e;
Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene,
& haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue wor?
Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene,
& haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue wor?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
at ernde,
560 To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more
wyth bronde.
? e kny3t mad ay god chere,
& sayde, "quat schuld I wonde,
564 [G] Of destines derf & dere,
What may mon do bot fonde? "
[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's
sake. ]
[Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:]
[Sidenote C: "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,]
[Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight. "]
[Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him. ]
[Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear. ]
[Footnote 1: derne (? ). ]
IV.
[A] He dowelle3 ? er al ? at day, and dresse3 on ? e morn,
Aske3 erly hys arme3, & alle were ? ay bro3t
568 [B] Fyrst a tule tapit, ty3t ouer ? e flet,
& miche wat3 ? e gyld gere ? at glent ? er alofte;
[C] ? e stif mon steppe3 ? eron, & ? e stel hondole3,
[D] Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars,
572 & sy? en a crafty capados, closed aloft,
? at wyth a bry3t blaunner was bounden with-inne;
[E] ? enne set ? ay ? e sabatoun3 vpon ? e segge fote3,
His lege3 lapped in stel with luflych greue3,
576 With polayne3 piched ? er-to, policed ful clene,
Aboute his kne3 knaged wyth knote3 of golde;
[F] Queme quyssewes ? en, ? at coyntlych closed
His thik ? rawen ? y3e3 with ? wonges to-tachched;
580 [G] & sy? en ? e brawden bryne of bry3t stel rynge3,
Vmbe-weued ? at wy3, vpon wlonk stuffe;
[H] & wel bornyst brace vpon his bo? e armes,
With gode cowters & gay, & gloue3 of plate,
584 & alle ? e godlych gere ? at hym gayn schulde
? at tyde;
[I] Wyth ryche cote armure,
[J] His gold spore3 spend with pryde,
588 [K] Gurde wyth a bront ful sure,
With silk sayn vmbe his syde.
[Sidenote A: On the morn he asks for his arms. ]
[Sidenote B: A carpet is spread on the floor,]
[Sidenote C: and he steps thereon. ]
[Sidenote D: He is dubbed in a doublet of Tarsic silk, and a well-made
hood. ]
[Sidenote E: They set steel slices on his feet, and lap his legs in steel
greaves. ]
[Sidenote F: Fair cuisses enclose his thighs,]
[Sidenote G: and afterwards they put on the steel habergeon,]
[Sidenote H: well-burnished braces, elbow pieces, and gloves of plate. ]
[Sidenote I: Over all this is placed the coat armour. ]
[Sidenote J: His spurs are then fixed,]
[Sidenote K: and his sword is attached to his side by a silken girdle. ]
V.
[A] When he wat3 hasped in armes, his harnays wat3 ryche, [Fol. 99a. ]
? e lest lachet ou[? ]er loupe lemed of golde;
592 So harnayst as he wat3 he herkne3 his masse,
Offred & honoured at ? e he3e auter;
[B] Sy? en he come3 to ? e kyng & to his cort fere3,
Lache3 lufly his leue at lorde3 & ladye3;
596 & ? ay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst.
[C] Bi ? at wat3 Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel,
? at glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges,
Ay quere naylet ful nwe for ? at note ryched;
600 ? e brydel barred aboute, with bry3t golde bounden;
[D] ? e apparayl of ? e payttrure, & of ? e proude skyrte3,
? e cropore, & ? e couertor, acorded wyth ? e arsoune3;
& al wat3 rayled on red ryche golde nayle3,
604 ? at al glytered & glent as glem of ? e sunne.
[E] ? enne hentes he ? e holme, & hastily hit kysses,
? at wat3 stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne:
Hit wat3 hy3e on his hede, hasped bihynde,
608 [F] Wyth a ly3tli vrysoun ouer ? e auentayle,
[G] Enbrawden & bounden wyth ? e best gemme3,
On brode sylkyn borde, & brydde3 on seme3,
As papiaye3 paynted pernyng bitwene,
612 Tortors & trulofe3 entayled so ? yk,
As mony burde ? er aboute had ben seuen wynter
in toune;
[H] ? e cercle wat3 more o prys,
616 ? at vmbe-clypped hys croun,
Of diamaunte3 a deuys,
? at bo? e were bry3t & broun.
