]
[Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women.
[Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women.
Gawaine and the Green Knight
e renk sayde,
"Bolde burne, on ? is bent be not so gryndel;
No mon here vn-manerly ? e mys-boden habbe,
2340 Ne kyd, bot as couenaunde, at kynge3 kort schaped;
[D] I hy3t ? e a strok, & ? ou hit hat3, halde ? e wel payed,
I relece ? e of ? e remnaunt, of ry3tes alle o? er;
3if[1] I deliuer had bene, a boffet, paraunter,
2344 [E] I cou? e wro? eloker haf waret, [&] to ? e haf wro3t anger. [2]
Fyrst I mansed ? e muryly, with a mynt one,
[F] & roue ? e wyth no rof, sore with ry3t I ? e profered,
For ? e forwarde that we fest in ? e fyrst ny3t, [Fol. 122b. ]
2348 & ? ou trystyly ? e traw? e & trwly me halde3,
Al ? e gayne ? ow me gef, as god mon shulde;
[G] ? at o? er munt for ? e morne, mon, I ? e profered,
? ou kyssedes my clere wyf, ? e cosse3 me ra3te3,
2352 For bo? e two here I ? e bede bot two bare myntes,
boute sca? e;
[H] Trwe mon trwe restore,
? enne ? ar mon drede no wa? e;
2356 [I] At ? e ? rid ? ou fayled ? ore,
& ? er-for ? at tappe ta ? e.
[Sidenote A: The Green Knight rested on his axe,]
[Sidenote B: looked on Sir Gawayne, who appeared bold and fearless,]
[Sidenote C: and addressed him as follows: "Bold knight, be not so wroth,]
[Sidenote D: I promised thee a stroke and thou hast it, be satisfied. ]
[Sidenote E: I could have dealt worse with thee. ]
[Sidenote F: I menaced thee with one blow for the covenant between us on
the first night. ]
[Sidenote G: Another I aimed at thee because thou kissedst my wife. ]
[Sidenote H: A true man should restore truly, and then he need fear no
harm. ]
[Sidenote I: Thou failedst at the third time, and therefore take thee that
tap. (See l. 1861. )]
[Footnote 1: uf, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: This word is doubtful. ]
XVI.
[A] For hit is my wede ? at ? ou were3, ? at ilke wouen girdel,
Myn owen wyf hit ? e weued, I wot wel forso? e;
2360 [B] Now know I wel ? y cosses, & ? y costes als,
& ? e wowyng of my wyf, I wro3t hit myseluen;
[C] I sende hir to asay ? e, & sothly me ? ynkke3,
On ? e fautlest freke, ? at euer on fote 3ede;
2364 As perle bi ? e quite pese is of prys more,
So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi o? er gay kny3te3.
[D] Bot here you lakked a lyttel, sir, & lewte yow wonted,
Bot ? at wat3 for no wylyde werke, ne wowyng nau? er,
2368 [E] Bot for 3e lufed your lyf, ? e lasse I yow blame. "
? at o? er stif mon in study stod a gret whyle;
So agreued for greme he gryed with-inne,
[F] Alle ? e blode of his brest blende in his face,
2372 ? at al he schrank for schome, ? at ? e schalk talked.
? e forme worde vpon folde, ? at ? e freke meled,--
[G] "Corsed worth cowarddyse & couetyse bo? e!
In yow is vylany & vyse, ? at vertue disstrye3. "
2376 [H] ? enne he ka3t to ? e knot, & ? e kest lawse3,
Brayde bro? ely ? e belt to ? e burne seluen:
"Lo! ? er ? e falssyng, foule mot hit falle!
[I] For care of ? y knokke cowardyse me ta3t
2380 To a-corde me with couetyse, my kynde to for-sake,
? at is larges & lewte, ? at longe3 to kny3te3.
[J] Now am I fawty, & falce, & ferde haf ben euer;
Of trecherye & vn-traw? e bo? e bityde sor3e
2384 & care!
