]
[Sidenote D: A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly.
[Sidenote D: A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly.
Gawaine and the Green Knight
enne he carped to ?
e kny3t, criande loude,
[D] "3e han demed to do ? e dede ? at I bidde;
Wyl 3e halde ? is hes here at ? ys one3? "
"3e sir, for-so? e," sayd ? e segge trwe,
1092 "Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest. "
"For 3e haf trauayled," quod ? e tulk, "towen fro ferre,
& sy? en waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,
[E] Nau? er of sostnaunce ne of slepe, so? ly I knowe;
1096 3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,
[F] To morn quyle ? e messe-quyle, & to mete wende,
When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, ? at wyth yow schal sitte,
& comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,
1100 3e lende;
& I schal erly ryse,
On huntyng wyl I wende. "
[G] Gauayn grante3 alle ? yse,
1104 Hym heldande, as ? e hende.
[Sidenote A: Then was Gawayne glad,]
[Sidenote B: and consents to tarry awhile at the castle. ]
[Sidenote C: The ladies are brought in to solace him. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one
request;]
[Sidenote E: That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,]
[Sidenote F: and then go to meat with his hostess. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne accedes to his request. ]
XXIV.
[A] "3et firre," quod ? e freke, "a forwarde we make;
Quat-so-euer I wynne in ? e wod, hit wor? e3 to youre3,
[B] & quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me ? er-forne;
1108 Swete, swap we so, sware with traw? e,
Que? er, leude, so lymp lere o? er better. "
"Bi God," quod Gawayn ? e gode, "I grant ? er-tylle,
& ? at yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me ? ynkes. [Fol. 106. ]
1112 [C] "Who bringe3 vus ? is beuerage, ? is bargayn is maked:"
So sayde ? e lorde of ? at lede; ? ay la3ed vchone,
? ay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,[1]
? ise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle ? at hem lyked;
1116 & sy? en with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3
? ay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,
Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.
[D] With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,
1120 Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at ? e laste,
ful softe;
To bed 3et er ? ay 3ede,
Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;
1124 ? e olde lorde of ? at leude,[2]
Cow? e wel halde layk a-lofte.
[Sidenote A: "Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be
yours,]
[Sidenote B: and what check you achieve shall be mine. "]
[Sidenote C: A bargain is made between them. ]
[Sidenote D: Night approaches and each "to his bed was brought at the
last. "]
[Footnote 1: vntyl ny3te (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: lede (? ). ]
[FYTTE THE THIRD. ]
I.
[A] Ful erly bifore ? e day ? e folk vp-rysen,
Gestes ? at go wolde, hor grome3 ? ay calden,
1128 [B] & ? ay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel,
Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,
Richen hem ? e rychest, to ryde alle arayde,
Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles,
1132 [C] Vche wy3e on his way, ? er hym wel lyked.
[D] ? e leue lorde of ? e londe wat3 not ? e last,
A-rayed for ? e rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony;
[E] Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,
1136 With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue;
[F] By ? at ? at any day-ly3t lemed vpon er? e,
He with his ha? eles on hy3e horsses weren.
[G] ? enne ? ise cacheres ? at cou? e, cowpled hor hounde3,
1140 Vnclosed ? e kenel dore, & calde hem ? er-oute,
[H] Blwe bygly in bugle3 ? re bare mote;
Braches bayed ? erfore, & breme noyse maked,
[I] & ? ay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng ? at went;
1144 A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,
of ? e best;
[J] To trystors vewters 3od,
Couples huntes of kest,
1148 ? er ros for blaste3 gode, [Fol. 106b. ]
[K] Gret rurd in ? at forest.
[Sidenote A: Before day-break folks uprise,]
[Sidenote B: saddle their horses, and truss their mails. ]
[Sidenote C: Each goes where it pleases him best. ]
[Sidenote D: The noble lord of the land arrays himself for riding. ]
[Sidenote E: He eats a sop hastily and goes to mass. ]
[Sidenote F: Before day-light he and his men are on their horses. ]
[Sidenote G: Then the hounds are called out and coupled. ]
[Sidenote H: Three short notes are blown by the bugles. ]
[Sidenote I: A hundred hunters join in the chase. ]
[Sidenote J: To the stations the "fewters" go,]
[Sidenote K: and the dogs are cast off. ]
II.