[Sidenote A: Thus arrayed the knight hears mass,]
[Sidenote B: and afterwards takes leave of Arthur and his court. ]
[Sidenote C: By that time his horse Gringolet was ready,]
[Sidenote D: the harness of which glittered like the "gleam of the sun. "]
[Sidenote E: Then Sir Gawayne sets his helmet upon his head,]
[Sidenote F: fastened behind with a "urisoun,"]
[Sidenote G: richly embroidered with gems. ]
[Sidenote H: The circle around the helmet was decked with diamonds. ]
VI.
[A] Then ? ay schewed hym ? e schelde, ? at was of schyr goule3,
620 Wyth ? e pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwe3;
He brayde3 hit by ? e baude-ryk, aboute ? e hals kestes,
? at bisemed ? e segge semlyly fayre.
[B] & quy ? e pentangel apende3 to ? at prynce noble,
624 I am in tent yow to telle, ? of tary hyt me schulde;
Hit is a syngne ? at Salamon set sum-quyle,
In bytoknyng of traw? e, bi tytle ? at hit habbe3,
For hit is a figure ? at halde3 fyue poynte3, [Fol. 99b]
628 & vche lyne vmbe-lappe3 & louke3 in o? er,
[C] & ay quere hit is endele3,[1] & Englych hit callen
Ouer-al, as I here, ? e endeles knot.
For-? y hit acorde3 to ? is kny3t, & to his cler arme3,
632 For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue sy? e3,
[D] Gawan wat3 for gode knawen, & as golde pured,
Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertue3[2] ennourned
in mote;
636 For-? y ? e pen-tangel nwe
He ber in schelde & cote,
[E] As tulk of tale most trwe,
& gentylest kny3t of lote.
[Sidenote A: Then they show him his shield with the "pentangle" of pure
gold. ]
[Sidenote B: The "pentangle" was devised by Solomon as a token of truth. ]
[Sidenote C: It is called the endless knot]
[Sidenote D: It well becomes the good Sir Gawayne,]
[Sidenote E: a knight the truest of speech and the fairest of form. ]
[Footnote 1: MS emdele3. ]
[Footnote 2: MS verertue3]
VII.
640 [A] Fyrst he wat3 funden fautle3 in his fyue wytte3,
& efte fayled neuer ? e freke in his fyue fyngres,
[B] & alle his afyaunce vpon folde wat3 in ? e fyue wounde3
? at Cryst ka3t on ? e croys, as ? e crede telle3;
644 & quere-so-euer ? ys mon in melly wat3 stad,
His ? ro ? o3t wat3 in ? at, ? ur3 alle o? er ? ynge3,
? at alle his forsnes he fong at ? e fyue ioye3,
? at ? e hende heuen quene had of hir chylde;
648 At ? is cause ? e kny3t comlyche hade
[C] In ? e more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted,
? at quen he blusched ? erto, his belde neuer payred.
? e fyrst[1] fyue ? at I finde ? at ? e frek vsed,
652 Wat3 fraunchyse, & fela3schyp for-be[2] al ? yng;
[D] His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer,
& pite, ? at passe3 alle poynte3, ? yse pure fyue
Were harder happed on ? at ha? el ? en on any o? er.
656 Now alle ? ese fyue sy? e3, forso? e, were fetled on ? is kny3t,
& vchone halched in o? er, ? at non ende hade,
& fyched vpon fyue poynte3, ? at fayld neuer,
Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nou? [er],
660 With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde,
Where-euer ? e gomen bygan, or glod to an ende.
[E] ? er-fore on his schene schelde schapen wat3 ? e knot,
? us alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowle3,
664 ? at is ? e pure pentaungel wyth ? e peple called, [Fol. 100]
with lore.
Now gray? ed is Gawan gay,
[F] & la3t his launce ry3t ? ore,
668 & gef hem alle goud day,
He wende for euer more.
[Sidenote A: He was found faultless in his five wits. ]
[Sidenote B: His trust was in the five wounds. ]
[Sidenote C: The image of the Virgin was depicted upon his shield. ]
[Sidenote D: In cleanness and courtesy he was never found wanting,]
[Sidenote E: therefore was the endless knot fastened on his shield. ]
[Sidenote F: Sir Gawayne seizes his lance and bids all "good day. "]
[Footnote 1: MS fyft. ]
[Footnote 2: for-bi (? ). ]
VIII.
[A] He sperred ? e sted with ? e spure3, & sprong on his way,
So stif ? at ? e ston fyr stroke out ? er-after;
672 [B] Al ? at se3 ? at semly syked in hert,
& sayde so? ly al same segges til o? er,
Carande for ? at comly, "bi Kryst, hit is sca? e,
? at ? ou, leude, schal be lost, ? at art of lyf noble!
