e mornyng, his
mounture
he askes;
1692 [B] Alle ?
1692 [B] Alle ?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
at ?
e burne & ?
e bor were bo?
e vpon hepe3,
In ? e wy3t-est of ? e water, ? e worre hade ? at o? er;
1592 [E] For ? e mon merkke3 hym wel, as ? ay mette fyrst,
Set sadly ? e scharp in ? e slot euen,
[F] Hit hym vp to ? e hult, ? at ? e hert schyndered,
& he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] ? e water,
1596 ful tyt;
A hundreth hounde3 hym hent, [Fol. 112b. ]
[G] ? at bremely con hym bite,
Burne3 him bro3t to bent,
1600 & dogge3 to dethe endite.
[Sidenote A: The knight, seeing the boar at bay,]
[Sidenote B: alights from his horse,]
[Sidenote C: and seeks to attack him with his sword. ]
[Sidenote D: The "swine sets out" upon the man,]
[Sidenote E: who, aiming well,]
[Sidenote F: wounds him in the pit of the stomach. ]
[Sidenote G: The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. luslych. ]
[Footnote 2: freke (? ). ]
[Footnote 3: 3ede doun (? ). ]
XIX.
[A] There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,
He3e halowing on hi3e, with ha? ele3 ? at my3t;
[B] Brachetes bayed ? at best, as bidden ? e maystere3,
1604 Of ? at chargeaunt chace ? at were chef huntes.
[C] ? enne a wy3e ? at wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,
To vnlace ? is bor lufly bigynne3;
[D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,
1608 & sy? en rende3 him al roghe bi ? e rygge after,
[E] Brayde3 out ? e boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,
With bred blent ? er-with his braches rewarde3;
Sy? en he britne3 out ? e brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,
1612 [F] & hat3 out ? e hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;
[G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole ? e halue3 to-geder,
& sy? en on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.
Now with ? is ilk swyn ? ay swengen to home;
1616 [H] ? e bores hed wat3 borne bifore ? e burnes seluen,
? at him for-ferde in ? e for? e, ? ur3 forse of his honde,
so stronge;
Til he se3 sir Gawayne,
1620 In halle hym ? o3t ful longe,
[I] He calde, & he com gayn,
His fee3 ? er for to fonge.
[Sidenote A: Then was there blowing of horns]
[Sidenote B: and baying of hounds. ]
[Sidenote C: One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar. ]
[Sidenote D: First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back. ]
[Sidenote E: He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and
therewith rewards his hounds. ]
[Sidenote F: Then the hastlets are removed. ]
[Sidenote G: The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole. ]
[Sidenote H: The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home. ]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne is called to receive the spoil. ]
XX.
[A] ? e lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,
1624 When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;
? e goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered ? e meyny,
[B] He schewe3 hem ? e schelde3, & schapes hem ? e tale,
Of ? e largesse, & ? e len? e, ? e li? erne3 alse,
1628 Of ? e were of ? e wylde swyn, in wod ? er he fled.
? at o? er kny3t ful comly comended his dede3,
& praysed hit as gret prys, ? at he proued hade;
[C] For suche a brawne of a best, ? e bolde burne sayde,
1632 Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.
? enne hondeled ? ay ? e hoge hed, ? e hende mon hit praysed,
& let lodly ? erat ? e lorde forte here: [Fol. 113. ]
[D] "Now Gawayn," quod ? e god mon, "? is gomen is your awen,
1636 Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe. "
"Hit is sothe," quod ? e segge, "& as siker trwe;
Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my traw? e. "
[E] He [hent] ? e ha? el aboute ? e halse, & hendely hym kysses,
1640 & efter-sones of ? e same he serued hym ? ere.
