hors \u00feenne;\n         \u00dee wy3e wynne3 hym to, & wyte3 on his lyre,\n         & sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swere3,\n2052     \"Here is a meyny in \u00feis mote, \u00feat on menske \u00feenkke3,\n     [C] \u00dee mon hem maynteines, ioy mot \u00feay haue;\n         \u00dee leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde;\n         3if \u00feay for charyt\u00e9 cherysen a gest,\n2056     & halden honour in her honde, \u00fee ha\u00feel hem 3elde,\n         \u00deat halde3 \u00fee heuen vpon hy3e, & also yow alle!\n         & 3if I my3t lyf vpon londe lede any quyle,\n         I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I my3t.\"\n2060 [D] \u00deenn steppe3 he in-to stirop, & stryde3 alofte;\n         His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit la3t,\n         Gorde3 to Gryngolet, with his gilt hele3,\n     [E] & he starte3 on \u00fee ston, stod he no lenger,\n2064             to praunce;\n             His ha\u00feel on hors wat3 \u00feenne,\n             \u00deat bere his spere & launce.\n     [F]     \"\u00deis kastel to Kryst I kenne,\n2068         He gef hit ay god chaunce!\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Then was Gringolet arrayed,]\n[Sidenote B: full ready to prick on.]\n[Sidenote C: Gawayne returns thanks for the honour and kindness shown to\n  him by all.]\n[Sidenote D: He then steps into his saddle,]\n[Sidenote E: and \"starts on the stone\" without more delay.]\n[Sidenote F: \"This castle to Christ I commend; may he give it ever good\n  chance!\"]\n\n      IV.\n\n     [A] The brygge wat3 brayde doun, & \u00fee brode 3ate3\n         Vnbarred, & born open, vpon bo\u00fee halue;\n     [B] \u00dee burne blessed hym bilyue, & \u00fee brede3 passed;\n2072     Prayses \u00fee porter, bifore \u00fee prynce kneled,\n         Gef hym God & goud day, \u00feat Gawayn he saue;\n     [C] & went on his way, with his wy3e one,\n         \u00deat schulde teche hym to tourne to \u00feat tene place,\n2076     \u00deer \u00fee ruful race he schulde re-sayue.\n         \u00deay bo3en bi bonkke3, \u00feer bo3e3 ar bare,\n     [D] \u00deay clomben bi clyffe3, \u00feer clenge3 \u00fee colde;\n         \u00dee heuen wat3 vp halt, bot vgly \u00feer vnder,\n2080     Mist muged on \u00fee mor, malt on \u00fee mounte3,\n     [E] Vch hille hade a hatte, a myst-hakel huge;\n         Broke3 byled, & breke, bi bonkke3 aboute,\n         Schyre schaterande on schore3, \u00feer \u00feay doun schowued.\n2084     Welawylle wat3 \u00fee way, \u00feer \u00feay bi wod schulden,        [Fol. 119.]\n     [F] Til hit wat3 sone sesoun, \u00feat \u00fee sunne ryses,\n                 \u00feat tyde;\n     [G]     \u00deay were on a hille ful hy3e,\n2088         \u00dee quyte snaw lay bisyde;\n     [H]     \u00dee burne \u00feat rod hym by\n             Bede his mayster abide.\n\n[Sidenote A: The gates are soon opened.]\n[Sidenote B: The knight passes thereout,]\n[Sidenote C: and goes on his way accompanied by his guide.]\n[Sidenote D: They climb by cliffs,]\n[Sidenote E: where each \"hill had a hat and a mist-cloak,\"]\n[Sidenote F: until daylight.]\n[Sidenote G: They were then on a \"hill full high.\"]\n[Sidenote H: The servant bade his master abide, saying,]\n\n      V.\n\n     [A] \"For I haf wonnen yow hider, wy3e, at \u00feis tyme,\n2092     & now nar 3e not fer fro \u00feat note place,\n     [B] \u00deat 3e han spied & spuryed so specially after;\n         Bot I schal say yow for so\u00fee, sy\u00feen I yow knowe,\n         & 3e ar a lede vpon lyue, \u00feat I wel louy,\n2096     Wolde 3e worch bi my wytte, 3e wor\u00feed \u00fee better.\n     [C] \u00dee place \u00feat 3e prece to, ful perelous is halden;\n     [D] \u00deer wone3 a wy3e in \u00feat waste, \u00fee worst vpon er\u00fee;\n         For he is stiffe, & sturne, & to strike louies,\n2100     & more he is \u00feen any mon vpon myddelerde,\n     [E] & his body bigger \u00feen \u00fee best fowre.\n         \u00deat ar in Ar\u00feure3 hous, Hestor[1] o\u00feer o\u00feer.\n         He cheue3 \u00feat chaunce at \u00fee chapel grene;\n2104 [F] \u00deer passes non bi \u00feat place, so proude in his armes,\n         \u00deat he ne dynne3 hym to de\u00fee, with dynt of his honde;\n         For he is a mon methles, & mercy non vses,\n     [G] For be hit chorle, o\u00feer chaplayn, \u00feat bi \u00fee chapel rydes,\n2108     Monk, o\u00feer masse-prest, o\u00feer any mon elles,\n         Hym \u00feynk as queme hym to quelle, as quyk go hym seluen.\n         For-\u00fey I say \u00fee as so\u00fee as 3e in sadel sitte,\n         Com 3e \u00feere, 3e be kylled, [I] may \u00fee kny3t rede,\n2112     Trawe 3e me \u00feat trwely, \u00fea3 3e had twenty lyues\n                 to spende;\n     [H]     He hat3 wonyd here ful 3ore,\n             On bent much baret bende,\n2116 [I]     A3ayn his dynte3 sore,\n             3e may not yow defende.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"I have brought you hither,]\n[Sidenote B: ye are not now far from the noted place.]\n[Sidenote C: Full perilous is it esteemed.]\n[Sidenote D: The lord of that 'waste' is stiff and stern.]\n[Sidenote E: His body is bigger 'than the best four in Arthur's house.']\n[Sidenote F: None passes by the Green Chapel, 'that he does not ding to\n  death with dint of his hand.']\n[Sidenote G: For be it churl or chaplain, monk, mass-priest, 'or any man\n  else,' he kills them all.]\n[Sidenote H: He has lived there full long.]\n[Sidenote I: Against his dints sore ye may not defend you.]\n[Footnote 1: Hector (?).]\n\n      VI.\n\n     [A] \"For-\u00fey, goude sir Gawayn, let \u00fee gome one,\n         & got3 a-way sum o\u00feer gate; vpon Godde3 halue;\n2120 [B] Cayre3 bi sum o\u00feer kyth, \u00feer Kryst mot yow spede;\n         & I schal hy3 me hom a3ayn, & hete yow fyrre,\n     [C] \u00deat I schal swere bi God, & alle his gode hal3e3,     [Fol. 119b.]\n         As help me God & \u00fee halydam, & o\u00fee3 in-noghe,\n2124     \u00deat I schal lelly yow layne, & lance neuer tale,\n         \u00deat euer 3e fondet to fle, for freke \u00feat I wyst.\"\n         \"Grant merci;\" quod Gawayn, & gruchyng he sayde,\n         \"Wel worth \u00fee wy3e, \u00feat wolde3 my gode,\n2128     & \u00feat lelly me layne, I leue wel \u00feou wolde3!