676 [C] To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not e?
e;
Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene,
& haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue wor? ed;
[D] A lowande leder of lede3 in londe hym wel seme3,
680 & so had better haf ben ? en britned to no3t,
[E] Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angarde3 pryde.
Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take,
As kny3te3 in caueloun3 on cryst-masse gomne3! "
684 [F] Wel much wat3 ? e warme water ? at waltered of y3en,
When ? at semly syre so3t fro ? o wone3
? at[1] daye;
He made non abode,
688 Bot wy3tly went hys way,
[G] Mony wylsum way he rode,
? e bok as I herde say.
[Sidenote A: He spurs his horse and goes on his way. ]
[Sidenote B: All that saw that seemly one mourned in their hearts. ]
[Sidenote C: They declared that his equal was not to be found upon earth. ]
[Sidenote D: It would have been better for him to have been a leader of
men,]
[Sidenote E: than to die by the hands of "an elvish man. "]
[Sidenote F: Much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day. ]
[Sidenote G: Meanwhile many a weary way goes Sir Gawayne. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. ? ad. ]
IX.
[A] Now ride3 ? is renk ? ur3 ? e ryalme of Logres,
692 Sir Gauan on Gode3 halue, ? a3 hym no gomen ? o3t;
Oft, leudle3 alone, he lenge3 on ny3te3,
? er he fonde no3t hym byfore ? e fare ? at he lyked;
[B] Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frythe3 & doune3,
696 Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,
[C] Til ? at he ne3ed ful noghe[1] in to ? e Nor? e Wale3;
Alle ? e iles of Anglesay on lyft half he halde3,
& fare3 ouer ? e forde3 by ? e for-londe3,
700 [D] Ouer at ? e Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk
In ? e wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde ? er bot lyte
[E] ? at au? er God o? er gome wyth goud hert louied. [Fol. 100b]
& ay he frayned, as he ferde, at freke3 ? at he met,
704 [F] If ? ay hade herde any karp of a kny3t grene,
In any grounde ? er-aboute, of ? e grene chapel;[2]
& al nykked hym wyth nay, ? at neuer in her lyue
[G] ? ay se3e neuer no segge ? at wat3 of suche hwe3
708 of grene.
? e kny3t tok gates straunge,
In mony a bonk vnbene,
[H] His cher ful oft con chaunge,
712 ? at chapel er he my3t sene.
[Sidenote A: Now rides the knight through the realms of England. ]
[Sidenote B: He has no companion but his horse. ]
[Sidenote C: No men does he see till he approaches North Wales. ]
[Sidenote D: From Holyhead he passes into Wirral. ]
[Sidenote E: There he finds but few that loved God or man. ]
[Sidenote F: He enquires after the Green Knight of the Green Chapel,]
[Sidenote G: but can gain no tidings of him. ]
[Sidenote H: His cheer oft changed before he found the Chapel. ]
[Footnote 1: nyghe (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: MS. clapel. ]
X.
[A] Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contraye3 straunge,
Fer floten fro his frende3 fremedly he ryde3;
[B] At vche war? e o? er water ? er ? e wy3e passed,
716 He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were,
& ? at so foule & so felle, ? at fe3t hym by-hode;
[C] So mony meruayl hi mount ? er ? e mon fynde3,
Hit were to tore for to telle of ? e ten? e dole.
720 [D] Sumwhyle wyth worme3 he werre3, & with wolues als,
Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, ? at woned in ? e knarre3,
[E] Bo? e wyth bulle3 & bere3, & bore3 o? er-quyle,
& etayne3, ? at hym a-nelede, of ? e he3e felle;
724 [F] Nade he ben du3ty & dry3e, & dry3tyn had serued,
Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte.
[G] For werre wrathed hym not so much, ? at wynter was wors,
When ? e colde cler water fro ? e cloude3 schadden,
728 & fres er hit falle my3t to ? e fale er? e;
Ner slayn wyth ? e slete he sleped in his yrnes,
Mo ny3te3 ? en in-noghe in naked rokke3,
? er as claterande fro ? e crest ? e colde borne renne3,
732 & henged he3e ouer his hede in hard ysse-ikkles.
[H] ? us in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde,
Bi contray carye3 ? is kny3t, tyl kryst-masse euen,
al one;
736 ? e kny3t wel ? at tyde,
[I] To Mary made his mone.
