e
lettrure
of armes;
F[or] to telle of ?
F[or] to telle of ?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
110.
]
[D] ? enne ? ay louelych le3ten leue at ? e last,
Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.
1412 [E] Bi ? at ? e coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot ? ryse,
? e lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] ? e leude3 vch one,
So ? at ? e mete & ? e masse wat3 metely delyuered;
? e douthe dressed to ? e wod, er any day sprenged,
1416 to chace;
[F] He3 with hunte & horne3,
? ur3 playne3 ? ay passe in space,
Vn-coupled among ? o ? orne3,
1420 Rache3 ? at ran on race.
[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit. ]
[Sidenote B: Wine is carried round. ]
[Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement. ]
[Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed. ]
[Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up. ]
[Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase. ]
[Footnote 1: crowed (? ). ]
XII.
[A] Sone ? ay calle of a quest in aker syde,
? e hunt re-hayted ? e hounde3, ? at hit fyrst mynged,
[B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;
1424 ? e hownde3 ? at hit herde, hastid ? ider swy? e,
& fellen as fast to ? e fuyt, fourty at ones;
? enne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3
Ros, ? at ? e rochere3 rungen aboute;
1428 Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.
[C] ? en al in a semble sweyed to-geder,
Bitwene a flosche in ? at fryth, & a foo cragge;
In a knot, bi a clyffe, at ? e kerre syde,
1432 ? er as ? e rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen,
[? ay] ferden to ? e fyndyng, & freke3 hem after;
[D] ? ay vmbe-kesten ? e knarre & ? e knot bo? e.
Wy3e3, whyl ? ay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,
1436 ? e best ? at ? er breued wat3 wyth ? e blod hounde3.
[E] ? enne ? ay beten on ? e buske3, & bede hym vp ryse,
& he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-? wert,
[F] On ? e sellokest swyn swenged out ? ere,
1440 Long sythen for[1] ? e sounder ? at wi3t for-olde,
For he wat3 b[este &] bor al? er grattest,
[And eue]re quen he gronyed, ? enne greued mony,
[G] For [? re a]t ? e fyrst ? rast he ? ry3t to ? e er? e,
1444 & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,
[Ande ? ay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed
Haden horne3 to mou? e heterly rechated; [Fol. 110b. ]
[H] Mony wat3 ? e myry mouthe of men & of hounde3,
1448 ? at buskke3 after ? is bor, with bost & wyth noyse,
To quelle;
Ful oft he byde3 ? e baye,
& mayme3 ? e mute Inn-melle,
1452 [I] He hurte3 of ? e hounde3, & ? ay
Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.
[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once. ]
[Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff. ]
[Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,]
[Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes. ]
[Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,]
[Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground. ]
[Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him. ]
[Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and
yell. ]
[Footnote 1: fro (? ). ]
XIII.
[A] Schalke3 to schote at hym schowen to ? enne,
Haled to hym of her arewe3, hitten hym oft;
1456 Bot ? e poynte3 payred at ? e pyth ? at py3t in his schelde3,
& ? e barbe3 of his browe bite non wolde,
[B] ? a3 ? e schauen schaft schyndered in pece3,
? e hede hypped a3ayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;
1460 [C] Bot quon ? e dynte3 hym dered of her dry3e stroke3,
? en, brayn-wod for bate, on burne3 he rase3,
[D] Hurte3 hem ful heterly ? er he forth hy3e3,
& mony ar3ed ? erat, & on-lyte dro3en.
1464 Bot ? e lorde on a ly3t horce launces hym after,
[E] As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowe3,
He rechated, & r[ode][1] ? ur3 rone3 ful ? yk,
Suande ? is wy[ld]e swyn til ? e sunne schafted.
1468 [F] ? is day wyth ? is ilk dede ? ay dryuen on ? is wyse,
Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,
[G] Gawayn gray? ely at home, in gere3 ful ryche
of hewe;
1472 ? e lady no3t for3ate,
Com to hym to salue,
Ful erly ho wat3 hym ate,
His mode forto remwe.
