Part 7

1372 [A] Thenne comaunded þe lorde in þat sale to samen alle þe meny,[Fol.] Boþe þe ladyes on loghe to ly3t with her burdes, [109b.] [B] Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, freke3 he bedde3 Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne; 1376 [C] & al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called, Teche3 hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes, Schewe3 hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes. [D] "How paye3 yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen? 1380 Haue I þryuandely þonk þur3 my craft serued?" "3e I-wysse," quod þat oþer wy3e, "here is wayth fayrest [E] Þat I se3 þis seuen 3ere in sesoun of wynter." "& al I gif yow, Gawayn," quod þe gome þenne, 1384 "For by a-corde of couenaunt 3e craue hit as your awen." "Þis is soth," quod þe segge, "I say yow þatilke, &[1] I haf worthyly þis wone3 wyth-inne, [F] I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþe3 to 3oure3." 1388 He hasppe3 his fayre hals his arme3 wyth-inne, & kysses hym as comlyly as he[2] couþe awyse: "Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more, I wowche hit saf fynly, þa3 feler hit were." 1392 "Hit is god," quod þe god mon, "grant mercy þerfore, [G] Hit may be such, hit is þe better, &[1] 3e me breue wolde Where 3e wan þis ilk wele, biwytte of hor[3] seluen?" [H] "Þat wat3 not forward," quod he, "frayst me no more, 1396 For 3e haftan þat yow tyde3, trawe3e non oþer 3e mowe." Þay la3ed, & made hem blyþe, [I] Wyth lote3 þat were to lowe, 1400 To soper þay 3ede asswyþe, Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.

[Sidenote A: The lord commands all his household to assemble,] [Sidenote B: and the venison to be brought before him.] [Sidenote C: He calls Gawayne,] [Sidenote D: and asks him whether he does not deserve much praise for his success in the chase.] [Sidenote E: On the knight expressing himself satisfied, he is told to take the whole according to a former agreement between them.] [Sidenote F: Gawayne gives the knight a comely kiss in return.] [Sidenote G: His host desires to know where he has gotten such weal.] [Sidenote H: As this does not enter into the covenant, he gets no answer to his question.] [Sidenote I: They then proceed to supper, where were dainties new and enough.] [Footnote 1: And = an.] [Footnote 2: ho, in MS.] [Footnote 3: your (?).]

XI.

[A] And syþen by þe chymné in chamber þay seten. [B] Wy3e3 þe walle wyn we3ed to hem oft, 1404 & efte in her bourdyng þay bayþen in þe morn, To fylle þe same forwarde3 þat þay by-fore maden, [C] Þat chaunce so bytyde3 hor cheuysaunce to chaunge, What nwe3 so þay nome, at na3t quen þay metten 1408 Þay acorded of þe couenaunte3 byfore þe court alle; Þe beuerage wat3 bro3t forth in bourde at þat tyme; [Fol. 110.] [D] Þenne þay louelych le3ten leue at þe last, Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue. 1412 [E] Bi þat þe coke hade crowe3[1] & cakled bot þryse, Þe lorde wat3 lopen of his bedde, [&] þe leude3 vch one, So þat þe mete & þe masse wat3 metely delyuered; Þe douthe dressed to þe wod, er any day sprenged, 1416 to chace; [F] He3 with hunte & horne3, Þur3 playne3 þay passe in space, Vn-coupled among þo þorne3, 1420 Rache3 þat ran on race.

[Sidenote A: By the hearth they sit.] [Sidenote B: Wine is carried round.] [Sidenote C: Again Sir Gawayne and his host renew their agreement.] [Sidenote D: Then they take leave of each other and hasten to bed.] [Sidenote E: Scarce had the cock cackled thrice when the lord was up.] [Sidenote F: With his hunters and horns they pursue the chase.] [Footnote 1: crowed (?).]

XII.

