Part 10

[A] He lyftes ly3tly his lome, & let hit doun fayre, [B] With þe barbe of þe bitte bi þe bare nek [Fol. 122.] Þa3 he homered heterly, hurt hym no more, 2312 Bot snyrt hym on þat on syde, þat seuered þe hyde; [C] Þe scharp schrank to þe flesche þur3 þe schyre grece, Þat þe schene blod over his schulderes schot to þe erþe. [D] & quen þe burne se3 þe blode blenk on þe snawe, 2316 He sprit forth spenne fote more þen a spere lenþe, Hent heterly his helme, & on his hed cast, Schot with his schuldere3 his fayre schelde vnder, [E] Brayde3 out a bry3t sworde, & bremely he speke3; 2320 Neuer syn þat he wat3 burne borne of his moder, Wat3 he neuer in þis worlde, wy3e half so blyþe:-- [F] "Blynne, burne, of þy bur, bede me no mo; I haf a stroke in þis sted with-oute stryf hent, 2324 [G] & if þow reche3 me any mo, I redyly schal quyte, & 3elde 3ederly a3ayn, & þer to 3e tryst, & foo; [H] Bot on stroke here me falle3, 2328 Þe couenaunt schop ry3t so, [Sikered][1] in Arþure3 halle3, & þer-fore, hende, now hoo!"

[Sidenote A: He let fall his loom on the bare] [Sidenote B: neck of Sir Gawayne.] [Sidenote C: The sharp weapon pierced the flesh so that the blood flowed.] [Sidenote D: When the knight saw the blood on the snow,] [Sidenote E: he unsheathed his sword, and thus spake:] [Sidenote F: "Cease, man, of thy blow.] [Sidenote G: If thou givest me any more, readily shall I requite thee.] [Sidenote H: Our agreement stipulates only one stroke."] [Footnote 1: Illegible.]

XV.

[A] The haþel heldet hym fro, & on his ax rested, 2332 Sette þe schaft vpon schore, & to be scharp lened, [B] & loked to þe leude, þat on þe launde 3ede, How þat do3ty dredles deruely þer stonde3, Armed ful a3le3; in hert hit hym lyke3. 2336 þenn he mele3 muryly, wyth a much steuen, [C] & wyth a r[a]ykande rurde he to þe renk sayde, "Bolde burne, on þis bent be not so gryndel; No mon here vn-manerly þe mys-boden habbe, 2340 Ne kyd, bot as couenaunde, at kynge3 kort schaped; [D] I hy3t þe a strok, & þou hit hat3, halde þe wel payed, I relece þe of þe remnaunt, of ry3tes alle oþer; 3if[1] I deliuer had bene, a boffet, paraunter, 2344 [E] I couþe wroþeloker haf waret, [&] to þe haf wro3t anger.[2] Fyrst I mansed þe muryly, with a mynt one, [F] & roue þe wyth no rof, sore with ry3t I þe profered, For þe forwarde that we fest in þe fyrst ny3t, [Fol. 122b.] 2348 & þou trystyly þe trawþe & trwly me halde3, Al þe gayne þow me gef, as god mon shulde; [G] Þat oþer munt for þe morne, mon, I þe profered, Þou kyssedes my clere wyf, þe cosse3 me ra3te3, 2352 For boþe two here I þe bede bot two bare myntes, boute scaþe; [H] Trwe mon trwe restore, Þenne þar mon drede no waþe; 2356 [I] At þe þrid þou fayled þore, & þer-for þat tappe ta þe.

[Sidenote A: The Green Knight rested on his axe,] [Sidenote B: looked on Sir Gawayne, who appeared bold and fearless,] [Sidenote C: and addressed him as follows: "Bold knight, be not so wroth,] [Sidenote D: I promised thee a stroke and thou hast it, be satisfied.] [Sidenote E: I could have dealt worse with thee.] [Sidenote F: I menaced thee with one blow for the covenant between us on the first night.] [Sidenote G: Another I aimed at thee because thou kissedst my wife.] [Sidenote H: A true man should restore truly, and then he need fear no harm.] [Sidenote I: Thou failedst at the third time, and therefore take thee that tap. (See l. 1861.)] [Footnote 1: uf, in MS.] [Footnote 2: This word is doubtful.]