[Sidenote A: The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,]
[Sidenote B: but they glide off shivered in pieces. ]
[Sidenote C: Enraged with the blows,]
[Sidenote D: he attacks the hunters. ]
[Sidenote E: The lord of the land blows his bugle,]
[Sidenote F: and pursues the boar. ]
[Sidenote G: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed. ]
[Footnote 1: The MS. is here almost illegible. ]
XIV.
1476 [A] Ho commes to ? e cortyn, & at ? e kny3t totes,
Sir Wawen her welcumed wor? y on fyrst,
& ho hym 3elde3 a3ayn, ful 3erne of hir worde3,
[B] Sette3 hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swy? ely ho la3e3,
1480 & wyth a luflych loke ho layde[1] hym ? yse worde3:
"Sir, 3if 3e be Wawen, wonder me ? ynkke3,
Wy3e ? at is so wel wrast alway to god,
& conne3 not of compaynye ? e coste3 vnder-take,
1484 & if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, 3e kest hom of your mynde;[Fol. ]
[C] ? ou hat3 for-3eten 3ederly ? at 3isterday I ta3tte [111]
alder-truest token of talk ? at I cow? e. "
"What is ? at? " quod ? e wyghe, "I-wysse I wot neuer,
1488 If hit be sothe ? at 3e breue, ? e blame is myn awen. "
[D] "3et I kende yow of kyssyng," quod ? e clere ? enne,
"Quere-so countenaunce is cou? e, quikly to clayme,
? at bicumes vche a kny3t, ? at cortaysy vses. "
1492 "Do way," quod ? at derf mon, "my dere, ? at speche,
[E] For ? at durst I not do, lest I denayed were,
If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, 3if I profered. "
"Ma fay," quod ? e mere wyf, "3e may not be werned,
1496 [F] 3e ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenk? e, 3if yow lyke3,
3if any were so vilanous ? at yow denaye[2] wolde. "
"3e, be God," quod Gawayn, "good is your speche,
Bot ? rete is vn-? ryuande in ? ede ? er I lende,
1500 [G] & vche gift ? at is geuen not with goud wylle;
I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lyke3,
3e may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow ? ynkke3,
in space. "
1504 [H] ? e lady loute3 a-doun,
& comlyly kysses his face,
Much speche ? ay ? er expoun,
Of druryes greme & grace.
[Sidenote A: The lady of the castle again visits Sir Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote B: Softly she sits by his side,]
[Sidenote C: and tells the knight that he has forgotten what she taught him
the day before. ]
[Sidenote D: "I taught you of kissing," she says, "that becomes every
knight. "]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne says that he must not take that which is forbidden. ]
[Sidenote F: He is told that he is strong enough to enforce it. ]
[Sidenote G: The knight replies that every gift is worthless that is not
given willingly. ]
[Sidenote H: The lady stoops down and kisses him. ]
[Footnote 1: sayde (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: de vaye, in MS. ]
XV.
1508 [A] "I woled[1] wyt at yow, wy3e," ? at wor? y ? er sayde,
"& yow wrathed not ? er-wyth, what were ? e skylle,
? at so 3ong & so 3epe, as 3e [ar] at ? is tyme,
So cortayse, so kny3tyly, as 3e ar knowen oute,
1512 [B] & of alle cheualry to chose, ? e chef ? yng a-losed,
Is[2] ? e lel layk of luf, ?
e lettrure of armes;
F[or] to telle of ? is tenelyng of ? is trwe kny3te3,
Hit is ? e tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkke3,
1516 How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyue3 han auntered,
Endured for her drury dulful stounde3,
& after wenged with her walour & voyded her care,
[C] & bro3t blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen.
1520 & 3e ar kny3t com-lokest kyd of your elde,
Your worde & your worchip walke3 ay quere, [Fol. 111b. ]
& I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,
[D] 3et herde I neuer of your hed helde no worde3
1524 ? at euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;
[E] & 3e, ? at ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,
Oghe to a 3onke ? ynk 3ern to schewe,
& teche sum tokene3 of trweluf craftes.
