e,
A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
Ande o?
A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
Ande o?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
e halle dor an aghlich mayster,
On ? e most on ? e molde on mesure hyghe;
Fro ? e swyre to ? e swange so sware & so ? ik,
[D] & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete,
140 Half etayn in erde I hope ? at he were. [Fol. 93. ]
[E] Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene,
& ? at ? e myriest in his muckel ? at my3t ride;
[F] For of bak & of brest al were his bodi sturne,
144 [G] Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale,
& alle his fetures fol3ande, in forme ? at he hade,
ful clene;
For wonder of his hwe men hade,
148 Set in his semblaunt sene;
He ferde as freke were fade,
& ouer-al enker grene.
[Sidenote A: There was no want of anything. ]
[Sidenote B: Scarcely had the first course commenced,]
[Sidenote C: when there rushes in at the hall-door a knight;]
[Sidenote D: the tallest on earth]
[Sidenote E: he must have been. ]
[Sidenote F: His back and breast were great,]
[Sidenote G: but his belly and waist were small. ]
VIII.
[A] Ande al gray? ed in grene ? is gome & his wedes,
152 A strayt cote ful stre3t, ? at stek on his sides,
A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne,
With pelure pured apert ? e pane ful clene,
With bly? e blaunner ful bry3t, & his hod bo? e,
156 ? at wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes
Heme wel haled, hose of ? at same grene,
[B] ? at spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder,
Of bry3t golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche
160 & scholes vnder schankes, ? ere ? e schalk rides;
& alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure,
Bo? e ? e barres of his belt & o? er bly? e stones,
? at were richely rayled in his aray clene,
164 [C] Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3,
? at were to tor for to telle of tryfles ? e halue,
? at were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es,
With gay gaudi of grene, ? e golde ay in myddes;
168 ? e pendauntes of his payttrure, ? e proude cropure
His molaynes, & alle ? e metail anamayld was ? enne
? e steropes ? at he stod on, stayned of ? e same,
& his arsoun3 al after, & his a? el sturtes,
172 ? at euer glemered[1] & glent al of grene stones.
[D] ? e fole ? at he ferkkes on, fyn of ? at ilke,
sertayn;
A grene hors gret & ? ikke,
176 [E] A stede ful stif to strayne,
In brawden brydel quik,
To ? e gome he wat3 ful gayn. [Fol. 93b. ]
[Sidenote A: He was clothed entirely in green. ]
[Sidenote B: His spurs were of bright gold. ]
[Sidenote C: His saddle was embroidered with birds and flies. ]
[Sidenote D: The foal that he rode upon was green;]
[Sidenote E: it was a steed full stiff to guide. ]
[Footnote 1: glemed (? ). ]
IX.
[A] Wel gay wat3 ? is gome gered in grene,
180 & ? e here of his hed of his hors swete;
Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes;
[B] A much berd as[1] a busk ouer his brest henges,
? at wyth his hi3lich here, ? at of his hed reches,
184 Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes,
? at half his armes ? er vnder were halched in ? e wyse
Of a kynge3 capados, ? at closes his swyre.
[C] ? e mane of ? at mayn hors much to hit lyke,
188 Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony,
Folden in wyth fildore aboute ? e fayre grene,
Ay a herle of ? e here, an o? er of golde;
[D] ? e tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute,
192 & bounden bo? e wyth a bande of a bry3t grene,
Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as ? e dok lasted,
Sy? en ? rawen wyth a ? wong a ? warle knot alofte,
? er mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen.
196 [E] Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke ? at hym rydes,
Wat3 neuer sene in ? at sale wyth sy3t er ? at tyme,
with y3e;
He loked as layt so ly3t,
200 So sayd al ? at hym sy3e,
[F] Hit semed as no mon my3t,
Vnder his dyntte3 dry3e.
