Part 8

[A] After messe a morsel[1] he & his men token, Miry wat3 þe mornyng, his mounture he askes; 1692 [B] Alle þe haþeles þat on horse schulde helden hym after, Were boun busked on hor blonkke3, bi-fore[2] þe halle 3ate3; [C] Ferly fayre wat3 þe folde, for þe forst clenged, In rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne, 1696 [D] & ful clere coste3[3] þe clowdes of þe welkyn. Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde, Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes; [E] Summe fel in þe fute, þer þe fox bade, 1700 Trayle3 ofte a trayteres[4], bi traunt of her wyles; A kenet kryes þerof, þe hunt on hym calles, His fela3es fallen hym to, þat fnasted ful þike, [F] Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ry3t fare; 1704 & he fyske3 hem by-fore, þay founden hym sone, [G] & quen þay seghe hym with sy3t, þay sued hym fast, Wre3ande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse; [H] & he trantes & tornayee3 þur3 mony tene greue; 1708 Hamloune3, & herkene3, bi hegge3 ful ofte; [I] At þe last bi a littel dich he lepe3 ouer a spenné, [Fol. 114.] Stele3 out ful stilly bi a strothe rande, [J] Went haf wylt of þe wode, with wyle3 fro þe houndes, 1712 Þenne wat3 he went, er he wyst, to[5] a wale tryster, [K] Þer þre þro at a þrich þrat hym at ones, al graye; [L] He blenched a3ayn bilyue, 1716 & stifly start onstray, With alle þe wo on lyue, [M] To þe 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 lyþen þe hounde3, 1720 When alle þe mute hade hym met, menged to-geder, Suche a sor3e at þat sy3t þay sette on his hede, As alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes; [B] Here he wat3 halawed, when haþele3 hym metten, 1724 Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche; [C] Þer he wat3 þreted, & ofte þef called, & ay þe titleres at his tayl, þat tary he ne my3t; Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked, 1728 [D] & ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wylé. [E] & 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, þe lorde & his meyny; On þis maner bi þe mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder, [F] Whyle þe hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3, 1732 With-inne þe comly cortynes, on þe colde morne. Bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe, Ne þe purpose to payre, þat py3t in hir hert, Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir þeder, 1736 [G] In a mery mantyle, mete to þe erþe, Þat wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured, No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot þe ha3er stones Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres; 1740 [H] Hir þryuen face & hir þrote þrowen al naked, Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke. [I] Ho come3 with-inne þe chambre dore, & closes hit hir after, [J] Wayne3[1] vp a wyndow, & on þe wy3e calle3, 1744 & radly þus re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3, with[2] chere; [K] "A! mon, how may þou slepe, [L] Þis morning is so clere?" [Fol. 114b.] 1748 He wat3 in drowping depe, Bot þenne 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, à sec. manu.]

XXV.