XVI.

[A] For hit is my wede þat þou were3, þat ilke wouen girdel, Myn owen wyf hit þe weued, I wot wel forsoþe; 2360 [B] Now know I wel þy cosses, & þy costes als, & þe wowyng of my wyf, I wro3t hit myseluen; [C] I sende hir to asay þe, & sothly me þynkke3, On þe fautlest freke, þat euer on fote 3ede; 2364 As perle bi þe quite pese is of prys more, So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi oþer gay kny3te3. [D] Bot here you lakked a lyttel, sir, & lewte yow wonted, Bot þat wat3 for no wylyde werke, ne wowyng nauþer, 2368 [E] Bot for 3e lufed your lyf, þe lasse I yow blame." Þat oþer stif mon in study stod a gret whyle; So agreued for greme he gryed with-inne, [F] Alle þe blode of his brest blende in his face, 2372 Þat al he schrank for schome, þat þe schalk talked. Þe forme worde vpon folde, þat þe freke meled,-- [G] "Corsed worth cowarddyse & couetyse boþe! In yow is vylany & vyse, þat vertue disstrye3." 2376 [H] Þenne he ka3t to þe knot, & þe kest lawse3, Brayde broþely þe belt to þe burne seluen: "Lo! þer þe falssyng, foule mot hit falle! [I] For care of þy knokke cowardyse me ta3t 2380 To a-corde me with couetyse, my kynde to for-sake, Þat is larges & lewte, þat longe3 to kny3te3. [J] Now am I fawty, & falce, & ferde haf ben euer; Of trecherye & vn-trawþe boþe bityde sor3e 2384 & care! [K] I bi-knowe yow, kny3t, here stylle, [Fol. 123.] Al fawty is my fare, Lete3 me ouer-take your wylle, 2388 & efle I schal be ware."

[Sidenote A: For my weed (woven by my wife) thou wearest.] [Sidenote B: I know thy kisses and my wife's wooing.] [Sidenote C: I sent her to try thee, and faultless I found thee.] [Sidenote D: But yet thou sinnedst a little,] [Sidenote E: for love of thy life."] [Sidenote F: Gawayne stands confounded.] [Sidenote G: "Cursed," he says, "be cowardice and covetousness both!"] [Sidenote H: Then he takes off the girdle and throws it to the knight.] [Sidenote I: He curses his cowardice,] [Sidenote J: and confesses himself to have been guilty of untruth.] [Sidenote K: ]

XVII.

[A] Thenne lo3e þat oþer leude, & luflyly sayde, "I halde hit hardily[1] hole, þe harme þat I hade; [B] Þou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of þy mysses, 2392 & hat3 þe penaunce apert, of þe poynt of myn egge, [C] I halde þe polysed of þat ply3t, & pured as clene, As þou hade3 neuer forfeted, syþen þou wat3 fyrst borne. [D] & I gif þe, sir, þe gurdel þat is golde hemmed; 2396 For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye Þenk vpon þis ilke þrepe, þer þou forth þrynge3 Among prynces of prys, & þis a pure token [E] Of þe chaunce of þe grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3; 2400 [F] & 3e schal in þis nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3, & we schyn reuel þe remnaunt of þis ryche fest, ful bene." Þer laþed hym fast þe lorde, 2404 & sayde, "with my wyf, I wene, We schal yow wel acorde, Þat wat3 your enmy kene."

[Sidenote A: Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:] [Sidenote B: "Thou art confessed so clean,] [Sidenote C: that I hold thee as pure as if thou hadst never been guilty.] [Sidenote D: I give thee, sir, the gold-hemmed girdle,] [Sidenote E: as a token of thy adventure at the Green Chapel.] [Sidenote F: Come again to my abode, and abide there for the remainder of the festival."] [Footnote 1: hardilyly, in MS.]

XVIII.