[Sidenote A: Gaily was the knight attired. ]
[Sidenote B: His great beard, like a bush, hung on his breast. ]
[Sidenote C: The horse's mane was decked with golden threads. ]
[Sidenote D: Its tail was bound with a green band. ]
[Sidenote E: Such a foal nor a knight were never before seen. ]
[Sidenote F: It seemed that no man might endure his dints. ]
[Footnote 1: as as, in MS. ]
X.
[A] Whe? er hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nau? er,
204 Ne no pysan, ne no plate ? at pented to armes,
Ne no schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte,
[B] Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe,
? at is grattest in grene, when greue3 ar bare,
208 [C] & an ax in his o? er, a hoge & vn-mete,
A spetos spar? e to expoun in spelle quo-so my3t;
? e hede of an eln3erde ? e large lenk? e hade,
? e grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen,
212 [D] ? e bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge,
As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores;
? e stele of a stif staf ? e sturne hit bi-grypte,
? at wat3 wounden wyth yrn to ? e wande3 ende, [Fol. 94. ]
216 [E] & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios[1] werkes;
A lace lapped aboute, ? at louked at ? e hede,
& so after ? e halme halched ful ofte,
Wyth tryed tassele3 ? erto tacched in-noghe,
220 [F] On botoun3 of ? e bry3t grene brayden ful ryche.
? is ha? el helde3 hym in, & ? e halle entres,
Driuande to ? e he3e dece, dut he no wo? e,
[G] Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked.
224 ? e fyrst word ? at he warp, "wher is," he sayd,
[H] "? e gouernour of ? is gyng? gladly I wolde
Se ? at segg in sy3t, & with hym self speke
raysoun. "
228 To kny3te3 he kest his y3e,
& reled hym vp & doun,
[I] He stemmed & con studie,
Quo walt ? er most renoun.
[Sidenote A: The knight carried neither spear nor shield,]
[Sidenote B: In one hand was a holly bough,]
[Sidenote C: in the other an axe,]
[Sidenote D: the edge of which was as keen as a sharp razor,]
[Sidenote E: and the handle was encased in iron, curiously "graven with
green, in gracious works. "]
[Sidenote F: Thus arrayed the Green Knight enters the hall,]
[Sidenote G: without saluting any one. ]
[Sidenote H: He asks for the "governor" of the company,]
[Sidenote I: and looks for the most renowned. ]
[Footnote 1: looks like gracons in MS. ]
XI.
232 [A] Ther wat3 lokyng on len? e, ? e lude to be-holde,
For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t,
? at a ha? el & a horse my3t such a hwe lach,
[B] As growe grene as ? e gres & grener hit semed,
236 ? en grene aumayl on golde lowande bry3ter;
Al studied ? at ? er stod, & stalked hym nerre,
[C] Wyth al ? e wonder of ? e worlde, what he worch schulde.
For fele sellye3 had ? ay sen, bot such neuer are,
240 For-? i for fantoum & fayry3e ? e folk ? ere hit demed;
[D] ? er-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony a? el freke,
& al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten,
[E] In a swoghe sylence ? ur3 ? e sale riche
244 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3
in hy3e;
I deme hit not al for doute,
[F] Bot sum for cortaysye,
248 Bot let hym ? at al schulde loute,
Cast vnto ? at wy3e.
[Sidenote A: Much they marvel to see a man and a horse]
[Sidenote B: as green as grass. ]
[Sidenote C: Never before had they seen such a sight as this. ]
[Sidenote D: They were afraid to answer,]
[Sidenote E: and were as silent as if sleep had taken possession of them;]
[Sidenote F: some from fear and others from courtesy. ]
XII.
