"
[Sidenote A: Then was Gringolet arrayed,]
[Sidenote B: full ready to prick on.
[Sidenote A: Then was Gringolet arrayed,]
[Sidenote B: full ready to prick on.
Gawaine and the Green Knight
enne lo3ly his leue at ?
e lorde fyrst
Fochche3 ? is fre mon, & fayre he hym ? onkke3;
[D] "Of such a sellyly[1] soiorne, as I haf hade here,
Your honour, at ? is hy3e fest, ? e hy3e kyng yow 3elde!
1964 I 3ef yow me for on of youre3, if yowre-self lyke3,
For I mot nedes, as 3e wot, meue to morne;
[E] & 3e me take sum tolke, to teche, as 3e hy3t,
? e gate to ? e grene chapel, as god wyl me suffer
1968 To dele, on nw3ere3 day, ? e dome of my wyrdes. "
"In god fay? e," quod ? e god mon. "wyth a goud wylle;
Al ? at euer I yow hy3t, halde schal I rede. "
[F] ? er asyngnes he a seruaunt, to sett hym in ? e waye,
1972 & coundue hym by ? e downe3, ? at he no drechch had, [Fol. 117b. ]
For to f[e]rk ? ur3 ? e fryth, & fare at ? e gaynest,
bi greue.
? e lorde Gawayn con ? onk,
1976 Such worchip he wolde hym weue;
[G] ? en at ? o ladye3 wlonk.
? e kny3t hat3 tan his leue.
[Sidenote A: With much mirth and minstrelsy they made merry,]
[Sidenote B: until the time came for them to part. ]
[Sidenote C: Gawayne takes leave of his host. ]
[Sidenote D: and thanks him for his happy "sojourn. "]
[Sidenote E: He asks for a man to teach him the way to the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote F: A servant is assigned to him,]
[Sidenote G: and then he takes leave of the ladies,]
[Footnote 1: selly (? ). ]
XXXIV.
[A] With care & wyth kyssyng he carppe3 hem tille,
1980 & fele ? ryuande ? onkke3 he ? rat hom to haue,
& ? ay 3elden hym a3ay[n] 3eply ? at ilk;
[B] ? ay bikende hym to Kryst, with ful colde sykynge3.
[C] Sy? en fro ? e meyny he menskly de-partes;
1984 Vche mon ? at he mette, he made hem a ? onke,
For his seruyse, & his solace, & his sere pyne,
? at ? ay wyth busynes had ben, aboute hym to serue;
& vche segge as sore, to seuer with hym ? ere,
1988 As ? ay hade wonde wor? yly with ? at wlonk euer.
[D] ? en with ledes & ly3t he wat3 ladde to his chambre,
& blybely bro3t to his bedde, to be at his rest;
3if he ne slepe soundyly, say ne dar I,
1992 [E] For he hade muche on ? e morn to mynne, 3if he wolde,
in ? o3t;
[F] Let hym ly3e ? ere stille,
He hat3[1] nere ? at he so3t,
1996 [G] & 3e wyl a whyle be stylle,
I schal telle yow how ? ay wro3t.
[Sidenote A: kissing them sorrowfully. ]
[Sidenote B: They commend him to Christ. ]
[Sidenote C: He then departs, thanking each one he meets "for his service
and solace. "]
[Sidenote D: He retires to rest but sleeps but little,]
[Sidenote E: for much has he to think of on the morrow. ]
[Sidenote F: Let him there lie still. ]
[Sidenote G: Be still awhile, and I shall tell how they wrought. ]
[Footnote 1: wat3 (? ). ]
[FYTTE THE FOURTH. ]
I.
[A] Now ne3e3 ? e nw3ere, & ? e ny3t passe3,
? e day dryue3 to ? e derk, as dry3tyn bidde3;
2000 [B] Bot wylde wedere3 of ? e worlde wakned ? eroute,
Clowdes kesten kenly ? e colde to ? e er? e,
Wyth ny3e[1] in-noghe of ? e nor? e, ? e naked to tene;
[C] ? e snawe snitered ful snart, ? at snayped ? e wylde;
2004 ? e werbelande wynde wapped fro ? e hy3e,
[D] & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete.