1528 Why ar 3e lewed, ? at alle ? e los welde3,
O? er elles 3e demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken?
for schame!
I com hider sengel, & sitte,
1532 To lerne at yow sum game,
[F] Dos, teche3 me of your wytte,
Whil my lorde is fro hame. "
[Sidenote A: "I would learn," she says, "why you, who are so young and
active,]
[Sidenote B: so skilled in the true sport of love,]
[Sidenote C: and so renowned a knight,]
[Sidenote D: have never talked to me of love. ]
[Sidenote E: You ought to show a young thing like me some token of
'true-love's crafts. ']
[Sidenote F: So teach me of your 'wit' while my lord is from home. "]
[Footnote 1: wolde (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: In (? ). ]
XVI.
[A] "In goud fay? e," quod Gawayn, "God yow for3elde,
1536 Gret is ? e gode gle, & gomen to me huge,
? at so wor? y as 3e wolde wynne hidere,
& pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your kny3t,
With any skynne3 countenaunce, hit keuere3 me ese;
1540 [B] Bot to take ? e toruayle[1] to my-self, to trwluf expoun,
& towche ? e teme3 of tyxt, & tale3 of arme3,
To yow ? at, I wot wel, welde3 more sly3t
Of ? at art, bi ? e half, or a hundreth of seche
1544 As I am, o? er euer schal, in erde ? er I leue,
Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my traw? e.
[C] I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my my3t,
As I am hy3ly bihalden, & euer-more wylle
1548 [D] Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dry3tyn! "
? us hym frayned ? at fre, & fondet hym ofte,
Forto haf wonnen hym to wo3e, what-so scho ? o3t elle3,
[E] Bot he de fended hym so fayr, ? at no faut semed,
1552 Ne non euel on naw? er halue, naw? er ? ay wysten,
bot blysse;
? ay la3ed & layked longe,
At ? e last scho con hym kysse,
1556 [F] Hir leue fayre con scho fonge,
& went hir waye Iwysse.
[Sidenote A: "It is a great pleasure to me," says Sir Gawayne, "to hear you
talk,]
[Sidenote B: but I cannot undertake the task to expound true-love and tales
of arms. ]
[Sidenote C: I will, however, act according to your will,]
[Sidenote D: and ever be your servant. "]
[Sidenote E: Thus Gawayne defends himself. ]
[Sidenote F: The lady having kissed the knight, takes leave of him. ]
[Footnote 1: tornayle (? ). ]
XVII.
[A] Then ru? es hym ? e renk, & ryses to ? e masse,
& si? en hor diner wat3 dy3t & derely serued. [Fol. 112. ]
1560 [B] ? e lede with ? e ladye3 layked alle day,
Bot ? e lorde ouer ? e londe3 launced ful ofte,
Swe3 his vncely swyn, ? at swynge3 bi ? e bonkke3,
[C] & bote ? e best of his brache3 ? e bakke3 in sunder;
1564 ? er he bode in his bay, tel[1] bawe-men hit breken,
& made[2] hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter;
[D] So felle flone3 per flete, when ? e folk gedered;
Bot 3et ? e styffest to start bi stounde3 he made,
1568 Til at ? e last he wat3 so mat, he my3t no more renne,
[E] Bot in ? e hast ? at he my3t, he to a hole wynne3,
Of a rasse, bi a rokk, ? er renne3 ? e boerne,
He gete ? e bonk at his bak, bigyne3 to scrape,
1572 [F] ? e fro? e femed[3] at his mouth vnfayre bi ? e wyke3,
Whette3 his whyte tusche3; with hym ? en irked
Alle ? e burne3 so bolde, ? at hym by stoden,
[G] To nye hym on-ferum, bot ne3e hym non durst
1576 for wo? e;
He hade hurt so mony byforne,
? at al ? u3t[4] ? enne ful lo? e,
[H] Be more wyth his tusche3 torne,
1580 ? at breme wat3 [&] brayn-wod bothe.