[A] ? enn Ar? our bifore ? e hi3 dece ? at auenture byholde3,
& rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer,
252 & sayde, "wy3e, welcum iwys to ? is place,
[B] ? e hede of ? is ostel Arthour I hat, [Fol. 94b. ]
Li3t luflych adoun, & lenge, I ? e praye,
& quat so ? y wylle is, we schal wyt after. "
256 [C] "Nay, as help me," quod ? e ha? el, "he ? at on hy3e syttes,
To wone any quyle in ? is won, hit wat3 not myn ernde;
Bot for ? e los of ? e lede is lyft vp so hy3e,
& ? y bur3 & ? y burnes best ar holden,
260 Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde,
[D] ? e wy3test & ? e wor? yest of ? e worldes kynde,
Preue for to play wyth in o? er pure layke3;
& here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,
264 & ? at hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at ? is tyme.
3e may be seker bi ? is braunch ? at I bere here,
[E] ? at I passe as in pes, & no ply3t seche;
For had I founded in fere, in fe3tyng wyse,
268 [F] I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme bo?
e,
A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
Ande o? er weppenes to welde, I wene wel als,
Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer.
272 Bot if ? ou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen,
? ou wyl grant me godly ? e gomen ? at I ask,
bi ry3t. "
[G] Arthour con onsware,
276 & sayd, "sir cortays kny3t,
If ? ou craue batayl bare,
Here fayle3 ? ou not to fy3t. "
[Sidenote A: Arthur salutes the Green Knight. ]
[Sidenote B: bids him welcome, and invites him to stay awhile. ]
[Sidenote C: The knight says that he will not tarry. ]
[Sidenote D: He seeks the most valiant that he may prove him. ]
[Sidenote E: He comes in peace. ]
[Sidenote F: At home, however, he has both shield and spear. ]
[Sidenote G: Arthur assures him that he shall not fail to find an opponent
worthy of him. ]
XIII.
[A] "Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I ? e telle,
280 [B] Hit arn aboute on ? is bench bot berdle3 chylder;
If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede,
[C] Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so[1] wayke.
For-? y I craue in ? is court a crystmas gomen,
284 [D] For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony;
If any so hardy in ? is hous holde3 hym-seluen,
[E] Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede,
? at dar stifly strike a strok for an o? er,
288 I schal gif hym of my gyft ? ys giserne ryche,
[F] ? is ax, ? at is heue in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,
& I schal bide ? e fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95. ]
If any freke be so felle to fonde ? at I telle,
292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach ? is weppen,
I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,
[G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on ? is flet,
Elle3 ? ou wyl di3t me ? e dom to dele hym an o? er,
296 barlay;
& 3et gif hym respite,
[H] A twelmonyth & a day;--
Now hy3e, & let se tite
300 Dar any her-inne o3t say. "
[Sidenote A: "I seek no fight," says the knight. ]
[Sidenote B: "'Here are only beardless children. ']
[Sidenote C: Here is no man to match me. ]
[Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,]
[Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,']
[Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;]
[Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return]
[Sidenote H: within a twelvemonth and a day. "]
[Footnote 1: MS. fo. ]
XIV.
[A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were ? anne
Alle ? e hered-men in halle, ? e hy3 & ? e lo3e;
[B] ? e renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel,
304 & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute,
[C] Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene,
[D] Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse.
When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e,
308 Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke:
[E] "What, is ? is Ar? ures hous," quod ? e ha? el ? enne,
"? at al ? e rous rennes of, ? ur3 ryalmes so mony?
Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes,
312 Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes?
[F] Now is ? e reuel & ? e renoun of ? e rounde table
Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche;
For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed! "
316 Wyth ? is he la3es so loude, ? at ? e lorde greued;
[G] ? e blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face
& lere;
[H] He wex as wroth as wynde,
320 So did alle ? at ? er were
? e kyng as kene bi kynde,
? en stod ? at stif mon nere.
[Sidenote A: Fear kept all silent. ]
[Sidenote B: The knight rolled his red eyes about,]
[Sidenote C: and bent his bristly green brows. ]
[Sidenote D: Waving his beard awhile, he exclaimed:]
[Sidenote E: "What! is this Arthur's court? ]
[Sidenote F: Forsooth the renown of the Round Table is overturned 'with a
word of one man's speech. '"]
[Sidenote G: Arthur blushes for shame. ]
[Sidenote H: He waxes as wroth as the wind. ]
XV.