[A] At ? e fyrst quethe of ? e quest quaked ? e wylde;
Der drof in ? e dale, doted for drede,
1152 Hi3ed to ? e hy3e, bot heterly ? ay were
[B] Restayed with ? e stablye, ? at stoutly ascryed;
[C] ? ay let ? e hertte3 haf ? e gate, with ? e hy3e hedes,
? e breme bukke3 also, with hor brode paume3;
1156 For ? e fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme,
? at ? er schulde no mon mene[1] to ? e male dere.
[D] ? e hinde3 were halden in, with hay & war,
? e does dryuen with gret dyn to ? e depe slade3;
1160 ? er my3t mon se, as ? ay slypte, slentyng of arwes,
[E] At vche [? at] wende vnder wande wapped a flone,
? at bigly bote on ? e broun, with ful brode hede3,
[F] What! ? ay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 ? ay de3en.
1164 & ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es,
Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after,
[G] Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten;
What wylde so at-waped wy3es ? at schotten,
1168 Wat3 al to-raced & rent, at ? e resayt.
Bi ? ay were tened at ? e hy3e, & taysed to ? e wattre3,
? e lede3 were so lerned at ? e lo3e trysteres,
& ? e gre-hounde3 so grete, ? at geten hem bylyue,
1172 & hem to fylched, as fast as freke3 my3t loke,
? er ry3t.
[H] ? e lorde for blys abloy
Ful oft con launce & ly3t,
1176 [I] & drof ? at day wyth Ioy
Thus to ? e derk ny3t.
[Sidenote A: Roused by the clamour the deer rush to the heights,]
[Sidenote B: but are soon driven back. ]
[Sidenote C: The harts and bucks are allowed to pass,]
[Sidenote D: but the hinds and does are driven back to the shades. ]
[Sidenote E: As they fly they are shot by the bowmen. ]
[Sidenote F: The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in
pursuit. ]
[Sidenote G: Those that escaped the arrows are killed by the hounds. ]
[Sidenote H: The lord waxes joyful in the chase,]
[Sidenote I: which lasted till the approach of night. ]
[Footnote 1: meue (? ). ]
III.
[A] ? us layke3 ? is lorde by lynde wode3 eue3,
& G. ? e god mon, in gay bed lyge3,
1180 [B] Lurkke3 quyl ? e day-ly3t lemed on ? e wowes,
Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;
& as in slomeryng he slode, sle3ly he herde
[C] A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;
1184 & he heue3 vp his hed out of ? e clo? es,
A corner of ? e cortyn he ca3t vp a lyttel, [Fol. 107. ]
& wayte3 warly ? ider-warde, quat hit be my3t.
[D] Hit wat3 ? e ladi, loflyest to be-holde,
1188 ? at dro3 ? e dor after hir ful dernly[1] & stylle,
[E] & bo3ed to-warde ? e bed; & ? e burne schamed.
& layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte.
[F] & ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde,
1192 [G] Kest vp ? e cortyn, & creped with-inne,
& set hir ful softly on ? e bed-syde,
& lenged ? ere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.
? e lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,
1196 [H] Compast in his concience to quat ? at cace my3t
Mene o? er amount, to meruayle hym ? o3t;
Bot 3et he sayde in hym-self, "more semly hit were
To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde. "
1200 [I] ? en he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned,
[J] & vn-louked his y3e-lydde3, & let as hym wondered,
& sayned hym, as bi his sa3e ? e sauer to worthe,
with hande;
1204 Wyth chynne & cheke ful swete,
Bo? e quit & red in-blande,
Ful lufly con ho lete,
Wyth lyppe3 smal la3ande.
[Sidenote A: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed. ]
[Sidenote B: under "coverture full clear". ]
[Sidenote C: He hears a noise at his door.
]
[Sidenote D: A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly. ]
[Sidenote E: She approaches the bed. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne pretends to be asleep. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady casts up the curtain and sits on the bedside. ]
[Sidenote H: Gawayne has much wonder thereat. ]
[Sidenote I: He rouses himself up,]
[Sidenote J: unlocks his eyes, and looks as if he were astonished. ]
[Footnote 1: deruly (? ). ]
IV.