[A] In dre3 droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble, As mon þat wat3 in mornyng of mony þro þo3tes, 1752 How þat destiné schulde þat day [dy3t] his wyrde, At þe grene chapel, when he þe gome metes, & bi-houes his buffet abide, with-oute debate more; [B] Bot quen þat comly he keuered his wyttes, 1756 Swenges out of þe sweuenes, & sware3 with hast. Þe lady luflych com la3ande swete, [C] Felle ouer his fayre face, & fetly him kyssed; He welcume3 hir worþily, 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 smoþe smylyng & smolt þay smeten in-to merþe, 1764 Þat al wat3 blis & bonchef, þat breke hem bi-twene, & wynne, Þay lanced wordes gode, Much wele þen wat3 þer-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 þat prynce of pris de-presed hym so þikke. Nurned hym so ne3e þe þred, þat nede hym bi-houed, 1772 Oþer lach þer hir luf, oþer lodly re-fuse; He cared for his cortaysye, lest craþayn he were, [B] & more for his meschef, 3if he schulde make synne, & be traytor to þat tolke, þat þat telde a3t. 1776 "God schylde," quod þe schalk, "þat schal not be-falle!" With luf-la3yng a lyt, he layd hym by-syde Alle þe speche3 of specialté þat sprange of her mouthe. Quod þat burde to þe burne, "blame 3e disserue, 1780 3if 3e luf not þat lyf þat 3e lye nexte, Bifore alle þe wy3e3 in þe worlde, wounded in hert, [C] Bot if 3e haf a lemman, a leuer, þat yow lyke3 better, & folden fayth to þat fre, festned so harde, 1784 Þat yow lausen ne lyst, & þat I leue nouþe; [Fol. 115.] And þat 3e telle me þat, now trwly I pray yow, For alle þe lufe3 vpon lyue, layne not þe soþe, for gile." 1788 [D] Þe kny3t sayde, "be sayn Ion," & smeþely con he smyle, "In fayth I welde ri3t non, Ne non wil welde þe 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 "Þat is a worde," quod þat wy3t, "þat worst is of alle, Bot I am swared for soþe, þat sore me þinkke3; [A] Kysse me now coraly, & I schal cach heþen, I may bot mourne vpon molde, as may þat much louyes." 1796 Sykande ho swe3e doun, & semly hym kyssed, & siþen ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes, "Now, dere, at þis de-partyng, do me þis ese, [B] Gif me sumquat of þy gifte, þi gloue if[1] hit were, 1800 [C] Þat I may mynne on þe mon, my mournyng to lassen." "Now Iwysse," quod þat wy3e, "I wolde I hade here Þe leuest þing for þy luf, þat I in londe welde, [D] For 3e haf deserued, forsoþe, sellyly ofte 1804 More rewarde bi resoun, þen I reche my3t, Bot to dele yow for drurye, þat dawed bot neked; Hit is not your honour to haf at þis tyme A gloue for a garysoun, of Gawayne3 gifte3, 1808 & I am here [on] an erande in erde3 vncouþe, [E] & haue no men wyth no male3, with menskful þinge3; Þat mislyke3 me, ladé, for luf at þis tyme,[2] Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille, 1812 ne pine." [F] "Nay, hende of hy3e honours," Quod þat lufsum vnder lyne, [G] "Þa3 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, Þat bere blusschande beme3 as þe bry3t sunne; 1820 Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge. [B] Bot þe renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde, "I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at þis 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, þat he hit sese nolde; [D] & ho sore þat he forsoke, & sayde þer-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, þat gaynes yow lasse." Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, þat[2] leke vmbe hir syde3, [E] Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder þe clere mantyle, 1832 Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped, No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3; & þat ho bede to þe burne, & blyþely bi-so3t [F] Þa3 hit vn-worþi were, þat he hit take wolde. 1836 & he nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse, [G] Nauþer golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende, To acheue to þe chaunce þat he hade chosen þere. "& þerfore, I pray yow, displese yow no3t, 1840 & lette3 be your bisinesse, for I bayþe 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: þat þat, in MS.]

XXIX.

[A] "Now forsake 3e þis silke." sayde þe burde þenne, "For hit is symple in hit-self. & so hit wel seme3? 1848 Lo! so hit is littel, & lasse hit is worþy; [B] Bot who-so knew þe costes þat knit ar þer-inne, He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture; [C] For quat gome so is gorde with þis grene lace, 1852 While he hit hade hemely halched aboute, Þer is no haþel vnder heuen to-hewe hym þat my3t; [D] For he my3t not he slayn, for sly3t vpon erþe." Þen kest þe kny3t, & hit come to his hert, 1856 [E] Hit were a Iuel for þe Iopardé, þat hym iugged were, When he acheued to þe chapel, his chek forto fech; [F] My3[1] he haf slypped to þe vn-slayn, þe sle3t were noble. Þenne ho þulged with hir þrepe, & þoled hir to speke, [Fol. 116.] 1860 & ho bere on hym þe belt, & bede hit hym swyþe, [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; þe leude hym acorde3. 1864 Þat neuer wy3e schulde hit wyt, Iwysse, bot þay twayne, for no3te; He þonkked hir oft ful swyþe, Ful þro with hert & þo3t. 1868 [H] Bi þat on þrynne syþe, He hat3 kyst þe 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 þere, For more myrþe of þat 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 þe luf-lace, þe lady hym ra3t, Hid hit ful holdely, þer he hit eft fonde; 1876 Syþen cheuely to þe chapel choses he þe waye, [D] Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym þere Þat he wolde lyfte[2] his lyf, & lern hym better, How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye heþen. 1880 [E] Þere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdede3, Of þe more & þe mynne, & merci beseche3, [F] & of absolucioun he on þe segge calles; & he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene, 1884 [G] As dome3-day schulde haf ben di3t on þe morn. & syþen he mace hym as mery among þe fre ladyes, [H] With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye, As neuer he did bot þat daye, to þe derk ny3t, 1888 with blys; Vche mon hade daynte þare, [I] Of hym, & sayde Iwysse, [J] Þus myry he wat3 neuer are, 1892 Syn he com hider, er þis.