[A] Ande sayde, "ha? el, by heuen ? yn askyng is nys,
324 & as ? ou foly hat3 frayst, fynde ? e be-houes;
I know no gome ? at is gast of ? y grete wordes.
Gif me now ? y geserne, vpon gode3 halue,
& I schal bay? en ? y bone, ? at ? ou boden habbes. "
328 Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde; [Fol. 95b. ]
? en feersly ? at o? er freke vpon fote ly3tis.
[B] Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & ? e halme grype3,
& sturnely sture3 hit aboute, ? at stryke wyth hit ? o3t.
332 ? e stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t,
Herre ? en ani in ? e hous by ? e hede & more;
[C] Wyth sturne schere[1] ? er he stod, he stroked his berde,
& wyth a countenaunce dry3e he dro3 doun his cote,
336 No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dinte3,
? en any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk
of wyne,
[D] Gawan, ? at sate bi ? e quene,
340 To ? e kyng he can enclyne,
"I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene,
? is melly mot be myne. "
[Sidenote A: He assures the knight that no one is afraid of his great
words. ]
[Sidenote B: Arthur seizes his axe. ]
[Sidenote C: The knight, stroking his beard, awaits the blow, and with a
"dry countenance" draws down his coat. ]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne beseeches the king to let him undertake the blow. ]
[Footnote 1: chere (? ). ]
XVI.
"Wolde 3e, wor? ilych lorde," quod Gawan to ? e kyng,
344 [A] "Bid me bo3e fro ? is benche, & stonde by yow ? ere,
? at I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde ? is table,
& ? at my legge lady lyked not ille,
I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche.
348 [B] For me ? ink hit not semly, as hit is so? knawen,
? er such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale,
? a33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen,
[C] Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten,
352 ? at vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle,
Ne better bodyes on bent, ? er baret is rered;
[D] I am ? e wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest,
& lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes ? e so? e,
356 Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse,
No bounte bot your blod I in my bode knowe;
& sy? en ? is note is so nys, ? at no3t hit yow falles,
& I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me,
360 & if I carp not comlyly, let alle ? is cort rych,
bout blame. "
[E] Ryche to-geder con roun,
& sy? en ? ay redden alle same,
364 To ryd ? e kyng wyth croun,
& gif Gawan ? e game.
[Sidenote A: He asks permission to leave the table; he says,]
[Sidenote B: it is not meet that Arthur should be active in the matter,]
[Sidenote C: while so many bold ones sit upon bench. ]
[Sidenote D: Although the weakest, he is quite ready to meet the Green
Knight. ]
[Sidenote E: The nobles entreat Arthur to "give Gawayne the game. "]
XVII.
? en comaunded ? e kyng ? e kny3t for to ryse; [Fol. 96. ]
& he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,
368 [A] Kneled doun bifore ? e kyng, & cache3 ? at weppen;
& he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,
& gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes
[B] ? at his hert & his honde schulde hardi be bo? e.
372 "Kepe ? e cosyn," quod ? e kyng, "? at ? ou on kyrf sette,
& if ? ou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe,
? at ? ou schal byden ? e bur ? at he schal bede after.
Gawan got3 to ? e gome, with giserne in honde,
376 & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer ? e helder
[C] ? en carppe3 to sir Gawan ? e kny3t in ? e grene,
"Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe.
Fyrst I e? e ? e, ha? el, how ? at ? ou hattes,
380 ? at ? ou me telle truly, as I tryst may? "
[D] "In god fayth," quod ? e goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte,
? at bede ? e ? is buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after,
& at ? is tyme twelmonyth take at ? e ano? er,
384 Wyth what weppen so[1] ? ou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3,
on lyue. "
?
