Chapter 4

[A] "Bigog," quod þe grene kny3t, "sir Gawan, melykes, Þat I schal fange at þy fust þat I haf frayst here; 392 & þou hat3 redily rehersed, bi resoun ful trwe, Clanly al þe couenaunt þat I þe kynge asked, Saf þat þou schal siker me, segge, bi þi trawþe, Þat þou schal seche me þi-self, where-so þou hopes 396 I may be funde vpon folde, & foch þe such wages [B] As þou deles me to day, bifore þis douþe ryche." [C] "Where schulde I wale þe," quod Gauan, "where is þy place? I wot neuer where þou wonyes, bi hym þat me wro3t, 400 Ne I know not þe, kny3t, þy cort, ne þi name. [D] Bot teche me truly þer-to, & telle me howe þou hattes, & I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me þeder, & þat I swere þe for soþe, & by my seker traweþ." [Fol. 96b.] 404 "Þat is in-nogh in nwe 3er, hit nedes no more," Quod þe gome in þe grene to Gawan þe hende, [E] "3if I þe telle trwly, quen I þe tape haue, & þou me smoþely hat3 smyten, smartly I þe teche 408 Of my hous, & my home, & myn owen nome, Þen may þou frayst my fare, & forwarde3 holde, [F] & if I spende no speche, þenne spede3 þou þe better, For þou may leng in þy londe, & layt no fyrre, 412 bot slokes; [G] Ta now þy grymme tole to þe, & let se how þou cnoke3." "Gladly sir, for soþe," 416 Quod Gawan; his ax he strokes.

[Sidenote A: "It pleases me well, Sir Gawayne," says the Green Knight, "that I shall receive a blow from thy fist; but thou must swear that thou wilt seek me,] [Sidenote B: to receive the blow in return."] [Sidenote C: "Where shall I seek thee?" says Sir Gawayne;] [Sidenote D: "tell me thy name and abode and I will find thee."] [Sidenote E: "When thou hast smitten me," says the knight, "then tell I thee of my home and name;] [Sidenote F: if I speak not at all, so much the better for thee.] [Sidenote G: Take now thy grim tool, and let us see how thou knockest."]

XIX.

[A] The grene kny3t vpon grounde grayþely hym dresses, A littel lut with þe hede, þe lere he discouere3, [B] His longe louelych lokke3 he layd ouer his croun. 420 Let þe naked nec to þe note schewe. Gauan gripped to his ax, & gederes hit on hy3t, Þe kay fot on þe folde he be-fore sette, [C] Let hit doun ly3tly ly3t on þe naked, 424 Þat þe scharp of þe schalk schyndered þe bones, [D] & schrank þur3 þe schyire grece, & scade hit in twynne, Þat þe bit of þe broun stel bot on þe grounde. [E] Þe fayre hede fro þe halce hit [felle] to þe erþe, 428 [F] Þat fele hit foyned wyth her fete, þere hit forth roled; Þe blod brayd fro þe body, þat blykked on þe grene; [G] & nawþer faltered ne fel þe freke neuer þe helder, Bot styþly he start forth vpon styf schonkes, 432 [H] & ru[n]yschly he ra3t out, þere as renkke3 stoden, La3t to his lufly hed, & lyft hit vp sone; & syþen bo3e3 to his blonk, þe brydel he cachche3, [I] Steppe3 in to stel bawe & stryde3 alofte, 436 [J] & his hede by þe here in his honde halde3; & as sadly þe segge hym in his sadel sette, As non vnhap had hym ayled, þa3 hedle3 he[1] we[re], in stedde; 440 [K] He brayde his bluk[2] aboute, Þat vgly bodi þat bledde, [Fol. 97.] Moni on of hym had doute, Bi þat his resoun3 were redde.

[Sidenote A: The Green Knight] [Sidenote B: puts his long lovely locks aside and lays bare his neck.] [Sidenote C: Sir Gawayne lets fall his axe] [Sidenote D: and severs the head from the body.] [Sidenote E: The head falls to the earth.] [Sidenote F: Many kick it aside with their feet.] [Sidenote G: The knight never falters;] [Sidenote H: he rushes forth, seizes his head,] [Sidenote I: steps into the saddle,] [Sidenote J: holding the while the head in his hand by the hair,] [Sidenote K: and turns his horse about.] [Footnote 1: MS. ho.] [Footnote 2: blunk (?).]

XX.