"Now ar we euen," quod ? e ha? el, "in ? is euen-tide,
Of alle ? e couenauntes ? at we knyt, sy? en I com hider,
bi lawe;"
1644 [F] ? e lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile,
3e ar ? e best ? at I knowe,
3e ben ryche in a whyle,
Such chaffer & 3e drowe. "
[Sidenote A: The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir
Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of
its length and breadth. ]
[Sidenote C: Such a "brawn of a beast," Sir Gawayne says, he never has
seen. ]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant,]
[Sidenote E: and in return kisses his host,]
[Sidenote F: who declares his guest to be the best he knows. ]
XXI.
1648 [A] ? enne ? ay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,
[B] Kesten clo? e3 vpon, clere ly3t ? enne
[C] Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches
Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute;
1652 [D] Much glam & gle glent vp ? er-inne,
Aboute ? e fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,
[E] At ? e soper & after, mony a? el songe3,
As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,
1656 With alle ? e manerly mer? e ? at mon may of telle.
[F] & euer oure luflych kny3t ? e lady bi-syde;
Such semblaunt to ? at segge semly ho made,
[G] Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, ? at stalworth to plese,
1660 ? at al for-wondered wat3 ? e wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,
Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,
Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer ? e dede turned
to wrast;
1664 [H] Quen ? ay hade played in halle,
As longe as hor wylle hom last,
[I] To chambre he[1] con hym calle,
& to ? e chem-ne ? ay past.
[Sidenote A: Tables are raised aloft,]
[Sidenote B: cloths cast upon them,]
[Sidenote C: and torches are lighted. ]
[Sidenote D: With much mirth and glee,]
[Sidenote E: supper is served in the hall,]
[Sidenote F: and ever our lovely knight by the lady sits,]
[Sidenote G: who does all she can to please her companion. ]
[Sidenote H: When they had long played in the hall,]
[Sidenote I: they proceeded "to chamber. "]
[Footnote 1: ho (? ). ]
XXII.
1668 [A] Ande ? er ? ay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe,
To norne on ? e same note, on nwe3ere3 euen;
[B] Bot ? e kny3t craued leue, to kayre on ? e morn,
For hit wat3 ne3 at ? e terme, ? at he to[1] schulde.
1672 ? e lorde hym letted of ? at, to lenge hym resteyed, [Fol. 113b. ]
[C] & sayde, "as I am trwe segge, I siker my traw? e,
[D] ? ou schal cheue to ? e grene chapel, ? y charres to make,
Leude, on nw3ere3 ly3t, longe bifore pryme:
1676 For-? y ? ow lye in ? y loft, & lach ? yn ese,
& I schal hunt in ? is holt, & halde ? e towche3,
Chaunge wyth ? e cheuisaunce, bi ? at I charre hider;
For I haf fraysted ? e twys, & faythful I fynde ? e,
1680 Now ? rid tyme ? rowe best ? enk on ? e morne,
Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye,
For ? e lur may mon lach, when so mon lyke3. "
? is wat3 gray? ely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged,
1684 [E] Bli? e bro3t wat3 hym drynk, & ? ay to bedde 3eden,
with li3t;
[F] Sir G: lis & slepes,
Ful stille & softe al ni3t;
1688 [G] ? e lorde ? at his crafte3 kepes,
Ful erly he wat3 di3t.
[Sidenote A: There they drank and discoursed. ]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne begs leave to depart on the morrow. ]
[Sidenote C: His host swears to him,]
[Sidenote D: that he shall come to the Green Chapel on New Year's morn long
before prime. ]
[Sidenote E: Our knight consents to remain for another night. ]
[Sidenote F: Full still and softly he sleeps all night. ]
[Sidenote G: Early in the morning the lord is up. ]
[Footnote 1: te (? ). ]
XXIII.
[A] After messe a morsel[1] he & his men token,
Miry wat3 ?
e mornyng, his mounture he askes;
1692 [B] Alle ? e ha? eles ? at on horse schulde helden hym after,
Were boun busked on hor blonkke3, bi-fore[2] ? e halle 3ate3;
[C] Ferly fayre wat3 ? e folde, for ? e forst clenged,
In rede rudede vpon rak rises ? e sunne,
1696 [D] & ful clere coste3[3] ? e clowdes of ? e welkyn.
Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,
Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;
[E] Summe fel in ? e fute, ? er ? e fox bade,
1700 Trayle3 ofte a trayteres[4], bi traunt of her wyles;
A kenet kryes ? erof, ? e hunt on hym calles,
His fela3es fallen hym to, ? at fnasted ful ? ike,
[F] Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ry3t fare;
1704 & he fyske3 hem by-fore, ? ay founden hym sone,
[G] & quen ? ay seghe hym with sy3t, ? ay sued hym fast,
Wre3ande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;
[H] & he trantes & tornayee3 ? ur3 mony tene greue;
1708 Hamloune3, & herkene3, bi hegge3 ful ofte;
[I] At ? e last bi a littel dich he lepe3 ouer a spenne, [Fol. 114. ]
Stele3 out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,
[J] Went haf wylt of ? e wode, with wyle3 fro ? e houndes,
1712 ? enne wat3 he went, er he wyst, to[5] a wale tryster,
[K] ? er ? re ? ro at a ? rich ? rat hym at ones,
al graye;
[L] He blenched a3ayn bilyue,
1716 & stifly start onstray,
With alle ? e wo on lyue,
[M] To ? e wod he went away.
[Sidenote A: After mass, a morsel he take with his men. ]
[Sidenote B: Then were all on their horses before the hall-gates. ]
[Sidenote C: It was a clear frosty morning. ]
[Sidenote D: The hunters, dispersed by a wood's side,]
[Sidenote E: come upon the track of a fox,]
[Sidenote F: which is followed up by the hounds. ]
[Sidenote G: They soon get sight of the game,]
[Sidenote H: and pursue him through many a rough grove. ]
[Sidenote I: The fox at last leaps over a spinny,]
[Sidenote J: and by a rugged path seeks to get clear from the hounds. ]
[Sidenote K: He comes upon one of the hunting stations, where he is
attacked by the dogs. ]
[Sidenote L: However, he slips them,]
[Sidenote M: and makes again for the wood. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. nnorsel. ]
[Footnote 2: bi-forere, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: caste3 (? ). ]
[Footnote 4: trayveres (? ). ]
[Footnote 5: to to, in MS. ]
XXIV.
[A] Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list to ly? en ? e hounde3,
1720 When alle ? e mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,
Suche a sor3e at ? at sy3t ? ay sette on his hede,
As alle ? e clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;
[B] Here he wat3 halawed, when ha? ele3 hym metten,
1724 Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche;
[C] ? er he wat3 ? reted, & ofte ? ef called,
& ay ? e titleres at his tayl, ? at tary he ne my3t;
Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked,
1728 [D] & ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wyle.
[E] & 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, ? e lorde & his meyny;
On ? is maner bi ? e mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder,
[F] Whyle ? e hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3,
1732 With-inne ? e comly cortynes, on ? e colde morne.
Bot ? e lady for luf let not to slepe,
Ne ? e purpose to payre, ? at py3t in hir hert,
Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir ? eder,
1736 [G] In a mery mantyle, mete to ? e er? e,
? at wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured,
No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot ? e ha3er stones
Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;
1740 [H] Hir ? ryuen face & hir ? rote ? rowen al naked,
Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.
[I] Ho come3 with-inne ? e chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,
[J] Wayne3[1] vp a wyndow, & on ? e wy3e calle3,
1744 & radly ? us re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3,
with[2] chere;
[K] "A! mon, how may ? ou slepe,
[L] ? is morning is so clere? " [Fol. 114b. ]
1748 He wat3 in drowping depe,
Bot ? enne he con hir here.
[Sidenote A: Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: and the hallooing of the hunters. ]
[Sidenote C: There the fox was threatened and called a thief. ]
[Sidenote D: But Reynard was wily,]
[Sidenote E: and led them astray over mounts. ]
[Sidenote F: Meanwhile the knight at home soundly sleeps within his comely
curtains. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle,]
[Sidenote H: her throat and bosom all bare,]
[Sidenote I: comes to Gawayne's chamber,]
[Sidenote J: opens a window, and says,]
[Sidenote K: "Ah! man, how canst thou sleep,]
[Sidenote L: this morning is so clear? "]
[Footnote 1: wayue3(? ). ]
[Footnote 2: bi, a sec. manu. ]
XXV.