On ? e most on ? e molde on mesure hyghe;
Fro ? e swyre to ? e swange so sware & so ? ik,
[D] & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete,
140 Half etayn in erde I hope ? at he were. [Fol. 93. ]
[E] Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene,
& ? at ? e myriest in his muckel ? at my3t ride;
[F] For of bak & of brest al were his bodi sturne,
144 [G] Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale,
& alle his fetures fol3ande, in forme ? at he hade,
ful clene;
For wonder of his hwe men hade,
148 Set in his semblaunt sene;
He ferde as freke were fade,
& ouer-al enker grene.
[Sidenote A: There was no want of anything. ]
[Sidenote B: Scarcely had the first course commenced,]
[Sidenote C: when there rushes in at the hall-door a knight;]
[Sidenote D: the tallest on earth]
[Sidenote E: he must have been. ]
[Sidenote F: His back and breast were great,]
[Sidenote G: but his belly and waist were small. ]
VIII.
[A] Ande al gray? ed in grene ? is gome & his wedes,
152 A strayt cote ful stre3t, ? at stek on his sides,
A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne,
With pelure pured apert ? e pane ful clene,
With bly? e blaunner ful bry3t, & his hod bo? e,
156 ? at wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes
Heme wel haled, hose of ? at same grene,
[B] ? at spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder,
Of bry3t golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche
160 & scholes vnder schankes, ? ere ? e schalk rides;
& alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure,
Bo? e ? e barres of his belt & o? er bly? e stones,
? at were richely rayled in his aray clene,
164 [C] Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3,
? at were to tor for to telle of tryfles ? e halue,
? at were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es,
With gay gaudi of grene, ? e golde ay in myddes;
168 ? e pendauntes of his payttrure, ? e proude cropure
His molaynes, & alle ? e metail anamayld was ? enne
? e steropes ? at he stod on, stayned of ? e same,
& his arsoun3 al after, & his a? el sturtes,
172 ? at euer glemered[1] & glent al of grene stones.
[D] ? e fole ? at he ferkkes on, fyn of ? at ilke,
sertayn;
A grene hors gret & ? ikke,
176 [E] A stede ful stif to strayne,
In brawden brydel quik,
To ? e gome he wat3 ful gayn. [Fol. 93b. ]
[Sidenote A: He was clothed entirely in green. ]
[Sidenote B: His spurs were of bright gold. ]
[Sidenote C: His saddle was embroidered with birds and flies. ]
[Sidenote D: The foal that he rode upon was green;]
[Sidenote E: it was a steed full stiff to guide. ]
[Footnote 1: glemed (? ). ]
IX.
[A] Wel gay wat3 ? is gome gered in grene,
180 & ? e here of his hed of his hors swete;
Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes;
[B] A much berd as[1] a busk ouer his brest henges,
? at wyth his hi3lich here, ? at of his hed reches,
184 Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes,
? at half his armes ? er vnder were halched in ? e wyse
Of a kynge3 capados, ? at closes his swyre.
[C] ? e mane of ? at mayn hors much to hit lyke,
188 Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony,
Folden in wyth fildore aboute ? e fayre grene,
Ay a herle of ? e here, an o? er of golde;
[D] ? e tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute,
192 & bounden bo? e wyth a bande of a bry3t grene,
Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as ? e dok lasted,
Sy? en ? rawen wyth a ? wong a ? warle knot alofte,
? er mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen.
196 [E] Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke ? at hym rydes,
Wat3 neuer sene in ? at sale wyth sy3t er ? at tyme,
with y3e;
He loked as layt so ly3t,
200 So sayd al ? at hym sy3e,
[F] Hit semed as no mon my3t,
Vnder his dyntte3 dry3e.