? e leude lystened ful wel, ? at le3 in his bedde,
[E] ? a3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes;
2008 Bi vch kok ? at crue, he knwe wel ? e steuen.
De-liuerly he dressed vp, er ? e day sprenged, [Fol. 118. ]
For ? ere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, ? at lemed in his chambre;
[F] He called to his chamberlayn, ? at cofly hym swared,
2012 & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel;
? at o? er ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3,
& gray? e3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse.
Fyrst he clad hym in his clo? e3, ? e colde for to were;
2016 & sy? en his o? er harnays, ? at holdely wat3 keped,
Bo? e his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene,
[G] ? e rynge3[2] rokked of ? e roust, of his riche bruny;
& al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn ? enne
2020 to ? onk;
He hade vpon vche pece,
Wypped ful wel & wlonk;
[H] ? e gayest in to Grece,
2024 ? e burne bede bryng his blonk.
[Sidenote A: New Year's Day approaches. ]
[Sidenote B: The weather is stormy. ]
[Sidenote C: Snow falls. ]
[Sidenote D: The dales are full of drift. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows. ]
[Sidenote F: He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his
armour. ]
[Sidenote G: Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon. ]
[Sidenote H: The knight then calls for his steed. ]
[Footnote 1: nywe (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: rynke3 (? ). ]
II.
[A] Whyle ? e wlonkest wedes he warp on hym-seluen;
His cote, wyth be conysaunce of ? e clere werke3,
Ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus[1] stone3,
2028 Aboute beten, & bounden, enbrauded seme3,
& fayre furred with-inne wyth fayre pelures.
[B] 3et laft he not ? e lace, ? e ladie3 gifte,
? at for-gat not Gawayn, for gode of hym-seluen;
2032 Bi he hade belted ? e bronde vpon his bal3e haunche3,
[C] ? enn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute;
Swy? e swe? led vmbe his swange swetely, ? at kny3t,
? e gordel of ? e grene silke, ? at gay wel bisemed,
2036 Vpon ? at ryol red clo? e, ? at ryche wat3 to schewe.
[D] Bot wered not ? is ilk wy3e for wele ? is gordel,
For pryde of ? e pendaunte3, ? a3 polyst ? ay were,
& ? a3 ? e glyterande golde glent vpon ende3,
2040 [E] Bot forto sauen hym-self, when suffer hym by-houed,
To byde bale with-oute dabate, of bronde hym to were,
o? er knyffe;
Bi ? at ? e bolde mon boun,
2044 Wynne3 ? eroute bilyue,
[F] Alle ? e meyny of renoun,
He ? onkke3 ofte ful ryue.
[Sidenote A: While he clothed himself in his rich weeds,]
[Sidenote B: he forgot not the "lace," the lady's gift,]
[Sidenote C: but with it doubly girded his loins. ]
[Sidenote D: He wore it not for its rich ornaments,]
[Sidenote E: "but to save himself when it behoved him to suffer. "]
[Sidenote F: All the renowned assembly he thanks full oft. ]
[Footnote 1: vertuous (? ). ]
III.
[A] Thenne wat3 Gryngolet gray? e, ? at gret wat3 & huge, [Fol. 118b. ]
2048 & hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse,
[B] Hym lyst prik for poynt, ? at proude hors ? enne;
? e wy3e wynne3 hym to, & wyte3 on his lyre,
& sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swere3,
2052 "Here is a meyny in ? is mote, ? at on menske ? enkke3,
[C] ? e mon hem maynteines, ioy mot ? ay haue;
? e leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde;
3if ? ay for charyte cherysen a gest,
2056 & halden honour in her honde, ? e ha? el hem 3elde,
? at halde3 ? e heuen vpon hy3e, & also yow alle!
& 3if I my3t lyf vpon londe lede any quyle,
I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I my3t. "
2060 [D] ? enn steppe3 he in-to stirop, & stryde3 alofte;
His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit la3t,
Gorde3 to Gryngolet, with his gilt hele3,
[E] & he starte3 on ? e ston, stod he no lenger,
2064 to praunce;
His ha? el on hors wat3 ? enne,
? at bere his spere & launce.
[F] "? is kastel to Kryst I kenne,
2068 He gef hit ay god chaunce!
"
[Sidenote A: Then was Gringolet arrayed,]
[Sidenote B: full ready to prick on. ]
[Sidenote C: Gawayne returns thanks for the honour and kindness shown to
him by all. ]
[Sidenote D: He then steps into his saddle,]
[Sidenote E: and "starts on the stone" without more delay. ]
[Sidenote F: "This castle to Christ I commend; may he give it ever good
chance! "]
IV.