[A] In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled ? at noble,
As mon ? at wat3 in mornyng of mony ? ro ? o3tes,
1752 How ? at destine schulde ? at day [dy3t] his wyrde,
At ? e grene chapel, when he ? e gome metes,
& bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more;
[B] Bot quen ? at comly he keuered his wyttes,
1756 Swenges out of ? e sweuenes, & sware3 with hast.
? e lady luflych com la3ande swete,
[C] Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed;
He welcume3 hir wor? ily, with a wale chere;
1760 He se3 hir so glorious, & gayly atyred,
So fautles of hir fetures, & of so fyne hewes,
[D] Wi3t wallande Ioye warmed his hert;
With smo? e smylyng & smolt ? ay smeten in-to mer? e,
1764 ? at al wat3 blis & bonchef, ? at breke hem bi-twene,
& wynne,
? ay lanced wordes gode,
Much wele ? en wat3 ? er-inne,
1768 [E] Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,
Nif mare of hir kny3t mynne.
[Sidenote A: The knight was then dreaming of his forthcoming adventure at
the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote B: He awakes and speaks to his fair visitor,]
[Sidenote C: who sweetly kisses him. ]
[Sidenote D: Great joy warms the heart of Sir Gawayne,]
[Sidenote E: and "great peril between them stood. "]
XXVI.
[A] For ? at prynce of pris de-presed hym so ? ikke.
Nurned hym so ne3e ? e ? red, ? at nede hym bi-houed,
1772 O? er lach ? er hir luf, o? er lodly re-fuse;
He cared for his cortaysye, lest cra? ayn he were,
[B] & more for his meschef, 3if he schulde make synne,
& be traytor to ? at tolke, ? at ? at telde a3t.
1776 "God schylde," quod ? e schalk, "? at schal not be-falle! "
With luf-la3yng a lyt, he layd hym by-syde
Alle ? e speche3 of specialte ? at sprange of her mouthe.
Quod ? at burde to ? e burne, "blame 3e disserue,
1780 3if 3e luf not ? at lyf ? at 3e lye nexte,
Bifore alle ? e wy3e3 in ? e worlde, wounded in hert,
[C] Bot if 3e haf a lemman, a leuer, ? at yow lyke3 better,
& folden fayth to ? at fre, festned so harde,
1784 ? at yow lausen ne lyst, & ? at I leue nou? e; [Fol. 115. ]
And ? at 3e telle me ? at, now trwly I pray yow,
For alle ? e lufe3 vpon lyue, layne not ? e so? e,
for gile. "
1788 [D] ? e kny3t sayde, "be sayn Ion,"
& sme? ely con he smyle,
"In fayth I welde ri3t non,
Ne non wil welde ? e quile. "
[Sidenote A: The knight is sorely pressed. ]
[Sidenote B: He fears lest he should become a traitor to his host. ]
[Sidenote C: The lady inquire whether he has a mistress that he loves
better than her. ]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne swears by St. John that he neither has nor desires
one. ]
XXVII.
1792 "? at is a worde," quod ? at wy3t, "? at worst is of alle,
Bot I am swared for so? e, ? at sore me ? inkke3;
[A] Kysse me now coraly, & I schal cach he? en,
I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may ? at much louyes. "
1796 Sykande ho swe3e doun, & semly hym kyssed,
& si? en ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes,
"Now, dere, at ? is de-partyng, do me ? is ese,
[B] Gif me sumquat of ? y gifte, ? i gloue if[1] hit were,
1800 [C] ? at I may mynne on ? e mon, my mournyng to lassen. "
"Now Iwysse," quod ? at wy3e, "I wolde I hade here
? e leuest ?