[Sidenote A: Gaily was the knight attired. ]
[Sidenote B: His great beard, like a bush, hung on his breast. ]
[Sidenote C: The horse's mane was decked with golden threads. ]
[Sidenote D: Its tail was bound with a green band. ]
[Sidenote E: Such a foal nor a knight were never before seen. ]
[Sidenote F: It seemed that no man might endure his dints. ]
[Footnote 1: as as, in MS. ]
X.
[A] Whe? er hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nau? er,
204 Ne no pysan, ne no plate ? at pented to armes,
Ne no schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte,
[B] Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe,
? at is grattest in grene, when greue3 ar bare,
208 [C] & an ax in his o? er, a hoge & vn-mete,
A spetos spar? e to expoun in spelle quo-so my3t;
? e hede of an eln3erde ? e large lenk? e hade,
? e grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen,
212 [D] ? e bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge,
As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores;
? e stele of a stif staf ? e sturne hit bi-grypte,
? at wat3 wounden wyth yrn to ? e wande3 ende, [Fol. 94. ]
216 [E] & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios[1] werkes;
A lace lapped aboute, ? at louked at ? e hede,
& so after ? e halme halched ful ofte,
Wyth tryed tassele3 ? erto tacched in-noghe,
220 [F] On botoun3 of ? e bry3t grene brayden ful ryche.
? is ha? el helde3 hym in, & ? e halle entres,
Driuande to ? e he3e dece, dut he no wo? e,
[G] Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked.
224 ? e fyrst word ? at he warp, "wher is," he sayd,
[H] "? e gouernour of ? is gyng? gladly I wolde
Se ? at segg in sy3t, & with hym self speke
raysoun. "
228 To kny3te3 he kest his y3e,
& reled hym vp & doun,
[I] He stemmed & con studie,
Quo walt ? er most renoun.
[Sidenote A: The knight carried neither spear nor shield,]
[Sidenote B: In one hand was a holly bough,]
[Sidenote C: in the other an axe,]
[Sidenote D: the edge of which was as keen as a sharp razor,]
[Sidenote E: and the handle was encased in iron, curiously "graven with
green, in gracious works. "]
[Sidenote F: Thus arrayed the Green Knight enters the hall,]
[Sidenote G: without saluting any one. ]
[Sidenote H: He asks for the "governor" of the company,]
[Sidenote I: and looks for the most renowned. ]
[Footnote 1: looks like gracons in MS. ]
XI.
232 [A] Ther wat3 lokyng on len? e, ? e lude to be-holde,
For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t,
? at a ha? el & a horse my3t such a hwe lach,
[B] As growe grene as ? e gres & grener hit semed,
236 ? en grene aumayl on golde lowande bry3ter;
Al studied ? at ? er stod, & stalked hym nerre,
[C] Wyth al ? e wonder of ? e worlde, what he worch schulde.
For fele sellye3 had ? ay sen, bot such neuer are,
240 For-? i for fantoum & fayry3e ? e folk ? ere hit demed;
[D] ? er-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony a? el freke,
& al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten,
[E] In a swoghe sylence ? ur3 ? e sale riche
244 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3
in hy3e;
I deme hit not al for doute,
[F] Bot sum for cortaysye,
248 Bot let hym ? at al schulde loute,
Cast vnto ? at wy3e.
[Sidenote A: Much they marvel to see a man and a horse]
[Sidenote B: as green as grass. ]
[Sidenote C: Never before had they seen such a sight as this. ]
[Sidenote D: They were afraid to answer,]
[Sidenote E: and were as silent as if sleep had taken possession of them;]
[Sidenote F: some from fear and others from courtesy. ]
XII.