? at ho hym red to ryde,
& wysse hym to sum wone. [Fol. 101. ]
[Sidenote A: Many a cliff he climbed over;]
[Sidenote B: many a ford and stream he crossed, and everywhere he found a
foe. ]
[Sidenote C: It were too tedious to tell the tenth part of his adventures]
[Sidenote D: with serpents, wolves, and wild men;]
[Sidenote E: with bulls, bears, and boars. ]
[Sidenote F: Had he not been both brave and good, doubtless he had been
dead. ]
[Sidenote G: The sharp winter was far worse than any war that ever troubled
him. ]
[Sidenote H: Thus in peril he travels till Christmas-eve. ]
[Sidenote I: To the Virgin Mary he prays to guide him to some abode. ]
XI.
740 [A] Bi a mounte on ? e morne meryly he rydes,
Into a forest ful dep, ? at ferly wat3 wylde,
Hi3e hille3 on vche a halue, & holt wode3 vnder,
[B] Of hore oke3 fill hoge a hundreth to-geder;
744 ? e hasel & ? e ha3-? orne were harled al samen,
With ro3e raged mosse rayled ay-where,
[C] With mony brydde3 vnbly? e vpon bare twyges,
? at pitosly ? er piped for pyne of ? e colde.
748 ? e gome vpon Gryngolet glyde3 hem vnder,
[D] ? ur3 mony misy & myre, mon al hym one,
Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde,
To se ? e seruy[1] of ? at syre, ? at on ? at self ny3t
752 Of a burde wat3 borne, oure baret to quelle;
[E] & ? erfore sykyng he sayde, "I be-seche ? e, lorde,
& Mary, ? at is myldest moder so dere.
Of sum herber, ? er he3ly I my3t here masse.
756 Ande ? y matyne3 to-morne, mekely I ask,
& ? er-to prestly I pray my pater & aue,
& crede. "
He rode in his prayere,
760 & cryed for his mysdede,
[F] He sayned hym in sy? es sere,
& sayde "cros Kryst me spede! "
[Sidenote A: On the morn Sir Gawayne finds himself in a deep forest,]
[Sidenote B: where were old oaks many a hundred. ]
[Sidenote C: Many sad birds upon bare twigs piped piteously for the cold. ]
[Sidenote D: Through many a mire he goes, that he may celebrate the birth
of Christ. ]
[Sidenote E: He beseeches the Virgin Mary to direct him to some lodging
where he may hear mass. ]
[Sidenote F: Blessing himself, he says, "Cross of Christ, speed me! "]
[Footnote 1: seruyce (? ). ]
XII.
[A] Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot ? rye,
764 Er he wat3 war in ? e wod of a won in a mote.
[B] Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder bo3e3,
Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi ? e diches;
[C] A castel ? e comlokest ? at euer kny3t a3te,
768 Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,
With a pyked palays, pyned ful ? ik,
? at vmbe-te3e mony tre mo ? en two myle.
? at holde on ? at on syde ? e ha? el auysed,
772 [D] As hit schemered & schon ? ur3 ? e schyre oke3;
? enne hat3 he hendly of his helme, & he3ly he ? onke3
Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, ? at gentyle ar bo? e,
? at cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened. [Fol. 101b. ]
776 "Now bone hostel," co? e ? e burne, "I be-seche yow 3ette! "
? enne gedere3 he to Gryngolet with ? e gilt hele3,
[E] & he ful chauncely hat3 chosen to ? e chef gate,
? at bro3t bremly ? e burne to ? e bryge ende,
780 in haste;
[F] ? e bryge wat3 breme vp-brayde,
? e 3ate3 wer stoken faste,
? e walle3 were wel arayed,
784 Hit dut no wynde3 blaste.
[Sidenote A: Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice]
[Sidenote B: when he saw a dwelling in the wood, set on a hill,]
[Sidenote C: the comeliest castle that knight ever owned. ]
[Sidenote D: It shone as the sun through the bright oaks. ]
[Sidenote E: Sir Gawayne goes to the chief gate,]
[Sidenote F: and finds the draw-bridge raised, and the gates shut fast. ]
XIII.
[A] ? e burne bode on bonk, ? at on blonk houed,
Of ? e depe double dich ? at drof to ? e place,
? e walle wod in ? e water wonderly depe,
788 [B] Ande eft a ful huge he3t hit haled vpon lofte,
Of harde hewen ston vp to ? e table3,
[C] Enbaned vnder ? e abataylment, in ? e best lawe;
& sy? en garyte3 ful gaye gered bi-twene,
792 Wyth mony luflych loupe, ? at louked ful clene;
A better barbican ? at burne blusched vpon neuer;
& innermore he be-helde ?