In ? e wy3t-est of ? e water, ? e worre hade ? at o? er;
1592 [E] For ? e mon merkke3 hym wel, as ? ay mette fyrst,
Set sadly ? e scharp in ? e slot euen,
[F] Hit hym vp to ? e hult, ? at ? e hert schyndered,
& he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] ? e water,
1596 ful tyt;
A hundreth hounde3 hym hent, [Fol. 112b. ]
[G] ? at bremely con hym bite,
Burne3 him bro3t to bent,
1600 & dogge3 to dethe endite.
[Sidenote A: The knight, seeing the boar at bay,]
[Sidenote B: alights from his horse,]
[Sidenote C: and seeks to attack him with his sword. ]
[Sidenote D: The "swine sets out" upon the man,]
[Sidenote E: who, aiming well,]
[Sidenote F: wounds him in the pit of the stomach. ]
[Sidenote G: The boar is soon bitten to death by a hundred hounds. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. luslych. ]
[Footnote 2: freke (? ). ]
[Footnote 3: 3ede doun (? ). ]
XIX.
[A] There wat3 blawyng of prys in mony breme home,
He3e halowing on hi3e, with ha? ele3 ? at my3t;
[B] Brachetes bayed ? at best, as bidden ? e maystere3,
1604 Of ? at chargeaunt chace ? at were chef huntes.
[C] ? enne a wy3e ? at wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3,
To vnlace ? is bor lufly bigynne3;
[D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3,
1608 & sy? en rende3 him al roghe bi ? e rygge after,
[E] Brayde3 out ? e boweles, brenne3 hom on glede,
With bred blent ? er-with his braches rewarde3;
Sy? en he britne3 out ? e brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3,
1612 [F] & hat3 out ? e hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3;
[G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole ? e halue3 to-geder,
& sy? en on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.
Now with ? is ilk swyn ? ay swengen to home;
1616 [H] ? e bores hed wat3 borne bifore ? e burnes seluen,
? at him for-ferde in ? e for? e, ? ur3 forse of his honde,
so stronge;
Til he se3 sir Gawayne,
1620 In halle hym ? o3t ful longe,
[I] He calde, & he com gayn,
His fee3 ? er for to fonge.
[Sidenote A: Then was there blowing of horns]
[Sidenote B: and baying of hounds. ]
[Sidenote C: One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar. ]
[Sidenote D: First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back. ]
[Sidenote E: He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and
therewith rewards his hounds. ]
[Sidenote F: Then the hastlets are removed. ]
[Sidenote G: The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole. ]
[Sidenote H: The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home. ]
[Sidenote I: Gawayne is called to receive the spoil. ]
XX.
[A] ? e lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry,
1624 When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3;
? e goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered ? e meyny,
[B] He schewe3 hem ? e schelde3, & schapes hem ? e tale,
Of ? e largesse, & ? e len? e, ? e li? erne3 alse,
1628 Of ? e were of ? e wylde swyn, in wod ? er he fled.
? at o? er kny3t ful comly comended his dede3,
& praysed hit as gret prys, ? at he proued hade;
[C] For suche a brawne of a best, ? e bolde burne sayde,
1632 Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are.
? enne hondeled ? ay ? e hoge hed, ? e hende mon hit praysed,
& let lodly ? erat ? e lorde forte here: [Fol. 113. ]
[D] "Now Gawayn," quod ? e god mon, "? is gomen is your awen,
1636 Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe. "
"Hit is sothe," quod ? e segge, "& as siker trwe;
Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my traw? e. "
[E] He [hent] ? e ha? el aboute ? e halse, & hendely hym kysses,
1640 & efter-sones of ? e same he serued hym ? ere.
"Now ar we euen," quod ? e ha? el, "in ? is euen-tide,
Of alle ? e couenauntes ? at we knyt, sy? en I com hider,
bi lawe;"
1644 [F] ? e lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile,
3e ar ? e best ? at I knowe,
3e ben ryche in a whyle,
Such chaffer & 3e drowe. "
[Sidenote A: The lord of the land is well pleased when he sees Sir
Gawayne,]
[Sidenote B: He shows him the shields of the wild boar, and tells him of
its length and breadth. ]
[Sidenote C: Such a "brawn of a beast," Sir Gawayne says, he never has
seen. ]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne takes possession of it according to covenant,]
[Sidenote E: and in return kisses his host,]
[Sidenote F: who declares his guest to be the best he knows. ]
XXI.