[A] The brygge wat3 brayde doun, & ? e brode 3ate3
Vnbarred, & born open, vpon bo? e halue;
[B] ? e burne blessed hym bilyue, & ? e brede3 passed;
2072 Prayses ? e porter, bifore ? e prynce kneled,
Gef hym God & goud day, ? at Gawayn he saue;
[C] & went on his way, with his wy3e one,
? at schulde teche hym to tourne to ? at tene place,
2076 ? er ? e ruful race he schulde re-sayue.
? ay bo3en bi bonkke3, ? er bo3e3 ar bare,
[D] ? ay clomben bi clyffe3, ? er clenge3 ? e colde;
? e heuen wat3 vp halt, bot vgly ? er vnder,
2080 Mist muged on ? e mor, malt on ? e mounte3,
[E] Vch hille hade a hatte, a myst-hakel huge;
Broke3 byled, & breke, bi bonkke3 aboute,
Schyre schaterande on schore3, ? er ? ay doun schowued.
2084 Welawylle wat3 ? e way, ? er ? ay bi wod schulden, [Fol. 119. ]
[F] Til hit wat3 sone sesoun, ? at ? e sunne ryses,
? at tyde;
[G] ? ay were on a hille ful hy3e,
2088 ? e quyte snaw lay bisyde;
[H] ? e burne ? at rod hym by
Bede his mayster abide.
[Sidenote A: The gates are soon opened. ]
[Sidenote B: The knight passes thereout,]
[Sidenote C: and goes on his way accompanied by his guide. ]
[Sidenote D: They climb by cliffs,]
[Sidenote E: where each "hill had a hat and a mist-cloak,"]
[Sidenote F: until daylight. ]
[Sidenote G: They were then on a "hill full high. "]
[Sidenote H: The servant bade his master abide, saying,]
V.
[A] "For I haf wonnen yow hider, wy3e, at ? is tyme,
2092 & now nar 3e not fer fro ? at note place,
[B] ? at 3e han spied & spuryed so specially after;
Bot I schal say yow for so? e, sy? en I yow knowe,
& 3e ar a lede vpon lyue, ? at I wel louy,
2096 Wolde 3e worch bi my wytte, 3e wor? ed ? e better.
[C] ? e place ? at 3e prece to, ful perelous is halden;
[D] ? er wone3 a wy3e in ? at waste, ? e worst vpon er? e;
For he is stiffe, & sturne, & to strike louies,
2100 & more he is ? en any mon vpon myddelerde,
[E] & his body bigger ? en ? e best fowre.
? at ar in Ar? ure3 hous, Hestor[1] o? er o? er.
He cheue3 ? at chaunce at ? e chapel grene;
2104 [F] ? er passes non bi ? at place, so proude in his armes,
? at he ne dynne3 hym to de? e, with dynt of his honde;
For he is a mon methles, & mercy non vses,
[G] For be hit chorle, o? er chaplayn, ? at bi ? e chapel rydes,
2108 Monk, o? er masse-prest, o? er any mon elles,
Hym ? ynk as queme hym to quelle, as quyk go hym seluen.
For-? y I say ? e as so? e as 3e in sadel sitte,
Com 3e ? ere, 3e be kylled, [I] may ? e kny3t rede,
2112 Trawe 3e me ? at trwely, ? a3 3e had twenty lyues
to spende;
[H] He hat3 wonyd here ful 3ore,
On bent much baret bende,
2116 [I] A3ayn his dynte3 sore,
3e may not yow defende. "
[Sidenote A: "I have brought you hither,]
[Sidenote B: ye are not now far from the noted place. ]
[Sidenote C: Full perilous is it esteemed. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord of that 'waste' is stiff and stern. ]
[Sidenote E: His body is bigger 'than the best four in Arthur's house. ']
[Sidenote F: None passes by the Green Chapel, 'that he does not ding to
death with dint of his hand. ']
[Sidenote G: For be it churl or chaplain, monk, mass-priest, 'or any man
else,' he kills them all. ]
[Sidenote H: He has lived there full long. ]
[Sidenote I: Against his dints sore ye may not defend you. ]
[Footnote 1: Hector (? ). ]
VI.