[A] Sone þay calle of a quest in aker syde, Þe hunt re-hayted þe hounde3, þat hit fyrst mynged, [B] Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce; 1424 Þe hownde3 þat hit herde, hastid þider swyþe, & fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones; Þenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3 Ros, þat þe rochere3 rungen aboute; 1428 Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe. [C] Þen al in a semblé sweyed to-geder, Bitwene a flosche in þat fryth, & a foo cragge; In a knot, bi a clyffe, at þe kerre syde, 1432 Þer as þe rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen, [Þay] ferden to þe fyndyng, & freke3 hem after; [D] Þay vmbe-kesten þe knarre & þe knot boþe. Wy3e3, whyl þay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were, 1436 Þe best þat þer breued wat3 wyth þe blod hounde3. [E] Þenne þay beten on þe buske3, & bede hym vp ryse, & he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-þwert, [F] On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere, 1440 Long sythen for[1] þe sounder þat wi3t for-olde, For he wat3 b[este &] bor alþer grattest, [And eue]re quen he gronyed, þenne greued mony, [G] For [þre a]t þe fyrst þrast he þry3t to þe erþe, 1444 & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more, [Ande þay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed Haden horne3 to mouþe heterly rechated; [Fol. 110b.] [H] Mony wat3 þe myry mouthe of men & of hounde3, 1448 Þat buskke3 after þis bor, with bost & wyth noyse, To quelle; Ful oft he byde3 þe baye, & mayme3 þe mute Inn-melle, 1452 [I] He hurte3 of þe hounde3, & þay Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.

[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,] [Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once.] [Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff.] [Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,] [Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes.] [Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,] [Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground.] [Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him.] [Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and yell.] [Footnote 1: fro (?).]

XIII.

[A] Schalke3 to schote at hym schowen to þenne, Haled to hym of her arewe3, hitten hym oft; 1456 Bot þe poynte3 payred at þe pyth þat py3t in his schelde3, & þe barbe3 of his browe bite non wolde, [B] Þa3 þe schauen schaft schyndered in pece3, Þe hede hypped a3ayn, were-so-euer hit hitte; 1460 [C] Bot quon þe dynte3 hym dered of her dry3e stroke3, Þen, brayn-wod for bate, on burne3 he rase3, [D] Hurte3 hem ful heterly þer he forth hy3e3, & mony ar3ed þerat, & on-lyte dro3en. 1464 Bot þe lorde on a ly3t horce launces hym after, [E] As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he blowe3, He rechated, & r[ode][1] þur3 rone3 ful þyk, Suande þis wy[ld]e swyn til þe sunne schafted. 1468 [F] Þis day wyth þis ilk dede þay dryuen on þis wyse, Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde, [G] Gawayn grayþely at home, in gere3 ful ryche of hewe; 1472 Þe lady no3t for3ate, Com to hym to salue, Ful erly ho wat3 hym ate, His mode forto remwe.

[Sidenote A: The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,] [Sidenote B: but they glide off shivered in pieces.] [Sidenote C: Enraged with the blows,] [Sidenote D: he attacks the hunters.] [Sidenote E: The lord of the land blows his bugle,] [Sidenote F: and pursues the boar.] [Sidenote G: All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.] [Footnote 1: The MS. is here almost illegible.]

XIV.

1476 [A] Ho commes to þe cortyn, & at þe kny3t totes, Sir Wawen her welcumed worþy on fyrst, & ho hym 3elde3 a3ayn, ful 3erne of hir worde3, [B] Sette3 hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swyþely ho la3e3, 1480 & wyth a luflych loke ho layde[1] hym þyse worde3: "Sir, 3if 3e be Wawen, wonder me þynkke3, Wy3e þat is so wel wrast alway to god, & conne3 not of compaynye þe coste3 vnder-take, 1484 & if mon kennes yow hom to knowe, 3e kest hom of your mynde;[Fol.] [C] Þou hat3 for-3eten 3ederly þat 3isterday I ta3tte [111] alder-truest token of talk þat I cowþe." "What is þat?" quod þe wyghe, "I-wysse I wot neuer, 1488 If hit be sothe þat 3e breue, þe blame is myn awen." [D] "3et I kende yow of kyssyng," quod þe clere þenne, "Quere-so countenaunce is couþe, quikly to clayme, Þat bicumes vche a kny3t, þat cortaysy vses." 1492 "Do way," quod þat derf mon, "my dere, þat speche, [E] For þat durst I not do, lest I denayed were, If I were werned, I were wrang I-wysse, 3if I profered." "Ma fay," quod þe mere wyf, "3e may not be werned, 1496 [F] 3e ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenkþe, 3if yow lyke3, 3if any were so vilanous þat yow denaye[2] wolde." "3e, be God," quod Gawayn, "good is your speche, Bot þrete is vn-þryuande in þede þer I lende, 1500 [G] & vche gift þat is geuen not with goud wylle; I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lyke3, 3e may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow þynkke3, in space." 1504 [H] Þe lady loute3 a-doun, & comlyly kysses his face, Much speche þay þer expoun, Of druryes greme & grace.