\n     [D] Bot helde \u00feou hit neuer so holde, & I here passed,\n         Founded for ferde for to fle, in fourme \u00feat \u00feou telle3,\n         I were a kny3t kowarde, I my3t not[1] be excused.\n2132 [E] Bot I wy1 to \u00fee chape1, for chaunce \u00feat may falle,\n         & talk wyth \u00feat ilk tulk \u00fee tale \u00feat me lyste,\n         Wor\u00fee hit wele, o\u00feer wo, as \u00fee wyrde lyke3\n                 hit hafe;\n2136 [F]     \u00dea3e he be a sturn knape,\n             To sti3tel, &[2] stad with staue,\n     [G]     Ful wel con dry3tyn schape,\n             His seruaunte3 forto saue.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Wherefore, good Sir Gawayne, let this man alone.]\n[Sidenote B: Go by some other region,]\n[Sidenote C: I swear by God and all His saints, that I will never say that\n  ever ye attempted to flee from any man.\"]\n[Sidenote D: Gawayne replies that to shun this danger would mark him as a\n  \"coward knight.\"]\n[Sidenote E: To the Chapel, therefore, he will go,]\n[Sidenote F: though the owner thereof were a stern knave.]\n[Sidenote G: \"Full well can God devise his servants for to save.\"]\n[Footnote 1: mot, in MS.]\n[Footnote 2: & &, in MS.]\n\n      VII.\n\n2140 [A] \"Mary!\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer mon, \"now \u00feou so much spelle3,\n         \u00deat \u00feou wylt \u00feyn awen nye nyme to \u00fey-seluen,\n         & \u00fee lyst lese \u00fey lyf, \u00fee lette I ne kepe;\n     [B] Haf here \u00fei helme on \u00fey hede, \u00fei spere in \u00fei honde,\n2144     & ryde me doun \u00feis ilk rake, bi 3on rokke syde,\n     [C] Til \u00feou be bro3t to \u00fee bo\u00feem of \u00fee brem valay;\n     [D] \u00deenne loke a littel on \u00fee launde, on \u00fei lyfte honde,\n     [E] & \u00feou schal se in \u00feat slade \u00fee self chapel,\n2148     & \u00fee borelych burne on bent, \u00feat hit kepe3.\n         Now fare3 wel on Gode3 half, Gawayn \u00fee noble,\n         For alle \u00fee golde vpon grounde I nolde go with \u00fee,\n         Ne bere \u00fee fela3schip \u00feur3 \u00feis fryth on fote fyrre.\"\n2152 [F] Bi \u00feat \u00fee wy3e in \u00fee wod wende3 his brydel,\n         Hit \u00fee hors with \u00fee hele3, as harde as he my3t,\n         Lepe3 hym ouer \u00fee launde, & leue3 \u00fee kny3t \u00feere,\n                 al one.\n2156 [G]     \"Bi Godde3 self,\" quod Gawayn,\n             \"I wyl nau\u00feer grete ne grone,\n     [H]     To Godde3 wylle I am ful bayn,\n             & to hym I haf me tone.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Mary!\" quoth the other, \"since it pleases thee to lose thy\n  life,]\n[Sidenote B: take thy helmet on thy head, and thy spear in thy hand, and\n  ride down this path by yon rock-side,]\n[Sidenote C: till thou come to the bottom of the valley;]\n[Sidenote D: look a little to the left,]\n[Sidenote E: and thou shalt see the Chapel itself and the man that guards\n  it.\"]\n[Sidenote F: Having thus spoken the guide takes leave of the knight.]\n[Sidenote G: \"By God's self,\" says Sir Gawayne, \"I will neither weep nor\n  groan.]\n[Sidenote H: To God's will I am full ready.\"]\n\n      VIII.\n\n2160 [A] Thenne gyrde3 he to Gryngolet, & gedere3 \u00fee rake,      [Fol. 120.]\n         Schowue3 in bi a schore, at a scha3e syde,\n     [B] Ride3 \u00feur3 \u00fee ro3e bonk, ry3t to \u00fee dale;\n         & \u00feenne he wayted hym aboute, & wylde hit hym \u00feo3t,\n2164 [C] & se3e no syngne of resette, bisyde3 nowhere,\n         Bot hy3e bonkke3 & brent, vpon bo\u00fee halue,\n         & ru3e knokled knarre3, with knorned stone3;\n         \u00dee skwe3 of \u00fee scowtes skayued[1] hym \u00feo3t.\n2168     \u00deenne he houed, & wyth-hylde his hors at \u00feat tyde,\n         & ofte chaunged his cher, \u00fee chapel to seche;\n     [D] He se3 non suche in no syde, & selly hym \u00feo3t,\n         Sone a lyttel on a launde, a lawe as hit we[re];\n2172 [E] A bal3 ber3, bi a bonke, \u00fee brymme by-syde,\n         Bi a for3 of a flode, \u00feat ferked \u00feare;\n         \u00dee borne blubred \u00feer-inne, as hit boyled hade.\n     [F] \u00dee kny3t kache3 his caple, & com to \u00fee lawe,\n2176 [G] Li3te3 doun luflyly, & at a lynde tache3\n         \u00dee rayne, & his riche, with a ro3e braunche;\n     [H] \u00deen[n]e he bo3e3 to \u00fee ber3e, aboute hit he walke,\n         D[e]batande with hym-self, quat hit be my3t.\n2180     Hit hade a hole on \u00fee ende, & on ay\u00feer syde,\n         & ouer-growen with gresse in glodes ay where,\n         & al wat3 hol3 in-with, nobot an olde caue,\n     [I] Or a creuisse of an olde cragge, he cou\u00fee hit no3t deme\n2184             with spelle,\n             \"We,[2] lorde,\" quod \u00fee gentyle kny3t,\n             \"Whe\u00feer \u00feis be \u00fee grene chapelle;\n     [J]     He my3t aboute myd-ny3t,\n2188         [\u00de]e dele his matynnes telle!\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Then he pursues his journey,]\n[Sidenote B: rides through the dale, and looks about.]\n[Sidenote C: He sees no sign of a resting-place, but only high and steep\n  banks.]\n[Sidenote D: No chapel could he discern.]\n[Sidenote E: At last he sees a hill by the side of a stream;]\n[Sidenote F: thither he goes,]\n[Sidenote G: alights and fastens his horse to a branch of a tree.]\n[Sidenote H: He walks around the hill, debating with himself what it might\n  be,]\n[Sidenote I: and at last finds an old cave in the crag.]\n[Sidenote J: He prays that about midnight he may tell his matins.]\n[Footnote 1: skayned (?).]\n[Footnote 2: wel (?).]\n\n      IX.\n\n     [A] \"Now i-wysse,\" quod Wowayn, \"wysty is here;\n         \u00deis oritore is vgly, with erbe3 ouer-growen;\n     [B] Wel biseme3 \u00fee wy3e wruxled in grene\n2192     Dele here his deuocioun, on \u00fee deuele3 wyse;\n         Now I fele hit is \u00fee fende, in my fyue wytte3,\n         \u00deat hat3 stoken me \u00feis steuen, to strye me here;\n     [C] \u00deis is a chapel of meschaunce, \u00feat chekke hit by-tyde,\n2196     Hit is \u00fee corsedest kyrk, \u00feat euer i com inne!\"\n         With he3e helme on his hede, his launce in his honde, [Fol. 120b.]