[K] I bi-knowe yow, kny3t, here stylle, [Fol. 123. ]
Al fawty is my fare,
Lete3 me ouer-take your wylle,
2388 & efle I schal be ware. "
[Sidenote A: For my weed (woven by my wife) thou wearest. ]
[Sidenote B: I know thy kisses and my wife's wooing. ]
[Sidenote C: I sent her to try thee, and faultless I found thee. ]
[Sidenote D: But yet thou sinnedst a little,]
[Sidenote E: for love of thy life. "]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne stands confounded. ]
[Sidenote G: "Cursed," he says, "be cowardice and covetousness both! "]
[Sidenote H: Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight. ]
[Sidenote I: He curses his cowardice,]
[Sidenote J: and confesses himself to have been guilty of untruth. ]
[Sidenote K: ]
XVII.
[A] Thenne lo3e ? at o? er leude, & luflyly sayde,
"I halde hit hardily[1] hole, ? e harme ? at I hade;
[B] ? ou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of ? y mysses,
2392 & hat3 ? e penaunce apert, of ? e poynt of myn egge,
[C] I halde ? e polysed of ? at ply3t, & pured as clene,
As ? ou hade3 neuer forfeted, sy? en ? ou wat3 fyrst borne.
[D] & I gif ? e, sir, ? e gurdel ? at is golde hemmed;
2396 For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye
? enk vpon ? is ilke ? repe, ? er ? ou forth ? rynge3
Among prynces of prys, & ? is a pure token
[E] Of ? e chaunce of ? e grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3;
2400 [F] & 3e schal in ? is nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3,
& we schyn reuel ? e remnaunt of ? is ryche fest,
ful bene. "
? er la? ed hym fast ? e lorde,
2404 & sayde, "with my wyf, I wene,
We schal yow wel acorde,
? at wat3 your enmy kene. "
[Sidenote A: Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:]
[Sidenote B: "Thou art confessed so clean,]
[Sidenote C: that I hold thee as pure as if thou hadst never been guilty. ]
[Sidenote D: I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle,]
[Sidenote E: as a token of thy adventure at the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote F: Come again to my abode, and abide there for the remainder of
the festival. "]
[Footnote 1: hardilyly, in MS. ]
XVIII.
[A] "Nay, for so? e," quod ? e segge, & sesed hys helme,
2408 & hat3 hit of hendely, & ? e ha? el ? onkke3,
[B] "I haf soiorned sadly, sele yow bytyde,
& he 3elde hit yow 3are, ? at 3arkke3 al menskes!
[C] & comaunde3 me to ? at cortays, your comlych fere,
2412 Bo? e ? at on & ? at o? er, myn honoured ladye3.
? at ? us hor kny3t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled.
[D] Bot hit is no ferly, ? a3 a fole madde,
& ? ur3 wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor3e;
2416 [E] For so wat3 Adam in erde with one bygyled,
& Salamon with fele sere, & Samson eft sone3,
Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde, & Dauyth ? er-after
Wat3 blended with Barsabe, ? at much bale ? oled.
2420 Now ? ese were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne huge,
[F] To luf hom wel, & leue hem not, a leude ? at cou? e,
For ? es wer forne[1] ? e freest ? at fol3ed alle ? e sele, [Fol. ]
Ex-ellently of alle ? yse o? er, vnder heuen-ryche, [123b. ]
2424 ? at mused;
& alle ? ay were bi-wyled,
With[2] wymmen ? at ? ay vsed,
[G] ? a3 I be now bigyled,
2428 Me ? ink me burde be excused. "
[Sidenote A: "Nay, forsooth," says Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: "I have sojourned sadly, but bliss betide thee! ]
[Sidenote C: Commend me to your comely wife and that other lady who have
beguiled me. ]
[Sidenote D: But it is no marvel for a man to be brought to grief through a
woman's wiles.