1208 [A] "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde ? at fayr lady,
"3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, ? at mon may slyde hider;
Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape,
[B] I schal bynde yow in your bedde, ? at be 3e trayst:"
1212 Al la3ande ? e lady lanced ? o bourde3.
[C] "Goud moroun g[aye],"[1] quod Gawayn ? e bly? e,
"Me schal wor? e at your wille, & ? at me wel lyke3,
For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace,
1216 & ? at is ? e best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;"
& ? us he bourded a-3ayn with mony a bly? e la3ter.
[D] "Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, ? en leue me grante,
& de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse,
1220 I wolde bo3e of ? is bed, & busk me better,
I schulde keuer ? e more comfort to karp yow wyth. "
[E] "Nay, for so? e, beau sir," sayd ? at swete, [Fol. 107b]
"3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,
1224 [F] I schal happe yow here ? at o? er half als,
& sy? en karp wyth my kny3t ? at I ka3t haue;
[G] For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are,
? at alle ? e worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride;
1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed
[H] With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle ? at lyf bere.
& now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;
[I] "My lorde & his lede3 ar on len? e faren,
1232 [J] O? er burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als,
[K] ? e dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;
[L] & sy? en I haue in ? is hous hym ? at al lyke3,
I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3,
1236 with tale;
[M] 3e ar welcum to my cors,
Yowre awen won to wale,
Me be-houe3 of fyne force,
1240 [N] Your seruaunt be & schale. "
[Sidenote A: "Good morrow", says the lady, "ye are a careless sleeper to
let one enter thus. ]
[Sidenote B: I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure. "]
[Sidenote C: "Good morrow," says the knight, "I am well pleased to be at
your service;]
[Sidenote D: but permit me to rise and dress myself. "]
[Sidenote E: "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one,]
[Sidenote F: "I shall hold talk with you here. ]
[Sidenote G: I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships. ]
[Sidenote H: We are by ourselves;]
[Sidenote I: My lord and his men are far off. ]
[Sidenote J: Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens. ]
[Sidenote K: The door is safely closed. ]
[Sidenote L: Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my
time well while it lasts. ]
[Sidenote M: Ye are welcome to my body. ]
[Sidenote N: I shall be your servant. "]
[Footnote 1: This word is illegible in the MS. ]
V.
"In god fayth," quod Gawayn, "gayn hit me ? ynkke3,
[A] ? a3 I be not now he ? at 3e of speken;
To reche to such reuerence as 3e reherce here
1244 I am wy3e vn-wor? y, I wot wel my-seluen;
Bi God, I were glad, & yow god ? o3t,
[B] At sa3e o? er at seruyce ? at I sette my3t
To ? e plesaunce of your prys, hit were a pure ioye. "
1248 "In god fayth, sir Gawayn," quod ? e gay lady,
"? e prys & ? e prowes ? at plese3 al o? er,
If I hit lakked, o? er set at ly3t, hit were littel daynte;
[C] Bot hit ar ladyes in-no3e, ? at leuer wer now? e
1252 Haf ? e hende in hor holde, as I ? e habbe here,
To daly witt derely your daynte worde3,
Keuer hem comfort, & colen her care3,
[D] ? en much of ? e garysourn o? er golde ? at[1] ? ay hauen;
1256 Bot I louue[2] ? at ilk lorde ? at ? e lyfte halde3,
I haf hit holly in my honde ? at al desyres,
? ur3e grace. "
Scho made hym so gret chere,
1260 ? at wat3 so fayr of face, [Fol. 108. ]
[E] ? e kny3t with speches skere,
A[n]swared to vche a cace.
[Sidenote A: "I am unworthy," says Sir Gawayne, "to reach to such reverence
as ye rehearse. ]
[Sidenote B: I shall be glad, however, to please you by word, or service. "]
[Sidenote C: "There are ladies," says his visitor, "who would prefer thy
company]
[Sidenote D: to much of the gold that they possess. "]
[Sidenote E: The knight answers the lady's questions. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. ? at ? at. ]
[Footnote 2: louie or loune (? ). ]
VI.