[Sidenote A: Gawayne rises, hears mass, and then dines. ]
[Sidenote B: Meanwhile the lord pursues the wild boar,]
[Sidenote C: that bit the backs of his hounds asunder,]
[Sidenote D: and caused the stiffest of the hunters to start. ]
[Sidenote E: The boar runs into a hole in a rock by the side of a brook. ]
[Sidenote F: The froth foams at his mouth. ]
[Sidenote G: None durst approach him,]
[Sidenote H: so many had he torn with his tusks. ]
[Footnote 1: til (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: madee, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: fomed (? ). ]
[Footnote 4: ? o3t (? ). ]
XVIII.
[A] Til ? e kny3t com hym-self, kachande his blonk,
Sy3 hym byde at ? e bay, his burne3 bysyde,
[B] He ly3tes luflych[1] adoun, leue3 his corsour,
1584 Brayde3 out a bry3t bront, & bigly forth stryde3,
Founde3 fast ? ur3 ? e forth, ? er ? e felle byde3,
[C] ? e wylde wat3 war of ? e wy3e with weppen in honde,
Hef hy3ly ? e here, so hetterly he fnast,
1588 ? at fele ferde for ? e freke3,[2] lest felle hym ? e worre;
[D] ? e swyn sette3 hym out on ? e segge euen,
? at ? e burne & ? e bor were bo? e vpon hepe3,
In ? e wy3t-est of ? e water, ? e worre hade ? at o? er;
1592 [E] For ? e mon merkke3 hym wel, as ? ay mette fyrst,
Set sadly ? e scharp in ? e slot euen,
[F] Hit hym vp to ? e hult, ? at ? e hert schyndered,
& he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] ? e water,
1596 ful tyt;
A hundreth hounde3 hym hent, [Fol. 112b. ]
[G] ? at bremely con hym bite,
Burne3 him bro3t to bent,
1600 & dogge3 to dethe endite.
[Sidenote A: The knight, seeing the boar at bay,]
[Sidenote B: alights from his horse,]
[Sidenote C: and seeks to attack him with his sword. ]
[Sidenote D: The "swine sets out" upon the man,]
[Sidenote E: who, aiming well,]
[Sidenote F: wounds him in the pit of the stomach. ]
[Sidenote G: The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. luslych. ]
[Footnote 2: freke (? ). ]
[Footnote 3: 3ede doun (? ). ]
XIX.
[A] There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,
He3e halowing on hi3e, with ha? ele3 ? at my3t;
[B] Brachetes bayed ? at best, as bidden ? e maystere3,
1604 Of ? at chargeaunt chace ? at were chef huntes.
[C] ? enne a wy3e ? at wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,
To vnlace ? is bor lufly bigynne3;
[D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,
1608 & sy? en rende3 him al roghe bi ? e rygge after,
[E] Brayde3 out ? e boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,
With bred blent ? er-with his braches rewarde3;
Sy? en he britne3 out ? e brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,
1612 [F] & hat3 out ? e hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;
[G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole ? e halue3 to-geder,
& sy? en on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.
Now with ? is ilk swyn ? ay swengen to home;
1616 [H] ? e bores hed wat3 borne bifore ? e burnes seluen,
? at him for-ferde in ? e for? e, ? ur3 forse of his honde,
so stronge;
Til he se3 sir Gawayne,
1620 In halle hym ? o3t ful longe,
[I] He calde, & he com gayn,
His fee3 ? er for to fonge.
[Sidenote A: Then was there blowing of horns]
[Sidenote B: and baying of hounds. ]
[Sidenote C: One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar. ]
[Sidenote D: First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back. ]
[Sidenote E: He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and
therewith rewards his hounds. ]
[Sidenote F: Then the hastlets are removed. ]
[Sidenote G: The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole. ]
[Sidenote H: The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home. ]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne is called to receive the spoil. ]
XX.
[A] ? e lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,
1624 When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;
? e goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered ? e meyny,
[B] He schewe3 hem ? e schelde3, & schapes hem ? e tale,
Of ? e largesse, & ? e len? e, ? e li?