]
[Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women. ]
[Sidenote F: How could a man love them and believe them not? ]
[Sidenote G: Though I be now beguiled, methinks I should be excused. ]
[Footnote 1: forme (? )]
[Footnote 2: with wyth, in MS. ]
XIX.
[A] "Bot your gordel," quod G: "God yow for-3elde!
? at wyl I welde wyth good wylle, not for ? e wynne golde,
Ne ? e saynt, ne ? e sylk, ne ? e syde pendaundes,
2432 For wele, ne for worchyp, ne for ? e wlonk werkke3,
[B] Bot in syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte;
When I ride in renoun, remorde to myseluen
? e faut & ? e fayntyse of ? e flesche crabbed,
2436 How tender hit is to entyse teches of fyl? e;
[C] & ? us, quen pryde schal me pryk, for prowes of armes,
[D] ? e loke to ? is luf lace schal le? e my hert.
Bot on I wolde yow pray, displeses yow neuer;
2440 Syn 3e be lorde of ? e 3onde[r] londe, ? er I haf lent inne,
Wyth yow wyth worschyp,--? e wy3e hit yow 3elde
? at vp-halde3 ? e heuen, & on hy3 sitte3,--
[E] How norne 3e yowre ry3t nome, & ? enne no more? "
2444 "? at schal I telle ? e trwly," quod ? at o? er ? enne,
[F] "Bernlak de Hautdesert I hat in ? is londe,
? ur3 my3t of Morgne la Faye, ? at in my hous lenges,
&[1] koyntyse of clergye, bi craftes wel lerned,
2448 ? e maystres of Merlyn, mony ho[2] taken;
For ho hat3 dalt drwry ful dere sum tyme,
With ? at conable klerk, ? at knowes alle your kny3te3
at hame;
2452 Morgne ? e goddes,
? er-fore hit is hir name;
[G] Welde3 non so hy3e hawtesse,
? at ho ne con make ful tame.
[Sidenote A: But God reward you for your girdle. ]
[Sidenote B: I will wear it in remembrance of my fault. ]
[Sidenote C: And when pride shall prick me,]
[Sidenote D: a look to this lace shall abate it. ]
[Sidenote E: But tell me your right name and I shall have done. "]
[Sidenote F: The Green Knight replies, "I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert,
through might of Morgain la Fey, the pupil of Merlin. ]
[Sidenote G: She can tame even the haughtiest. ]
[Footnote 1: in (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: ho hat3 (? ). ]
XX.
2456 [A] Ho wayned me vpon ? is wyse to your wynne halle,
For to assay ? e surquidre, 3if hit soth were,
? at rennes of ? e grete renoun of ? e Rounde Table;
Ho wayned me ? is wonder, your wytte3 to reue,
2460 [B] For to haf greued Gaynour, & gart hir to dy3e. [Fol. 124. ]
With gopnyng[1] of ? at ilke gomen, ? at gostlych speked,
With his hede in his honde, bifore ? e hy3e table.
? at is ho ? at is at home, ? e auncian lady;
2464 [C] Ho is euen ? yn aunt, Ar? ure3 half suster,
? e duches do3ter of Tyntagelle, ? at dere Vter after
[D] Hade Ar? ur vpon, ? at a? el is now? e.
? erfore I e? e ? e, ha? el, to com to ? y naunt,
2468 Make myry in my hous, my meny ? e louies,
& I wol ? e as wel, wy3e, bi my faythe,
As any gome vnder God, for ? y grete trau? e. "
[E] & he nikked hym naye, he nolde bi no wayes;
2472 ? ay acolen & kyssen, [bikennen] ay? er o? er
To ? e prynce of paradise, & parten ry3t ? ere,
on coolde;
[F] Gawayn on blonk ful bene,
2476 To ? e kynge3 bur3 buske3 bolde,
& ? e kny3t in ? e enker grene,
Whider-warde so euer he wolde.