560 To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more
wyth bronde.
? e kny3t mad ay god chere,
& sayde, "quat schuld I wonde,
564 [G] Of destines derf & dere,
What may mon do bot fonde? "
[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's
sake. ]
[Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:]
[Sidenote C: "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,]
[Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight. "]
[Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him. ]
[Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear. ]
[Footnote 1: derne (? ). ]
IV.
[A] He dowelle3 ? er al ? at day, and dresse3 on ? e morn,
Aske3 erly hys arme3, & alle were ? ay bro3t
568 [B] Fyrst a tule tapit, ty3t ouer ? e flet,
& miche wat3 ? e gyld gere ? at glent ? er alofte;
[C] ? e stif mon steppe3 ? eron, & ? e stel hondole3,
[D] Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars,
572 & sy? en a crafty capados, closed aloft,
? at wyth a bry3t blaunner was bounden with-inne;
[E] ? enne set ? ay ? e sabatoun3 vpon ? e segge fote3,
His lege3 lapped in stel with luflych greue3,
576 With polayne3 piched ? er-to, policed ful clene,
Aboute his kne3 knaged wyth knote3 of golde;
[F] Queme quyssewes ? en, ? at coyntlych closed
His thik ? rawen ? y3e3 with ? wonges to-tachched;
580 [G] & sy? en ? e brawden bryne of bry3t stel rynge3,
Vmbe-weued ? at wy3, vpon wlonk stuffe;
[H] & wel bornyst brace vpon his bo? e armes,
With gode cowters & gay, & gloue3 of plate,
584 & alle ? e godlych gere ? at hym gayn schulde
? at tyde;
[I] Wyth ryche cote armure,
[J] His gold spore3 spend with pryde,
588 [K] Gurde wyth a bront ful sure,
With silk sayn vmbe his syde.
[Sidenote A: On the morn he asks for his arms. ]
[Sidenote B: A carpet is spread on the floor,]
[Sidenote C: and he steps thereon. ]
[Sidenote D: He is dubbed in a doublet of Tarsic silk, and a well-made
hood. ]
[Sidenote E: They set steel slices on his feet, and lap his legs in steel
greaves. ]
[Sidenote F: Fair cuisses enclose his thighs,]
[Sidenote G: and afterwards they put on the steel habergeon,]
[Sidenote H: well-burnished braces, elbow pieces, and gloves of plate. ]
[Sidenote I: Over all this is placed the coat armour. ]
[Sidenote J: His spurs are then fixed,]
[Sidenote K: and his sword is attached to his side by a silken girdle. ]
V.
[A] When he wat3 hasped in armes, his harnays wat3 ryche, [Fol. 99a. ]
? e lest lachet ou[? ]er loupe lemed of golde;
592 So harnayst as he wat3 he herkne3 his masse,
Offred & honoured at ? e he3e auter;
[B] Sy? en he come3 to ? e kyng & to his cort fere3,
Lache3 lufly his leue at lorde3 & ladye3;
596 & ? ay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst.
[C] Bi ? at wat3 Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel,
? at glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges,
Ay quere naylet ful nwe for ? at note ryched;
600 ? e brydel barred aboute, with bry3t golde bounden;
[D] ? e apparayl of ? e payttrure, & of ? e proude skyrte3,
? e cropore, & ? e couertor, acorded wyth ? e arsoune3;
& al wat3 rayled on red ryche golde nayle3,
604 ? at al glytered & glent as glem of ? e sunne.
[E] ? enne hentes he ? e holme, & hastily hit kysses,
? at wat3 stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne:
Hit wat3 hy3e on his hede, hasped bihynde,
608 [F] Wyth a ly3tli vrysoun ouer ? e auentayle,
[G] Enbrawden & bounden wyth ? e best gemme3,
On brode sylkyn borde, & brydde3 on seme3,
As papiaye3 paynted pernyng bitwene,
612 Tortors & trulofe3 entayled so ? yk,
As mony burde ? er aboute had ben seuen wynter
in toune;
[H] ? e cercle wat3 more o prys,
616 ? at vmbe-clypped hys croun,
Of diamaunte3 a deuys,
? at bo? e were bry3t & broun.
[Sidenote A: Thus arrayed the knight hears mass,]
[Sidenote B: and afterwards takes leave of Arthur and his court. ]
[Sidenote C: By that time his horse Gringolet was ready,]
[Sidenote D: the harness of which glittered like the "gleam of the sun. "]
[Sidenote E: Then Sir Gawayne sets his helmet upon his head,]
[Sidenote F: fastened behind with a "urisoun,"]
[Sidenote G: richly embroidered with gems. ]
[Sidenote H: The circle around the helmet was decked with diamonds. ]
VI.