[A] "Madame," quod ? e myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde,
1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,
& o? er ful much of o? er folk fongen hor dede3;
Bot ? e daynte ? at ? ay delen for my disert nysen,
Hit is ? e worchyp of your-self, ? at no3t hot wel conne3. "
1268 [B] "Bi Mary," quod ? e menskful, "me ? ynk hit ano? er;
For were I worth al ? e wone of wymmen alyue,
& al ? e wele of ? e worlde were in my honde,
[C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,
1272 For ? e costes ? at I haf knowen vpun ? e kny3t here,
Of bewte, & debonerte, & bly? e semblaunt,
[D] & ? at I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,
? er schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen. "
1276 "I-wysse, wor? y," quod ? e wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better,
[E] Bot I am proude of ? e prys ? at 3e put on me,
& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,
& yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde. "
1280 ? us ? ay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,
& ay ? e lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych;
[F] ? e freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.
? a3 I were burde bry3test, ? e burde in mynde hade,
1284 ? e lasse luf in his lode, for lur ? at he so3t,
boute hone;
? e dunte ? at schulde[2] hym deue,
& nede3 hit most be done;
1288 [G] ? e lady ? enn spek of leue.
He granted hir ful sone.
[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that
of all others. ]
[Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,]
[Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,]
[Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and
faithful servant. ]
[Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of
love. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne. ]
[Footnote 1: and (? )]
[Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS. ]
VII.
[A] ? enne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed.
& as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3:
1292 [B] "Now he ? at spede3 vche spech, ? is disport 3elde yow!
Bot ? at 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde. "
"Quer-fore? " quod ? e freke, & freschly he aske3,
Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;
1296 Bot ? e burde hym blessed, & bi ? is skyl sayde,
"So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden, [Fol. 108b. ]
& cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,
[C] Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,
1300 Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,
Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende. "
[D] ? en quod Wowen, "I-wysse, wor? e as yow lyke3,
I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3,
1304 & fire[1] lest he displese yow, so[2] plede hit no more. "
[E] Ho comes nerre with ? at, & cache3 hym in arme3,
Loute3 luflych adoun, & ? e leude kysse3;
? ay comly bykennen to Kryst ay? er o? er;
1308 Ho dos hir forth at ? e dore, with-outen dyn more.
& he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,
[F] Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,
Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, bly? ely to masse,
1312 & ? enne he meued to his mete, ? at menskly hym keped,
[G] & made myry al day til ? e mone rysed,
with game;
With[3] neuer freke fayrer fonge,
1316 [H] Bitwene two so dyngne dame,
? e alder & ? e 3onge,
Much solace set ? ay same.
[Sidenote A: With a laughing glance, she says,]
[Sidenote B: "I am doubtful whether ye be Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote C: Were it he, surely, ere this, he would have craved a kiss. "]
[Sidenote D: "I shall kiss," says the knight, "at your commandment. "]
[Sidenote E: With that the lady catches him in her arms and kisses him. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne then rises and goes to mass. ]
[Sidenote G: He makes mirth all day till the moon rises,]
[Sidenote H: between the "two dames," the older and the younger. ]
[Footnote 1: fere (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: fo, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: Was (? ) Nas (? ). ]
VIII.
[A] And ay ?
[D] "3e han demed to do ? e dede ? at I bidde;
Wyl 3e halde ? is hes here at ? ys one3? "
"3e sir, for-so? e," sayd ? e segge trwe,
1092 "Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest. "
"For 3e haf trauayled," quod ? e tulk, "towen fro ferre,
& sy? en waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,
[E] Nau? er of sostnaunce ne of slepe, so? ly I knowe;
1096 3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,
[F] To morn quyle ? e messe-quyle, & to mete wende,
When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, ? at wyth yow schal sitte,
& comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,
1100 3e lende;
& I schal erly ryse,
On huntyng wyl I wende. "
[G] Gauayn grante3 alle ? yse,
1104 Hym heldande, as ? e hende.
[Sidenote A: Then was Gawayne glad,]
[Sidenote B: and consents to tarry awhile at the castle. ]
[Sidenote C: The ladies are brought in to solace him. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one
request;]
[Sidenote E: That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,]
[Sidenote F: and then go to meat with his hostess. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne accedes to his request. ]
XXIV.