[A] "For-? y, goude sir Gawayn, let ? e gome one,
& got3 a-way sum o? er gate; vpon Godde3 halue;
2120 [B] Cayre3 bi sum o? er kyth, ? er Kryst mot yow spede;
& I schal hy3 me hom a3ayn, & hete yow fyrre,
[C] ? at I schal swere bi God, & alle his gode hal3e3, [Fol. 119b. ]
As help me God & ? e halydam, & o? e3 in-noghe,
2124 ? at I schal lelly yow layne, & lance neuer tale,
? at euer 3e fondet to fle, for freke ? at I wyst. "
"Grant merci;" quod Gawayn, & gruchyng he sayde,
"Wel worth ? e wy3e, ? at wolde3 my gode,
2128 & ? at lelly me layne, I leue wel ? ou wolde3!
[D] Bot helde ? ou hit neuer so holde, & I here passed,
Founded for ferde for to fle, in fourme ? at ? ou telle3,
I were a kny3t kowarde, I my3t not[1] be excused.
2132 [E] Bot I wy1 to ? e chape1, for chaunce ? at may falle,
& talk wyth ? at ilk tulk ? e tale ? at me lyste,
Wor? e hit wele, o? er wo, as ? e wyrde lyke3
hit hafe;
2136 [F] ? a3e he be a sturn knape,
To sti3tel, &[2] stad with staue,
[G] Ful wel con dry3tyn schape,
His seruaunte3 forto saue. "
[Sidenote A: Wherefore, good Sir Gawayne, let this man alone. ]
[Sidenote B: Go by some other region,]
[Sidenote C: I swear by God and all His saints, that I will never say that
ever ye attempted to flee from any man. "]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne replies that to shun this danger would mark him as a
"coward knight. "]
[Sidenote E: To the Chapel, therefore, he will go,]
[Sidenote F: though the owner thereof were a stern knave. ]
[Sidenote G: "Full well can God devise his servants for to save. "]
[Footnote 1: mot, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: & &, in MS. ]
VII.
2140 [A] "Mary! " quod ? at o? er mon, "now ? ou so much spelle3,
? at ? ou wylt ? yn awen nye nyme to ? y-seluen,
& ? e lyst lese ? y lyf, ? e lette I ne kepe;
[B] Haf here ? i helme on ? y hede, ? i spere in ? i honde,
2144 & ryde me doun ? is ilk rake, bi 3on rokke syde,
[C] Til ? ou be bro3t to ? e bo? em of ? e brem valay;
[D] ? enne loke a littel on ? e launde, on ? i lyfte honde,
[E] & ? ou schal se in ? at slade ? e self chapel,
2148 & ? e borelych burne on bent, ? at hit kepe3.
Now fare3 wel on Gode3 half, Gawayn ? e noble,
For alle ? e golde vpon grounde I nolde go with ? e,
Ne bere ? e fela3schip ? ur3 ? is fryth on fote fyrre. "
2152 [F] Bi ? at ? e wy3e in ? e wod wende3 his brydel,
Hit ? e hors with ? e hele3, as harde as he my3t,
Lepe3 hym ouer ? e launde, & leue3 ? e kny3t ? ere,
al one.
2156 [G] "Bi Godde3 self," quod Gawayn,
"I wyl nau? er grete ne grone,
[H] To Godde3 wylle I am ful bayn,
& to hym I haf me tone. "
[Sidenote A: "Mary! " quoth the other, "since it pleases thee to lose thy
life,]
[Sidenote B: take thy helmet on thy head, and thy spear in thy hand, and
ride down this path by yon rock-side,]
[Sidenote C: till thou come to the bottom of the valley;]
[Sidenote D: look a little to the left,]
[Sidenote E: and thou shalt see the Chapel itself and the man that guards
it. "]
[Sidenote F: Having thus spoken the guide takes leave of the knight. ]
[Sidenote G: "By God's self," says Sir Gawayne, "I will neither weep nor
groan. ]
[Sidenote H: To God's will I am full ready. "]
VIII.
2160 [A] Thenne gyrde3 he to Gryngolet, & gedere3 ? e rake, [Fol. 120. ]
Schowue3 in bi a schore, at a scha3e syde,
[B] Ride3 ?