\n     [D] He rome3 vp to \u00fee rokke of \u00feo ro3 wone3;\n         \u00deene herde he of \u00feat hy3e hil, in a harde roche,\n2200 [E] Bi3onde \u00fee broke, in a bonk, a wonder breme noyse,\n     [F] Quat! hit clatered in \u00fee clyff, as hit cleue schulde,\n         As one vpon a gryndelston hade grounden a sy\u00fee;\n     [G] What! hit wharred, & whette, as water at a mulne,\n2204     What! hit rusched, & ronge, raw\u00fee to here.\n         \u00deenne \"bi Godde,\" quod Gawayn, \"\u00feat gere as[1] I trowe,\n         Is ryched at \u00fee reuerence, me renk to mete,\n                 bi rote;\n2208         Let God worche we loo,\n     [H]     Hit helppe3 me not a mote,\n             My lif \u00fea3 I for-goo,\n             Drede dot3 me no lote.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Truly,\" says Sir Gawayne, \"a desert is here,]\n[Sidenote B: a fitting place for the man in green to 'deal here his\n  devotions in devil fashion.']\n[Sidenote C: It is most cursed kirk that ever I entered.\"]\n[Sidenote D: Roaming about he hears a loud noise,]\n[Sidenote E: from beyond the brook.]\n[Sidenote F: It clattered like the grinding of a scythe on a grindstone.]\n[Sidenote G: It whirred like a mill-stream.]\n[Sidenote H: \"Though my life I forgo,\" says the knight, \"no noise shall\n  terrify me.\"]\n[Footnote 1: at, in MS.]\n\n      X.\n\n2212 [A] Thenne \u00fee kny3t con calle ful hy3e,\n     [B] \"Who sti3tle3 in \u00feis sted, me steuen to holde?\n     [C] For now is gode Gawayn goande ry3t here,\n         If any wy3e o3t wyl wynne hider fast,\n2216     O\u00feer now, o\u00feer neuer, his nede3 to spede.\"\n     [D] \"Abyde,\" quod on on \u00fee bonke, abouen ouer his hede,\n         \"& \u00feou schal haf al in hast, \u00feat I \u00fee hy3t ones.\"\n         3et he rusched on \u00feat rurde, rapely a \u00ferowe,\n2220     & wyth quettyng a-wharf, er he wolde ly3t;\n     [E] & sy\u00feen he keuere3 bi a cragge, & come3 of a hole,\n         Whyrlande out of a wro, wyth a felle weppen,\n     [F] A dene3 ax nwe dy3t, \u00fee dynt with [t]o 3elde\n2224     With a borelych bytte, bende by \u00fee halme,\n         Fyled in a fylor, fowre fote large,\n         Hit wat3 no lasse, bi \u00feat lace \u00feat lemed ful bry3t.\n     [G] & \u00fee gome in \u00fee erene gered as fyrst,\n2228     Bo\u00fee \u00fee lyre & \u00fee legge3, lokke3, & berde,\n         Saue \u00feat fayre on his fote he founde3 on \u00fee er\u00fee,\n         Sette \u00fee stele to \u00fee stone, & stalked bysyde.\n     [H] When he wan to \u00fee watter, \u00feer he wade nolde,\n2232     He hypped ouer on hys ax, & orpedly stryde3,\n         Bremly bro\u00fee on a bent, \u00feat brode wat3 a-boute,\n                 on snawe.\n     [I]     Sir Gawayn \u00fee kny3t con mete.                      [Fol. 121.]\n2236         He ne lutte hym no \u00feyng lowe,\n     [J]     \u00deat o\u00feer sayde, \"now, sir swete,\n             Of steuen mon may \u00fee trowe.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Then cried he aloud,]\n[Sidenote B: \"Who dwells here discourse with me to hold?\"]\n[Sidenote C: Now is the good Gawayne going aright]\n[Sidenote D: He hears a voice commanding him to abide where he is.]\n[Sidenote E: Soon there comes out of a hole, with a fell weapon,]\n[Sidenote F: a Danish axe, quite new,]\n[Sidenote G: the \"knight in green,\" clothed as before.]\n[Sidenote H: When he reaches the stream, he hops over and strides about.]\n[Sidenote I: He meets Sir Gawayne without obeisance.]\n[Sidenote J: The other tells him that he is now ready for conversation]\n\n      XI.\n\n     [A] \"Gawayn,\" quod \u00feat grene gome, \"God \u00fee mot loke!\n2240     I-wysse \u00feou art welcom,[1] wy3e, to my place,\n     [B] & \u00feou hat3 tymed \u00fei trauayl as true[2] mon schulde;\n     [C] & \u00feou knowe3 \u00fee couenaunte3 kest vus by-twene,\n         At \u00feis tyme twelmonyth \u00feou toke \u00feat \u00fee falled,\n2244 [D] & I schulde at \u00feis nwe 3ere 3eply \u00fee quyte.\n     [E] & we ar in \u00feis valay, verayly oure one,\n         Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vus like3;\n     [F] Haf \u00fey[3] helme of \u00fey hede, & haf here \u00fey pay;\n2248     Busk no more debate \u00feen I \u00fee bede \u00feenne,\n         \"When \u00feou wypped of my hede at a wap one.\"\n     [G] \"Nay, bi God,\" quod Gawayn, \"\u00feat me gost lante,\n         I schal gruch \u00fee no grwe, for grem \u00feat falle3;\n2252     Botsty3tel \u00fee vpon on strok, & I schal stonde stylle,\n         & warp \u00fee no wernyng, to worch as \u00fee lyke3,\n                 no whare.\"\n     [H]     He lened with \u00fee nek, & lutte,\n2256         & schewed \u00feat schyre al bare,\n             & lette as he no3t dutte,\n     [I]     For drede he wolde not dare.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"God preserve thee!\" says the Green Knight,]\n[Sidenote B: \"as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel']\n[Sidenote C: Thou knowest the covenant between us,]\n[Sidenote D: that on New Year's day I should return thy blow]\n[Sidenote E: Here we are alone,]\n[Sidenote F: Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once.\"]\n[Sidenote G: \"By God,\" quoth Sir Gawayne, \"I shall not begrudge thee thy\n  will.\"]\n[Sidenote H: Then he shows his bare neck,]\n[Sidenote I: and appears undaunted.]\n[Footnote 1: welcon, in MS.]\n[Footnote 2: truee in MS.]\n[Footnote 3: MS. \u00fey \u00fey.]\n\n      XII.\n\n     [A] Then \u00fee gome in \u00fee grene gray\u00feed hym swy\u00fee,\n2260     Gedere3 yp hys grymme tole, Gawayn to smyte;\n     [B] With alle \u00fee bur in his body he ber hit on lofte,\n         Munt as ma3tyly, as marre hym he wolde;\n         Hade hit dryuen adoun, as dre3 as he atled,\n2264     \u00deer hade ben ded of his dynt, \u00feat do3ty wat3 euer.\n         Bot Gawayn on \u00feat giserne glyfte hym bysyde,\n     [C] As hit com glydande adoun, on glode hym to schende,\n     [D] & schranke a lytel with \u00fee schulderes, for \u00fee scharp yrne.\n2268     \u00deat o\u00feer schalk wyth a schunt \u00fee schene wythhalde3,\n     [E] & \u00feenne repreued he \u00fee prynce with mony prowde worde3:\n     [F] \"\u00deou art not Gawayn,\" quod \u00fee gome, \"\u00feat is so goud halden,\n         \u00deat neuer ar3ed for no here, by hylle ne be vale,\n2272 [G] & now \u00feou fles for ferde, er \u00feou fele harme3;         [Fol. 121b.]\n         Such cowardise of \u00feat kny3t cow\u00fee I neuer here.