[Sidenote A: It was she who caused me to test the renown of the Round
Table,]
[Sidenote B: hoping to grieve Guenever and cause her death through fear. ]
[Sidenote C: She is even thine aunt. ]
[Sidenote D: Therefore come to her and make merry in my house. "]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne refuses to return with the Green Knight. ]
[Sidenote F: On horse full fair he bends to Arthur's hall. ]
[Footnote 1: glopnyng (? ). ]
XXI.
[A] Wylde waye3 in ? e worlde Wowen now ryde3,
2480 On Gryngolet, ? at ? e grace hade geten of his lyue;
[B] Ofte he herbered in house, & ofte al ? eroute,
& mony a-venture in vale, & venquyst ofte,
? at I ne ty3t, at ? is tyme, in tale to remene.
2484 [C] ? e hurt wat3 hole, ? at he hade hent in his nek,
[D] & ? e blykkande belt he bere ? eraboute,
A belef as a bauderyk, bounden bi his syde,
Loken vnder his lyfte arme, ? e lace, with a knot,
2488 [E] In tokenyng he wat3 tane in tech of a faute;
[F] & ? us he commes to ? e court, kny3t al in sounde.
[G] ? er wakned wele in ? at wone, when wyst ? e grete,
? at gode G: wat3 commen, gayn hit hym ? o3t;
2492 [H] ? e kyng kysse3 ? e kny3t, & ? e whene alce,
& sy? en mony syker kny3t, ? at so3t hym to haylce,
[I] Of his fare ? at hym frayned, & ferlyly he telles;
Biknowo3 alle ? e costes of care ? at he hade,--
2496 ? e chaunce of ? e chapel, ? e chere of ? e kny3t,
[J] ? e luf of ? e ladi, ? e lace at ? e last. [Fol. 124b. ]
? e nirt in ? e nek he naked hem schewed,
[K] ? at he la3t for his vnleute at ? e leudes hondes,
2500 for blame;
He tened quen he schulde telle,
[L] He groned for gref & grame;
? e blod in his face con melle,
2504 When he hit schulde schewe, for schame.
[Sidenote A: Wild ways now Gawayne rides. ]
[Sidenote B: Oft he harboured in house and oft thereout. ]
[Sidenote C: The wound in his neck became whole. ]
[Sidenote D: He still carried about him the belt,]
[Sidenote E: in token of his fault. ]
[Sidenote F: Thus he comes to the Court of King Arthur. ]
[Sidenote G: Great then was the joy of all. ]
[Sidenote H: The king and his knights ask him concerning his journey. ]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne tells them of his adventures,]
[Sidenote J: the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace. ]
[Sidenote K: He showed them the cut in his neck. ]
[Sidenote L: He groaned for grief and shame, and the blood rushed into his
face. ]
XXII.
[A] "Lo! lorde," quod ? e leude, & ? e lace hondeled,
"? is is ? e bende of ? is blame I bere [in] my nek,
? is is ? e la? e & ? e losse, ? at I la3t haue,
2508 [B] Of couardise & couetyse, ? at I haf ca3t ? are,
? is is ? e token of vn-traw? e, ? at I am tan inne,
[C] & I mot nede3 hit were, wyle I may last;
For non may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit,
2512 For ? er hit one3 is tachched, twynne wil hit neuer. "
[D] ? e kyng comforte3 ? e kny3t, & alle ? e court als,
La3en loude ? er-at, & luflyly acorden,
? at lordes & ladis, ? at longed to ? e Table,
2516 [E] Vche burne of ? e bro? er-hede a bauderyk schulde haue,
A bende, a belef hym aboute, of a bry3t grene,
[F] & ? at, for sake of ? at segge, in swete to were.
For ? at wat3 acorded ? e renoun of ? e Rounde Table,
2520 [G] & he honoured ? at hit hade, euer-more after,
As hit is breued in ? e best boke of romaunce.