Fochche3 ? is fre mon, & fayre he hym ? onkke3;
[D] "Of such a sellyly[1] soiorne, as I haf hade here,
Your honour, at ? is hy3e fest, ? e hy3e kyng yow 3elde!
1964 I 3ef yow me for on of youre3, if yowre-self lyke3,
For I mot nedes, as 3e wot, meue to morne;
[E] & 3e me take sum tolke, to teche, as 3e hy3t,
? e gate to ? e grene chapel, as god wyl me suffer
1968 To dele, on nw3ere3 day, ? e dome of my wyrdes. "
"In god fay? e," quod ? e god mon. "wyth a goud wylle;
Al ? at euer I yow hy3t, halde schal I rede. "
[F] ? er asyngnes he a seruaunt, to sett hym in ? e waye,
1972 & coundue hym by ? e downe3, ? at he no drechch had, [Fol. 117b. ]
For to f[e]rk ? ur3 ? e fryth, & fare at ? e gaynest,
bi greue.
? e lorde Gawayn con ? onk,
1976 Such worchip he wolde hym weue;
[G] ? en at ? o ladye3 wlonk.
? e kny3t hat3 tan his leue.
[Sidenote A: With much mirth and minstrelsy they made merry,]
[Sidenote B: until the time came for them to part. ]
[Sidenote C: Gawayne takes leave of his host. ]
[Sidenote D: and thanks him for his happy "sojourn. "]
[Sidenote E: He asks for a man to teach him the way to the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote F: A servant is assigned to him,]
[Sidenote G: and then he takes leave of the ladies,]
[Footnote 1: selly (? ). ]
XXXIV.
[A] With care & wyth kyssyng he carppe3 hem tille,
1980 & fele ? ryuande ? onkke3 he ? rat hom to haue,
& ? ay 3elden hym a3ay[n] 3eply ? at ilk;
[B] ? ay bikende hym to Kryst, with ful colde sykynge3.
[C] Sy? en fro ? e meyny he menskly de-partes;
1984 Vche mon ? at he mette, he made hem a ? onke,
For his seruyse, & his solace, & his sere pyne,
? at ? ay wyth busynes had ben, aboute hym to serue;
& vche segge as sore, to seuer with hym ? ere,
1988 As ? ay hade wonde wor? yly with ? at wlonk euer.
[D] ? en with ledes & ly3t he wat3 ladde to his chambre,
& blybely bro3t to his bedde, to be at his rest;
3if he ne slepe soundyly, say ne dar I,
1992 [E] For he hade muche on ? e morn to mynne, 3if he wolde,
in ? o3t;
[F] Let hym ly3e ? ere stille,
He hat3[1] nere ? at he so3t,
1996 [G] & 3e wyl a whyle be stylle,
I schal telle yow how ? ay wro3t.
[Sidenote A: kissing them sorrowfully. ]
[Sidenote B: They commend him to Christ. ]
[Sidenote C: He then departs, thanking each one he meets "for his service
and solace. "]
[Sidenote D: He retires to rest but sleeps but little,]
[Sidenote E: for much has he to think of on the morrow. ]
[Sidenote F: Let him there lie still. ]
[Sidenote G: Be still awhile, and I shall tell how they wrought. ]
[Footnote 1: wat3 (? ). ]
[FYTTE THE FOURTH. ]
I.
[A] Now ne3e3 ? e nw3ere, & ? e ny3t passe3,
? e day dryue3 to ? e derk, as dry3tyn bidde3;
2000 [B] Bot wylde wedere3 of ? e worlde wakned ? eroute,
Clowdes kesten kenly ? e colde to ? e er? e,
Wyth ny3e[1] in-noghe of ? e nor? e, ? e naked to tene;
[C] ? e snawe snitered ful snart, ? at snayped ? e wylde;
2004 ? e werbelande wynde wapped fro ? e hy3e,
[D] & drof vche dale ful of dryftes ful grete.
? e leude lystened ful wel, ? at le3 in his bedde,
[E] ? a3 he lowke3 his lidde3, ful lyttel he slepes;
2008 Bi vch kok ? at crue, he knwe wel ? e steuen.
De-liuerly he dressed vp, er ? e day sprenged, [Fol. 118. ]
For ? ere wat3 ly3t of a lau[m]pe, ? at lemed in his chambre;
[F] He called to his chamberlayn, ? at cofly hym swared,
2012 & bede hym bryng hym his bruny, & his blonk sadel;
? at o? er ferke3 hym vp, & feche3 hym his wede3,
& gray? e3 me sir Gawayn vpon a grett wyse.