[A] ? enn Ar? our bifore ? e hi3 dece ? at auenture byholde3,
& rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer,
252 & sayde, "wy3e, welcum iwys to ? is place,
[B] ? e hede of ? is ostel Arthour I hat, [Fol. 94b. ]
Li3t luflych adoun, & lenge, I ? e praye,
& quat so ? y wylle is, we schal wyt after. "
256 [C] "Nay, as help me," quod ? e ha? el, "he ? at on hy3e syttes,
To wone any quyle in ? is won, hit wat3 not myn ernde;
Bot for ? e los of ? e lede is lyft vp so hy3e,
& ? y bur3 & ? y burnes best ar holden,
260 Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde,
[D] ? e wy3test & ? e wor? yest of ? e worldes kynde,
Preue for to play wyth in o? er pure layke3;
& here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,
264 & ? at hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at ? is tyme.
3e may be seker bi ? is braunch ? at I bere here,
[E] ? at I passe as in pes, & no ply3t seche;
For had I founded in fere, in fe3tyng wyse,
268 [F] I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme bo?
e,
A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
Ande o? er weppenes to welde, I wene wel als,
Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer.
272 Bot if ? ou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen,
? ou wyl grant me godly ? e gomen ? at I ask,
bi ry3t. "
[G] Arthour con onsware,
276 & sayd, "sir cortays kny3t,
If ? ou craue batayl bare,
Here fayle3 ? ou not to fy3t. "
[Sidenote A: Arthur salutes the Green Knight. ]
[Sidenote B: bids him welcome, and invites him to stay awhile. ]
[Sidenote C: The knight says that he will not tarry. ]
[Sidenote D: He seeks the most valiant that he may prove him. ]
[Sidenote E: He comes in peace. ]
[Sidenote F: At home, however, he has both shield and spear. ]
[Sidenote G: Arthur assures him that he shall not fail to find an opponent
worthy of him. ]
XIII.
[A] "Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I ? e telle,
280 [B] Hit arn aboute on ? is bench bot berdle3 chylder;
If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede,
[C] Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so[1] wayke.
For-? y I craue in ? is court a crystmas gomen,
284 [D] For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony;
If any so hardy in ? is hous holde3 hym-seluen,
[E] Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede,
? at dar stifly strike a strok for an o? er,
288 I schal gif hym of my gyft ? ys giserne ryche,
[F] ? is ax, ? at is heue in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,
& I schal bide ? e fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95. ]
If any freke be so felle to fonde ? at I telle,
292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach ? is weppen,
I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,
[G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on ? is flet,
Elle3 ? ou wyl di3t me ? e dom to dele hym an o? er,
296 barlay;
& 3et gif hym respite,
[H] A twelmonyth & a day;--
Now hy3e, & let se tite
300 Dar any her-inne o3t say. "
[Sidenote A: "I seek no fight," says the knight. ]
[Sidenote B: "'Here are only beardless children. ']
[Sidenote C: Here is no man to match me. ]
[Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,]
[Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,']
[Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;]
[Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return]
[Sidenote H: within a twelvemonth and a day. "]
[Footnote 1: MS. fo. ]
XIV.
[A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were ? anne
Alle ? e hered-men in halle, ? e hy3 & ? e lo3e;
[B] ? e renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel,
304 & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute,
[C] Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene,
[D] Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse.
When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e,
308 Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke:
[E] "What, is ? is Ar? ures hous," quod ? e ha? el ? enne,
"? at al ? e rous rennes of, ? ur3 ryalmes so mony?
Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes,
312 Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes?
[F] Now is ? e reuel & ? e renoun of ? e rounde table
Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche;
For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed! "
316 Wyth ? is he la3es so loude, ? at ? e lorde greued;
[G] ? e blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face
& lere;
[H] He wex as wroth as wynde,
320 So did alle ? at ? er were
? e kyng as kene bi kynde,
? en stod ? at stif mon nere.
[Sidenote A: Fear kept all silent. ]
[Sidenote B: The knight rolled his red eyes about,]
[Sidenote C: and bent his bristly green brows. ]
[Sidenote D: Waving his beard awhile, he exclaimed:]
[Sidenote E: "What! is this Arthur's court? ]
[Sidenote F: Forsooth the renown of the Round Table is overturned 'with a
word of one man's speech. '"]
[Sidenote G: Arthur blushes for shame. ]
[Sidenote H: He waxes as wroth as the wind. ]
XV.
