e,
[E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful ?
[E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful ?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
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 ? ing for ? y luf, ? at I in londe welde,
[D] For 3e haf deserued, forso? e, sellyly ofte
1804 More rewarde bi resoun, ? en I reche my3t,
Bot to dele yow for drurye, ? at dawed bot neked;
Hit is not your honour to haf at ? is tyme
A gloue for a garysoun, of Gawayne3 gifte3,
1808 & I am here [on] an erande in erde3 vncou?
e,
[E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful ? inge3;
? at mislyke3 me, lade, for luf at ? is tyme,[2]
Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille,
1812 ne pine. "
[F] "Nay, hende of hy3e honours,"
Quod ? at lufsum vnder lyne,
[G] "? a3 I hade o3t[3] of youre3,
1816 3et schulde 3e haue of myne. "
[Sidenote A: She then kisses him, sighing for sorrow. ]
[Sidenote B: She desires some gift,]
[Sidenote C: by which to remember him. ]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne tells her that she is worthy of a better gift than he
can bestow. ]
[Sidenote E: He has no men with mails containing precious things. ]
[Sidenote F: Then says that lovesome,]
[Sidenote G: "Though I had nought of yours, yet should ye have of mine. "]
[Footnote 1: of, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: tyne, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: no3t (? ). ]
XXVIII.
[A] Ho ra3t hym a riche rynk[1] of red golde werke3,
Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,
? at bere blusschande beme3 as ? e bry3t sunne;
1820 Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge.
[B] Bot ? e renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,
"I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at ? is tyme; [Fol. 115b. ]
[C] I haf none yow to norne, ne no3t wyl I take. "
1824 Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,
& swere swyftel[y] his sothe, ? at he hit sese nolde;
[D] & ho sore ? at he forsoke, & sayde ? er-after,
"If 3e renay my rynk, to ryche for hit seme3,
1828 3e wolde not so hy3ly halden be to me,
I schal gif yow my girdel, ? at gaynes yow lasse. "
Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, ? at[2] leke vmbe hir syde3,
[E] Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder ? e clere mantyle,
1832 Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,
No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3;
& ? at ho bede to ? e burne, & bly? ely bi-so3t
[F] ? a3 hit vn-wor? i were, ? at he hit take wolde.
1836 & he nay ? at he nolde neghe in no wyse,
[G] Nau? er golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende,
To acheue to ? e chaunce ? at he hade chosen ? ere.
"& ? erfore, I pray yow, displese yow no3t,
1840 & lette3 be your bisinesse, for I bay? e hit yow neuer
to graunte;
I am derely to yow biholde,
Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,
1844 [H] & euer in hot & colde
To be your trwe seruaunt.
[Sidenote A: She offers him a gold ring,]
[Sidenote B: but he refuses to accept it,]
[Sidenote C: as he has none to give in return. ]
[Sidenote D: Very sorrowful was that fair one on account of his refusal. ]
[Sidenote E: She takes off her "girdle,"]
[Sidenote F: and beseeches him to take it. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne again refuses to accept anything,]
[Sidenote H: but promises, "ever in hot and in cold, to be her true
servant. "]
[Footnote 1: ryng (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: ? at ? at, in MS. ]
XXIX.
[A] "Now forsake 3e ? is silke. " sayde ? e burde ? enne,
"For hit is symple in hit-self. & so hit wel seme3?
1848 Lo! so hit is littel, & lasse hit is wor? y;
[B] Bot who-so knew ? e costes ? at knit ar ? er-inne,
He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture;
[C] For quat gome so is gorde with ? is grene lace,
1852 While he hit hade hemely halched aboute,
? er is no ha? el vnder heuen to-hewe hym ? at my3t;
[D] For he my3t not he slayn, for sly3t vpon er? e. "
? en kest ? e kny3t, & hit come to his hert,
1856 [E] Hit were a Iuel for ? e Ioparde, ? at hym iugged were,
When he acheued to ? e chapel, his chek forto fech;
[F] My3[1] he haf slypped to ? e vn-slayn, ? e sle3t were noble.
? enne ho ? ulged with hir ? repe, & ? oled hir to speke, [Fol. 116. ]
1860 & ho bere on hym ? e belt, & bede hit hym swy? e,
[G] & he granted, & [ho] hym gafe with a goud wylle,
& biso3t hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer,
Bot to lelly layne for[2] hir lorde; ? e leude hym acorde3.