[Sidenote A: The lady of the castle again visits Sir Gawayne.] [Sidenote B: Softly she sits by his side,] [Sidenote C: and tells the knight that he has forgotten what she taught him the day before.] [Sidenote D: "I taught you of kissing," she says, "that becomes every knight."] [Sidenote E: Gawayne says that he must not take that which is forbidden.] [Sidenote F: He is told that he is strong enough to enforce it.] [Sidenote G: The knight replies that every gift is worthless that is not given willingly.] [Sidenote H: The lady stoops down and kisses him.] [Footnote 1: sayde (?).] [Footnote 2: de vaye, in MS.]

XV.

1508 [A] "I woled[1] wyt at yow, wy3e," þat worþy þer sayde, "& yow wrathed not þer-wyth, what were þe skylle, Þat so 3ong & so 3epe, as 3e [ar] at þis tyme, So cortayse, so kny3tyly, as 3e ar knowen oute, 1512 [B] & of alle cheualry to chose, þe chef þyng a-losed, Is[2] þe lel layk of luf, þe lettrure of armes; F[or] to telle of þis tenelyng of þis trwe kny3te3, Hit is þe tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkke3, 1516 How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyue3 han auntered, Endured for her drury dulful stounde3, & after wenged with her walour & voyded her care, [C] & bro3t blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen. 1520 & 3e ar kny3t com-lokest kyd of your elde, Your worde & your worchip walke3 ay quere, [Fol. 111b.] & I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes, [D] 3et herde I neuer of your hed helde no worde3 1524 Þat euer longed to luf, lasse ne more; [E] & 3e, þat ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes, Oghe to a 3onke þynk 3ern to schewe, & teche sum tokene3 of trweluf craftes. 1528 Why ar 3e lewed, þat alle þe los welde3, Oþer elles 3e demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken? for schame! I com hider sengel, & sitte, 1532 To lerne at yow sum game, [F] Dos, teche3 me of your wytte, Whil my lorde is fro hame."

[Sidenote A: "I would learn," she says, "why you, who are so young and active,] [Sidenote B: so skilled in the true sport of love,] [Sidenote C: and so renowned a knight,] [Sidenote D: have never talked to me of love.] [Sidenote E: You ought to show a young thing like me some token of 'true-love's crafts.'] [Sidenote F: So teach me of your 'wit' while my lord is from home."] [Footnote 1: wolde (?).] [Footnote 2: In (?).]

XVI.

[A] "In goud fayþe," quod Gawayn, "God yow for3elde, 1536 Gret is þe gode gle, & gomen to me huge, Þat so worþy as 3e wolde wynne hidere, & pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your kny3t, With any skynne3 countenaunce, hit keuere3 me ese; 1540 [B] Bot to take þe toruayle[1] to my-self, to trwluf expoun, & towche þe teme3 of tyxt, & tale3 of arme3, To yow þat, I wot wel, welde3 more sly3t Of þat art, bi þe half, or a hundreth of seche 1544 As I am, oþer euer schal, in erde þer I leue, Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my trawþe. [C] I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my my3t, As I am hy3ly bihalden, & euer-more wylle 1548 [D] Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dry3tyn!" Þus hym frayned þat fre, & fondet hym ofte, Forto haf wonnen hym to wo3e, what-so scho þo3t elle3, [E] Bot he de fended hym so fayr, þat no faut semed, 1552 Ne non euel on nawþer halue, nawþer þay wysten, bot blysse; Þay la3ed & layked longe, At þe last scho con hym kysse, 1556 [F] Hir leue fayre con scho fonge, & went hir waye Iwysse.