[A] "Nay, for soþe," quod þe segge, & sesed hys helme, 2408 & hat3 hit of hendely, & þe haþel þonkke3, [B] "I haf soiorned sadly, sele yow bytyde, & he 3elde hit yow 3are, þat 3arkke3 al menskes! [C] & comaunde3 me to þat cortays, your comlych fere, 2412 Boþe þat on & þat oþer, myn honoured ladye3. Þat þus hor kny3t wyth hor kest han koyntly bigyled. [D] Bot hit is no ferly, þa3 a fole madde, & þur3 wyles of wymmen be wonen to sor3e; 2416 [E] For so wat3 Adam in erde with one bygyled, & Salamon with fele sere, & Samson eft sone3, Dalyda dalt hym hys wyrde, & Dauyth þer-after Wat3 blended with Barsabe, þat much bale þoled. 2420 Now þese were wrathed wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne huge, [F] To luf hom wel, & leue hem not, a leude þat couþe, For þes wer forne[1] þe freest þat fol3ed alle þe sele, [Fol.] Ex-ellently of alle þyse oþer, vnder heuen-ryche, [123b.] 2424 þat mused; & alle þay were bi-wyled, With[2] wymmen þat þay vsed, [G] Þa3 I be now bigyled, 2428 Me þink me burde be excused."

[Sidenote A: "Nay, forsooth," says Gawayne,] [Sidenote B: "I have sojourned sadly, but bliss betide thee!] [Sidenote C: Commend me to your comely wife and that other lady who have beguiled me.] [Sidenote D: But it is no marvel for a man to be brought to grief through a woman's wiles.] [Sidenote E: Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David were beguiled by women.] [Sidenote F: How could a man love them and believe them not?] [Sidenote G: Though I be now beguiled, methinks I should be excused.] [Footnote 1: forme (?)] [Footnote 2: with wyth, in MS.]

XIX.

[A] "Bot your gordel," quod G: "God yow for-3elde! Þat wyl I welde wyth good wylle, not for þe wynne golde, Ne þe saynt, ne þe sylk, ne þe syde pendaundes, 2432 For wele, ne for worchyp, ne for þe wlonk werkke3, [B] Bot in syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte; When I ride in renoun, remorde to myseluen Þe faut & þe fayntyse of þe flesche crabbed, 2436 How tender hit is to entyse teches of fylþe; [C] & þus, quen pryde schal me pryk, for prowes of armes, [D] Þe loke to þis luf lace schal leþe my hert. Bot on I wolde yow pray, displeses yow neuer; 2440 Syn 3e be lorde of þe 3onde[r] londe, þer I haf lent inne, Wyth yow wyth worschyp,--þe wy3e hit yow 3elde Þat vp-halde3 þe heuen, & on hy3 sitte3,-- [E] How norne 3e yowre ry3t nome, & þenne no more?" 2444 "Þat schal I telle þe trwly," quod þat oþer þenne, [F] "Bernlak de Hautdesert I hat in þis londe, Þur3 my3t of Morgne la Faye, þat in my hous lenges, &[1] koyntyse of clergye, bi craftes wel lerned, 2448 Þe maystres of Merlyn, mony ho[2] taken; For ho hat3 dalt drwry ful dere sum tyme, With þat conable klerk, þat knowes alle your kny3te3 at hame; 2452 Morgne þe goddes, Þer-fore hit is hir name; [G] Welde3 non so hy3e hawtesse, Þat ho ne con make ful tame.

[Sidenote A: But God reward you for your girdle.] [Sidenote B: I will wear it in remembrance of my fault.] [Sidenote C: And when pride shall prick me,] [Sidenote D: a look to this lace shall abate it.] [Sidenote E: But tell me your right name and I shall have done."] [Sidenote F: The Green Knight replies, "I am called Bernlak de Hautdesert, through might of Morgain la Fey, the pupil of Merlin.] [Sidenote G: She can tame even the haughtiest.] [Footnote 1: in (?).] [Footnote 2: ho hat3 (?).]

XX.