1648 [A] ? enne ? ay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte,
[B] Kesten clo? e3 vpon, clere ly3t ? enne
[C] Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches
Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute;
1652 [D] Much glam & gle glent vp ? er-inne,
Aboute ? e fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,
[E] At ? e soper & after, mony a? el songe3,
As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe,
1656 With alle ? e manerly mer? e ? at mon may of telle.
[F] & euer oure luflych kny3t ? e lady bi-syde;
Such semblaunt to ? at segge semly ho made,
[G] Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, ? at stalworth to plese,
1660 ? at al for-wondered wat3 ? e wy3e, & wroth with hym-seluen,
Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-3ayne3,
Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer ? e dede turned
to wrast;
1664 [H] Quen ? ay hade played in halle,
As longe as hor wylle hom last,
[I] To chambre he[1] con hym calle,
& to ? e chem-ne ? ay past.
[Sidenote A: Tables are raised aloft,]
[Sidenote B: cloths cast upon them,]
[Sidenote C: and torches are lighted. ]
[Sidenote D: With much mirth and glee,]
[Sidenote E: supper is served in the hall,]
[Sidenote F: and ever our lovely knight by the lady sits,]
[Sidenote G: who does all she can to please her companion. ]
[Sidenote H: When they had long played in the hall,]
[Sidenote I: they proceeded "to chamber. "]
[Footnote 1: ho (? ). ]
XXII.
1668 [A] Ande ? er ? ay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe,
To norne on ? e same note, on nwe3ere3 euen;
[B] Bot ? e kny3t craued leue, to kayre on ? e morn,
For hit wat3 ne3 at ? e terme, ? at he to[1] schulde.
1672 ? e lorde hym letted of ? at, to lenge hym resteyed, [Fol. 113b. ]
[C] & sayde, "as I am trwe segge, I siker my traw? e,
[D] ? ou schal cheue to ? e grene chapel, ? y charres to make,
Leude, on nw3ere3 ly3t, longe bifore pryme:
1676 For-? y ? ow lye in ? y loft, & lach ? yn ese,
& I schal hunt in ? is holt, & halde ? e towche3,
Chaunge wyth ? e cheuisaunce, bi ? at I charre hider;
For I haf fraysted ? e twys, & faythful I fynde ? e,
1680 Now ? rid tyme ? rowe best ? enk on ? e morne,
Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye,
For ? e lur may mon lach, when so mon lyke3. "
? is wat3 gray? ely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged,
1684 [E] Bli? e bro3t wat3 hym drynk, & ? ay to bedde 3eden,
with li3t;
[F] Sir G: lis & slepes,
Ful stille & softe al ni3t;
1688 [G] ? e lorde ? at his crafte3 kepes,
Ful erly he wat3 di3t.
[Sidenote A: There they drank and discoursed. ]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne begs leave to depart on the morrow. ]
[Sidenote C: His host swears to him,]
[Sidenote D: that he shall come to the Green Chapel on New Year's morn long
before prime. ]
[Sidenote E: Our knight consents to remain for another night. ]
[Sidenote F: Full still and softly he sleeps all night. ]
[Sidenote G: Early in the morning the lord is up. ]
[Footnote 1: te (? ). ]
XXIII.
[A] After messe a morsel[1] he & his men token,
Miry wat3 ?
e mornyng, his mounture he askes;
1692 [B] Alle ? e ha? eles ? at on horse schulde helden hym after,
Were boun busked on hor blonkke3, bi-fore[2] ? e halle 3ate3;
[C] Ferly fayre wat3 ? e folde, for ? e forst clenged,
In rede rudede vpon rak rises ? e sunne,
1696 [D] & ful clere coste3[3] ? e clowdes of ? e welkyn.
Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,
Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;
[E] Summe fel in ? e fute, ? er ? e fox bade,
1700 Trayle3 ofte a trayteres[4], bi traunt of her wyles;
A kenet kryes ? erof, ? e hunt on hym calles,
His fela3es fallen hym to, ? at fnasted ful ? ike,
[F] Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ry3t fare;
1704 & he fyske3 hem by-fore, ? ay founden hym sone,
[G] & quen ? ay seghe hym with sy3t, ? ay sued hym fast,
Wre3ande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;
[H] & he trantes & tornayee3 ? ur3 mony tene greue;
1708 Hamloune3, & herkene3, bi hegge3 ful ofte;
[I] At ? e last bi a littel dich he lepe3 ouer a spenne, [Fol. 114. ]
Stele3 out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,
[J] Went haf wylt of ? e wode, with wyle3 fro ? e houndes,
1712 ? enne wat3 he went, er he wyst, to[5] a wale tryster,
[K] ? er ? re ? ro at a ? rich ? rat hym at ones,
al graye;
[L] He blenched a3ayn bilyue,
1716 & stifly start onstray,
With alle ? e wo on lyue,
[M] To ? e wod he went away.
[Sidenote A: After mass, a morsel he take with his men. ]
[Sidenote B: Then were all on their horses before the hall-gates. ]
[Sidenote C: It was a clear frosty morning. ]
[Sidenote D: The hunters, dispersed by a wood's side,]
[Sidenote E: come upon the track of a fox,]
[Sidenote F: which is followed up by the hounds. ]
[Sidenote G: They soon get sight of the game,]
[Sidenote H: and pursue him through many a rough grove. ]
[Sidenote I: The fox at last leaps over a spinny,]
[Sidenote J: and by a rugged path seeks to get clear from the hounds. ]
[Sidenote K: He comes upon one of the hunting stations, where he is
attacked by the dogs. ]
[Sidenote L: However, he slips them,]
[Sidenote M: and makes again for the wood. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. nnorsel. ]
[Footnote 2: bi-forere, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: caste3 (? ). ]
[Footnote 4: trayveres (? ). ]
[Footnote 5: to to, in MS. ]
XXIV.
[A] Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list to ly? en ? e hounde3,
1720 When alle ? e mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,
Suche a sor3e at ? at sy3t ? ay sette on his hede,
As alle ? e clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;
[B] Here he wat3 halawed, when ha? ele3 hym metten,
1724 Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche;
[C] ? er he wat3 ? reted, & ofte ? ef called,
& ay ? e titleres at his tayl, ? at tary he ne my3t;
Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked,
1728 [D] & ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wyle.
[E] & 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, ? e lorde & his meyny;
On ? is maner bi ? e mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder,
[F] Whyle ? e hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3,
1732 With-inne ? e comly cortynes, on ? e colde morne.
Bot ? e lady for luf let not to slepe,
Ne ? e purpose to payre, ? at py3t in hir hert,
Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir ? eder,
1736 [G] In a mery mantyle, mete to ? e er? e,
? at wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured,
No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot ? e ha3er stones
Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;
1740 [H] Hir ? ryuen face & hir ? rote ? rowen al naked,
Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.
[I] Ho come3 with-inne ? e chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,
[J] Wayne3[1] vp a wyndow, & on ? e wy3e calle3,
1744 & radly ? us re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3,
with[2] chere;
[K] "A! mon, how may ? ou slepe,
[L] ? is morning is so clere? " [Fol. 114b. ]
1748 He wat3 in drowping depe,
Bot ? enne he con hir here.
[Sidenote A: Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,]
[Sidenote B: and the hallooing of the hunters. ]
[Sidenote C: There the fox was threatened and called a thief. ]
[Sidenote D: But Reynard was wily,]
[Sidenote E: and led them astray over mounts. ]
[Sidenote F: Meanwhile the knight at home soundly sleeps within his comely
curtains. ]
[Sidenote G: The lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle,]
[Sidenote H: her throat and bosom all bare,]
[Sidenote I: comes to Gawayne's chamber,]
[Sidenote J: opens a window, and says,]
[Sidenote K: "Ah! man, how canst thou sleep,]
[Sidenote L: this morning is so clear? "]
[Footnote 1: wayue3(? ). ]
[Footnote 2: bi, a sec. manu. ]
XXV.