[A] "3et firre," quod ? e freke, "a forwarde we make;
Quat-so-euer I wynne in ? e wod, hit wor? e3 to youre3,
[B] & quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me ? er-forne;
1108 Swete, swap we so, sware with traw? e,
Que? er, leude, so lymp lere o? er better. "
"Bi God," quod Gawayn ? e gode, "I grant ? er-tylle,
& ? at yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me ? ynkes. [Fol. 106. ]
1112 [C] "Who bringe3 vus ? is beuerage, ? is bargayn is maked:"
So sayde ? e lorde of ? at lede; ? ay la3ed vchone,
? ay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,[1]
? ise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle ? at hem lyked;
1116 & sy? en with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3
? ay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,
Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.
[D] With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,
1120 Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at ? e laste,
ful softe;
To bed 3et er ? ay 3ede,
Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;
1124 ? e olde lorde of ? at leude,[2]
Cow? e wel halde layk a-lofte.
[Sidenote A: "Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be
yours,]
[Sidenote B: and what check you achieve shall be mine. "]
[Sidenote C: A bargain is made between them. ]
[Sidenote D: Night approaches and each "to his bed was brought at the
last. "]
[Footnote 1: vntyl ny3te (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: lede (? ). ]
[FYTTE THE THIRD. ]
I.
[A] Ful erly bifore ? e day ? e folk vp-rysen,
Gestes ? at go wolde, hor grome3 ? ay calden,
1128 [B] & ? ay busken vp bilyue, blonkke3 to sadel,
Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,
Richen hem ? e rychest, to ryde alle arayde,
Lepen vp ly3tly, lachen her brydeles,
1132 [C] Vche wy3e on his way, ? er hym wel lyked.
[D] ? e leue lorde of ? e londe wat3 not ? e last,
A-rayed for ? e rydyng, with renkke3 ful mony;
[E] Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,
1136 With bugle to bent felde he buske3 by-lyue;
[F] By ? at ? at any day-ly3t lemed vpon er? e,
He with his ha? eles on hy3e horsses weren.
[G] ? enne ? ise cacheres ? at cou? e, cowpled hor hounde3,
1140 Vnclosed ? e kenel dore, & calde hem ? er-oute,
[H] Blwe bygly in bugle3 ? re bare mote;
Braches bayed ? erfore, & breme noyse maked,
[I] & ? ay chastysed, & charred, on chasyng ? at went;
1144 A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,
of ? e best;
[J] To trystors vewters 3od,
Couples huntes of kest,
1148 ? er ros for blaste3 gode, [Fol. 106b. ]
[K] Gret rurd in ? at forest.
[Sidenote A: Before day-break folks uprise,]
[Sidenote B: saddle their horses, and truss their mails. ]
[Sidenote C: Each goes where it pleases him best. ]
[Sidenote D: The noble lord of the land arrays himself for riding. ]
[Sidenote E: He eats a sop hastily and goes to mass. ]
[Sidenote F: Before day-light he and his men are on their horses. ]
[Sidenote G: Then the hounds are called out and coupled. ]
[Sidenote H: Three short notes are blown by the bugles. ]
[Sidenote I: A hundred hunters join in the chase. ]
[Sidenote J: To the stations the "fewters" go,]
[Sidenote K: and the dogs are cast off. ]
II.
[A] At ? e fyrst quethe of ? e quest quaked ? e wylde;
Der drof in ? e dale, doted for drede,
1152 Hi3ed to ? e hy3e, bot heterly ? ay were
[B] Restayed with ? e stablye, ? at stoutly ascryed;
[C] ? ay let ? e hertte3 haf ? e gate, with ? e hy3e hedes,
? e breme bukke3 also, with hor brode paume3;
1156 For ? e fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme,
? at ? er schulde no mon mene[1] to ? e male dere.
[D] ? e hinde3 were halden in, with hay & war,
? e does dryuen with gret dyn to ? e depe slade3;
1160 ? er my3t mon se, as ? ay slypte, slentyng of arwes,
[E] At vche [? at] wende vnder wande wapped a flone,
? at bigly bote on ? e broun, with ful brode hede3,
[F] What! ? ay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 ? ay de3en.