Fyrst he clad hym in his clo? e3, ? e colde for to were;
2016 & sy? en his o? er harnays, ? at holdely wat3 keped,
Bo? e his paunce, & his plate3, piked ful clene,
[G] ? e rynge3[2] rokked of ? e roust, of his riche bruny;
& al wat3 fresch as vpon fyrst, & he wat3 fayn ? enne
2020 to ? onk;
He hade vpon vche pece,
Wypped ful wel & wlonk;
[H] ? e gayest in to Grece,
2024 ? e burne bede bryng his blonk.
[Sidenote A: New Year's Day approaches. ]
[Sidenote B: The weather is stormy. ]
[Sidenote C: Snow falls. ]
[Sidenote D: The dales are full of drift. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne in his bed hears each cock that crows. ]
[Sidenote F: He calls for his chamberlain, and bids him bring him his
armour. ]
[Sidenote G: Men knock off the rust from his rich habergeon. ]
[Sidenote H: The knight then calls for his steed. ]
[Footnote 1: nywe (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: rynke3 (? ). ]
II.
[A] Whyle ? e wlonkest wedes he warp on hym-seluen;
His cote, wyth be conysaunce of ? e clere werke3,
Ennurned vpon veluet vertuuus[1] stone3,
2028 Aboute beten, & bounden, enbrauded seme3,
& fayre furred with-inne wyth fayre pelures.
[B] 3et laft he not ? e lace, ? e ladie3 gifte,
? at for-gat not Gawayn, for gode of hym-seluen;
2032 Bi he hade belted ? e bronde vpon his bal3e haunche3,
[C] ? enn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute;
Swy? e swe? led vmbe his swange swetely, ? at kny3t,
? e gordel of ? e grene silke, ? at gay wel bisemed,
2036 Vpon ? at ryol red clo? e, ? at ryche wat3 to schewe.
[D] Bot wered not ? is ilk wy3e for wele ? is gordel,
For pryde of ? e pendaunte3, ? a3 polyst ? ay were,
& ? a3 ? e glyterande golde glent vpon ende3,
2040 [E] Bot forto sauen hym-self, when suffer hym by-houed,
To byde bale with-oute dabate, of bronde hym to were,
o? er knyffe;
Bi ? at ? e bolde mon boun,
2044 Wynne3 ? eroute bilyue,
[F] Alle ? e meyny of renoun,
He ? onkke3 ofte ful ryue.
[Sidenote A: While he clothed himself in his rich weeds,]
[Sidenote B: he forgot not the "lace," the lady's gift,]
[Sidenote C: but with it doubly girded his loins. ]
[Sidenote D: He wore it not for its rich ornaments,]
[Sidenote E: "but to save himself when it behoved him to suffer. "]
[Sidenote F: All the renowned assembly he thanks full oft. ]
[Footnote 1: vertuous (? ). ]
III.
[A] Thenne wat3 Gryngolet gray? e, ? at gret wat3 & huge, [Fol. 118b. ]
2048 & hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse,
[B] Hym lyst prik for poynt, ? at proude hors ? enne;
? e wy3e wynne3 hym to, & wyte3 on his lyre,
& sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swere3,
2052 "Here is a meyny in ? is mote, ? at on menske ? enkke3,
[C] ? e mon hem maynteines, ioy mot ? ay haue;
? e leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde;
3if ? ay for charyte cherysen a gest,
2056 & halden honour in her honde, ? e ha? el hem 3elde,
? at halde3 ? e heuen vpon hy3e, & also yow alle!
& 3if I my3t lyf vpon londe lede any quyle,
I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I my3t. "
2060 [D] ? enn steppe3 he in-to stirop, & stryde3 alofte;
His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit la3t,
Gorde3 to Gryngolet, with his gilt hele3,
[E] & he starte3 on ? e ston, stod he no lenger,
2064 to praunce;
His ha? el on hors wat3 ? enne,
? at bere his spere & launce.