[A] In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled ? at noble,
As mon ? at wat3 in mornyng of mony ? ro ? o3tes,
1752 How ? at destine schulde ? at day [dy3t] his wyrde,
At ? e grene chapel, when he ? e gome metes,
& bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more;
[B] Bot quen ? at comly he keuered his wyttes,
1756 Swenges out of ? e sweuenes, & sware3 with hast.
? e lady luflych com la3ande swete,
[C] Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed;
He welcume3 hir wor? ily, with a wale chere;
1760 He se3 hir so glorious, & gayly atyred,
So fautles of hir fetures, & of so fyne hewes,
[D] Wi3t wallande Ioye warmed his hert;
With smo? e smylyng & smolt ? ay smeten in-to mer? e,
1764 ? at al wat3 blis & bonchef, ? at breke hem bi-twene,
& wynne,
? ay lanced wordes gode,
Much wele ? en wat3 ? er-inne,
1768 [E] Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,
Nif mare of hir kny3t mynne.
[Sidenote A: The knight was then dreaming of his forthcoming adventure at
the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote B: He awakes and speaks to his fair visitor,]
[Sidenote C: who sweetly kisses him. ]
[Sidenote D: Great joy warms the heart of Sir Gawayne,]
[Sidenote E: and "great peril between them stood. "]
XXVI.
[A] For ? at prynce of pris de-presed hym so ? ikke.
Nurned hym so ne3e ? e ? red, ? at nede hym bi-houed,
1772 O? er lach ? er hir luf, o? er lodly re-fuse;
He cared for his cortaysye, lest cra? ayn he were,
[B] & more for his meschef, 3if he schulde make synne,
& be traytor to ? at tolke, ? at ? at telde a3t.
1776 "God schylde," quod ? e schalk, "? at schal not be-falle! "
With luf-la3yng a lyt, he layd hym by-syde
Alle ? e speche3 of specialte ? at sprange of her mouthe.
Quod ? at burde to ? e burne, "blame 3e disserue,
1780 3if 3e luf not ? at lyf ? at 3e lye nexte,
Bifore alle ? e wy3e3 in ? e worlde, wounded in hert,
[C] Bot if 3e haf a lemman, a leuer, ? at yow lyke3 better,
& folden fayth to ? at fre, festned so harde,
1784 ? at yow lausen ne lyst, & ? at I leue nou? e; [Fol. 115. ]
And ? at 3e telle me ? at, now trwly I pray yow,
For alle ? e lufe3 vpon lyue, layne not ? e so? e,
for gile. "
1788 [D] ? e kny3t sayde, "be sayn Ion,"
& sme? ely con he smyle,
"In fayth I welde ri3t non,
Ne non wil welde ? e quile. "
[Sidenote A: The knight is sorely pressed. ]
[Sidenote B: He fears lest he should become a traitor to his host. ]
[Sidenote C: The lady inquire whether he has a mistress that he loves
better than her. ]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne swears by St. John that he neither has nor desires
one. ]
XXVII.
1792 "? at is a worde," quod ? at wy3t, "? at worst is of alle,
Bot I am swared for so? e, ? at sore me ? inkke3;
[A] Kysse me now coraly, & I schal cach he? en,
I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may ? at much louyes. "
1796 Sykande ho swe3e doun, & semly hym kyssed,
& si? en ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes,
"Now, dere, at ? is de-partyng, do me ? is ese,
[B] Gif me sumquat of ? y gifte, ? i gloue if[1] hit were,
1800 [C] ? at I may mynne on ? e mon, my mournyng to lassen. "
"Now Iwysse," quod ? at wy3e, "I wolde I hade here
? e leuest ?
