Part 3

[Sidenote A: Arthur held at Camelot his Christmas feast,] [Sidenote B: with all the knights of the Round Table,] [Sidenote C: full fifteen days.] [Sidenote D: All was joy in hall and chamber,] [Sidenote E: among brave knights and lovely ladies,] [Sidenote F: the happiest under heaven.] [Footnote 1: MS. werere.]

IV.

60 [A] Wyle nw 3er wat3 so 3ep þat hit wat3 nwe cummen, Þat day doubble on þe dece wat3 þe douth serued, Fro þe kyng wat3 cummen with kny3tes in to þe halle, Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende; 64 Loude crye wat3 þer kest of clerke3 & oþer, Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte; [Fol. 92] & syþen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle, [B] 3e3ed 3eres 3iftes on hi3, 3elde hem bi hond, 68 Debated busyly aboute þo giftes; Ladies la3ed ful loude, þo3 þay lost haden, & he þat wan wat3 not wrothe, þat may 3e wel trawe. [C] Alle þis mirþe þay maden to þe mete tyme; 72 When þay had waschen, worþyly þay wenten to sete, Þe best burne ay abof, as hit best semed; [D] Whene Guenore ful gay, grayþed in þe myddes. Dressed on þe dere des, dubbed al aboute, 76 Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites in-noghe, Þat were enbrawded & beten wyth þe best gemmes, Þat my3t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye, 80 in daye; [E] Þe comlokest to discrye, Þer glent with y3en gray, A semloker þat euer he sy3e, 84 Soth mo3t no mon say.

[Sidenote A: They celebrate the New Year with great joy.] [Sidenote B: Gifts are demanded and bestowed.] [Sidenote C: Lords and ladies take their seats at the table.] [Sidenote D: Queen Guenever appears gaily dressed.] [Sidenote E: A lady fairer of form might no one say he had ever before seen.]

V.

[A] Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued, He wat3 so Ioly of his Ioyfnes, & sum-quat child gered, His lif liked hym ly3t, he louied þe lasse 88 [B] Auþer to lenge lye, or to longe sitte, So bi-sied him his 3onge blod & his brayn wylde; & also anoþer maner meued him eke, Þat he þur3 nobelay had nomen, ho wolde neuer ete 92 Vpon such a dere day, er hym deuised were [C] Of sum auenturus þyng an vncouþe tale, Of sum mayn meruayle, þat he my3t trawe, Of[1] alderes, of armes, of oþer auenturus, 96 Oþer sum segg hym bi-so3t of sum siker kny3t, To Ioyne wyth hym in iustyng in Iopardé to lay, Lede lif for lyf, leue vchon oþer, As fortune wolde fulsun hom þe fayrer to haue. 100 Þis wat3 [þe] kynges countenaunce where he in court were, At vch farand fest among his fre meny, in halle; [Fol. 92b.] [D] Þer-fore of face so fere. 104 He sti3tle3 stif in stalle, Ful 3ep in þat nw 3ere, Much mirthe he mas with alle.

[Sidenote A: Arthur would not eat,] [Sidenote B: nor would he long sit] [Sidenote C: until he had witnessed a "wondrous adventure" of some kind.] [Sidenote D: He of face so bold makes much mirth with all.] [Footnote 1: Of of, in MS.]

VI.

[A] Thus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng his-seluen, 108 Talkkande bifore þe hy3e table of trifles ful hende [B] There gode Gawan wat3 grayþed, Gwenore bisyde [C] & Agrauayn a la dure mayn on þat oþer syde sittes Boþe þe kynges sister sunes, & ful siker kni3tes; 112 [D] Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gine3 þe table, [E] & Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hym-seluen; Þise were di3t on þe des, & derworþly serued, & siþen mony siker segge at þe sidborde3. 116 [F] Þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes, Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, þat þer-bi henged, Nwe nakryn noyse with þe noble pipes, Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote, 120 Þat mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches; [G] Dayntes dryuen þer-wyth of ful dere metes, Foysoun of þe fresche, & on so fele disches, Þat pine to fynde þe place þe peple bi-forne 124 For to sette þe syluener,[1] þat sere sewes halden, on clothe; Iche lede as he loued hym-selue Þer laght with-outen loþe, 128 [H] Ay two had disches twelue, [I] Good ber, & bry3t wyn boþe.

[Sidenote A: The king talks with his knights.] [Sidenote B: Gawayne,] [Sidenote C: Agravayn,] [Sidenote D: Bishop Bawdewyn,] [Sidenote E: and Ywain sit on the dais.] [Sidenote F: The first course is served with cracking of trumpets.] [Sidenote G: It consisted of all dainties in season.] [Sidenote H: Each two had dishes twelve,] [Sidenote I: good beer and bright wine both.] [Footnote 1: svlueren (?) (dishes).]