[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 þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde; 3et is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes, [B] He hat3 forfaren þis fox, þat he fol3ed longe; 1896 As he sprent ouer a spenné, to spye þe schrewe, Þer as he herd þe howndes, þat hasted hym swyþe, [Fol. 116b.] [C] Renaud com richchande þur3 a ro3e greue, & alle þe rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3. 1900 [D] Þe wy3e wat3 war of þe wylde, & warly abides, & brayde3 out þe bry3t bronde, & at þe best caste3; & he schunt for þe scharp, & schulde haf arered, [E] A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t, 1904 & ry3t bifore þe hors fete þay fel on hym alle, & woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse. [F] Þe lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by[1] sone, Rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes, 1908 Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste, & þer bayen hym mony bray[2] hounde3; [G] Huntes hy3ed hem þeder, with horne3 ful mony, Ay re-chatande ary3t til þay þe renk se3en; 1912 Bi þat wat3 comen his compeyny noble, Alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones, [H] & alle þise oþer halowed, þat hade no hornes, Hit wat3 þe myriest mute þat euer men herde, 1916 Þe rich rurd þat þer wat3 raysed for renaude saule, with lote; [I] Hor hounde3 þay þer rewarde, Her[3] hede3 þay fawne & frote, 1920 [J] & syþen þay tan reynarde, & tyrnen of his cote.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne's host is still in the field.] [Sidenote B: He has destroyed the fox.] [Sidenote C: He spied Reynard coming through a "rough grove,"] [Sidenote D: and tried to hit him with his sword.] [Sidenote E: The fox "shunts," and is seized by one of the dogs.] [Sidenote F: The lord takes him out of the hound's mouth.] [Sidenote G: Hunters hasten thither with horns full many.] [Sidenote H: It was the merriest meet that ever was heard.] [Sidenote I: The hounds are rewarded,] [Sidenote J: and then they take Reynard and "turn off his coat."] [Footnote 1: hym (?).] [Footnote 2: braþ (?).] [Footnote 3: Her her, in MS.]

XXXII.

[A] & þenne þay helden to home, for hit wat3 nie3 ny3t, Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horne3; 1924 [B] Þe lorde is ly3t at þe laste at hys lef home, Fynde3 fire vpon flet, þe freke þer by-side, Sir Gawayn þe gode, þat glad wat3 with alle, [C] Among þe ladies for luf he ladde much ioye, 1928 He were a bleaunt of blwe, þat bradde to þe erþe, His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe wat3 forred, & his hode of þat ilke henged on his schulder, [D] Blande al of blaunner were boþe al aboute. 1932 He mete3 me þis god mon in mydde3 þe flore, & al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde, "I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwarde3 nouþe, Þat we spedly han spoken, þer spared wat3 no drynk;" [Fol. 117.] 1936 [E] Þen acoles he [þe] kny3t, & kysses hym þryes, [F] As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette couþe. [G] "Bi Kryst," quod þat oþer kny3t, "3e cach much sele, In cheuisaunce of þis chaffer, 3if 3e hade goud chepe3." 1940 "3e of þe chepe no charg," quod chefly þat oþer, "As is pertly payed þe chepe3 þat I a3te." "Mary," quod þat oþer mon, "myn is bi-hynde, [H] For I haf hunted al þis day, & no3t haf I geten, 1944 [I] Bot þis foule fox felle, þe fende haf þe gode3, [J] & þat is ful pore, for to pay for suche prys þinges, As 3e haf þry3t me here, þro suche þre cosses, so gode." 1948 "I-no3," quod sir Gawayn, "I þonk yow, bi þe rode;" [K] & how þe fox wat3 slayn, He tolde hym, as þay stode.