[H] ?
"Bolde burne, on ? is bent be not so gryndel;
No mon here vn-manerly ? e mys-boden habbe,
2340 Ne kyd, bot as couenaunde, at kynge3 kort schaped;
[D] I hy3t ? e a strok, & ? ou hit hat3, halde ? e wel payed,
I relece ? e of ? e remnaunt, of ry3tes alle o? er;
3if[1] I deliuer had bene, a boffet, paraunter,
2344 [E] I cou? e wro? eloker haf waret, [&] to ? e haf wro3t anger. [2]
Fyrst I mansed ? e muryly, with a mynt one,
[F] & roue ? e wyth no rof, sore with ry3t I ? e profered,
For ? e forwarde that we fest in ? e fyrst ny3t, [Fol. 122b. ]
2348 & ? ou trystyly ? e traw? e & trwly me halde3,
Al ? e gayne ? ow me gef, as god mon shulde;
[G] ? at o? er munt for ? e morne, mon, I ? e profered,
? ou kyssedes my clere wyf, ? e cosse3 me ra3te3,
2352 For bo? e two here I ? e bede bot two bare myntes,
boute sca? e;
[H] Trwe mon trwe restore,
? enne ? ar mon drede no wa? e;
2356 [I] At ? e ? rid ? ou fayled ? ore,
& ? er-for ? at tappe ta ? e.
[Sidenote A: The Green Knight rested on his axe,]
[Sidenote B: looked on Sir Gawayne, who appeared bold and fearless,]
[Sidenote C: and addressed him as follows: "Bold knight, be not so wroth,]
[Sidenote D: I promised thee a stroke and thou hast it, be satisfied. ]
[Sidenote E: I could have dealt worse with thee. ]
[Sidenote F: I menaced thee with one blow for the covenant between us on
the first night. ]
[Sidenote G: Another I aimed at thee because thou kissedst my wife. ]
[Sidenote H: A true man should restore truly, and then he need fear no
harm. ]
[Sidenote I: Thou failedst at the third time, and therefore take thee that
tap. (See l. 1861. )]
[Footnote 1: uf, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: This word is doubtful. ]
XVI.
[A] For hit is my wede ? at ? ou were3, ? at ilke wouen girdel,
Myn owen wyf hit ? e weued, I wot wel forso? e;
2360 [B] Now know I wel ? y cosses, & ? y costes als,
& ? e wowyng of my wyf, I wro3t hit myseluen;
[C] I sende hir to asay ? e, & sothly me ? ynkke3,
On ? e fautlest freke, ? at euer on fote 3ede;
2364 As perle bi ? e quite pese is of prys more,
So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi o? er gay kny3te3.
[D] Bot here you lakked a lyttel, sir, & lewte yow wonted,
Bot ? at wat3 for no wylyde werke, ne wowyng nau? er,
2368 [E] Bot for 3e lufed your lyf, ? e lasse I yow blame. "
? at o? er stif mon in study stod a gret whyle;
So agreued for greme he gryed with-inne,
[F] Alle ? e blode of his brest blende in his face,
2372 ? at al he schrank for schome, ? at ? e schalk talked.
? e forme worde vpon folde, ? at ? e freke meled,--
[G] "Corsed worth cowarddyse & couetyse bo? e!
In yow is vylany & vyse, ? at vertue disstrye3. "
2376 [H] ? enne he ka3t to ? e knot, & ? e kest lawse3,
Brayde bro? ely ? e belt to ? e burne seluen:
"Lo! ? er ? e falssyng, foule mot hit falle!
[I] For care of ? y knokke cowardyse me ta3t
2380 To a-corde me with couetyse, my kynde to for-sake,
? at is larges & lewte, ? at longe3 to kny3te3.
[J] Now am I fawty, & falce, & ferde haf ben euer;
Of trecherye & vn-traw? e bo? e bityde sor3e
2384 & care!