\n     [H] Naw\u00feer fyked I, ne fla3e, freke, quen \u00feou myntest,\n         Ne kest no kauelacion, in kynge3 hous Arthor,\n2276 [I] My hede fla3 to my fote, & 3et fla3 I neuer;\n         & \u00feou, er any harme hent, ar3e3 in hert,\n     [J] Wherfore \u00fee better burne me burde be called\n                 \u00feer-fore.\"\n2280 [K]     Quod G:, \"I schunt one3,\n             & so wyl I no more,\n             Bot pa3 my hede falle on \u00fee stone3,\n             I con not hit restore.\n\n[Sidenote A: Then the man in green seizes his grim tool.]\n[Sidenote B: With all his force he raises it aloft.]\n[Sidenote C: As it came gliding down,]\n[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne shrank a little with his shoulders.]\n[Sidenote E: The other reproved him, saying,]\n[Sidenote F: \"Thou art not Gawayne that is so good esteemed,]\n[Sidenote G: for thou fleest for fear before thou feelest harm.]\n[Sidenote H: I never flinched when thou struckest.]\n[Sidenote I: My head flew to my foot, yet I never fled,]\n[Sidenote J: wherefore I ought to be called the better man.\"]\n[Sidenote K: \"I shunted once,\" says Gawayne, \"but will no more.]\n\n      XIII.\n\n2284 [A] Bot busk, burne, bi \u00fei fayth, & bryng me to \u00fee poynt,\n         Dele to me my destin\u00e9, & do hit out of honde,\n         For I schal stonde \u00fee a strok, & start no more,\n         Til \u00feyn ax haue me hitte, haf here my traw\u00fee.\"\n2288 [B] \"Haf at \u00fee \u00feenne,\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer, & heue3 hit alofte,\n         & wayte3 as wro\u00feely, as he wode were;\n     [C] He mynte3 at hym ma3tyly, bot not \u00fee mon ryue3,[1]\n         With-helde heterly h[i]s honde, er hit hurt my3t.\n2292 [D] Gawayn gray\u00feely hit byde3, & glent with no membre,\n         Bot stode stylle as \u00fee ston, o\u00feer a stubbe au\u00feer,\n         \u00deat ra\u00feeled is in roche grounde, with rote3 a hundreth.\n         \u00deen muryly efte con he mele, \u00fee mon in \u00fee grene,\n2296 [E] \"So now \u00feou hat3 \u00fei hert holle, hitte me bihou[e]s;\n         Halde \u00fee now \u00fee hy3e hode, \u00feat Ar\u00feur \u00fee ra3t,\n         & kepe \u00fey kanel at \u00feis kest, 3if hit keuer may.\"\n         G: ful gryndelly with greme \u00feenne sayde,\n2300 [F] \"Wy \u00feresch on, \u00feou \u00fero mon, \u00feou \u00ferete3 to longe,\n         I hope \u00feat \u00fei hert ar3e wyth \u00feyn awen seluen.\"\n         \"For so\u00fee,\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer freke, \"so felly \u00feou speke3,\n         I wyl no lenger on lyte lette \u00fein ernde,\n2304             ri3t nowe.\"\n     [G]     \u00deenne tas he[2] hym stry\u00fee to stryke,\n             & frounses bo\u00fee lyppe & browe,\n             No meruayle \u00fea3 hym myslyke,\n2308         \u00deat hoped of no rescowe.\n\n[Sidenote A: Bring me to the point; deal me my destiny at once.\"]\n[Sidenote B: \"Have at thee, then,\" says the other.]\n[Sidenote C: With that he aims at him a blow.]\n[Sidenote D: Gawayne never flinches, but stands as still as a stone.]\n[Sidenote E: \"Now,\" says the Green Knight, \"I must hit thee, since thy\n  heart is whole.\"]\n[Sidenote F: \"Thrash on,\" says the other.]\n[Sidenote G: Then the Green Knight makes ready to strike.]\n[Footnote 1: ? ryne3 = touches.]\n[Footnote 2: he he, in MS.]\n\n      XIV.\n\n     [A] He lyftes ly3tly his lome, & let hit doun fayre,\n     [B] With \u00fee barbe of \u00fee bitte bi \u00fee bare nek               [Fol. 122.]\n         \u00dea3 he homered heterly, hurt hym no more,\n2312     Bot snyrt hym on \u00feat on syde, \u00feat seuered \u00fee hyde;\n     [C] \u00dee scharp schrank to \u00fee flesche \u00feur3 \u00fee schyre grece,\n         \u00deat \u00fee schene blod over his schulderes schot to \u00fee er\u00fee.\n     [D] & quen \u00fee burne se3 \u00fee blode blenk on \u00fee snawe,\n2316     He sprit forth spenne fote more \u00feen a spere len\u00fee,\n         Hent heterly his helme, & on his hed cast,\n         Schot with his schuldere3 his fayre schelde vnder,\n     [E] Brayde3 out a bry3t sworde, & bremely he speke3;\n2320     Neuer syn \u00feat he wat3 burne borne of his moder,\n         Wat3 he neuer in \u00feis worlde, wy3e half so bly\u00fee:--\n     [F] \"Blynne, burne, of \u00fey bur, bede me no mo;\n         I haf a stroke in \u00feis sted with-oute stryf hent,\n2324 [G] & if \u00feow reche3 me any mo, I redyly schal quyte,\n         & 3elde 3ederly a3ayn, & \u00feer to 3e tryst,\n                 & foo;\n     [H]     Bot on stroke here me falle3,\n2328         \u00dee couenaunt schop ry3t so,\n             [Sikered][1] in Ar\u00feure3 halle3,\n             & \u00feer-fore, hende, now hoo!\"\n\n[Sidenote A: He let fall his loom on the bare]\n[Sidenote B: neck of Sir Gawayne.]\n[Sidenote C: The sharp weapon pierced the flesh so that the blood flowed.]\n[Sidenote D: When the knight saw the blood on the snow,]\n[Sidenote E: he unsheathed his sword, and thus spake:]\n[Sidenote F: \"Cease, man, of thy blow.]\n[Sidenote G: If thou givest me any more, readily shall I requite thee.]\n[Sidenote H: Our agreement stipulates only one stroke.\"]\n[Footnote 1: Illegible.]\n\n      XV.\n\n     [A] The ha\u00feel heldet hym fro, & on his ax rested,\n2332     Sette \u00fee schaft vpon schore, & to be scharp lened,\n     [B] & loked to \u00fee leude, \u00feat on \u00fee launde 3ede,\n         How \u00feat do3ty dredles deruely \u00feer stonde3,\n         Armed ful a3le3; in hert hit hym lyke3.\n2336     \u00feenn he mele3 muryly, wyth a much steuen,\n     [C] & wyth a r[a]ykande rurde he to \u00fee renk sayde,\n         \"Bolde burne, on \u00feis bent be not so gryndel;\n         No mon here vn-manerly \u00fee mys-boden habbe,\n2340     Ne kyd, bot as couenaunde, at kynge3 kort schaped;\n     [D] I hy3t \u00fee a strok, & \u00feou hit hat3, halde \u00fee wel payed,\n         I relece \u00fee of \u00fee remnaunt, of ry3tes alle o\u00feer;\n         3if[1] I deliuer had bene, a boffet, paraunter,\n2344 [E] I cou\u00fee wro\u00feeloker haf waret, [&] to \u00fee haf wro3t anger.[2]\n         Fyrst I mansed \u00fee muryly, with a mynt one,\n     [F] & roue \u00fee wyth no rof, sore with ry3t I \u00fee profered,\n         For \u00fee forwarde that we fest in \u00fee fyrst ny3t,        [Fol. 122b.]