[D] ? enne ? ay louelych le3ten leue at ? e last,
Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.
1412 [E] Bi ? at ? e coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot ? ryse,
? e lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] ? e leude3 vch one,
So ? at ? e mete & ? e masse wat3 metely delyuered;
? e douthe dressed to ? e wod, er any day sprenged,
1416 to chace;
[F] He3 with hunte & horne3,
? ur3 playne3 ? ay passe in space,
Vn-coupled among ? o ? orne3,
1420 Rache3 ? at ran on race.
[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit. ]
[Sidenote B: Wine is carried round. ]
[Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement. ]
[Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed. ]
[Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up. ]
[Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase. ]
[Footnote 1: crowed (? ). ]
XII.
[A] Sone ? ay calle of a quest in aker syde,
? e hunt re-hayted ? e hounde3, ? at hit fyrst mynged,
[B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;
1424 ? e hownde3 ? at hit herde, hastid ? ider swy? e,
& fellen as fast to ? e fuyt, fourty at ones;
? enne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3
Ros, ? at ? e rochere3 rungen aboute;
1428 Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.
[C] ? en al in a semble sweyed to-geder,
Bitwene a flosche in ? at fryth, & a foo cragge;
In a knot, bi a clyffe, at ? e kerre syde,
1432 ? er as ? e rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen,
[? ay] ferden to ? e fyndyng, & freke3 hem after;
[D] ? ay vmbe-kesten ? e knarre & ? e knot bo? e.
Wy3e3, whyl ? ay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,
1436 ? e best ? at ? er breued wat3 wyth ? e blod hounde3.
[E] ? enne ? ay beten on ? e buske3, & bede hym vp ryse,
& he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-? wert,
[F] On ? e sellokest swyn swenged out ? ere,
1440 Long sythen for[1] ? e sounder ? at wi3t for-olde,
For he wat3 b[este &] bor al? er grattest,
[And eue]re quen he gronyed, ? enne greued mony,
[G] For [? re a]t ? e fyrst ? rast he ? ry3t to ? e er? e,
1444 & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,
[Ande ? ay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed
Haden horne3 to mou? e heterly rechated; [Fol. 110b. ]
[H] Mony wat3 ? e myry mouthe of men & of hounde3,
1448 ? at buskke3 after ? is bor, with bost & wyth noyse,
To quelle;
Ful oft he byde3 ? e baye,
& mayme3 ? e mute Inn-melle,
1452 [I] He hurte3 of ? e hounde3, & ? ay
Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.
[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once. ]
[Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff. ]
[Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,]
[Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes. ]
[Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,]
[Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground. ]
[Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him. ]
[Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and
yell. ]
[Footnote 1: fro (? ). ]
XIII.
[A] Schalke3 to schote at hym schowen to ? enne,
Haled to hym of her arewe3, hitten hym oft;
1456 Bot ? e poynte3 payred at ? e pyth ? at py3t in his schelde3,
& ? e barbe3 of his browe bite non wolde,
[B] ? a3 ? e schauen schaft schyndered in pece3,
? e hede hypped a3ayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;
1460 [C] Bot quon ? e dynte3 hym dered of her dry3e stroke3,
? en, brayn-wod for bate, on burne3 he rase3,
[D] Hurte3 hem ful heterly ? er he forth hy3e3,
& mony ar3ed ? erat, & on-lyte dro3en.
1464 Bot ? e lorde on a ly3t horce launces hym after,
[E] As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowe3,
He rechated, & r[ode][1] ? ur3 rone3 ful ? yk,
Suande ? is wy[ld]e swyn til ? e sunne schafted.
1468 [F] ? is day wyth ? is ilk dede ? ay dryuen on ? is wyse,
Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,
[G] Gawayn gray? ely at home, in gere3 ful ryche
of hewe;
1472 ? e lady no3t for3ate,
Com to hym to salue,
Ful erly ho wat3 hym ate,
His mode forto remwe.