[K] I bi-knowe yow, kny3t, here stylle, [Fol. 123. ]
Al fawty is my fare,
Lete3 me ouer-take your wylle,
2388 & efle I schal be ware. "
[Sidenote A: For my weed (woven by my wife) thou wearest. ]
[Sidenote B: I know thy kisses and my wife's wooing. ]
[Sidenote C: I sent her to try thee, and faultless I found thee. ]
[Sidenote D: But yet thou sinnedst a little,]
[Sidenote E: for love of thy life. "]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne stands confounded. ]
[Sidenote G: "Cursed," he says, "be cowardice and covetousness both! "]
[Sidenote H: Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight. ]
[Sidenote I: He curses his cowardice,]
[Sidenote J: and confesses himself to have been guilty of untruth. ]
[Sidenote K: ]
XVII.
[A] Thenne lo3e ? at o? er leude, & luflyly sayde,
"I halde hit hardily[1] hole, ? e harme ? at I hade;
[B] ? ou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of ? y mysses,
2392 & hat3 ? e penaunce apert, of ? e poynt of myn egge,
[C] I halde ? e polysed of ? at ply3t, & pured as clene,
As ? ou hade3 neuer forfeted, sy? en ? ou wat3 fyrst borne.
[D] & I gif ? e, sir, ? e gurdel ? at is golde hemmed;
2396 For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye
? enk vpon ? is ilke ? repe, ? er ? ou forth ? rynge3
Among prynces of prys, & ? is a pure token
[E] Of ? e chaunce of ? e grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3;
2400 [F] & 3e schal in ? is nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3,
& we schyn reuel ? e remnaunt of ? is ryche fest,
ful bene. "
? er la? ed hym fast ? e lorde,
2404 & sayde, "with my wyf, I wene,
We schal yow wel acorde,
? at wat3 your enmy kene. "
[Sidenote A: Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:]
[Sidenote B: "Thou art confessed so clean,]
[Sidenote C: that I hold thee as pure as if thou hadst never been guilty. ]
[Sidenote D: I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle,]
[Sidenote E: as a token of thy adventure at the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote F: Come again to my abode, and abide there for the remainder of
the festival. "]
[Footnote 1: hardilyly, in MS. ]
XVIII.
[A] "Nay, for so? e," quod ? e segge, & sesed hys helme,
2408 & hat3 hit of hendely, & ? e ha? el ? onkke3,
[B] "I haf soiorned sadly, sele yow bytyde,
& he 3elde hit yow 3are, ? at 3arkke3 al menskes!
[C] & comaunde3 me to ? at cortays, your comlych fere,
2412 Bo? e ? at on & ? at o? er, myn honoured ladye3.
? at ? us hor kny3t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled.
[D] Bot hit is no ferly, ? a3 a fole madde,
& ? ur3 wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor3e;
2416 [E] For so wat3 Adam in erde with one bygyled,
& Salamon with fele sere, & Samson eft sone3,
Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde, & Dauyth ? er-after
Wat3 blended with Barsabe, ? at much bale ? oled.
2420 Now ? ese were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne huge,
[F] To luf hom wel, & leue hem not, a leude ? at cou? e,
For ? es wer forne[1] ? e freest ? at fol3ed alle ? e sele, [Fol. ]
Ex-ellently of alle ? yse o? er, vnder heuen-ryche, [123b. ]
2424 ? at mused;
& alle ? ay were bi-wyled,
With[2] wymmen ? at ? ay vsed,
[G] ? a3 I be now bigyled,
2428 Me ? ink me burde be excused. "
[Sidenote A: "Nay, forsooth," says Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: "I have sojourned sadly, but bliss betide thee! ]
[Sidenote C: Commend me to your comely wife and that other lady who have
beguiled me. ]
[Sidenote D: But it is no marvel for a man to be brought to grief through a
woman's wiles.