1164 & ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es,
Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after,
[G] Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten;
What wylde so at-waped wy3es ? at schotten,
1168 Wat3 al to-raced & rent, at ? e resayt.
Bi ? ay were tened at ? e hy3e, & taysed to ? e wattre3,
? e lede3 were so lerned at ? e lo3e trysteres,
& ? e gre-hounde3 so grete, ? at geten hem bylyue,
1172 & hem to fylched, as fast as freke3 my3t loke,
? er ry3t.
[H] ? e lorde for blys abloy
Ful oft con launce & ly3t,
1176 [I] & drof ? at day wyth Ioy
Thus to ? e derk ny3t.
[Sidenote A: Roused by the clamour the deer rush to the heights,]
[Sidenote B: but are soon driven back. ]
[Sidenote C: The harts and bucks are allowed to pass,]
[Sidenote D: but the hinds and does are driven back to the shades. ]
[Sidenote E: As they fly they are shot by the bowmen. ]
[Sidenote F: The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in
pursuit. ]
[Sidenote G: Those that escaped the arrows are killed by the hounds. ]
[Sidenote H: The lord waxes joyful in the chase,]
[Sidenote I: which lasted till the approach of night. ]
[Footnote 1: meue (? ). ]
III.
[A] ? us layke3 ? is lorde by lynde wode3 eue3,
& G. ? e god mon, in gay bed lyge3,
1180 [B] Lurkke3 quyl ? e day-ly3t lemed on ? e wowes,
Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;
& as in slomeryng he slode, sle3ly he herde
[C] A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;
1184 & he heue3 vp his hed out of ? e clo? es,
A corner of ? e cortyn he ca3t vp a lyttel, [Fol. 107. ]
& wayte3 warly ? ider-warde, quat hit be my3t.
[D] Hit wat3 ? e ladi, loflyest to be-holde,
1188 ? at dro3 ? e dor after hir ful dernly[1] & stylle,
[E] & bo3ed to-warde ? e bed; & ? e burne schamed.
& layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte.
[F] & ho stepped stilly. & stel to his bedde,
1192 [G] Kest vp ? e cortyn, & creped with-inne,
& set hir ful softly on ? e bed-syde,
& lenged ? ere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.
? e lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,
1196 [H] Compast in his concience to quat ? at cace my3t
Mene o? er amount, to meruayle hym ? o3t;
Bot 3et he sayde in hym-self, "more semly hit were
To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde. "
1200 [I] ? en he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned,
[J] & vn-louked his y3e-lydde3, & let as hym wondered,
& sayned hym, as bi his sa3e ? e sauer to worthe,
with hande;
1204 Wyth chynne & cheke ful swete,
Bo? e quit & red in-blande,
Ful lufly con ho lete,
Wyth lyppe3 smal la3ande.
[Sidenote A: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed. ]
[Sidenote B: under "coverture full clear". ]
[Sidenote C: He hears a noise at his door.
]
[Sidenote D: A lady, the loveliest to behold, enters softly. ]
[Sidenote E: She approaches the bed. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne pretends to be asleep. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady casts up the curtain and sits on the bedside. ]
[Sidenote H: Gawayne has much wonder thereat. ]
[Sidenote I: He rouses himself up,]
[Sidenote J: unlocks his eyes, and looks as if he were astonished. ]
[Footnote 1: deruly (? ). ]
IV.
1208 [A] "God moroun, sir Gawayn," sayde ? at fayr lady,
"3e ar a sleper vn-sly3e, ? at mon may slyde hider;
Now ar 3e tan astyt, bot true vus may schape,
[B] I schal bynde yow in your bedde, ? at be 3e trayst:"
1212 Al la3ande ? e lady lanced ? o bourde3.
[C] "Goud moroun g[aye],"[1] quod Gawayn ? e bly? e,
"Me schal wor? e at your wille, & ? at me wel lyke3,
For I 3elde me 3ederly, & 3e3e after grace,
1216 & ? at is ? e best, be my dome, for me by-houe3 nede;"
& ? us he bourded a-3ayn with mony a bly? e la3ter.