[Sidenote A: The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,]
[Sidenote B: but they glide off shivered in pieces. ]
[Sidenote C: Enraged with the blows,]
[Sidenote D: he attacks the hunters. ]
[Sidenote E: The lord of the land blows his bugle,]
[Sidenote F: and pursues the boar. ]
[Sidenote G: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed. ]
[Footnote 1: The MS. is here almost illegible. ]
XIV.
1476 [A] Ho commes to ? e cortyn, & at ? e kny3t totes,
Sir Wawen her welcumed wor? y on fyrst,
& ho hym 3elde3 a3ayn, ful 3erne of hir worde3,
[B] Sette3 hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swy? ely ho la3e3,
1480 & wyth a luflych loke ho layde[1] hym ? yse worde3:
"Sir, 3if 3e be Wawen, wonder me ? ynkke3,
Wy3e ? at is so wel wrast alway to god,
& conne3 not of compaynye ? e coste3 vnder-take,
1484 & if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, 3e kest hom of your mynde;[Fol. ]
[C] ? ou hat3 for-3eten 3ederly ? at 3isterday I ta3tte [111]
alder-truest token of talk ? at I cow? e. "
"What is ? at? " quod ? e wyghe, "I-wysse I wot neuer,
1488 If hit be sothe ? at 3e breue, ? e blame is myn awen. "
[D] "3et I kende yow of kyssyng," quod ? e clere ? enne,
"Quere-so countenaunce is cou? e, quikly to clayme,
? at bicumes vche a kny3t, ? at cortaysy vses. "
1492 "Do way," quod ? at derf mon, "my dere, ? at speche,
[E] For ? at durst I not do, lest I denayed were,
If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, 3if I profered. "
"Ma fay," quod ? e mere wyf, "3e may not be werned,
1496 [F] 3e ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenk? e, 3if yow lyke3,
3if any were so vilanous ? at yow denaye[2] wolde. "
"3e, be God," quod Gawayn, "good is your speche,
Bot ? rete is vn-? ryuande in ? ede ? er I lende,
1500 [G] & vche gift ? at is geuen not with goud wylle;
I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lyke3,
3e may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow ? ynkke3,
in space. "
1504 [H] ? e lady loute3 a-doun,
& comlyly kysses his face,
Much speche ? ay ? er expoun,
Of druryes greme & grace.
[Sidenote A: The lady of the castle again visits Sir Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote B: Softly she sits by his side,]
[Sidenote C: and tells the knight that he has forgotten what she taught him
the day before. ]
[Sidenote D: "I taught you of kissing," she says, "that becomes every
knight. "]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne says that he must not take that which is forbidden. ]
[Sidenote F: He is told that he is strong enough to enforce it. ]
[Sidenote G: The knight replies that every gift is worthless that is not
given willingly. ]
[Sidenote H: The lady stoops down and kisses him. ]
[Footnote 1: sayde (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: de vaye, in MS. ]
XV.
1508 [A] "I woled[1] wyt at yow, wy3e," ? at wor? y ? er sayde,
"& yow wrathed not ? er-wyth, what were ? e skylle,
? at so 3ong & so 3epe, as 3e [ar] at ? is tyme,
So cortayse, so kny3tyly, as 3e ar knowen oute,
1512 [B] & of alle cheualry to chose, ? e chef ? yng a-losed,
Is[2] ? e lel layk of luf, ?
e lettrure of armes;
F[or] to telle of ? is tenelyng of ? is trwe kny3te3,
Hit is ? e tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkke3,
1516 How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyue3 han auntered,
Endured for her drury dulful stounde3,
& after wenged with her walour & voyded her care,
[C] & bro3t blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen.
1520 & 3e ar kny3t com-lokest kyd of your elde,
Your worde & your worchip walke3 ay quere, [Fol. 111b. ]
& I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,
[D] 3et herde I neuer of your hed helde no worde3
1524 ? at euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;
[E] & 3e, ? at ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,
Oghe to a 3onke ? ynk 3ern to schewe,
& teche sum tokene3 of trweluf craftes.