]
[Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women. ]
[Sidenote F: How could a man love them and believe them not? ]
[Sidenote G: Though I be now beguiled, methinks I should be excused. ]
[Footnote 1: forme (? )]
[Footnote 2: with wyth, in MS. ]
XIX.
[A] "Bot your gordel," quod G: "God yow for-3elde!
? at wyl I welde wyth good wylle, not for ? e wynne golde,
Ne ? e saynt, ne ? e sylk, ne ? e syde pendaundes,
2432 For wele, ne for worchyp, ne for ? e wlonk werkke3,
[B] Bot in syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte;
When I ride in renoun, remorde to myseluen
? e faut & ? e fayntyse of ? e flesche crabbed,
2436 How tender hit is to entyse teches of fyl? e;
[C] & ? us, quen pryde schal me pryk, for prowes of armes,
[D] ? e loke to ? is luf lace schal le? e my hert.
Bot on I wolde yow pray, displeses yow neuer;
2440 Syn 3e be lorde of ? e 3onde[r] londe, ? er I haf lent inne,
Wyth yow wyth worschyp,--? e wy3e hit yow 3elde
? at vp-halde3 ? e heuen, & on hy3 sitte3,--
[E] How norne 3e yowre ry3t nome, & ? enne no more? "
2444 "? at schal I telle ? e trwly," quod ? at o? er ? enne,
[F] "Bernlak de Hautdesert I hat in ? is londe,
? ur3 my3t of Morgne la Faye, ? at in my hous lenges,
&[1] koyntyse of clergye, bi craftes wel lerned,
2448 ? e maystres of Merlyn, mony ho[2] taken;
For ho hat3 dalt drwry ful dere sum tyme,
With ? at conable klerk, ? at knowes alle your kny3te3
at hame;
2452 Morgne ? e goddes,
? er-fore hit is hir name;
[G] Welde3 non so hy3e hawtesse,
? at ho ne con make ful tame.
[Sidenote A: But God reward you for your girdle. ]
[Sidenote B: I will wear it in remembrance of my fault. ]
[Sidenote C: And when pride shall prick me,]
[Sidenote D: a look to this lace shall abate it. ]
[Sidenote E: But tell me your right name and I shall have done. "]
[Sidenote F: The Green Knight replies, "I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert,
through might of Morgain la Fey, the pupil of Merlin. ]
[Sidenote G: She can tame even the haughtiest. ]
[Footnote 1: in (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: ho hat3 (? ). ]
XX.
2456 [A] Ho wayned me vpon ? is wyse to your wynne halle,
For to assay ? e surquidre, 3if hit soth were,
? at rennes of ? e grete renoun of ? e Rounde Table;
Ho wayned me ? is wonder, your wytte3 to reue,
2460 [B] For to haf greued Gaynour, & gart hir to dy3e. [Fol. 124. ]
With gopnyng[1] of ? at ilke gomen, ? at gostlych speked,
With his hede in his honde, bifore ? e hy3e table.
? at is ho ? at is at home, ? e auncian lady;
2464 [C] Ho is euen ? yn aunt, Ar? ure3 half suster,
? e duches do3ter of Tyntagelle, ? at dere Vter after
[D] Hade Ar? ur vpon, ? at a? el is now? e.
? erfore I e? e ? e, ha? el, to com to ? y naunt,
2468 Make myry in my hous, my meny ? e louies,
& I wol ? e as wel, wy3e, bi my faythe,
As any gome vnder God, for ? y grete trau? e. "
[E] & he nikked hym naye, he nolde bi no wayes;
2472 ? ay acolen & kyssen, [bikennen] ay? er o? er
To ? e prynce of paradise, & parten ry3t ? ere,
on coolde;
[F] Gawayn on blonk ful bene,
2476 To ? e kynge3 bur3 buske3 bolde,
& ? e kny3t in ? e enker grene,
Whider-warde so euer he wolde.