VII.

[A] Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more, For vch wyȝe may wel wit no wont þat þer were; 132 [B] An oþer noyse ful newe ne3ed biliue, Þat þe lude my3t haf leue lif-lode to cach. For vneþe wat3 þe noyce not a whyle sesed, & þe fyrst cource in þe court kyndely serued, 136 [C] Þer hales in at þe halle dor an aghlich mayster, On þe most on þe molde on mesure hyghe; Fro þe swyre to þe swange so sware & so þik, [D] & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete, 140 Half etayn in erde I hope þat he were. [Fol. 93.] [E] Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene, & þat þe myriest in his muckel þat 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 þat 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 grayþed in grene þis gome & his wedes, 152 A strayt cote ful stre3t, þat stek on his sides, A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne, With pelure pured apert þe pane ful clene, With blyþe blaunner ful bry3t, & his hod boþe, 156 Þat wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes Heme wel haled, hose of þat same grene, [B] Þat spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder, Of bry3t golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche 160 & scholes vnder schankes, þere þe schalk rides; & alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure, Boþe þe barres of his belt & oþer blyþe stones, Þat were richely rayled in his aray clene, 164 [C] Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3, Þat were to tor for to telle of tryfles þe halue, Þat were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es, With gay gaudi of grene, þe golde ay in myddes; 168 Þe pendauntes of his payttrure, þe proude cropure His molaynes, & alle þe metail anamayld was þenne Þe steropes þat he stod on, stayned of þe same, & his arsoun3 al after, & his aþel sturtes, 172 Þat euer glemered[1] & glent al of grene stones. [D] Þe fole þat he ferkkes on, fyn of þat ilke, sertayn; A grene hors gret & þikke, 176 [E] A stede ful stif to strayne, In brawden brydel quik, To þe 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 þis gome gered in grene, 180 & þe 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, Þat wyth his hi3lich here, þat of his hed reches, 184 Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes, Þat half his armes þer vnder were halched in þe wyse Of a kynge3 capados, þat closes his swyre. [C] Þe mane of þat mayn hors much to hit lyke, 188 Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony, Folden in wyth fildore aboute þe fayre grene, Ay a herle of þe here, an oþer of golde; [D] Þe tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute, 192 & bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bry3t grene, Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as þe dok lasted, Syþen þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte, Þer mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen. 196 [E] Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke þat hym rydes, Wat3 neuer sene in þat sale wyth sy3t er þat tyme, with y3e; He loked as layt so ly3t, 200 So sayd al þat 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] Wheþer hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nauþer, 204 Ne no pysan, ne no plate þat 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, Þat is grattest in grene, when greue3 ar bare, 208 [C] & an ax in his oþer, a hoge & vn-mete, A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle quo-so my3t; Þe hede of an eln3erde þe large lenkþe hade, Þe grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen, 212 [D] Þe bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge, As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores; Þe stele of a stif staf þe sturne hit bi-grypte, Þat wat3 wounden wyth yrn to þe wande3 ende, [Fol. 94.] 216 [E] & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios[1] werkes; A lace lapped aboute, þat louked at þe hede, & so after þe halme halched ful ofte, Wyth tryed tassele3 þerto tacched in-noghe, 220 [F] On botoun3 of þe bry3t grene brayden ful ryche. Þis haþel helde3 hym in, & þe halle entres, Driuande to þe he3e dece, dut he no woþe, [G] Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked. 224 Þe fyrst word þat he warp, "wher is," he sayd, [H] "Þe gouernour of þis gyng? gladly I wolde Se þat 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 þer 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 lenþe, þe lude to be-holde, For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t, Þat a haþel & a horse my3t such a hwe lach, [B] As growe grene as þe gres & grener hit semed, 236 Þen grene aumayl on golde lowande bry3ter; Al studied þat þer stod, & stalked hym nerre, [C] Wyth al þe wonder of þe worlde, what he worch schulde. For fele sellye3 had þay sen, bot such neuer are, 240 For-þi for fantoum & fayry3e þe folk þere hit demed; [D] Þer-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony aþel freke, & al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten, [E] In a swoghe sylence þur3 þe 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 þat al schulde loute, Cast vnto þat 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] Þenn Arþour bifore þe hi3 dece þat auenture byholde3, & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer, 252 & sayde, "wy3e, welcum iwys to þis place, [B] Þe hede of þis ostel Arthour I hat, [Fol. 94b.] Li3t luflych adoun, & lenge, I þe praye, & quat so þy wylle is, we schal wyt after." 256 [C] "Nay, as help me," quod þe haþel, "he þat on hy3e syttes, To wone any quyle in þis won, hit wat3 not myn ernde; Bot for þe los of þe lede is lyft vp so hy3e, & þy bur3 & þy burnes best ar holden, 260 Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde, [D] Þe wy3test & þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde, Preue for to play wyth in oþer pure layke3; & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, 264 & þat hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at þis tyme. 3e may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here, [E] Þat 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 boþe, A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t, Ande oþer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als, Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer. 272 Bot if þou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen, Þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask, bi ry3t." [G] Arthour con onsware, 276 & sayd, "sir cortays kny3t, If þou craue batayl bare, Here fayle3 þou 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 þe telle, 280 [B] Hit arn aboute on þis 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-þy I craue in þis court a crystmas gomen, 284 [D] For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony; If any so hardy in þis hous holde3 hym-seluen, [E] Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede, Þat dar stifly strike a strok for an oþer, 288 I schal gif hym of my gyft þys giserne ryche, [F] Þis ax, þat is heué in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes, & I schal bide þe fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95.] If any freke be so felle to fonde þat I telle, 292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach þis weppen, I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen, [G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on þis flet, Elle3 þou wyl di3t me þe dom to dele hym an oþer, 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 þanne Alle þe hered-men in halle, þe hy3 & þe lo3e; [B] Þe 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 þis Arþures hous," quod þe haþel þenne, "Þat al þe rous rennes of, þur3 ryalmes so mony? Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes, 312 Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes? [F] Now is þe reuel & þe renoun of þe rounde table Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche; For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed!" 316 Wyth þis he la3es so loude, þat þe lorde greued; [G] Þe blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face & lere; [H] He wex as wroth as wynde, 320 So did alle þat þer were Þe kyng as kene bi kynde, Þen stod þat 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, "haþel, by heuen þyn askyng is nys, 324 & as þou foly hat3 frayst, fynde þe be-houes; I know no gome þat is gast of þy grete wordes. Gif me now þy geserne, vpon gode3 halue, & I schal bayþen þy bone, þat þou boden habbes." 328 Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde; [Fol. 95b.] Þen feersly þat oþer freke vpon fote ly3tis. [B] Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & þe halme grype3, & sturnely sture3 hit aboute, þat stryke wyth hit þo3t. 332 Þe stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t, Herre þen ani in þe hous by þe hede & more; [C] Wyth sturne schere[1] þer 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, Þen any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk of wyne, [D] Gawan, þat sate bi þe quene, 340 To þe kyng he can enclyne, "I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene, Þis 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, worþilych lorde," quod Gawan to þe kyng, 344 [A] "Bid me bo3e fro þis benche, & stonde by yow þere, Þat I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde þis table, & þat my legge lady lyked not ille, I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche. 348 [B] For me þink hit not semly, as hit is soþ knawen, Þer such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale, Þa33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen, [C] Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten, 352 Þat vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle, Ne better bodyes on bent, þer baret is rered; [D] I am þe wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest, & lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes þe soþe, 356 Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse, No bounté bot your blod I in my bodé knowe; & syþen þis note is so nys, þat no3t hit yow falles, & I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me, 360 & if I carp not comlyly, let alle þis cort rych, bout blame." [E] Ryche to-geder con roun, & syþen þay redden alle same, 364 To ryd þe kyng wyth croun, & gif Gawan þe 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.