1528 Why ar 3e lewed, ? at alle ? e los welde3,
O? er elles 3e demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken?
for schame!
I com hider sengel, & sitte,
1532 To lerne at yow sum game,
[F] Dos, teche3 me of your wytte,
Whil my lorde is fro hame. "
[Sidenote A: "I would learn," she says, "why you, who are so young and
active,]
[Sidenote B: so skilled in the true sport of love,]
[Sidenote C: and so renowned a knight,]
[Sidenote D: have never talked to me of love. ]
[Sidenote E: You ought to show a young thing like me some token of
'true-love's crafts. ']
[Sidenote F: So teach me of your 'wit' while my lord is from home. "]
[Footnote 1: wolde (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: In (? ). ]
XVI.
[A] "In goud fay? e," quod Gawayn, "God yow for3elde,
1536 Gret is ? e gode gle, & gomen to me huge,
? at so wor? y as 3e wolde wynne hidere,
& pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your kny3t,
With any skynne3 countenaunce, hit keuere3 me ese;
1540 [B] Bot to take ? e toruayle[1] to my-self, to trwluf expoun,
& towche ? e teme3 of tyxt, & tale3 of arme3,
To yow ? at, I wot wel, welde3 more sly3t
Of ? at art, bi ? e half, or a hundreth of seche
1544 As I am, o? er euer schal, in erde ? er I leue,
Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my traw? e.
[C] I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my my3t,
As I am hy3ly bihalden, & euer-more wylle
1548 [D] Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dry3tyn! "
? us hym frayned ? at fre, & fondet hym ofte,
Forto haf wonnen hym to wo3e, what-so scho ? o3t elle3,
[E] Bot he de fended hym so fayr, ? at no faut semed,
1552 Ne non euel on naw? er halue, naw? er ? ay wysten,
bot blysse;
? ay la3ed & layked longe,
At ? e last scho con hym kysse,
1556 [F] Hir leue fayre con scho fonge,
& went hir waye Iwysse.
[Sidenote A: "It is a great pleasure to me," says Sir Gawayne, "to hear you
talk,]
[Sidenote B: but I cannot undertake the task to expound true-love and tales
of arms. ]
[Sidenote C: I will, however, act according to your will,]
[Sidenote D: and ever be your servant. "]
[Sidenote E: Thus Gawayne defends himself. ]
[Sidenote F: The lady having kissed the knight, takes leave of him. ]
[Footnote 1: tornayle (? ). ]
XVII.
[A] Then ru? es hym ? e renk, & ryses to ? e masse,
& si? en hor diner wat3 dy3t & derely serued. [Fol. 112. ]
1560 [B] ? e lede with ? e ladye3 layked alle day,
Bot ? e lorde ouer ? e londe3 launced ful ofte,
Swe3 his vncely swyn, ? at swynge3 bi ? e bonkke3,
[C] & bote ? e best of his brache3 ? e bakke3 in sunder;
1564 ? er he bode in his bay, tel[1] bawe-men hit breken,
& made[2] hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter;
[D] So felle flone3 per flete, when ? e folk gedered;
Bot 3et ? e styffest to start bi stounde3 he made,
1568 Til at ? e last he wat3 so mat, he my3t no more renne,
[E] Bot in ? e hast ? at he my3t, he to a hole wynne3,
Of a rasse, bi a rokk, ? er renne3 ? e boerne,
He gete ? e bonk at his bak, bigyne3 to scrape,
1572 [F] ? e fro? e femed[3] at his mouth vnfayre bi ? e wyke3,
Whette3 his whyte tusche3; with hym ? en irked
Alle ? e burne3 so bolde, ? at hym by stoden,
[G] To nye hym on-ferum, bot ne3e hym non durst
1576 for wo? e;
He hade hurt so mony byforne,
? at al ? u3t[4] ? enne ful lo? e,
[H] Be more wyth his tusche3 torne,
1580 ? at breme wat3 [&] brayn-wod bothe.