[D] "Bot wolde 3e, lady louely, ? en leue me grante,
& de-prece your prysoun, & pray hym to ryse,
1220 I wolde bo3e of ? is bed, & busk me better,
I schulde keuer ? e more comfort to karp yow wyth. "
[E] "Nay, for so? e, beau sir," sayd ? at swete, [Fol. 107b]
"3e schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,
1224 [F] I schal happe yow here ? at o? er half als,
& sy? en karp wyth my kny3t ? at I ka3t haue;
[G] For I wene wel, Iwysse, sir Wawen 3e are,
? at alle ? e worlde worchipe3, quere-so 3e ride;
1228 Your honour, your hendelayk is hendely praysed
[H] With lorde3, wyth ladyes, with alle ? at lyf bere.
& now 3e ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;
[I] "My lorde & his lede3 ar on len? e faren,
1232 [J] O? er burne3 in her bedde, & my burde3 als,
[K] ? e dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;
[L] & sy? en I haue in ? is hous hym ? at al lyke3,
I schal ware my whyle wel, quyl hit laste3,
1236 with tale;
[M] 3e ar welcum to my cors,
Yowre awen won to wale,
Me be-houe3 of fyne force,
1240 [N] Your seruaunt be & schale. "
[Sidenote A: "Good morrow", says the lady, "ye are a careless sleeper to
let one enter thus. ]
[Sidenote B: I shall bind you in your bed, of that be ye sure. "]
[Sidenote C: "Good morrow," says the knight, "I am well pleased to be at
your service;]
[Sidenote D: but permit me to rise and dress myself. "]
[Sidenote E: "Nay, beau sir," said that sweet one,]
[Sidenote F: "I shall hold talk with you here. ]
[Sidenote G: I know well that you are Gawayne that all the woild worships. ]
[Sidenote H: We are by ourselves;]
[Sidenote I: My lord and his men are far off. ]
[Sidenote J: Other men are in their beds, so are my maidens. ]
[Sidenote K: The door is safely closed. ]
[Sidenote L: Since I have him in house that every one likes, I shall use my
time well while it lasts. ]
[Sidenote M: Ye are welcome to my body. ]
[Sidenote N: I shall be your servant. "]
[Footnote 1: This word is illegible in the MS. ]
V.
"In god fayth," quod Gawayn, "gayn hit me ? ynkke3,
[A] ? a3 I be not now he ? at 3e of speken;
To reche to such reuerence as 3e reherce here
1244 I am wy3e vn-wor? y, I wot wel my-seluen;
Bi God, I were glad, & yow god ? o3t,
[B] At sa3e o? er at seruyce ? at I sette my3t
To ? e plesaunce of your prys, hit were a pure ioye. "
1248 "In god fayth, sir Gawayn," quod ? e gay lady,
"? e prys & ? e prowes ? at plese3 al o? er,
If I hit lakked, o? er set at ly3t, hit were littel daynte;
[C] Bot hit ar ladyes in-no3e, ? at leuer wer now? e
1252 Haf ? e hende in hor holde, as I ? e habbe here,
To daly witt derely your daynte worde3,
Keuer hem comfort, & colen her care3,
[D] ? en much of ? e garysourn o? er golde ? at[1] ? ay hauen;
1256 Bot I louue[2] ? at ilk lorde ? at ? e lyfte halde3,
I haf hit holly in my honde ? at al desyres,
? ur3e grace. "
Scho made hym so gret chere,
1260 ? at wat3 so fayr of face, [Fol. 108. ]
[E] ? e kny3t with speches skere,
A[n]swared to vche a cace.
[Sidenote A: "I am unworthy," says Sir Gawayne, "to reach to such reverence
as ye rehearse. ]
[Sidenote B: I shall be glad, however, to please you by word, or service. "]
[Sidenote C: "There are ladies," says his visitor, "who would prefer thy
company]
[Sidenote D: to much of the gold that they possess. "]
[Sidenote E: The knight answers the lady's questions. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. ? at ? at. ]
[Footnote 2: louie or loune (? ). ]
VI.