1864 ? at neuer wy3e schulde hit wyt, Iwysse, bot ? ay twayne,
for no3te;
He ? onkked hir oft ful swy? e,
Ful ? ro with hert & ? o3t.
1868 [H] Bi ? at on ? rynne sy? e,
He hat3 kyst ? e kny3t so to3t.
[Sidenote A: "Do you refuse it," says the lady, because it is simple? ]
[Sidenote B: Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses, would highly prize
it. ]
[Sidenote C: For he who is girded with this green lace,]
[Sidenote D: cannot be wounded or slain. "]
[Sidenote E: The knight thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote F: The lady presses him to accept the lace. ]
[Sidenote G: He consents not only to take the girdle, but to keep the
possession of it a secret. ]
[Sidenote H: By that time the lady has kissed him thrice. ]
[Footnote 1: my3t (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: fro (? ). ]
XXX.
[A] Thenne lachche3 ho hir leue, & leue3 hym ? ere,
For more myr? e of ? at mon mo3t ho not gete;
1872 [B] When ho[1] wat3 gon, sir G. gere3 hym sone,
Rises, & riches hym in araye noble,
[C] Lays vp ? e luf-lace, ? e lady hym ra3t,
Hid hit ful holdely, ? er he hit eft fonde;
1876 Sy? en cheuely to ? e chapel choses he ? e waye,
[D] Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym ? ere
? at he wolde lyfte[2] his lyf, & lern hym better,
How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye he? en.
1880 [E] ? ere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdede3,
Of ? e more & ? e mynne, & merci beseche3,
[F] & of absolucioun he on ? e segge calles;
& he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene,
1884 [G] As dome3-day schulde haf ben di3t on ? e morn.
& sy? en he mace hym as mery among ? e fre ladyes,
[H] With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye,
As neuer he did bot ? at daye, to ? e derk ny3t,
1888 with blys;
Vche mon hade daynte ? are,
[I] Of hym, & sayde Iwysse,
[J] ? us myry he wat3 neuer are,
1892 Syn he com hider, er ? is.
[Sidenote A: Then she takes her leave. ]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne then dresses himself,]
[Sidenote C: and conceals the love-lace about his person. ]
[Sidenote D: He then hies to mass,]
[Sidenote E: and shrives him of his misdeeds. ]
[Sidenote F: and prays for absolution. ]
[Sidenote G: He returns to the hall, and makes himself so merry among the
ladies,]
[Sidenote H: with comely carols,]
[Sidenote I: that they said,]
[Sidenote J: "Thus merry was he never before since hither he came. "]
[Footnote 1: he, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: lyste (? ). ]
XXXI.
[A] Now hym lenge in ? at lee, ? er luf hym bi-tyde;
3et is ? e lorde on ? e launde, ledande his gomnes,
[B] He hat3 forfaren ? is fox, ? at he fol3ed longe;
1896 As he sprent ouer a spenne, to spye ? e schrewe,
? er as he herd ? e howndes, ? at hasted hym swy? e, [Fol. 116b. ]
[C] Renaud com richchande ? ur3 a ro3e greue,
& alle ? e rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.
1900 [D] ? e wy3e wat3 war of ? e wylde, & warly abides,
& brayde3 out ? e bry3t bronde, & at ? e best caste3;
& he schunt for ? e scharp, & schulde haf arered,
[E] A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,
1904 & ry3t bifore ? e hors fete ? ay fel on hym alle,
& woried me ? is wyly wyth a wroth noyse.
[F] ? e lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by[1] sone,
Rased hym ful radly out of ? e rach mou? es,
1908 Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,
& ? er bayen hym mony bray[2] hounde3;
[G] Huntes hy3ed hem ? eder, with horne3 ful mony,
Ay re-chatande ary3t til ? ay ? e renk se3en;
1912 Bi ? at wat3 comen his compeyny noble,
Alle ? at euer ber bugle blowed at ones,
[H] & alle ? ise o? er halowed, ? at hade no hornes,
Hit wat3 ? e myriest mute ? at euer men herde,
1916 ? e rich rurd ? at ? er wat3 raysed for renaude saule,
with lote;
[I] Hor hounde3 ? ay ? er rewarde,
Her[3] hede3 ? ay fawne & frote,
1920 [J] & sy? en ?