[A] Ande sayde, "ha? el, by heuen ? yn askyng is nys,
324 & as ? ou foly hat3 frayst, fynde ? e be-houes;
I know no gome ? at is gast of ? y grete wordes.
Gif me now ? y geserne, vpon gode3 halue,
& I schal bay? en ? y bone, ? at ? ou boden habbes. "
328 Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde; [Fol. 95b. ]
? en feersly ? at o? er freke vpon fote ly3tis.
[B] Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & ? e halme grype3,
& sturnely sture3 hit aboute, ? at stryke wyth hit ? o3t.
332 ? e stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t,
Herre ? en ani in ? e hous by ? e hede & more;
[C] Wyth sturne schere[1] ? er he stod, he stroked his berde,
& wyth a countenaunce dry3e he dro3 doun his cote,
336 No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dinte3,
? en any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk
of wyne,
[D] Gawan, ? at sate bi ? e quene,
340 To ? e kyng he can enclyne,
"I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene,
? is melly mot be myne. "
[Sidenote A: He assures the knight that no one is afraid of his great
words. ]
[Sidenote B: Arthur seizes his axe. ]
[Sidenote C: The knight, stroking his beard, awaits the blow, and with a
"dry countenance" draws down his coat. ]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne beseeches the king to let him undertake the blow. ]
[Footnote 1: chere (? ). ]
XVI.
"Wolde 3e, wor? ilych lorde," quod Gawan to ? e kyng,
344 [A] "Bid me bo3e fro ? is benche, & stonde by yow ? ere,
? at I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde ? is table,
& ? at my legge lady lyked not ille,
I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche.
348 [B] For me ? ink hit not semly, as hit is so? knawen,
? er such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale,
? a33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen,
[C] Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten,
352 ? at vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle,
Ne better bodyes on bent, ? er baret is rered;
[D] I am ? e wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest,
& lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes ? e so? e,
356 Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse,
No bounte bot your blod I in my bode knowe;
& sy? en ? is note is so nys, ? at no3t hit yow falles,
& I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me,
360 & if I carp not comlyly, let alle ? is cort rych,
bout blame. "
[E] Ryche to-geder con roun,
& sy? en ? ay redden alle same,
364 To ryd ? e kyng wyth croun,
& gif Gawan ? e game.
[Sidenote A: He asks permission to leave the table; he says,]
[Sidenote B: it is not meet that Arthur should be active in the matter,]
[Sidenote C: while so many bold ones sit upon bench. ]
[Sidenote D: Although the weakest, he is quite ready to meet the Green
Knight. ]
[Sidenote E: The nobles entreat Arthur to "give Gawayne the game. "]
XVII.
? en comaunded ? e kyng ? e kny3t for to ryse; [Fol. 96. ]
& he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,
368 [A] Kneled doun bifore ? e kyng, & cache3 ? at weppen;
& he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,
& gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes
[B] ? at his hert & his honde schulde hardi be bo? e.
372 "Kepe ? e cosyn," quod ? e kyng, "? at ? ou on kyrf sette,
& if ? ou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe,
? at ? ou schal byden ? e bur ? at he schal bede after.
Gawan got3 to ? e gome, with giserne in honde,
376 & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer ? e helder
[C] ? en carppe3 to sir Gawan ? e kny3t in ? e grene,
"Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe.
Fyrst I e? e ? e, ha? el, how ? at ? ou hattes,
380 ? at ? ou me telle truly, as I tryst may? "
[D] "In god fayth," quod ? e goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte,
? at bede ? e ? is buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after,
& at ? is tyme twelmonyth take at ? e ano? er,
384 Wyth what weppen so[1] ? ou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3,
on lyue. "
?