\n2348     & \u00feou trystyly \u00fee traw\u00fee & trwly me halde3,\n         Al \u00fee gayne \u00feow me gef, as god mon shulde;\n     [G] \u00deat o\u00feer munt for \u00fee morne, mon, I \u00fee profered,\n         \u00deou kyssedes my clere wyf, \u00fee cosse3 me ra3te3,\n2352     For bo\u00fee two here I \u00fee bede bot two bare myntes,\n                 boute sca\u00fee;\n     [H]     Trwe mon trwe restore,\n             \u00deenne \u00fear mon drede no wa\u00fee;\n2356 [I]     At \u00fee \u00ferid \u00feou fayled \u00feore,\n             & \u00feer-for \u00feat tappe ta \u00fee.\n\n[Sidenote A: The Green Knight rested on his axe,]\n[Sidenote B: looked on Sir Gawayne, who appeared bold and fearless,]\n[Sidenote C: and addressed him as follows: \"Bold knight, be not so wroth,]\n[Sidenote D: I promised thee a stroke and thou hast it, be satisfied.]\n[Sidenote E: I could have dealt worse with thee.]\n[Sidenote F: I menaced thee with one blow for the covenant between us on\n  the first night.]\n[Sidenote G: Another I aimed at thee because thou kissedst my wife.]\n[Sidenote H: A true man should restore truly, and then he need fear no\n  harm.]\n[Sidenote I: Thou failedst at the third time, and therefore take thee that\n  tap. (See l. 1861.)]\n[Footnote 1: uf, in MS.]\n[Footnote 2: This word is doubtful.]\n\n      XVI.\n\n     [A]  For hit is my wede \u00feat \u00feou were3, \u00feat ilke wouen girdel,\n          Myn owen wyf hit \u00fee weued, I wot wel forso\u00fee;\n2360 [B] Now know I wel \u00fey cosses, & \u00fey costes als,\n         & \u00fee wowyng of my wyf, I wro3t hit myseluen;\n     [C] I sende hir to asay \u00fee, & sothly me \u00feynkke3,\n         On \u00fee fautlest freke, \u00feat euer on fote 3ede;\n2364     As perle bi \u00fee quite pese is of prys more,\n         So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi o\u00feer gay kny3te3.\n     [D] Bot here you lakked a lyttel, sir, & lewte yow wonted,\n         Bot \u00feat wat3 for no wylyde werke, ne wowyng nau\u00feer,\n2368 [E] Bot for 3e lufed your lyf, \u00fee lasse I yow blame.\"\n         \u00deat o\u00feer stif mon in study stod a gret whyle;\n         So agreued for greme he gryed with-inne,\n     [F] Alle \u00fee blode of his brest blende in his face,\n2372     \u00deat al he schrank for schome, \u00feat \u00fee schalk talked.\n         \u00dee forme worde vpon folde, \u00feat \u00fee freke meled,--\n     [G] \"Corsed worth cowarddyse & couetyse bo\u00fee!\n         In yow is vylany & vyse, \u00feat vertue disstrye3.\"\n2376 [H] \u00deenne he ka3t to \u00fee knot, & \u00fee kest lawse3,\n         Brayde bro\u00feely \u00fee belt to \u00fee burne seluen:\n         \"Lo! \u00feer \u00fee falssyng, foule mot hit falle!\n     [I] For care of \u00fey knokke cowardyse me ta3t\n2380     To a-corde me with couetyse, my kynde to for-sake,\n         \u00deat is larges & lewte, \u00feat longe3 to kny3te3.\n     [J] Now am I fawty, & falce, & ferde haf ben euer;\n         Of trecherye & vn-traw\u00fee bo\u00fee bityde sor3e\n2384             & care!\n     [K]     I bi-knowe yow, kny3t, here stylle,                [Fol. 123.]\n             Al fawty is my fare,\n             Lete3 me ouer-take your wylle,\n2388         & efle I schal be ware.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: For my weed (woven by my wife) thou wearest.]\n[Sidenote B: I know thy kisses and my wife's wooing.]\n[Sidenote C: I sent her to try thee, and faultless I found thee.]\n[Sidenote D: But yet thou sinnedst a little,]\n[Sidenote E: for love of thy life.\"]\n[Sidenote F: Gawayne stands confounded.]\n[Sidenote G: \"Cursed,\" he says, \"be cowardice and covetousness both!\"]\n[Sidenote H: Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight.]\n[Sidenote I: He curses his cowardice,]\n[Sidenote J: and confesses himself to have been guilty of untruth.]\n[Sidenote K: ]\n\n      XVII.\n\n     [A] Thenne lo3e \u00feat o\u00feer leude, & luflyly sayde,\n         \"I halde hit hardily[1] hole, \u00fee harme \u00feat I hade;\n     [B] \u00deou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of \u00fey mysses,\n2392     & hat3 \u00fee penaunce apert, of \u00fee poynt of myn egge,\n     [C] I halde \u00fee polysed of \u00feat ply3t, & pured as clene,\n         As \u00feou hade3 neuer forfeted, sy\u00feen \u00feou wat3 fyrst borne.\n     [D] & I gif \u00fee, sir, \u00fee gurdel \u00feat is golde hemmed;\n2396     For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye\n         \u00deenk vpon \u00feis ilke \u00ferepe, \u00feer \u00feou forth \u00ferynge3\n         Among prynces of prys, & \u00feis a pure token\n     [E] Of \u00fee chaunce of \u00fee grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3;\n2400 [F] & 3e schal in \u00feis nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3,\n         & we schyn reuel \u00fee remnaunt of \u00feis ryche fest,\n                 ful bene.\"\n             \u00deer la\u00feed hym fast \u00fee lorde,\n2404         & sayde, \"with my wyf, I wene,\n             We schal yow wel acorde,\n             \u00deat wat3 your enmy kene.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:]\n[Sidenote B: \"Thou art confessed so clean,]\n[Sidenote C: that I hold thee as pure as if thou hadst never been guilty.]\n[Sidenote D: I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle,]\n[Sidenote E: as a token of thy adventure at the Green Chapel.]\n[Sidenote F: Come again to my abode, and abide there for the remainder of\n  the festival.\"]\n[Footnote 1: hardilyly, in MS.]\n\n      XVIII.\n\n     [A] \"Nay, for so\u00fee,\" quod \u00fee segge, & sesed hys helme,\n2408      & hat3 hit of hendely, & \u00fee ha\u00feel \u00feonkke3,\n     [B] \"I haf soiorned sadly, sele yow bytyde,\n         & he 3elde hit yow 3are, \u00feat 3arkke3 al menskes!\n     [C] & comaunde3 me to \u00feat cortays, your comlych fere,\n2412     Bo\u00fee \u00feat on & \u00feat o\u00feer, myn honoured ladye3.\n         \u00deat \u00feus hor kny3t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled.\n     [D] Bot hit is no ferly, \u00fea3 a fole madde,\n         & \u00feur3 wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor3e;\n2416 [E] For so wat3 Adam in erde with one bygyled,\n         & Salamon with fele sere, & Samson eft sone3,\n         Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde, & Dauyth \u00feer-after\n         Wat3 blended with Barsabe, \u00feat much bale \u00feoled.