[A] Then ? ay schewed hym ? e schelde, ? at was of schyr goule3,
620 Wyth ? e pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwe3;
He brayde3 hit by ? e baude-ryk, aboute ? e hals kestes,
? at bisemed ? e segge semlyly fayre.
[B] & quy ? e pentangel apende3 to ? at prynce noble,
624 I am in tent yow to telle, ? of tary hyt me schulde;
Hit is a syngne ? at Salamon set sum-quyle,
In bytoknyng of traw? e, bi tytle ? at hit habbe3,
For hit is a figure ? at halde3 fyue poynte3, [Fol. 99b]
628 & vche lyne vmbe-lappe3 & louke3 in o? er,
[C] & ay quere hit is endele3,[1] & Englych hit callen
Ouer-al, as I here, ? e endeles knot.
For-? y hit acorde3 to ? is kny3t, & to his cler arme3,
632 For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue sy? e3,
[D] Gawan wat3 for gode knawen, & as golde pured,
Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertue3[2] ennourned
in mote;
636 For-? y ? e pen-tangel nwe
He ber in schelde & cote,
[E] As tulk of tale most trwe,
& gentylest kny3t of lote.
[Sidenote A: Then they show him his shield with the "pentangle" of pure
gold. ]
[Sidenote B: The "pentangle" was devised by Solomon as a token of truth. ]
[Sidenote C: It is called the endless knot]
[Sidenote D: It well becomes the good Sir Gawayne,]
[Sidenote E: a knight the truest of speech and the fairest of form. ]
[Footnote 1: MS emdele3. ]
[Footnote 2: MS verertue3]
VII.
640 [A] Fyrst he wat3 funden fautle3 in his fyue wytte3,
& efte fayled neuer ? e freke in his fyue fyngres,
[B] & alle his afyaunce vpon folde wat3 in ? e fyue wounde3
? at Cryst ka3t on ? e croys, as ? e crede telle3;
644 & quere-so-euer ? ys mon in melly wat3 stad,
His ? ro ? o3t wat3 in ? at, ? ur3 alle o? er ? ynge3,
? at alle his forsnes he fong at ? e fyue ioye3,
? at ? e hende heuen quene had of hir chylde;
648 At ? is cause ? e kny3t comlyche hade
[C] In ? e more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted,
? at quen he blusched ? erto, his belde neuer payred.
? e fyrst[1] fyue ? at I finde ? at ? e frek vsed,
652 Wat3 fraunchyse, & fela3schyp for-be[2] al ? yng;
[D] His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer,
& pite, ? at passe3 alle poynte3, ? yse pure fyue
Were harder happed on ? at ha? el ? en on any o? er.
656 Now alle ? ese fyue sy? e3, forso? e, were fetled on ? is kny3t,
& vchone halched in o? er, ? at non ende hade,
& fyched vpon fyue poynte3, ? at fayld neuer,
Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nou? [er],
660 With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde,
Where-euer ? e gomen bygan, or glod to an ende.
[E] ? er-fore on his schene schelde schapen wat3 ? e knot,
? us alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowle3,
664 ? at is ? e pure pentaungel wyth ? e peple called, [Fol. 100]
with lore.
Now gray? ed is Gawan gay,
[F] & la3t his launce ry3t ? ore,
668 & gef hem alle goud day,
He wende for euer more.
[Sidenote A: He was found faultless in his five wits. ]
[Sidenote B: His trust was in the five wounds. ]
[Sidenote C: The image of the Virgin was depicted upon his shield. ]
[Sidenote D: In cleanness and courtesy he was never found wanting,]
[Sidenote E: therefore was the endless knot fastened on his shield. ]
[Sidenote F: Sir Gawayne seizes his lance and bids all "good day. "]
[Footnote 1: MS fyft. ]
[Footnote 2: for-bi (? ). ]
VIII.
[A] He sperred ? e sted with ? e spure3, & sprong on his way,
So stif ? at ? e ston fyr stroke out ? er-after;
672 [B] Al ? at se3 ? at semly syked in hert,
& sayde so? ly al same segges til o? er,
Carande for ? at comly, "bi Kryst, hit is sca? e,
? at ? ou, leude, schal be lost, ? at art of lyf noble!