2456 [A] Ho wayned me vpon þis wyse to your wynne halle, For to assay þe surquidre, 3if hit soth were, Þat rennes of þe grete renoun of þe Rounde Table; Ho wayned me þis wonder, your wytte3 to reue, 2460 [B] For to haf greued Gaynour, & gart hir to dy3e. [Fol. 124.] With gopnyng[1] of þat ilke gomen, þat gostlych speked, With his hede in his honde, bifore þe hy3e table. Þat is ho þat is at home, þe auncian lady; 2464 [C] Ho is euen þyn aunt, Arþure3 half suster, Þe duches do3ter of Tyntagelle, þat dere Vter after [D] Hade Arþur vpon, þat aþel is nowþe. Þerfore I eþe þe, haþel, to com to þy naunt, 2468 Make myry in my hous, my meny þe louies, & I wol þe as wel, wy3e, bi my faythe, As any gome vnder God, for þy grete trauþe." [E] & he nikked hym naye, he nolde bi no wayes; 2472 Þay acolen & kyssen, [bikennen] ayþer oþer To þe prynce of paradise, & parten ry3t þere, on coolde; [F] Gawayn on blonk ful bene, 2476 To þe kynge3 bur3 buske3 bolde, & þe kny3t in þe enker grene, Whider-warde so euer he wolde.

[Sidenote A: It was she who caused me to test the renown of the Round Table,] [Sidenote B: hoping to grieve Guenever and cause her death through fear.] [Sidenote C: She is even thine aunt.] [Sidenote D: Therefore come to her and make merry in my house."] [Sidenote E: Gawayne refuses to return with the Green Knight.] [Sidenote F: On horse full fair he bends to Arthur's hall.] [Footnote 1: glopnyng (?).]

XXI.

[A] Wylde waye3 in þe worlde Wowen now ryde3, 2480 On Gryngolet, þat þe grace hade geten of his lyue; [B] Ofte he herbered in house, & ofte al þeroute, & mony a-venture in vale, & venquyst ofte, Þat I ne ty3t, at þis tyme, in tale to remene. 2484 [C] Þe hurt wat3 hole, þat he hade hent in his nek, [D] & þe blykkande belt he bere þeraboute, A belef as a bauderyk, bounden bi his syde, Loken vnder his lyfte arme, þe lace, with a knot, 2488 [E] In tokenyng he wat3 tane in tech of a faute; [F] & þus he commes to þe court, kny3t al in sounde. [G] Þer wakned wele in þat wone, when wyst þe grete, Þat gode G: wat3 commen, gayn hit hym þo3t; 2492 [H] Þe kyng kysse3 þe kny3t, & þe whene alce, & syþen mony syker kny3t, þat so3t hym to haylce, [I] Of his fare þat hym frayned, & ferlyly he telles; Biknowo3 alle þe costes of care þat he hade,-- 2496 Þe chaunce of þe chapel, þe chere of þe kny3t, [J] Þe luf of þe ladi, þe lace at þe last. [Fol. 124b.] Þe nirt in þe nek he naked hem schewed, [K] Þat he la3t for his vnleute at þe leudes hondes, 2500 for blame; He tened quen he schulde telle, [L] He groned for gref & grame; Þe blod in his face con melle, 2504 When he hit schulde schewe, for schame.

[Sidenote A: Wild ways now Gawayne rides.] [Sidenote B: Oft he harboured in house and oft thereout.] [Sidenote C: The wound in his neck became whole.] [Sidenote D: He still carried about him the belt,] [Sidenote E: in token of his fault.] [Sidenote F: Thus he comes to the Court of King Arthur.] [Sidenote G: Great then was the joy of all.] [Sidenote H: The king and his knights ask him concerning his journey.] [Sidenote I: Gawayne tells them of his adventures,] [Sidenote J: the love of the lady, and lastly of the lace.] [Sidenote K: He showed them the cut in his neck.] [Sidenote L: He groaned for grief and shame, and the blood rushed into his face.]

XXII.