\n2420     Now \u00feese were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne huge,\n     [F] To luf hom wel, & leue hem not, a leude \u00feat cou\u00fee,\n         For \u00fees wer forne[1] \u00fee freest \u00feat fol3ed alle \u00fee sele,     [Fol.]\n         Ex-ellently of alle \u00feyse o\u00feer, vnder heuen-ryche,          [123b.]\n2424             \u00feat mused;\n             & alle \u00feay were bi-wyled,\n             With[2] wymmen \u00feat \u00feay vsed,\n     [G]     \u00dea3 I be now bigyled,\n2428         Me \u00feink me burde be excused.\"\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Nay, forsooth,\" says Gawayne,]\n[Sidenote B: \"I have sojourned sadly, but bliss betide thee!]\n[Sidenote C: Commend me to your comely wife and that other lady who have\n  beguiled me.]\n[Sidenote D: But it is no marvel for a man to be brought to grief through a\n  woman's wiles.]\n[Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women.]\n[Sidenote F: How could a man love them and believe them not?]\n[Sidenote G: Though I be now beguiled, methinks I should be excused.]\n[Footnote 1: forme (?)]\n[Footnote 2: with wyth, in MS.]\n\n      XIX.\n\n     [A] \"Bot your gordel,\" quod G: \"God yow for-3elde!\n         \u00deat wyl I welde wyth good wylle, not for \u00fee wynne golde,\n         Ne \u00fee saynt, ne \u00fee sylk, ne \u00fee syde pendaundes,\n2432     For wele, ne for worchyp, ne for \u00fee wlonk werkke3,\n     [B] Bot in syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte;\n         When I ride in renoun, remorde to myseluen\n         \u00dee faut & \u00fee fayntyse of \u00fee flesche crabbed,\n2436     How tender hit is to entyse teches of fyl\u00fee;\n     [C] & \u00feus, quen pryde schal me pryk, for prowes of armes,\n     [D] \u00dee loke to \u00feis luf lace schal le\u00fee my hert.\n         Bot on I wolde yow pray, displeses yow neuer;\n2440     Syn 3e be lorde of \u00fee 3onde[r] londe, \u00feer I haf lent inne,\n         Wyth yow wyth worschyp,--\u00fee wy3e hit yow 3elde\n         \u00deat vp-halde3 \u00fee heuen, & on hy3 sitte3,--\n     [E] How norne 3e yowre ry3t nome, & \u00feenne no more?\"\n2444     \"\u00deat schal I telle \u00fee trwly,\" quod \u00feat o\u00feer \u00feenne,\n     [F] \"Bernlak de Hautdesert I hat in \u00feis londe,\n         \u00deur3 my3t of Morgne la Faye, \u00feat in my hous lenges,\n         &[1] koyntyse of clergye, bi craftes wel lerned,\n2448     \u00dee maystres of Merlyn, mony ho[2] taken;\n         For ho hat3 dalt drwry ful dere sum tyme,\n         With \u00feat conable klerk, \u00feat knowes alle your kny3te3\n                 at hame;\n2452         Morgne \u00fee goddes,\n             \u00deer-fore hit is hir name;\n     [G]     Welde3 non so hy3e hawtesse,\n             \u00deat ho ne con make ful tame.\n\n[Sidenote A: But God reward you for your girdle.]\n[Sidenote B: I will wear it in remembrance of my fault.]\n[Sidenote C: And when pride shall prick me,]\n[Sidenote D: a look to this lace shall abate it.]\n[Sidenote E: But tell me your right name and I shall have done.\"]\n[Sidenote F: The Green Knight replies, \"I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert,\n  through might of Morgain la Fey, the pupil of Merlin.]\n[Sidenote G: She can tame even the haughtiest.]\n[Footnote 1: in (?).]\n[Footnote 2: ho hat3 (?).]\n\n      XX.\n\n2456 [A] Ho wayned me vpon \u00feis wyse to your wynne halle,\n         For to assay \u00fee surquidre, 3if hit soth were,\n         \u00deat rennes of \u00fee grete renoun of \u00fee Rounde Table;\n         Ho wayned me \u00feis wonder, your wytte3 to reue,\n2460 [B] For to haf greued Gaynour, & gart hir to dy3e.         [Fol. 124.]\n         With gopnyng[1] of \u00feat ilke gomen, \u00feat gostlych speked,\n         With his hede in his honde, bifore \u00fee hy3e table.\n         \u00deat is ho \u00feat is at home, \u00fee auncian lady;\n2464 [C] Ho is euen \u00feyn aunt, Ar\u00feure3 half suster,\n         \u00dee duches do3ter of Tyntagelle, \u00feat dere Vter after\n     [D] Hade Ar\u00feur vpon, \u00feat a\u00feel is now\u00fee.\n         \u00deerfore I e\u00fee \u00fee, ha\u00feel, to com to \u00fey naunt,\n2468     Make myry in my hous, my meny \u00fee louies,\n         & I wol \u00fee as wel, wy3e, bi my faythe,\n         As any gome vnder God, for \u00fey grete trau\u00fee.\"\n     [E] & he nikked hym naye, he nolde bi no wayes;\n2472     \u00deay acolen & kyssen, [bikennen] ay\u00feer o\u00feer\n         To \u00fee prynce of paradise, & parten ry3t \u00feere,\n                 on coolde;\n     [F]     Gawayn on blonk ful bene,\n2476         To \u00fee kynge3 bur3 buske3 bolde,\n             & \u00fee kny3t in \u00fee enker grene,\n             Whider-warde so euer he wolde.\n\n[Sidenote A: It was she who caused me to test the renown of the Round\n  Table,]\n[Sidenote B: hoping to grieve Guenever and cause her death through fear.]\n[Sidenote C: She is even thine aunt.]\n[Sidenote D: Therefore come to her and make merry in my house.\"]\n[Sidenote E: Gawayne refuses to return with the Green Knight.]\n[Sidenote F: On horse full fair he bends to Arthur's hall.]\n[Footnote 1: glopnyng (?).]\n\n      XXI.\n\n     [A] Wylde waye3 in \u00fee worlde Wowen now ryde3,\n2480     On Gryngolet, \u00feat \u00fee grace hade geten of his lyue;\n     [B] Ofte he herbered in house, & ofte al \u00feeroute,\n         & mony a-venture in vale, & venquyst ofte,\n         \u00deat I ne ty3t, at \u00feis tyme, in tale to remene.\n2484 [C] \u00dee hurt wat3 hole, \u00feat he hade hent in his nek,\n     [D] & \u00fee blykkande belt he bere \u00feeraboute,\n         A belef as a bauderyk, bounden bi his syde,\n         Loken vnder his lyfte arme, \u00fee lace, with a knot,\n2488 [E] In tokenyng he wat3 tane in tech of a faute;\n     [F] & \u00feus he commes to \u00fee court, kny3t al in sounde.