Þen comaunded þe kyng þe kny3t for to ryse; [Fol. 96.] & he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre, 368 [A] Kneled doun bifore þe kyng, & cache3 þat weppen; & he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde, & gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes [B] Þat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boþe. 372 "Kepe þe cosyn," quod þe kyng, "þat þou on kyrf sette, & if þou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe, Þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after. Gawan got3 to þe gome, with giserne in honde, 376 & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer þe helder [C] Þen carppe3 to sir Gawan þe kny3t in þe grene, "Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe. Fyrst I eþe þe, haþel, how þat þou hattes, 380 Þat þou me telle truly, as I tryst may?" [D] "In god fayth," quod þe goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte, Þat bede þe þis buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after, & at þis tyme twelmonyth take at þe anoþer, 384 Wyth what weppen so[1] þou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3, on lyue." Þat oþer on-sware3 agayn, "Sir Gawan, so mot I þryue, 388 [E] As I am ferly fayn. Þis dint þat þou schal dryue."

[Sidenote A: The king gives his nephew his weapon,] [Sidenote B: and tells him to keep heart and hand steady.] [Sidenote C: The Green Knight enquires the name of his opponent.] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne tells him his name, and declares that he is willing to give and receive a blow.] [Sidenote E: The other thereof is glad.] [Footnote 1: MS. fo.]

XVIII.