[Sidenote A: "It is a great pleasure to me," says Sir Gawayne, "to hear you talk,] [Sidenote B: but I cannot undertake the task to expound true-love and tales of arms.] [Sidenote C: I will, however, act according to your will,] [Sidenote D: and ever be your servant."] [Sidenote E: Thus Gawayne defends himself.] [Sidenote F: The lady having kissed the knight, takes leave of him.] [Footnote 1: tornayle (?).]

XVII.

[A] Then ruþes hym þe renk, & ryses to þe masse, & siþen hor diner wat3 dy3t & derely serued. [Fol. 112.] 1560 [B] Þe lede with þe ladye3 layked alle day, Bot þe lorde ouer þe londe3 launced ful ofte, Swe3 his vncely swyn, þat swynge3 bi þe bonkke3, [C] & bote þe best of his brache3 þe bakke3 in sunder; 1564 Þer he bode in his bay, tel[1] bawe-men hit breken, & made[2] hym, maw-gref his bed, forto mwe vtter; [D] So felle flone3 per flete, when þe folk gedered; Bot 3et þe styffest to start bi stounde3 he made, 1568 Til at þe last he wat3 so mat, he my3t no more renne, [E] Bot in þe hast þat he my3t, he to a hole wynne3, Of a rasse, bi a rokk, þer renne3 þe boerne, He gete þe bonk at his bak, bigyne3 to scrape, 1572 [F] Þe froþe femed[3] at his mouth vnfayre bi þe wyke3, Whette3 his whyte tusche3; with hym þen irked Alle þe burne3 so bolde, þat hym by stoden, [G] To nye hym on-ferum, bot ne3e hym non durst 1576 for woþe; He hade hurt so mony byforne, Þat al þu3t[4] þenne ful loþe, [H] Be more wyth his tusche3 torne, 1580 Þat breme wat3 [&] brayn-wod bothe.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne rises, hears mass, and then dines.] [Sidenote B: Meanwhile the lord pursues the wild boar,] [Sidenote C: that bit the backs of his hounds asunder,] [Sidenote D: and caused the stiffest of the hunters to start.] [Sidenote E: The boar runs into a hole in a rock by the side of a brook.] [Sidenote F: The froth foams at his mouth.] [Sidenote G: None durst approach him,] [Sidenote H: so many had he torn with his tusks.] [Footnote 1: til (?).] [Footnote 2: madee, in MS.] [Footnote 3: fomed (?).] [Footnote 4: þo3t (?).]

XVIII.