444 For þe hede in his honde he halde3 vp euen, [A] To-ward þe derrest on þe dece he dresse3 þe face, & hit lyfte vp þe y3e-lydde3, & loked ful brode, [B] & meled þus much with his muthe, as 3e may now here. 448 "Loke, Gawan, þou be grayþe to go as þou hette3, & layte as lelly til þou me, lude, fynde, [C] As þou hat3 hette in þis halle, herande þise kny3tes; [D] To þe grene chapel þou chose, I charge þe to fotte, 452 Such a dunt as þou hat3 dalt disserued þou habbe3, [E] To be 3ederly 3olden on nw 3eres morn; Þe kny3t of þe grene chapel men knowen me mony; [F] For-þi me forto fynde if þou frayste3, fayle3 þou neuer, 456 [G] Þer-fore com, oþer recreaunt be calde þe be-houeus." With a runisch rout þe rayne3 he torne3, [H] Halled out at þe hal-dor, his hed in his hande, Þat þe fyr of þe flynt fla3e fro fole houes. 460 To quat kyth he be-com, knwe non þere, Neuermore þen þay wyste fram queþen. he wat3 wonnen; what þenne? Þe kyng & Gawen þare, 464 [I] At þat grene þay la3e & grenne, 3et breued wat3 hit ful bare, A meruayl among þo menne.

[Sidenote A: The head lifts up its eyelids,] [Sidenote B: and addresses Sir Gawayne; "Look thou, be ready to go as thou hast promised,] [Sidenote C: and seek till thou findest me.] [Sidenote D: Get thee to the Green Chapel,] [Sidenote E: there to receive a blow on New Year's morn.] [Sidenote F: Fail thou never;] [Sidenote G: come, or recreant be called."] [Sidenote H: The Green Knight then rushes out of the hall, his head in his hand.] [Sidenote I: At that green one Arthur and Gawayne "laugh and grin."]

XXI.

[A] Þa3 Arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder, 468 He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e To þe comlych quene, wyth cortays speche, [B] "Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer; Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse, 472 Laykyng of enterlude3, to la3e & to syng. Among þise, kynde caroles of kny3te3 & ladye3; [C] Neuer-þe-lece to my mete I may me wel dres, For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake." 476 He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde, [D] "Now sir, heng vp þyn ax, þat hat3 in-nogh hewen." & hit wat3 don abof þe dece, on doser to henge, [Fol. 97b.] Þer alle men for meruayl my3t on hit loke, 480 & bi trwe tytel þer-of to telle þe wonder. [E] Þenne þay bo3ed to a borde þise burnes to-geder, Þe kyng & þe gode kny3t, & kene men hem serued Of alle dayntye3 double, as derrest my3t falle, 484 Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie boþe; Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende, in londe. [F] Now þenk wel, sir Gawan, 488 For woþe þat þou ne wonde, Þis auenture forto frayn, Þat þou hat3 tan on honde.

[Sidenote A: Arthur addresses the queen:] [Sidenote B: "Dear dame, be not dismayed; such marvels well become the Christmas festival;] [Sidenote C: I may now go to meat.] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne, hang up thine axe.] [Sidenote E: The king and his knights sit feasting at the board till day is ended.] [Sidenote F: Now beware, Sir Gawayne, lest thou fail to seek the adventure that thou hast taken in hand.]

[FYTTE THE SECOND.]

I.

[A] This hanselle hat3 Arthur of auenturus on fyrst, 492 In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here, Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when þay to sete wenten; Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond. Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne þose gomne3 in halle, 496 Bot þa3 þe ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder; For þa3 men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk, [B] A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke, Þe forme to þe fynisment folde3 ful selden. 500 For-þi þis 3ol ouer-3ede, & þe 3ere after, & vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer; [C] After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun, Þat frayste3 flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple 504 Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepe3, [D] Colde clenge3 adoun, cloude3 vp-lyften, Schyre schede3 þe rayn in schowre3 ful warme, Falle3 vpon fayre flat, flowre3 þere schewen, 508 [E] Boþe grounde3 & þe greue3 grene ar her wede3, [F] Brydde3 busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen, [G] For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after, bi bonk; 512 [H] & blossume3 bolne to blowe, Bi rawe3 rych & ronk, [I] Þen note3 noble in-no3e, Ar herde in wod so wlonk. [Fol. 98]

[Sidenote A: This marvel serves to keep up a brisk conversation in Court.] [Sidenote B: The year passes full quickly and never returns.] [Sidenote C: After Christmas comes the "crabbed Lenten."] [Sidenote D: Spring sets in and warm showers descend;] [Sidenote E: the groves become green,] [Sidenote F: birds build and sing,] [Sidenote G: for joy of the summer that follows;] [Sidenote H: blossoms begin to bloom,] [Sidenote I: and noble notes are heard in the woods]

II.