[A] "Lo! lorde," quod þe leude, & þe lace hondeled, "Þis is þe bende of þis blame I bere [in] my nek, Þis is þe laþe & þe losse, þat I la3t haue, 2508 [B] Of couardise & couetyse, þat I haf ca3t þare, Þis is þe token of vn-trawþe, þat I am tan inne, [C] & I mot nede3 hit were, wyle I may last; For non may hyden his harme, bot vnhap ne may hit, 2512 For þer hit one3 is tachched, twynne wil hit neuer." [D] Þe kyng comforte3 þe kny3t, & alle þe court als, La3en loude þer-at, & luflyly acorden, Þat lordes & ladis, þat longed to þe Table, 2516 [E] Vche burne of þe broþer-hede a bauderyk schulde haue, A bende, a belef hym aboute, of a bry3t grene, [F] & þat, for sake of þat segge, in swete to were. For þat wat3 acorded þe renoun of þe Rounde Table, 2520 [G] & he honoured þat hit hade, euer-more after, As hit is breued in þe best boke of romaunce. [H] Þus in Arthurus day þis aunter bitidde, Þe Brutus bokees þer-of beres wyttenesse; 2524 Syþen Brutus, þe bolde burne, bo3ed hider fyrst, After þe segge & þe asaute wat3 sesed at Troye, I-wysse; Mony auntere3 here bi-forne, 2528 Haf fallen suche er þis: [I] Now þat bere þe croun of þorne, He bryng vus to his blysse! AMEN.

[Sidenote A: "Lo!" says he, handling the lace, "this is the band of blame,] [Sidenote B: a token of my cowardice and covetousness,] [Sidenote C: I must needs wear it as long as I live."] [Sidenote D: The king comforts the knight, and all the court too.] [Sidenote E: Each knight of the brotherhood agrees to wear a bright green belt,] [Sidenote F: for Gawayne's sake,] [Sidenote G: who ever more honoured it.] [Sidenote H: Thus in Arthur's day this adventure befell.] [Sidenote I: He that bore the crown of thorns bring us to His bliss!]

* * * * *

NOTES.

Line 8 Ricchis turns, goes, The king ... Ricchis his reynys and the Renke metys: Girden to gedur with þere grete speires.--T.B. l. 1232.

37 Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse. Camalot, in Malory's "Morte Arthure," is said to be the same as Winchester. Ritson supposes it to be Caer-went, in Monmouthshire, and afterwards confounded with Caer-wynt, or Winchester. But popular tradition here seems the best guide, which assigned the site of Camalot to the ruins of a castle on a hill, near the church of South Cadbury, in Somersetshire (Sir F. Madden).

65 Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte. Christmas celebrated anew, mentioned full often. Sir F. Madden leaves the word nayted unexplained in his Glossary to "Syr Gawayne."

124 syluener = sylueren, i.e. silver dishes.

139 lyndes = lendes, loins.

142 in his muckel, in his greatness.

184 Wat3 euesed al umbe-torne--? was trimmed, all cut evenly around; umbe-torne may be an error for vmbe-corue = cut round.

216 in gracios werkes. Sir F. Madden reads gracons for gracios, and suggests Greek as the meaning of it.

244-5 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3 in hy3e. As all were fallen asleep so ceased their words in haste (suddenly). Sir F. Madden reads slaked horlote3, instead of slaked hor lote3, which, according to his glossary, signifies drunken vagabonds. He evidently takes horlote3 to be another (and a very uncommon) form of harlote3 = harlots. But harlot, or vagabond, would be a very inappropriate term to apply to the noble Knights of the Round Table. Moreover, slaked never, I think, means drunken. The general sense of the verb slake is to let loose, lessen, cease. Cf. lines 411-2, where sloke, another form of slake, occurs with a similar meaning: -- layt no fyrre; bot slokes. -- seek no further, but stop (cease). Sir F. Madden suggests blows as the explanation of slokes. It is, however, a verb in the imperative mood.

286 Brayn. Mätzner suggests brayn-wod.

296 barlay = par loi. This word is exceedingly common in the T. Book (see l. 3391). I bid you now, barlay, with besines at all Þat ye set you most soverainly my suster to gete.--T.B. l. 2780.

394 siker. Sir F. Madden reads swer.