[A] Til þe kny3t com hym-self, kachande his blonk, Sy3 hym byde at þe bay, his burne3 bysyde, [B] He ly3tes luflych[1] adoun, leue3 his corsour, 1584 Brayde3 out a bry3t bront, & bigly forth stryde3, Founde3 fast þur3 þe forth, þer þe felle byde3, [C] Þe wylde wat3 war of þe wy3e with weppen in honde, Hef hy3ly þe here, so hetterly he fnast, 1588 Þat fele ferde for þe freke3,[2] lest felle hym þe worre; [D] Þe swyn sette3 hym out on þe segge euen, Þat þe burne & þe bor were boþe vpon hepe3, In þe wy3t-est of þe water, þe worre hade þat oþer; 1592 [E] For þe mon merkke3 hym wel, as þay mette fyrst, Set sadly þe scharp in þe slot euen, [F] Hit hym vp to þe hult, þat þe hert schyndered, & he 3arrande hym 3elde, & 3edoun[3] þe water, 1596 ful tyt; A hundreth hounde3 hym hent, [Fol. 112b.] [G] Þat 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 haþele3 þat my3t; [B] Brachetes bayed þat best, as bidden þe maystere3, 1604 Of þat chargeaunt chace þat were chef huntes. [C] Þenne a wy3e þat wat3 wys vpon wod crafte3, To vnlace þis bor lufly bigynne3; [D] Fyrst he hewes of his hed, & on hi3e sette3, 1608 & syþen rende3 him al roghe bi þe rygge after, [E] Brayde3 out þe boweles, brenne3 hom on glede, With bred blent þer-with his braches rewarde3; Syþen he britne3 out þe brawen in bry3t brode [s]chelde3, 1612 [F] & hat3 out þe hastlette3, as hi3tly biseme3; [G] & 3et hem halche3 al hole þe halue3 to-geder, & syþen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges. Now with þis ilk swyn þay swengen to home; 1616 [H] Þe bores hed wat3 borne bifore þe burnes seluen, Þat him for-ferde in þe forþe, þur3 forse of his honde, so stronge; Til he se3 sir Gawayne, 1620 In halle hym þo3t ful longe, [I] He calde, & he com gayn, His fee3 þer 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] Þe lorde ful lowde with lote, & la3ed myry, 1624 When he se3e sir G: with solace he speke3; Þe goude ladye3 were geten, & gedered þe meyny, [B] He schewe3 hem þe schelde3, & schapes hem þe tale, Of þe largesse, & þe lenþe, þe liþerne3 alse, 1628 Of þe were of þe wylde swyn, in wod þer he fled. Þat oþer kny3t ful comly comended his dede3, & praysed hit as gret prys, þat he proued hade; [C] For suche a brawne of a best, þe bolde burne sayde, 1632 Ne such sydes of a swyn, segh he neuer are. Þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed, þe hende mon hit praysed, & let lodly þerat þe lorde forte here: [Fol. 113.] [D] "Now Gawayn," quod þe god mon, "þis gomen is your awen, 1636 Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely 3e knowe." "Hit is sothe," quod þe segge, "& as siker trwe; Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawþe." [E] He [hent] þe haþel aboute þe halse, & hendely hym kysses, 1640 & efter-sones of þe same he serued hym þere. "Now ar we euen," quod þe haþel, "in þis euen-tide, Of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt, syþen I com hider, bi lawe;" 1644 [F] Þe lorde sayde, "bi saynt Gile, 3e ar þe best þat 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] Þenne þay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte, [B] Kesten cloþe3 vpon, clere ly3t þenne [C] Wakned bi wo3e3, waxen torches Segge3 sette, & serued in sale al aboute; 1652 [D] Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne, Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse, [E] At þe soper & after, mony aþel songe3, As coundutes of kryst-masse, & carole3 newe, 1656 With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle. [F] & euer oure luflych kny3t þe lady bi-syde; Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made, [G] Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese, 1660 Þat al for-wondered wat3 þe 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 þe dede turned to wrast; 1664 [H] Quen þay hade played in halle, As longe as hor wylle hom last, [I] To chambre he[1] con hym calle, & to þe chem-ne þay 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 þer þay dronken, & dalten, & demed eft nwe, To norne on þe same note, on nwe3ere3 euen; [B] Bot þe kny3t craued leue, to kayre on þe morn, For hit wat3 ne3 at þe terme, þat he to[1] schulde. 1672 Þe lorde hym letted of þat, to lenge hym resteyed, [Fol. 113b.] [C] & sayde, "as I am trwe segge, I siker my trawþe, [D] Þou schal cheue to þe grene chapel, þy charres to make, Leude, on nw3ere3 ly3t, longe bifore pryme: 1676 For-þy þow lye in þy loft, & lach þyn ese, & I schal hunt in þis holt, & halde þe towche3, Chaunge wyth þe cheuisaunce, bi þat I charre hider; For I haf fraysted þe twys, & faythful I fynde þe, 1680 Now þrid tyme þrowe best þenk on þe morne, Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon Ioye, For þe lur may mon lach, when so mon lyke3." Þis wat3 grayþely graunted, & Gawayn is lenged, 1684 [E] Bliþe bro3t wat3 hym drynk, & þay to bedde 3eden, with li3t; [F] Sir G: lis & slepes, Ful stille & softe al ni3t; 1688 [G] Þe lorde þat 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.