516 [A] After þe sesoun of somer wyth þe soft wynde3, Quen 3eferus syfle3 hym-self on sede3 & erbe3, [B] Wela-wynne is þe wort þat woxes þer-oute. When þe donkande dewe drope3 of þe leue3, 520 To bide a blysful blusch of þe bry3t sunne. [C] Bot þen hy3es heruest, & hardenes hym sone. Warne3 hym for þe wynter to wax ful rype; [D] He dryues wyth dro3t þe dust for to ryse. 524 Fro þe face of þe folde to fly3e ful hy3e; Wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrastele3 with þe sunne, [E] Þe leue3 lancen fro þe lynde, & ly3ten on þe grounde, [F] & al grayes þe gres, þat grene wat3 ere; 528 Þenne al rype3 & rote3 þat ros vpon fyrst, & þus 3irne3 þe 3ere in 3isterdaye3 mony, [G] & wynter wynde3 a3ayn, as þe worlde aske3 no sage. 532 Til me3el-mas mone, Wat3 cumen wyth wynter wage; [H] Þen þenkke3 Gawan ful sone, Of his anious uyage.

[Sidenote A: Then the soft winds of summer,] [Sidenote B: beautiful are the flowers wet with dew-drops.] [Sidenote C: But harvest approaches soon,] [Sidenote D: and drives the dust about.] [Sidenote E: The leaves drop off the trees,] [Sidenote F: the grass becomes gray, and all ripens and rots.] [Sidenote G: Winter winds round again,] [Sidenote H: and then Sir Gawayne thinks of his dread journey.]

III.

536 [A] 3et quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges, & he made a fare on þat fest, for þe freke3 sake, With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table; Kny3te3 ful cortays & comlych ladies, 540 Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were, Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe, Mony ioyle3 for þat ientyle iape3 þer maden. [B] For aftter mete, with mournyng he mele3 to his eme, 544 & speke3 of his passage, & pertly he sayde, [C] "Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask; 3e knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more To telle yow tene3 þer-of neuer bot trifel; 548 [D] Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne, To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse." Þenne þe best of þe bur3 bo3ed to-geder, Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony, 552 Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence, [Fol. 98b.] Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode, Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe, [E] & mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port. 556 Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre, For to counseyl þe kny3t, with care at her hert; [F] Þere wat3 much derue[1] doel driuen in þe sale, Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde, 560 To dry3e a delful dynt, & dele no more wyth bronde. Þe kny3t mad ay god chere, & sayde, "quat schuld I wonde, 564 [G] Of destines derf & dere, What may mon do bot fonde?"

[Sidenote A: On All-hallows day Arthur makes a feast for his nephew's sake.] [Sidenote B: After meat, Sir Gawayne thus speaks to his uncle:] [Sidenote C: "Now, liege lord, I ask leave of you,] [Sidenote D: for I am bound on the morn to seek the Green Knight."] [Sidenote E: Many nobles, the best of the court, counsel and comfort him.] [Sidenote F: Much sorrow prevails in the hall.] [Sidenote G: Gawayne declares that he has nothing to fear.] [Footnote 1: derne (?).]

IV.

[A] He dowelle3 þer al þat day, and dresse3 on þe morn, Aske3 erly hys arme3, & alle were þay bro3t 568 [B] Fyrst a tule tapit, ty3t ouer þe flet, & miche wat3 þe gyld gere þat glent þer alofte; [C] Þe stif mon steppe3 þeron, & þe stel hondole3, [D] Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars, 572 & syþen a crafty capados, closed aloft, Þat wyth a bry3t blaunner was bounden with-inne; [E] Þenne set þay þe sabatoun3 vpon þe segge fote3, His lege3 lapped in stel with luflych greue3, 576 With polayne3 piched þer-to, policed ful clene, Aboute his kne3 knaged wyth knote3 of golde; [F] Queme quyssewes þen, þat coyntlych closed His thik þrawen þy3e3 with þwonges to-tachched; 580 [G] & syþen þe brawden bryne of bry3t stel rynge3, Vmbe-weued þat wy3, vpon wlonk stuffe; [H] & wel bornyst brace vpon his boþe armes, With gode cowters & gay, & gloue3 of plate, 584 & alle þe godlych gere þat hym gayn schulde Þat tyde; [I] Wyth ryche cote armure, [J] His gold spore3 spend with pryde, 588 [K] Gurde wyth a bront ful sure, With silk sayn vmbe his syde.