[A] "Madame," quod ? e myry mon, "Mary yow 3elde,
1264 For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele,
& o? er ful much of o? er folk fongen hor dede3;
Bot ? e daynte ? at ? ay delen for my disert nysen,
Hit is ? e worchyp of your-self, ? at no3t hot wel conne3. "
1268 [B] "Bi Mary," quod ? e menskful, "me ? ynk hit ano? er;
For were I worth al ? e wone of wymmen alyue,
& al ? e wele of ? e worlde were in my honde,
[C] & I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,
1272 For ? e costes ? at I haf knowen vpun ? e kny3t here,
Of bewte, & debonerte, & bly? e semblaunt,
[D] & ? at I haf er herkkened, & halde hit here trwee,
? er schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen. "
1276 "I-wysse, wor? y," quod ? e wy3e, "3e haf waled wel better,
[E] Bot I am proude of ? e prys ? at 3e put on me,
& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,
& yowre kny3t I be-com, & Kryst yow for-3elde. "
1280 ? us ? ay meled of much-quat, til myd-morn paste,
& ay ? e lady let lyk, a[1] hym loued mych;
[F] ? e freke ferde with defence, & feted ful fayre.
? a3 I were burde bry3test, ? e burde in mynde hade,
1284 ? e lasse luf in his lode, for lur ? at he so3t,
boute hone;
? e dunte ? at schulde[2] hym deue,
& nede3 hit most be done;
1288 [G] ? e lady ? enn spek of leue.
He granted hir ful sone.
[Sidenote A: Gawayne tells her that he prefers her conversation before that
of all others. ]
[Sidenote B: The lady declares by Mary,]
[Sidenote C: that were she about to choose her a lord,]
[Sidenote D: she would select Gawayne before any man on earth. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne tells her that he will become her own knight and
faithful servant. ]
[Sidenote F: The remembrance of his adventure prevents him from thinking of
love. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady takes leave of Sir Gawayne. ]
[Footnote 1: and (? )]
[Footnote 2: sclulde, in MS. ]
VII.
[A] ? enne ho gef hym god-day, & wyth a glent la3ed.
& as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor worde3:
1292 [B] "Now he ? at spede3 vche spech, ? is disport 3elde yow!
Bot ? at 3e be Gawan, hit got3 in mynde. "
"Quer-fore? " quod ? e freke, & freschly he aske3,
Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his castes;
1296 Bot ? e burde hym blessed, & bi ? is skyl sayde,
"So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden, [Fol. 108b. ]
& cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,
[C] Couth not ly3tly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,
1300 Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye,
Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum tale3 ende. "
[D] ? en quod Wowen, "I-wysse, wor? e as yow lyke3,
I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a kny3t falle3,
1304 & fire[1] lest he displese yow, so[2] plede hit no more. "
[E] Ho comes nerre with ? at, & cache3 hym in arme3,
Loute3 luflych adoun, & ? e leude kysse3;
? ay comly bykennen to Kryst ay? er o? er;
1308 Ho dos hir forth at ? e dore, with-outen dyn more.
& he ryches hym to ryse, & rapes hym sone,
[F] Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,
Bo3e3 forth, quen he wat3 boun, bly? ely to masse,
1312 & ? enne he meued to his mete, ? at menskly hym keped,
[G] & made myry al day til ? e mone rysed,
with game;
With[3] neuer freke fayrer fonge,
1316 [H] Bitwene two so dyngne dame,
? e alder & ? e 3onge,
Much solace set ? ay same.
[Sidenote A: With a laughing glance, she says,]
[Sidenote B: "I am doubtful whether ye be Gawayne. ]
[Sidenote C: Were it he, surely, ere this, he would have craved a kiss. "]
[Sidenote D: "I shall kiss," says the knight, "at your commandment. "]
[Sidenote E: With that the lady catches him in her arms and kisses him. ]
[Sidenote F: Gawayne then rises and goes to mass. ]
[Sidenote G: He makes mirth all day till the moon rises,]
[Sidenote H: between the "two dames," the older and the younger. ]
[Footnote 1: fere (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: fo, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: Was (? ) Nas (? ). ]
VIII.
[A] And ay ?