\n     [G] \u00deer wakned wele in \u00feat wone, when wyst \u00fee grete,\n         \u00deat gode G: wat3 commen, gayn hit hym \u00feo3t;\n2492 [H] \u00dee kyng kysse3 \u00fee kny3t, & \u00fee whene alce,\n         & sy\u00feen mony syker kny3t, \u00feat so3t hym to haylce,\n     [I] Of his fare \u00feat hym frayned, & ferlyly he telles;\n         Biknowo3 alle \u00fee costes of care \u00feat he hade,--\n2496     \u00dee chaunce of \u00fee chapel, \u00fee chere of \u00fee kny3t,\n     [J] \u00dee luf of \u00fee ladi, \u00fee lace at \u00fee last.                [Fol. 124b.]\n         \u00dee nirt in \u00fee nek he naked hem schewed,\n     [K] \u00deat he la3t for his vnleute at \u00fee leudes hondes,\n2500             for blame;\n             He tened quen he schulde telle,\n     [L]     He groned for gref & grame;\n             \u00dee blod in his face con melle,\n2504         When he hit schulde schewe, for schame.\n\n[Sidenote A: Wild ways now Gawayne rides.]\n[Sidenote B: Oft he harboured in house and oft thereout.]\n[Sidenote C: The wound in his neck became whole.]\n[Sidenote D: He still carried about him the belt,]\n[Sidenote E: in token of his fault.]\n[Sidenote F: Thus he comes to the Court of King Arthur.]\n[Sidenote G: Great then was the joy of all.]\n[Sidenote H: The king and his knights ask him concerning his journey.]\n[Sidenote I: Gawayne tells them of his adventures,]\n[Sidenote J: the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace.]\n[Sidenote K: He showed them the cut in his neck.]\n[Sidenote L: He groaned for grief and shame, and the blood rushed into his\n  face.]\n\n      XXII.\n\n     [A] \"Lo! lorde,\" quod \u00fee leude, & \u00fee lace hondeled,\n         \"\u00deis is \u00fee bende of \u00feis blame I bere [in] my nek,\n         \u00deis is \u00fee la\u00fee & \u00fee losse, \u00feat I la3t haue,\n2508 [B] Of couardise & couetyse, \u00feat I haf ca3t \u00feare,\n         \u00deis is \u00fee token of vn-traw\u00fee, \u00feat I am tan inne,\n     [C] & I mot nede3 hit were, wyle I may last;\n         For non may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit,\n2512     For \u00feer hit one3 is tachched, twynne wil hit neuer.\"\n     [D] \u00dee kyng comforte3 \u00fee kny3t, & alle \u00fee court als,\n         La3en loude \u00feer-at, & luflyly acorden,\n         \u00deat lordes & ladis, \u00feat longed to \u00fee Table,\n2516 [E] Vche burne of \u00fee bro\u00feer-hede a bauderyk schulde haue,\n         A bende, a belef hym aboute, of a bry3t grene,\n     [F] & \u00feat, for sake of \u00feat segge, in swete to were.\n         For \u00feat wat3 acorded \u00fee renoun of \u00fee Rounde Table,\n2520 [G] & he honoured \u00feat hit hade, euer-more after,\n         As hit is breued in \u00fee best boke of romaunce.\n     [H] \u00deus in Arthurus day \u00feis aunter bitidde,\n         \u00dee Brutus bokees \u00feer-of beres wyttenesse;\n2524     Sy\u00feen Brutus, \u00fee bolde burne, bo3ed hider fyrst,\n         After \u00fee segge & \u00fee asaute wat3 sesed at Troye,\n                 I-wysse;\n             Mony auntere3 here bi-forne,\n2528         Haf fallen suche er \u00feis:\n     [I]     Now \u00feat bere \u00fee croun of \u00feorne,\n             He bryng vus to his blysse! AMEN.\n\n[Sidenote A: \"Lo!\" says he, handling the lace, \"this is the band of blame,]\n[Sidenote B: a token of my cowardice and covetousness,]\n[Sidenote C: I must needs wear it as long as I live.\"]\n[Sidenote D: The king comforts the knight, and all the court too.]\n[Sidenote E: Each knight of the brotherhood agrees to wear a bright green\n  belt,]\n[Sidenote F: for Gawayne's sake,]\n[Sidenote G: who ever more honoured it.]\n[Sidenote H: Thus in Arthur's day this adventure befell.]\n[Sidenote I: He that bore the crown of thorns bring us to His bliss!]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nNOTES.\n\nLine 8 Ricchis turns, goes,\n       The king ...\n      Ricchis his reynys and the Renke metys:\n      Girden to gedur with \u00feere grete speires.--T.B. l. 1232.\n\n37    \u00deis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse.\n      Camalot, in Malory's \"Morte Arthure,\" is said to be the same as\n      Winchester. Ritson supposes it to be Caer-went, in Monmouthshire,\n      and afterwards confounded with Caer-wynt, or Winchester. But\n      popular tradition here seems the best guide, which assigned the site\n      of Camalot to the ruins of a castle on a hill, near the church of\n      South Cadbury, in Somersetshire (Sir F. Madden).\n\n65    Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte.\n      Christmas celebrated anew, mentioned full often.\n      Sir F. Madden leaves the word nayted unexplained in his Glossary\n      to \"Syr Gawayne.\"\n\n124   syluener = sylueren, i.e. silver dishes.\n\n139   lyndes = lendes, loins.\n\n142   in his muckel, in his greatness.\n\n184   Wat3 euesed al umbe-torne--? was trimmed, all cut evenly around;\n      umbe-torne may be an error for vmbe-corue = cut round.\n\n216   in gracios werkes. Sir F. Madden reads gracons for gracios, and\n      suggests Greek as the meaning of it.\n\n244-5 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3\n              in hy3e.\n      As all were fallen asleep so ceased their words\n              in haste (suddenly).\n      Sir F. Madden reads slaked horlote3, instead of slaked hor lote3,\n      which, according to his glossary, signifies drunken vagabonds.\n      He evidently takes horlote3 to be another (and a very uncommon) form\n      of harlote3 = harlots. But harlot, or vagabond, would be a very\n      inappropriate term to apply to the noble Knights of the Round Table.\n      Moreover, slaked never, I think, means drunken. The general sense of\n      the verb slake is to let loose, lessen, cease. Cf. lines 411-2,\n      where sloke, another form of slake, occurs with a similar meaning:\n                 -- layt no fyrre;\n                      bot slokes.\n                 -- seek no further,\n                      but stop (cease).\n      Sir F. Madden suggests blows as the explanation of slokes. It\n      is, however, a verb in the imperative mood.\n\n286   Brayn. M\u00e4tzner suggests brayn-wod.\n\n296   barlay = par loi. This word is exceedingly common in the T. Book\n      (see l. 3391).\n        I bid you now, barlay, with besines at all\n        \u00deat ye set you most soverainly my suster to gete.--T.B. l. 2780.\n\n394   siker. Sir F. Madden reads swer.\n\n440   bluk. Sir F. Madden suggests blunk (horse). I am inclined to keep to\n      the reading of the MS., and explain bluk as = bulk = trunk. Cf. the\n      use of the word Blok in \"Early English Alliterative Poems,\"\n      p. 100, l. 272.