[Sidenote A: On the morn he asks for his arms.] [Sidenote B: A carpet is spread on the floor,] [Sidenote C: and he steps thereon.] [Sidenote D: He is dubbed in a doublet of Tarsic silk, and a well-made hood.] [Sidenote E: They set steel slices on his feet, and lap his legs in steel greaves.] [Sidenote F: Fair cuisses enclose his thighs,] [Sidenote G: and afterwards they put on the steel habergeon,] [Sidenote H: well-burnished braces, elbow pieces, and gloves of plate.] [Sidenote I: Over all this is placed the coat armour.] [Sidenote J: His spurs are then fixed,] [Sidenote K: and his sword is attached to his side by a silken girdle.]

V.

[A] When he wat3 hasped in armes, his harnays wat3 ryche, [Fol. 99a.] Þe lest lachet ou[þ]er loupe lemed of golde; 592 So harnayst as he wat3 he herkne3 his masse, Offred & honoured at þe he3e auter; [B] Syþen he come3 to þe kyng & to his cort fere3, Lache3 lufly his leue at lorde3 & ladye3; 596 & þay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst. [C] Bi þat wat3 Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel, Þat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges, Ay quere naylet ful nwe for þat note ryched; 600 Þe brydel barred aboute, with bry3t golde bounden; [D] Þe apparayl of þe payttrure, & of þe proude skyrte3, Þe cropore, & þe couertor, acorded wyth þe arsoune3; & al wat3 rayled on red ryche golde nayle3, 604 Þat al glytered & glent as glem of þe sunne. [E] Þenne hentes he þe holme, & hastily hit kysses, Þat wat3 stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne: Hit wat3 hy3e on his hede, hasped bihynde, 608 [F] Wyth a ly3tli vrysoun ouer þe auentayle, [G] Enbrawden & bounden wyth þe best gemme3, On brode sylkyn borde, & brydde3 on seme3, As papiaye3 paynted pernyng bitwene, 612 Tortors & trulofe3 entayled so þyk, As mony burde þer aboute had ben seuen wynter in toune; [H] Þe cercle wat3 more o prys, 616 Þat vmbe-clypped hys croun, Of diamaunte3 a deuys, Þat boþe were bry3t & broun.

[Sidenote A: Thus arrayed the knight hears mass,] [Sidenote B: and afterwards takes leave of Arthur and his court.] [Sidenote C: By that time his horse Gringolet was ready,] [Sidenote D: the harness of which glittered like the "gleam of the sun."] [Sidenote E: Then Sir Gawayne sets his helmet upon his head,] [Sidenote F: fastened behind with a "urisoun,"] [Sidenote G: richly embroidered with gems.] [Sidenote H: The circle around the helmet was decked with diamonds.]

VI.

[A] Then þay schewed hym þe schelde, þat was of schyr goule3, 620 Wyth þe pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwe3; He brayde3 hit by þe baude-ryk, aboute þe hals kestes, Þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre. [B] & quy þe pentangel apende3 to þat prynce noble, 624 I am in tent yow to telle, þof tary hyt me schulde; Hit is a syngne þat Salamon set sum-quyle, In bytoknyng of trawþe, bi tytle þat hit habbe3, For hit is a figure þat halde3 fyue poynte3, [Fol. 99b] 628 & vche lyne vmbe-lappe3 & louke3 in oþer, [C] & ay quere hit is endele3,[1] & Englych hit callen Ouer-al, as I here, þe endeles knot. For-þy hit acorde3 to þis kny3t, & to his cler arme3, 632 For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue syþe3, [D] Gawan wat3 for gode knawen, & as golde pured, Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertue3[2] ennourned in mote; 636 For-þy þe pen-tangel nwe He ber in schelde & cote, [E] As tulk of tale most trwe, & gentylest kny3t of lote.

[Sidenote A: Then they show him his shield with the "pentangle" of pure gold.] [Sidenote B: The "pentangle" was devised by Solomon as a token of truth.] [Sidenote C: It is called the endless knot] [Sidenote D: It well becomes the good Sir Gawayne,] [Sidenote E: a knight the truest of speech and the fairest of form.] [Footnote 1: MS emdele3.] [Footnote 2: MS verertue3]

VII.