[Sidenote A: Gawayne rises, hears mass, and then dines. ]
[Sidenote B: Meanwhile the lord pursues the wild boar,]
[Sidenote C: that bit the backs of his hounds asunder,]
[Sidenote D: and caused the stiffest of the hunters to start. ]
[Sidenote E: The boar runs into a hole in a rock by the side of a brook. ]
[Sidenote F: The froth foams at his mouth. ]
[Sidenote G: None durst approach him,]
[Sidenote H: so many had he torn with his tusks. ]
[Footnote 1: til (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: madee, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: fomed (? ). ]
[Footnote 4: ? o3t (? ). ]
XVIII.
[A] Til ? e kny3t com hym-self, kachande his blonk,
Sy3 hym byde at ? e bay, his burne3 bysyde,
[B] He ly3tes luflych[1] adoun, leue3 his corsour,
1584 Brayde3 out a bry3t bront, & bigly forth stryde3,
Founde3 fast ? ur3 ? e forth, ? er ? e felle byde3,
[C] ? e wylde wat3 war of ? e wy3e with weppen in honde,
Hef hy3ly ? e here, so hetterly he fnast,
1588 ? at fele ferde for ? e freke3,[2] lest felle hym ? e worre;
[D] ? e swyn sette3 hym out on ? e segge euen,
? at ? e burne & ? e bor were bo? e vpon hepe3,
In ? e wy3t-est of ? e water, ? e worre hade ? at o? er;
1592 [E] For ? e mon merkke3 hym wel, as ? ay mette fyrst,
Set sadly ? e scharp in ? e slot euen,
[F] Hit hym vp to ? e hult, ? at ? e hert schyndered,
& he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] ? e water,
1596 ful tyt;
A hundreth hounde3 hym hent, [Fol. 112b. ]
[G] ? at bremely con hym bite,
Burne3 him bro3t to bent,
1600 & dogge3 to dethe endite.
[Sidenote A: The knight, seeing the boar at bay,]
[Sidenote B: alights from his horse,]
[Sidenote C: and seeks to attack him with his sword. ]
[Sidenote D: The "swine sets out" upon the man,]
[Sidenote E: who, aiming well,]
[Sidenote F: wounds him in the pit of the stomach. ]
[Sidenote G: The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. luslych. ]
[Footnote 2: freke (? ). ]
[Footnote 3: 3ede doun (? ). ]
XIX.
[A] There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,
He3e halowing on hi3e, with ha? ele3 ? at my3t;
[B] Brachetes bayed ? at best, as bidden ? e maystere3,
1604 Of ? at chargeaunt chace ? at were chef huntes.
[C] ? enne a wy3e ? at wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,
To vnlace ? is bor lufly bigynne3;
[D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,
1608 & sy? en rende3 him al roghe bi ? e rygge after,
[E] Brayde3 out ? e boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,
With bred blent ? er-with his braches rewarde3;
Sy? en he britne3 out ? e brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,
1612 [F] & hat3 out ? e hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;
[G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole ? e halue3 to-geder,
& sy? en on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.
Now with ? is ilk swyn ? ay swengen to home;
1616 [H] ? e bores hed wat3 borne bifore ? e burnes seluen,
? at him for-ferde in ? e for? e, ? ur3 forse of his honde,
so stronge;
Til he se3 sir Gawayne,
1620 In halle hym ? o3t ful longe,
[I] He calde, & he com gayn,
His fee3 ? er for to fonge.
[Sidenote A: Then was there blowing of horns]
[Sidenote B: and baying of hounds. ]
[Sidenote C: One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar. ]
[Sidenote D: First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back. ]
[Sidenote E: He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and
therewith rewards his hounds. ]
[Sidenote F: Then the hastlets are removed. ]
[Sidenote G: The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole. ]
[Sidenote H: The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home. ]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne is called to receive the spoil. ]
XX.
[A] ? e lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,
1624 When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;
? e goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered ? e meyny,
[B] He schewe3 hem ? e schelde3, & schapes hem ? e tale,
Of ? e largesse, & ? e len? e, ? e li?