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 ? ing for ? y luf, ? at I in londe welde,
[D] For 3e haf deserued, forso? e, sellyly ofte
1804 More rewarde bi resoun, ? en I reche my3t,
Bot to dele yow for drurye, ? at dawed bot neked;
Hit is not your honour to haf at ? is tyme
A gloue for a garysoun, of Gawayne3 gifte3,
1808 & I am here [on] an erande in erde3 vncou?
e,
[E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful ? inge3;
? at mislyke3 me, lade, for luf at ? is tyme,[2]
Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille,
1812 ne pine. "
[F] "Nay, hende of hy3e honours,"
Quod ? at lufsum vnder lyne,
[G] "? a3 I hade o3t[3] of youre3,
1816 3et schulde 3e haue of myne. "
[Sidenote A: She then kisses him, sighing for sorrow. ]
[Sidenote B: She desires some gift,]
[Sidenote C: by which to remember him. ]
[Sidenote D: Gawayne tells her that she is worthy of a better gift than he
can bestow. ]
[Sidenote E: He has no men with mails containing precious things. ]
[Sidenote F: Then says that lovesome,]
[Sidenote G: "Though I had nought of yours, yet should ye have of mine. "]
[Footnote 1: of, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: tyne, in MS. ]
[Footnote 3: no3t (? ). ]
XXVIII.
[A] Ho ra3t hym a riche rynk[1] of red golde werke3,
Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,
? at bere blusschande beme3 as ? e bry3t sunne;
1820 Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge.
[B] Bot ? e renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,
"I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at ? is tyme; [Fol. 115b. ]
[C] I haf none yow to norne, ne no3t wyl I take. "
1824 Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,
& swere swyftel[y] his sothe, ? at he hit sese nolde;
[D] & ho sore ? at he forsoke, & sayde ? er-after,
"If 3e renay my rynk, to ryche for hit seme3,
1828 3e wolde not so hy3ly halden be to me,
I schal gif yow my girdel, ? at gaynes yow lasse. "
Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, ? at[2] leke vmbe hir syde3,
[E] Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder ? e clere mantyle,
1832 Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,
No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3;
& ? at ho bede to ? e burne, & bly? ely bi-so3t
[F] ? a3 hit vn-wor? i were, ? at he hit take wolde.
1836 & he nay ? at he nolde neghe in no wyse,
[G] Nau? er golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende,
To acheue to ? e chaunce ? at he hade chosen ? ere.
"& ? erfore, I pray yow, displese yow no3t,
1840 & lette3 be your bisinesse, for I bay? e hit yow neuer
to graunte;
I am derely to yow biholde,
Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,
1844 [H] & euer in hot & colde
To be your trwe seruaunt.
[Sidenote A: She offers him a gold ring,]
[Sidenote B: but he refuses to accept it,]
[Sidenote C: as he has none to give in return. ]
[Sidenote D: Very sorrowful was that fair one on account of his refusal. ]
[Sidenote E: She takes off her "girdle,"]
[Sidenote F: and beseeches him to take it. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne again refuses to accept anything,]
[Sidenote H: but promises, "ever in hot and in cold, to be her true
servant. "]
[Footnote 1: ryng (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: ? at ? at, in MS. ]
XXIX.
[A] "Now forsake 3e ? is silke. " sayde ? e burde ? enne,
"For hit is symple in hit-self. & so hit wel seme3?
1848 Lo! so hit is littel, & lasse hit is wor? y;
[B] Bot who-so knew ? e costes ? at knit ar ? er-inne,
He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture;
[C] For quat gome so is gorde with ? is grene lace,
1852 While he hit hade hemely halched aboute,
? er is no ha? el vnder heuen to-hewe hym ? at my3t;
[D] For he my3t not he slayn, for sly3t vpon er? e. "
? en kest ? e kny3t, & hit come to his hert,
1856 [E] Hit were a Iuel for ? e Ioparde, ? at hym iugged were,
When he acheued to ? e chapel, his chek forto fech;
[F] My3[1] he haf slypped to ? e vn-slayn, ? e sle3t were noble.
? enne ho ? ulged with hir ? repe, & ? oled hir to speke, [Fol. 116. ]
1860 & ho bere on hym ? e belt, & bede hit hym swy? e,
[G] & he granted, & [ho] hym gafe with a goud wylle,
& biso3t hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer,
Bot to lelly layne for[2] hir lorde; ? e leude hym acorde3.