[F] "? is kastel to Kryst I kenne,
2068 He gef hit ay god chaunce!
"
[Sidenote A: Then was Gringolet arrayed,]
[Sidenote B: full ready to prick on. ]
[Sidenote C: Gawayne returns thanks for the honour and kindness shown to
him by all. ]
[Sidenote D: He then steps into his saddle,]
[Sidenote E: and "starts on the stone" without more delay. ]
[Sidenote F: "This castle to Christ I commend; may he give it ever good
chance! "]
IV.
[A] The brygge wat3 brayde doun, & ? e brode 3ate3
Vnbarred, & born open, vpon bo? e halue;
[B] ? e burne blessed hym bilyue, & ? e brede3 passed;
2072 Prayses ? e porter, bifore ? e prynce kneled,
Gef hym God & goud day, ? at Gawayn he saue;
[C] & went on his way, with his wy3e one,
? at schulde teche hym to tourne to ? at tene place,
2076 ? er ? e ruful race he schulde re-sayue.
? ay bo3en bi bonkke3, ? er bo3e3 ar bare,
[D] ? ay clomben bi clyffe3, ? er clenge3 ? e colde;
? e heuen wat3 vp halt, bot vgly ? er vnder,
2080 Mist muged on ? e mor, malt on ? e mounte3,
[E] Vch hille hade a hatte, a myst-hakel huge;
Broke3 byled, & breke, bi bonkke3 aboute,
Schyre schaterande on schore3, ? er ? ay doun schowued.
2084 Welawylle wat3 ? e way, ? er ? ay bi wod schulden, [Fol. 119. ]
[F] Til hit wat3 sone sesoun, ? at ? e sunne ryses,
? at tyde;
[G] ? ay were on a hille ful hy3e,
2088 ? e quyte snaw lay bisyde;
[H] ? e burne ? at rod hym by
Bede his mayster abide.
[Sidenote A: The gates are soon opened. ]
[Sidenote B: The knight passes thereout,]
[Sidenote C: and goes on his way accompanied by his guide. ]
[Sidenote D: They climb by cliffs,]
[Sidenote E: where each "hill had a hat and a mist-cloak,"]
[Sidenote F: until daylight. ]
[Sidenote G: They were then on a "hill full high. "]
[Sidenote H: The servant bade his master abide, saying,]
V.
[A] "For I haf wonnen yow hider, wy3e, at ? is tyme,
2092 & now nar 3e not fer fro ? at note place,
[B] ? at 3e han spied & spuryed so specially after;
Bot I schal say yow for so? e, sy? en I yow knowe,
& 3e ar a lede vpon lyue, ? at I wel louy,
2096 Wolde 3e worch bi my wytte, 3e wor? ed ? e better.
[C] ? e place ? at 3e prece to, ful perelous is halden;
[D] ? er wone3 a wy3e in ? at waste, ? e worst vpon er? e;
For he is stiffe, & sturne, & to strike louies,
2100 & more he is ? en any mon vpon myddelerde,
[E] & his body bigger ? en ? e best fowre.
? at ar in Ar? ure3 hous, Hestor[1] o? er o? er.
He cheue3 ? at chaunce at ? e chapel grene;
2104 [F] ? er passes non bi ? at place, so proude in his armes,
? at he ne dynne3 hym to de? e, with dynt of his honde;
For he is a mon methles, & mercy non vses,
[G] For be hit chorle, o? er chaplayn, ? at bi ? e chapel rydes,
2108 Monk, o? er masse-prest, o? er any mon elles,
Hym ? ynk as queme hym to quelle, as quyk go hym seluen.
For-? y I say ? e as so? e as 3e in sadel sitte,
Com 3e ? ere, 3e be kylled, [I] may ? e kny3t rede,
2112 Trawe 3e me ? at trwely, ? a3 3e had twenty lyues
to spende;
[H] He hat3 wonyd here ful 3ore,
On bent much baret bende,
2116 [I] A3ayn his dynte3 sore,
3e may not yow defende. "
[Sidenote A: "I have brought you hither,]
[Sidenote B: ye are not now far from the noted place. ]
[Sidenote C: Full perilous is it esteemed. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord of that 'waste' is stiff and stern. ]
[Sidenote E: His body is bigger 'than the best four in Arthur's house. ']
[Sidenote F: None passes by the Green Chapel, 'that he does not ding to
death with dint of his hand. ']
[Sidenote G: For be it churl or chaplain, monk, mass-priest, 'or any man
else,' he kills them all. ]
[Sidenote H: He has lived there full long. ]
[Sidenote I: Against his dints sore ye may not defend you. ]
[Footnote 1: Hector (? ). ]
VI.