676 [C] To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not e?
e;
Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene,
& haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue wor? ed;
[D] A lowande leder of lede3 in londe hym wel seme3,
680 & so had better haf ben ? en britned to no3t,
[E] Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angarde3 pryde.
Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take,
As kny3te3 in caueloun3 on cryst-masse gomne3! "
684 [F] Wel much wat3 ? e warme water ? at waltered of y3en,
When ? at semly syre so3t fro ? o wone3
? at[1] daye;
He made non abode,
688 Bot wy3tly went hys way,
[G] Mony wylsum way he rode,
? e bok as I herde say.
[Sidenote A: He spurs his horse and goes on his way. ]
[Sidenote B: All that saw that seemly one mourned in their hearts. ]
[Sidenote C: They declared that his equal was not to be found upon earth. ]
[Sidenote D: It would have been better for him to have been a leader of
men,]
[Sidenote E: than to die by the hands of "an elvish man. "]
[Sidenote F: Much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day. ]
[Sidenote G: Meanwhile many a weary way goes Sir Gawayne. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. ? ad. ]
IX.
[A] Now ride3 ? is renk ? ur3 ? e ryalme of Logres,
692 Sir Gauan on Gode3 halue, ? a3 hym no gomen ? o3t;
Oft, leudle3 alone, he lenge3 on ny3te3,
? er he fonde no3t hym byfore ? e fare ? at he lyked;
[B] Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frythe3 & doune3,
696 Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,
[C] Til ? at he ne3ed ful noghe[1] in to ? e Nor? e Wale3;
Alle ? e iles of Anglesay on lyft half he halde3,
& fare3 ouer ? e forde3 by ? e for-londe3,
700 [D] Ouer at ? e Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk
In ? e wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde ? er bot lyte
[E] ? at au? er God o? er gome wyth goud hert louied. [Fol. 100b]
& ay he frayned, as he ferde, at freke3 ? at he met,
704 [F] If ? ay hade herde any karp of a kny3t grene,
In any grounde ? er-aboute, of ? e grene chapel;[2]
& al nykked hym wyth nay, ? at neuer in her lyue
[G] ? ay se3e neuer no segge ? at wat3 of suche hwe3
708 of grene.
? e kny3t tok gates straunge,
In mony a bonk vnbene,
[H] His cher ful oft con chaunge,
712 ? at chapel er he my3t sene.
[Sidenote A: Now rides the knight through the realms of England. ]
[Sidenote B: He has no companion but his horse. ]
[Sidenote C: No men does he see till he approaches North Wales. ]
[Sidenote D: From Holyhead he passes into Wirral. ]
[Sidenote E: There he finds but few that loved God or man. ]
[Sidenote F: He enquires after the Green Knight of the Green Chapel,]
[Sidenote G: but can gain no tidings of him. ]
[Sidenote H: His cheer oft changed before he found the Chapel. ]
[Footnote 1: nyghe (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: MS. clapel. ]
X.
[A] Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contraye3 straunge,
Fer floten fro his frende3 fremedly he ryde3;
[B] At vche war? e o? er water ? er ? e wy3e passed,
716 He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were,
& ? at so foule & so felle, ? at fe3t hym by-hode;
[C] So mony meruayl hi mount ? er ? e mon fynde3,
Hit were to tore for to telle of ? e ten? e dole.
720 [D] Sumwhyle wyth worme3 he werre3, & with wolues als,
Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, ? at woned in ? e knarre3,
[E] Bo? e wyth bulle3 & bere3, & bore3 o? er-quyle,
& etayne3, ? at hym a-nelede, of ? e he3e felle;
724 [F] Nade he ben du3ty & dry3e, & dry3tyn had serued,
Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte.
[G] For werre wrathed hym not so much, ? at wynter was wors,
When ? e colde cler water fro ? e cloude3 schadden,
728 & fres er hit falle my3t to ? e fale er? e;
Ner slayn wyth ? e slete he sleped in his yrnes,
Mo ny3te3 ? en in-noghe in naked rokke3,
? er as claterande fro ? e crest ? e colde borne renne3,
732 & henged he3e ouer his hede in hard ysse-ikkles.
[H] ? us in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde,
Bi contray carye3 ? is kny3t, tyl kryst-masse euen,
al one;
736 ? e kny3t wel ? at tyde,
[I] To Mary made his mone.