[Sidenote A: It was she who caused me to test the renown of the Round
Table,]
[Sidenote B: hoping to grieve Guenever and cause her death through fear. ]
[Sidenote C: She is even thine aunt. ]
[Sidenote D: Therefore come to her and make merry in my house. "]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne refuses to return with the Green Knight. ]
[Sidenote F: On horse full fair he bends to Arthur's hall. ]
[Footnote 1: glopnyng (? ). ]
XXI.
[A] Wylde waye3 in ? e worlde Wowen now ryde3,
2480 On Gryngolet, ? at ? e grace hade geten of his lyue;
[B] Ofte he herbered in house, & ofte al ? eroute,
& mony a-venture in vale, & venquyst ofte,
? at I ne ty3t, at ? is tyme, in tale to remene.
2484 [C] ? e hurt wat3 hole, ? at he hade hent in his nek,
[D] & ? e blykkande belt he bere ? eraboute,
A belef as a bauderyk, bounden bi his syde,
Loken vnder his lyfte arme, ? e lace, with a knot,
2488 [E] In tokenyng he wat3 tane in tech of a faute;
[F] & ? us he commes to ? e court, kny3t al in sounde.
[G] ? er wakned wele in ? at wone, when wyst ? e grete,
? at gode G: wat3 commen, gayn hit hym ? o3t;
2492 [H] ? e kyng kysse3 ? e kny3t, & ? e whene alce,
& sy? en mony syker kny3t, ? at so3t hym to haylce,
[I] Of his fare ? at hym frayned, & ferlyly he telles;
Biknowo3 alle ? e costes of care ? at he hade,--
2496 ? e chaunce of ? e chapel, ? e chere of ? e kny3t,
[J] ? e luf of ? e ladi, ? e lace at ? e last. [Fol. 124b. ]
? e nirt in ? e nek he naked hem schewed,
[K] ? at he la3t for his vnleute at ? e leudes hondes,
2500 for blame;
He tened quen he schulde telle,
[L] He groned for gref & grame;
? e blod in his face con melle,
2504 When he hit schulde schewe, for schame.
[Sidenote A: Wild ways now Gawayne rides. ]
[Sidenote B: Oft he harboured in house and oft thereout. ]
[Sidenote C: The wound in his neck became whole. ]
[Sidenote D: He still carried about him the belt,]
[Sidenote E: in token of his fault. ]
[Sidenote F: Thus he comes to the Court of King Arthur. ]
[Sidenote G: Great then was the joy of all. ]
[Sidenote H: The king and his knights ask him concerning his journey. ]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne tells them of his adventures,]
[Sidenote J: the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace. ]
[Sidenote K: He showed them the cut in his neck. ]
[Sidenote L: He groaned for grief and shame, and the blood rushed into his
face. ]
XXII.
[A] "Lo! lorde," quod ? e leude, & ? e lace hondeled,
"? is is ? e bende of ? is blame I bere [in] my nek,
? is is ? e la? e & ? e losse, ? at I la3t haue,
2508 [B] Of couardise & couetyse, ? at I haf ca3t ? are,
? is is ? e token of vn-traw? e, ? at I am tan inne,
[C] & I mot nede3 hit were, wyle I may last;
For non may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit,
2512 For ? er hit one3 is tachched, twynne wil hit neuer. "
[D] ? e kyng comforte3 ? e kny3t, & alle ? e court als,
La3en loude ? er-at, & luflyly acorden,
? at lordes & ladis, ? at longed to ? e Table,
2516 [E] Vche burne of ? e bro? er-hede a bauderyk schulde haue,
A bende, a belef hym aboute, of a bry3t grene,
[F] & ? at, for sake of ? at segge, in swete to were.
For ? at wat3 acorded ? e renoun of ? e Rounde Table,
2520 [G] & he honoured ? at hit hade, euer-more after,
As hit is breued in ? e best boke of romaunce.
[H] ?