[A] "For-? y, goude sir Gawayn, let ? e gome one,
& got3 a-way sum o? er gate; vpon Godde3 halue;
2120 [B] Cayre3 bi sum o? er kyth, ? er Kryst mot yow spede;
& I schal hy3 me hom a3ayn, & hete yow fyrre,
[C] ? at I schal swere bi God, & alle his gode hal3e3, [Fol. 119b. ]
As help me God & ? e halydam, & o? e3 in-noghe,
2124 ? at I schal lelly yow layne, & lance neuer tale,
? at euer 3e fondet to fle, for freke ? at I wyst. "
"Grant merci;" quod Gawayn, & gruchyng he sayde,
"Wel worth ? e wy3e, ? at wolde3 my gode,
2128 & ? at lelly me layne, I leue wel ? ou wolde3!
[D] Bot helde ? ou hit neuer so holde, & I here passed,
Founded for ferde for to fle, in fourme ? at ? ou telle3,
I were a kny3t kowarde, I my3t not[1] be excused.
2132 [E] Bot I wy1 to ? e chape1, for chaunce ? at may falle,
& talk wyth ? at ilk tulk ? e tale ? at me lyste,
Wor? e hit wele, o? er wo, as ? e wyrde lyke3
hit hafe;
2136 [F] ? a3e he be a sturn knape,
To sti3tel, &[2] stad with staue,
[G] Ful wel con dry3tyn schape,
His seruaunte3 forto saue. "
[Sidenote A: Wherefore, good Sir Gawayne, let this man alone. ]
[Sidenote B: Go by some other region,]
[Sidenote C: I swear by God and all His saints, that I will never say that
ever ye attempted to flee from any man. "]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne replies that to shun this danger would mark him as a
"coward knight. "]
[Sidenote E: To the Chapel, therefore, he will go,]
[Sidenote F: though the owner thereof were a stern knave. ]
[Sidenote G: "Full well can God devise his servants for to save. "]
[Footnote 1: mot, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: & &, in MS. ]
VII.
2140 [A] "Mary! " quod ? at o? er mon, "now ? ou so much spelle3,
? at ? ou wylt ? yn awen nye nyme to ? y-seluen,
& ? e lyst lese ? y lyf, ? e lette I ne kepe;
[B] Haf here ? i helme on ? y hede, ? i spere in ? i honde,
2144 & ryde me doun ? is ilk rake, bi 3on rokke syde,
[C] Til ? ou be bro3t to ? e bo? em of ? e brem valay;
[D] ? enne loke a littel on ? e launde, on ? i lyfte honde,
[E] & ? ou schal se in ? at slade ? e self chapel,
2148 & ? e borelych burne on bent, ? at hit kepe3.
Now fare3 wel on Gode3 half, Gawayn ? e noble,
For alle ? e golde vpon grounde I nolde go with ? e,
Ne bere ? e fela3schip ? ur3 ? is fryth on fote fyrre. "
2152 [F] Bi ? at ? e wy3e in ? e wod wende3 his brydel,
Hit ? e hors with ? e hele3, as harde as he my3t,
Lepe3 hym ouer ? e launde, & leue3 ? e kny3t ? ere,
al one.
2156 [G] "Bi Godde3 self," quod Gawayn,
"I wyl nau? er grete ne grone,
[H] To Godde3 wylle I am ful bayn,
& to hym I haf me tone. "
[Sidenote A: "Mary! " quoth the other, "since it pleases thee to lose thy
life,]
[Sidenote B: take thy helmet on thy head, and thy spear in thy hand, and
ride down this path by yon rock-side,]
[Sidenote C: till thou come to the bottom of the valley;]
[Sidenote D: look a little to the left,]
[Sidenote E: and thou shalt see the Chapel itself and the man that guards
it. "]
[Sidenote F: Having thus spoken the guide takes leave of the knight. ]
[Sidenote G: "By God's self," says Sir Gawayne, "I will neither weep nor
groan. ]
[Sidenote H: To God's will I am full ready. "]
VIII.
2160 [A] Thenne gyrde3 he to Gryngolet, & gedere3 ? e rake, [Fol. 120. ]
Schowue3 in bi a schore, at a scha3e syde,
[B] Ride3 ?