? at ho hym red to ryde,
& wysse hym to sum wone. [Fol. 101. ]
[Sidenote A: Many a cliff he climbed over;]
[Sidenote B: many a ford and stream he crossed, and everywhere he found a
foe. ]
[Sidenote C: It were too tedious to tell the tenth part of his adventures]
[Sidenote D: with serpents, wolves, and wild men;]
[Sidenote E: with bulls, bears, and boars. ]
[Sidenote F: Had he not been both brave and good, doubtless he had been
dead. ]
[Sidenote G: The sharp winter was far worse than any war that ever troubled
him. ]
[Sidenote H: Thus in peril he travels till Christmas-eve. ]
[Sidenote I: To the Virgin Mary he prays to guide him to some abode. ]
XI.
740 [A] Bi a mounte on ? e morne meryly he rydes,
Into a forest ful dep, ? at ferly wat3 wylde,
Hi3e hille3 on vche a halue, & holt wode3 vnder,
[B] Of hore oke3 fill hoge a hundreth to-geder;
744 ? e hasel & ? e ha3-? orne were harled al samen,
With ro3e raged mosse rayled ay-where,
[C] With mony brydde3 vnbly? e vpon bare twyges,
? at pitosly ? er piped for pyne of ? e colde.
748 ? e gome vpon Gryngolet glyde3 hem vnder,
[D] ? ur3 mony misy & myre, mon al hym one,
Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde,
To se ? e seruy[1] of ? at syre, ? at on ? at self ny3t
752 Of a burde wat3 borne, oure baret to quelle;
[E] & ? erfore sykyng he sayde, "I be-seche ? e, lorde,
& Mary, ? at is myldest moder so dere.
Of sum herber, ? er he3ly I my3t here masse.
756 Ande ? y matyne3 to-morne, mekely I ask,
& ? er-to prestly I pray my pater & aue,
& crede. "
He rode in his prayere,
760 & cryed for his mysdede,
[F] He sayned hym in sy? es sere,
& sayde "cros Kryst me spede! "
[Sidenote A: On the morn Sir Gawayne finds himself in a deep forest,]
[Sidenote B: where were old oaks many a hundred. ]
[Sidenote C: Many sad birds upon bare twigs piped piteously for the cold. ]
[Sidenote D: Through many a mire he goes, that he may celebrate the birth
of Christ. ]
[Sidenote E: He beseeches the Virgin Mary to direct him to some lodging
where he may hear mass. ]
[Sidenote F: Blessing himself, he says, "Cross of Christ, speed me! "]
[Footnote 1: seruyce (? ). ]
XII.
[A] Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot ? rye,
764 Er he wat3 war in ? e wod of a won in a mote.
[B] Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder bo3e3,
Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi ? e diches;
[C] A castel ? e comlokest ? at euer kny3t a3te,
768 Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,
With a pyked palays, pyned ful ? ik,
? at vmbe-te3e mony tre mo ? en two myle.
? at holde on ? at on syde ? e ha? el auysed,
772 [D] As hit schemered & schon ? ur3 ? e schyre oke3;
? enne hat3 he hendly of his helme, & he3ly he ? onke3
Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, ? at gentyle ar bo? e,
? at cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened. [Fol. 101b. ]
776 "Now bone hostel," co? e ? e burne, "I be-seche yow 3ette! "
? enne gedere3 he to Gryngolet with ? e gilt hele3,
[E] & he ful chauncely hat3 chosen to ? e chef gate,
? at bro3t bremly ? e burne to ? e bryge ende,
780 in haste;
[F] ? e bryge wat3 breme vp-brayde,
? e 3ate3 wer stoken faste,
? e walle3 were wel arayed,
784 Hit dut no wynde3 blaste.
[Sidenote A: Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice]
[Sidenote B: when he saw a dwelling in the wood, set on a hill,]
[Sidenote C: the comeliest castle that knight ever owned. ]
[Sidenote D: It shone as the sun through the bright oaks. ]
[Sidenote E: Sir Gawayne goes to the chief gate,]
[Sidenote F: and finds the draw-bridge raised, and the gates shut fast. ]
XIII.
[A] ? e burne bode on bonk, ? at on blonk houed,
Of ? e depe double dich ? at drof to ? e place,
? e walle wod in ? e water wonderly depe,
788 [B] Ande eft a ful huge he3t hit haled vpon lofte,
Of harde hewen ston vp to ? e table3,
[C] Enbaned vnder ? e abataylment, in ? e best lawe;
& sy? en garyte3 ful gaye gered bi-twene,
792 Wyth mony luflych loupe, ? at louked ful clene;
A better barbican ? at burne blusched vpon neuer;
& innermore he be-helde ?