440 bluk. Sir F. Madden suggests blunk (horse). I am inclined to keep to the reading of the MS., and explain bluk as = bulk = trunk. Cf. the use of the word Blok in "Early English Alliterative Poems," p. 100, l. 272.

558 derue doel, etc. = great grief. Sir F. Madden reads derne, i.e. secret, instead of derue (= derf). Cf. line 564.

577 knaged, fastened. The braunches were borly, sum of bright gold, With leuys full luffly, light of the same; With burions aboue bright to beholde; And fruit on yt fourmyt of fairest of shap, Of mony kynd that was knyt, knagged aboue.--T.B. l. 4973.

629 & ay quere hit is endele3, etc. And everywhere it is endless, etc. Sir F. Madden reads emdele3, i.e. with equal sides.

652 for-be = for-bi = surpassing, beyond.

681 for Hadet read Halet = haled = exiled (?). See line 1049.

806 auinant = auenaunt, pleasantly. Sir F. Madden reads amnant.

954 of. Should we not read on (?).

957 Þat oþer wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer þe swyre. The gorger or wimple is stated first to have appeared in Edward the First's reign, and an example is found on the monument of Aveline, Countess of Lancaster, who died in 1269. From the poem, however, it would seem that the gorger was confined to elderly ladies (Sir F. Madden).

968 More lykker-wys on to lyk, Wat3 þat scho had on lode.

A more pleasant one to like, Was that (one) she had under her control.

988 tayt = lively, and hence pleasant, agreeable.

1015 in vayres, in purity.

1020 dut = dunt (?) = dint (?), referring to sword-sports.

1022 sayn[t] Ione3 day. This is the 27th of December, and the last of the feast. Sometimes the Christmas festivities were prolonged to New Year's Day (Sir F. Madden).

1047 derne dede = secret deed. I would prefer to read derue dede = great deed. Cf. lines 558, 564.

1053 I wot in worlde, etc. = I not (I know not) in worlde, etc.

1054 I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne, For alle þe londe in-wyth Logres, etc. I would not [delay to set out], unless I might approach it on New Year's morn, for all the lands within England, etc.

1074 in spenne = in space = in the interval = meanwhile. See line 1503.

1160 slentyng of arwes. Sir F. Madden reads sleutyng. "Of drawyn swordis sclentyng to and fra, The brycht mettale, and othir armouris seir, Quharon the sonnys blenkis betis cleir, Glitteris and schane, and vnder bemys brycht, Castis ane new twynklyng or a lemand lycht." (G. Douglas' Æneid, Vol. i, p. 421.)

1281 let lyk = appeared pleased.

1283 Þa3 I were burde bry3test, þe burde in mynde hade, etc. The sense requires us to read: Þa3 ho were burde bry3test, þe burne in mynde hade, etc. i.e., Though she were lady fairest, the knight in mind had, etc.

1440 Long sythen [seuered] for þe sounder þat wi3t for-olde Long since separated from the sounder or herd that fierce (one) for-aged (grew very old). "Now to speke of the boore, the fyrste year he is A pygge of the sounder callyd, as haue I blys; The secounde yere an hogge, and soo shall he be, And an hoggestere, whan he is of yeres thre; And when he is foure yere, a boor shall he be, From the sounder of the swyne thenne departyth he; A synguler is he soo, for alone he woll go." (Book of St. Alban's, ed. 1496, sig. d., i.)

1476 totes = looks, toots. Sho went up wightly by a walle syde. To the toppe of a toure and tot ouer the water.--T.B. l. 862.

1623 A verb [? lalede = cried] seems wanting after lorde.

1702 fnasted, breathed. These balfull bestes were, as the boke tellus, Full flaumond of fyre with fnastyng of logh.--T.B. l. 168.

1710 a strothe rande = a rugged path. Cf. the phrases tene greue, l. 1707; ro3e greue, l. 1898.

1719 Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list, etc. Should we not read: Thenne wat3 hit list vpon lif, etc. i.e., Then was there joy in life, etc.

1729 bi lag = be-lagh(?) = below (?).

1780 lyf = lef(?), beloved (one).