[Sidenote A: The hunters then hasten home.] [Sidenote B: The lord at last alights at his dear home,] [Sidenote C: where he finds Gawayne amusing the ladies.] [Sidenote D: The knight comes forward and welcomes his host,] [Sidenote E: and according to covenant kisses him thrice.] [Sidenote F: (See l. 1868.)] [Sidenote G: "By Christ," says the other, "ye have had much bliss!"] [Sidenote H: I have hunted all day and have gotten nothing,] [Sidenote I: but the skin of this foul fox,] [Sidenote J: a poor reward for three such kisses."] [Sidenote K: He then tells him how the fox was slain.]

XXXIII.

1952 [A] With merþe & mynstralsye, wyth mete3 at hor wylle, Þay maden as mery as any men mo3ten, With la3yng of ladies, with lote3 of bordes; Gawayn & þe gode mon so glad were þay boþe, 1956 Bot if þe douthe had doted, oþer dronken ben oþer, Boþe þe mon & þe meyny maden mony iape3, [B] Til þe sesoun wat3 se3en, þat þay seuer moste; Burne3 to hor bedde be-houed at þe laste. 1960 [C] Þenne lo3ly his leue at þe lorde fyrst Fochche3 þis fre mon, & fayre he hym þonkke3; [D] "Of such a sellyly[1] soiorne, as I haf hade here, Your honour, at þis hy3e fest, þe hy3e kyng yow 3elde! 1964 I 3ef yow me for on of youre3, if yowre-self lyke3, For I mot nedes, as 3e wot, meue to morne; [E] & 3e me take sum tolke, to teche, as 3e hy3t, Þe gate to þe grene chapel, as god wyl me suffer 1968 To dele, on nw3ere3 day, þe dome of my wyrdes." "In god fayþe," quod þe god mon. "wyth a goud wylle; Al þat euer I yow hy3t, halde schal I rede." [F] Þer asyngnes he a seruaunt, to sett hym in þe waye, 1972 & coundue hym by þe downe3, þat he no drechch had, [Fol. 117b.] For to f[e]rk þur3 þe fryth, & fare at þe gaynest, bi greue. Þe lorde Gawayn con þonk, 1976 Such worchip he wolde hym weue; [G] Þen at þo ladye3 wlonk. Þe kny3t hat3 tan his leue.

[Sidenote A: With much mirth and minstrelsy they made merry,] [Sidenote B: until the time came for them to part.] [Sidenote C: Gawayne takes leave of his host.] [Sidenote D: and thanks him for his happy "sojourn."] [Sidenote E: He asks for a man to teach him the way to the Green Chapel.] [Sidenote F: A servant is assigned to him,] [Sidenote G: and then he takes leave of the ladies,] [Footnote 1: selly (?).]

XXXIV.

[A] With care & wyth kyssyng he carppe3 hem tille, 1980 & fele þryuande þonkke3 he þrat hom to haue, & þay 3elden hym a3ay[n] 3eply þat ilk; [B] Þay bikende hym to Kryst, with ful colde sykynge3. [C] Syþen fro þe meyny he menskly de-partes; 1984 Vche mon þat he mette, he made hem a þonke, For his seruyse, & his solace, & his sere pyne, Þat þay wyth busynes had ben, aboute hym to serue; & vche segge as sore, to seuer with hym þere, 1988 As þay hade wonde worþyly with þat wlonk euer. [D] Þen with ledes & ly3t he wat3 ladde to his chambre, & blybely bro3t to his bedde, to be at his rest; 3if he ne slepe soundyly, say ne dar I, 1992 [E] For he hade muche on þe morn to mynne, 3if he wolde, in þo3t; [F] Let hym ly3e þere stille, He hat3[1] nere þat he so3t, 1996 [G] & 3e wyl a whyle be stylle, I schal telle yow how þay wro3t.

[Sidenote A: kissing them sorrowfully.] [Sidenote B: They commend him to Christ.] [Sidenote C: He then departs, thanking each one he meets "for his service and solace."] [Sidenote D: He retires to rest but sleeps but little,] [Sidenote E: for much has he to think of on the morrow.] [Sidenote F: Let him there lie still.] [Sidenote G: Be still awhile, and I shall tell how they wrought.] [Footnote 1: wat3 (?).]

[FYTTE THE FOURTH.]

I.