640 [A] Fyrst he wat3 funden fautle3 in his fyue wytte3, & efte fayled neuer þe freke in his fyue fyngres, [B] & alle his afyaunce vpon folde wat3 in þe fyue wounde3 Þat Cryst ka3t on þe croys, as þe crede telle3; 644 & quere-so-euer þys mon in melly wat3 stad, His þro þo3t wat3 in þat, þur3 alle oþer þynge3, Þat alle his forsnes he fong at þe fyue ioye3, Þat þe hende heuen quene had of hir chylde; 648 At þis cause þe kny3t comlyche hade [C] In þe more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted, Þat quen he blusched þerto, his belde neuer payred. Þe fyrst[1] fyue þat I finde þat þe frek vsed, 652 Wat3 fraunchyse, & fela3schyp for-be[2] al þyng; [D] His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer, & pite, þat passe3 alle poynte3, þyse pure fyue Were harder happed on þat haþel þen on any oþer. 656 Now alle þese fyue syþe3, forsoþe, were fetled on þis kny3t, & vchone halched in oþer, þat non ende hade, & fyched vpon fyue poynte3, þat fayld neuer, Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nouþ[er], 660 With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde, Where-euer þe gomen bygan, or glod to an ende. [E] Þer-fore on his schene schelde schapen wat3 þe knot, Þus alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowle3, 664 Þat is þe pure pentaungel wyth þe peple called, [Fol. 100] with lore. Now grayþed is Gawan gay, [F] & la3t his launce ry3t þore, 668 & gef hem alle goud day, He wende for euer more.

[Sidenote A: He was found faultless in his five wits.] [Sidenote B: His trust was in the five wounds.] [Sidenote C: The image of the Virgin was depicted upon his shield.] [Sidenote D: In cleanness and courtesy he was never found wanting,] [Sidenote E: therefore was the endless knot fastened on his shield.] [Sidenote F: Sir Gawayne seizes his lance and bids all "good day."] [Footnote 1: MS fyft.] [Footnote 2: for-bi (?).]

VIII.

[A] He sperred þe sted with þe spure3, & sprong on his way, So stif þat þe ston fyr stroke out þer-after; 672 [B] Al þat se3 þat semly syked in hert, & sayde soþly al same segges til oþer, Carande for þat comly, "bi Kryst, hit is scaþe, Þat þou, leude, schal be lost, þat art of lyf noble! 676 [C] To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not eþe; Warloker to haf wro3t had more wyt bene, & haf dy3t 3onder dere a duk to haue worþed; [D] A lowande leder of lede3 in londe hym wel seme3, 680 & so had better haf ben þen britned to no3t, [E] Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angarde3 pryde. Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take, As kny3te3 in caueloun3 on cryst-masse gomne3!" 684 [F] Wel much wat3 þe warme water þat waltered of y3en, When þat semly syre so3t fro þo wone3 þat[1] daye; He made non abode, 688 Bot wy3tly went hys way, [G] Mony wylsum way he rode, Þe bok as I herde say.

[Sidenote A: He spurs his horse and goes on his way.] [Sidenote B: All that saw that seemly one mourned in their hearts.] [Sidenote C: They declared that his equal was not to be found upon earth.] [Sidenote D: It would have been better for him to have been a leader of men,] [Sidenote E: than to die by the hands of "an elvish man."] [Sidenote F: Much was the warm water that poured from eyes that day.] [Sidenote G: Meanwhile many a weary way goes Sir Gawayne.] [Footnote 1: MS. þad.]

IX.

[A] Now ride3 þis renk þur3 þe ryalme of Logres, 692 Sir Gauan on Gode3 halue, þa3 hym no gomen þo3t; Oft, leudle3 alone, he lenge3 on ny3te3, Þer he fonde no3t hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked; [B] Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frythe3 & doune3, 696 Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp, [C] Til þat he ne3ed ful noghe[1] in to þe Norþe Wale3; Alle þe iles of Anglesay on lyft half he halde3, & fare3 ouer þe forde3 by þe for-londe3, 700 [D] Ouer at þe Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk In þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde þer bot lyte [E] Þat auþer God oþer gome wyth goud hert louied. [Fol. 100b] & ay he frayned, as he ferde, at freke3 þat he met, 704 [F] If þay hade herde any karp of a kny3t grene, In any grounde þer-aboute, of þe grene chapel;[2] & al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue [G] Þay se3e neuer no segge þat wat3 of suche hwe3 708 of grene. Þe kny3t tok gates straunge, In mony a bonk vnbene, [H] His cher ful oft con chaunge, 712 Þat chapel er he my3t sene.

[Sidenote A: Now rides the knight through the realms of England.] [Sidenote B: He has no companion but his horse.] [Sidenote C: No men does he see till he approaches North Wales.] [Sidenote D: From Holyhead he passes into Wirral.] [Sidenote E: There he finds but few that loved God or man.] [Sidenote F: He enquires after the Green Knight of the Green Chapel,] [Sidenote G: but can gain no tidings of him.] [Sidenote H: His cheer oft changed before he found the Chapel.] [Footnote 1: nyghe (?).] [Footnote 2: MS. clapel.]

X.