1864 ? at neuer wy3e schulde hit wyt, Iwysse, bot ? ay twayne,
for no3te;
He ? onkked hir oft ful swy? e,
Ful ? ro with hert & ? o3t.
1868 [H] Bi ? at on ? rynne sy? e,
He hat3 kyst ? e kny3t so to3t.
[Sidenote A: "Do you refuse it," says the lady, because it is simple? ]
[Sidenote B: Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses, would highly prize
it. ]
[Sidenote C: For he who is girded with this green lace,]
[Sidenote D: cannot be wounded or slain. "]
[Sidenote E: The knight thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel. ]
[Sidenote F: The lady presses him to accept the lace. ]
[Sidenote G: He consents not only to take the girdle, but to keep the
possession of it a secret. ]
[Sidenote H: By that time the lady has kissed him thrice. ]
[Footnote 1: my3t (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: fro (? ). ]
XXX.
[A] Thenne lachche3 ho hir leue, & leue3 hym ? ere,
For more myr? e of ? at mon mo3t ho not gete;
1872 [B] When ho[1] wat3 gon, sir G. gere3 hym sone,
Rises, & riches hym in araye noble,
[C] Lays vp ? e luf-lace, ? e lady hym ra3t,
Hid hit ful holdely, ? er he hit eft fonde;
1876 Sy? en cheuely to ? e chapel choses he ? e waye,
[D] Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym ? ere
? at he wolde lyfte[2] his lyf, & lern hym better,
How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye he? en.
1880 [E] ? ere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdede3,
Of ? e more & ? e mynne, & merci beseche3,
[F] & of absolucioun he on ? e segge calles;
& he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene,
1884 [G] As dome3-day schulde haf ben di3t on ? e morn.
& sy? en he mace hym as mery among ? e fre ladyes,
[H] With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye,
As neuer he did bot ? at daye, to ? e derk ny3t,
1888 with blys;
Vche mon hade daynte ? are,
[I] Of hym, & sayde Iwysse,
[J] ? us myry he wat3 neuer are,
1892 Syn he com hider, er ? is.
[Sidenote A: Then she takes her leave. ]
[Sidenote B: Gawayne then dresses himself,]
[Sidenote C: and conceals the love-lace about his person. ]
[Sidenote D: He then hies to mass,]
[Sidenote E: and shrives him of his misdeeds. ]
[Sidenote F: and prays for absolution. ]
[Sidenote G: He returns to the hall, and makes himself so merry among the
ladies,]
[Sidenote H: with comely carols,]
[Sidenote I: that they said,]
[Sidenote J: "Thus merry was he never before since hither he came. "]
[Footnote 1: he, in MS. ]
[Footnote 2: lyste (? ). ]
XXXI.
[A] Now hym lenge in ? at lee, ? er luf hym bi-tyde;
3et is ? e lorde on ? e launde, ledande his gomnes,
[B] He hat3 forfaren ? is fox, ? at he fol3ed longe;
1896 As he sprent ouer a spenne, to spye ? e schrewe,
? er as he herd ? e howndes, ? at hasted hym swy? e, [Fol. 116b. ]
[C] Renaud com richchande ? ur3 a ro3e greue,
& alle ? e rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.
1900 [D] ? e wy3e wat3 war of ? e wylde, & warly abides,
& brayde3 out ? e bry3t bronde, & at ? e best caste3;
& he schunt for ? e scharp, & schulde haf arered,
[E] A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,
1904 & ry3t bifore ? e hors fete ? ay fel on hym alle,
& woried me ? is wyly wyth a wroth noyse.
[F] ? e lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by[1] sone,
Rased hym ful radly out of ? e rach mou? es,
1908 Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,
& ? er bayen hym mony bray[2] hounde3;
[G] Huntes hy3ed hem ? eder, with horne3 ful mony,
Ay re-chatande ary3t til ? ay ? e renk se3en;
1912 Bi ? at wat3 comen his compeyny noble,
Alle ? at euer ber bugle blowed at ones,
[H] & alle ? ise o? er halowed, ? at hade no hornes,
Hit wat3 ? e myriest mute ? at euer men herde,
1916 ? e rich rurd ? at ? er wat3 raysed for renaude saule,
with lote;
[I] Hor hounde3 ? ay ? er rewarde,
Her[3] hede3 ? ay fawne & frote,
1920 [J] & sy? en ?