\n\n558   derue doel, etc. = great grief. Sir F. Madden reads derne, i.e. secret,\n      instead of derue (= derf). Cf. line 564.\n\n577   knaged, fastened.\n        The braunches were borly, sum of bright gold,\n        With leuys full luffly, light of the same;\n        With burions aboue bright to beholde;\n        And fruit on yt fourmyt of fairest of shap,\n        Of mony kynd that was knyt, knagged aboue.--T.B. l. 4973.\n\n629     & ay quere hit is endele3, etc.\n\tAnd everywhere it is endless, etc.\n      Sir F. Madden reads emdele3, i.e. with equal sides.\n\n652   for-be = for-bi = surpassing, beyond.\n\n681   for Hadet read Halet = haled = exiled (?). See line 1049.\n\n806   auinant = auenaunt, pleasantly. Sir F. Madden reads amnant.\n\n954   of. Should we not read on (?).\n\n957     \u00deat o\u00feer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer \u00fee swyre.\n      The gorger or wimple is stated first to have appeared in Edward the\n      First's reign, and an example is found on the monument of Aveline,\n      Countess of Lancaster, who died in 1269. From the poem, however, it\n      would seem that the gorger was confined to elderly ladies (Sir F.\n      Madden).\n\n968     More lykker-wys on to lyk,\n        Wat3 \u00feat scho had on lode.\n\n\tA more pleasant one to like,\n        Was that (one) she had under her control.\n\n988   tayt = lively, and hence pleasant, agreeable.\n\n1015  in vayres, in purity.\n\n1020  dut = dunt (?) = dint (?), referring to sword-sports.\n\n1022  sayn[t] Ione3 day. This is the 27th of December, and the last of the\n      feast. Sometimes the Christmas festivities were prolonged to New\n      Year's Day (Sir F. Madden).\n\n1047  derne dede = secret deed. I would prefer to read derue dede =\n      great deed. Cf. lines 558, 564.\n\n1053  I wot in worlde, etc. = I not (I know not) in worlde, etc.\n\n1054    I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,\n        For alle \u00fee londe in-wyth Logres, etc.\n      I would not [delay to set out], unless I might approach it on New\n      Year's morn, for all the lands within England, etc.\n\n1074  in spenne = in space = in the interval = meanwhile. See line 1503.\n\n1160  slentyng of arwes. Sir F. Madden reads sleutyng.\n        \"Of drawyn swordis sclentyng to and fra,\n        The brycht mettale, and othir armouris seir,\n        Quharon the sonnys blenkis betis cleir,\n        Glitteris and schane, and vnder bemys brycht,\n        Castis ane new twynklyng or a lemand lycht.\"\n            (G. Douglas' \u00c6neid, Vol. i, p. 421.)\n\n1281   let lyk = appeared pleased.\n\n1283    \u00dea3 I were burde bry3test, \u00fee burde in mynde hade, etc.\n      The sense requires us to read:\n        \u00dea3 ho were burde bry3test, \u00fee burne in mynde hade, etc.\n      i.e., Though she were lady fairest, the knight in mind had, etc.\n\n1440    Long sythen [seuered] for \u00fee sounder \u00feat wi3t for-olde\n      Long since separated from the sounder or herd that fierce (one)\n      for-aged (grew very old).\n        \"Now to speke of the boore, the fyrste year he is\n        A pygge of the sounder callyd, as haue I blys;\n        The secounde yere an hogge, and soo shall he be,\n        And an hoggestere, whan he is of yeres thre;\n        And when he is foure yere, a boor shall he be,\n        From the sounder of the swyne thenne departyth he;\n        A synguler is he soo, for alone he woll go.\"\n            (Book of St. Alban's, ed. 1496, sig. d., i.)\n\n1476  totes = looks, toots.\n        Sho went up wightly by a walle syde.\n        To the toppe of a toure and tot ouer the water.--T.B. l. 862.\n\n1623  A verb [? lalede = cried] seems wanting after lorde.\n\n1702  fnasted, breathed.\n        These balfull bestes were, as the boke tellus,\n        Full flaumond of fyre with fnastyng of logh.--T.B. l. 168.\n\n1710  a strothe rande = a rugged path. Cf. the phrases tene greue, l. 1707;\n      ro3e greue, l. 1898.\n\n1719    Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list, etc.\n      Should we not read:\n        Thenne wat3 hit list vpon lif, etc.\n      i.e., Then was there joy in life, etc.\n\n1729  bi lag = be-lagh(?) = below (?).\n\n1780  lyf = lef(?), beloved (one).\n\n1869    Ho hat3 kyst \u00fee kny3t so to3t.\n        She has kissed the knight so courteous.\n      Sir F. Madden explains to3t, promptly. To3t seems to be the same as\n      the Northumbrian taght in the following extract from the \"Morte\n      Arthure\":\n        \"There come in at the fyrste course, before the kyng seluene,\n        Bare hevedys that ware bryghte, burnyste with sylver,\n        Alle with taghte mene and towne in togers fulle ryche.\"--(p. 15.)\n      The word towne (well-behaved) still exists in wan-ton, the\n      original meaning of which was ill-mannered, ill-bred.\n\n1909  bray hounde3 = bra\u00fe hounde3, i.e. fierce hounds.\n\n1995  He hat3 nere \u00feat he so3t = He wat3 nere \u00feat he so3t = He was near to\n      that which he sought.\n\n2160  gedere3 \u00fee rake = takes the path or way.\n\n2167    \u00dee skwe3 of \u00fee scowtes skayued hym \u00feo3t.\n      The shadows of the hills appeared wild (desolate) to him. Sir F.\n      Madden reads skayned, of which he gives no explanation.\n      Skayued = skayfed, seems to be the N. Prov. English scafe, wild.\n      Scotch schaivie, wild, mad. O.N. skeifr. Sw. skef, awry, distorted.\n\n2204  ronge = clattered.\n\n2211    Drede dot3 me no lote =\n        No noise shall cause me to dread (fear).\n\n2357    & \u00feer-for \u00feat tappe ta \u00fee.\n        And therefore take thee that tap.\n      ta \u00fee = take thee. Sir F. Madden reads ta\u00fee = taketh. See l. 413,\n      where to \u00fee rhymes with sothe. We have no imperatives in th in\n      this poem.\n\n2401  We schyn reuel, etc. Sir F. Madden reads wasch yn reuel.\n      But schyn = shall. See Glossary to \"Alliterative Poems.\"\n\n2474  on-coolde = on-colde = coldly = sorrowfully.\n\n2489  in-sounde = soundly, well. Cf. in-blande = together;\n      in-lyche, alike; inmydde3, amidst.","title":"Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight: An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":40354}