ur3 her dere
dalyaunce
of her derne worde3,
Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fyl?
Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fyl?
Gawaine and the Green Knight
at he were,
904 [B] ? at a? el Arthure ? e hende halde3 hym one,
? at is ? e ryche ryal kyng of ? e rounde table;
& hit wat3 Wawen hym-self ? at in ? at won sytte3,
Comen to ? at krystmasse, as case hym ? en lymped.
908 [C] When ? e lorde hade lerned ? at he ? e leude hade,
Loude la3ed he ? erat, so lef hit hym ? o3t,
[D] & alle ? e men in ? at mote maden much joye,
To apere in his presense prestly ? at tyme,
912 ? at alle prys, & prowes, & pured ? ewes
Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,
By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is ? e most.
[E] Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,
916 [F] "Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of ? ewe3,
& ? e teccheles termes of talkyng noble,
Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,
[G] Syn we haf fonged ? at fyne fader of nurture;
920 God hat3 geuen vus his grace godly for so? e,
? at such a gest as Gawan graunte3 vus to haue,
When burne3 bly? e of his bur? e schal sitte
& synge.
924 In menyng of manere3 mere,
? is burne now schal vus bryng, [Fol. 103b. ]
[H] I hope ? at may hym here,
Schal lerne of luf-talkyng. "
[Sidenote A: Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,]
[Sidenote B: tells the prince that he is of Arthur's court. ]
[Sidenote C: When this was made known,]
[Sidenote D: great was the joy in the hall. ]
[Sidenote E: Each one said softly to his mate,]
[Sidenote F: "Now we shall see courteous manners and hear noble speech,]
[Sidenote G: for we have amongst us the 'father of nurture. ']
[Sidenote H: He that may him hear shall learn of love-talking. "]
XVIII.
928 [A] Bi ? at ? e diner wat3 done, & ? e dere vp,
Hit wat3 ne3 at ? e niy3t ne3ed ? e tyme;
Chaplayne3[1] to ? e chapeles chosen ? e gate,
Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as ? ay schulden,
932 [B] To ? e hersum euensong of ? e hy3e tyde.
? e lorde loutes ? erto, & ? e lady als,
In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entre3;
Gawan glyde3 ful gay, & gos ? eder sone;
936 ? e lorde laches hym by ? e lappe, & lede3 hym to sytte,
& cou? ly hym knowe3, & calle3 hym his nome,
& sayde he wat3 ? e welcomest wy3e of ? e worlde;
[C] & he hym ? onkked ? roly, & ay? er halched o? er.
940 & seten soberly samen ? e seruise-quyle;
? enne lyst ? e lady to loke on ? e kny3t.
[D] ? enne com ho of hir closet, with mony cler burde3,
Ho wat3 ? e fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre,
944 & of compas, & colour, & costes of alle o? er,
[E] & wener ? en Wenore, as ? e wy3e ? o3t.
He ches ? ur3 ? e chaunsel, to cheryche ? at hende;
[F] An o? er lady hir lad bi ? e lyft honde,
948 ? at wat3 alder ? en ho, an auncian hit semed,
& he3ly honowred with ha? ele3 aboute.
[G] Bot yn-lyke on to loke ? o ladyes were,
[H] For if ? e 3onge wat3 3ep, 3ol3e wat3 ? at o? er;
952 Riche red on ? at on rayled ay quere,
[I] Rugh ronkled cheke3 ? at o? er on rolled;
Kerchofes of ? at on wyth mony cler perle3
[J] Hir brest & hir bry3t ? rote bare displayed,
956 Schon schyrer ? en snawe, ? at scheder[2] on hille3;
? at o? er wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer ? e swyre,
Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles,
[K] Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere,
960 Toret & treieted with tryfle3 aboute,
[L] ? at no3t wat3 bare of ? at burde bot ? e blake bro3es. [Fol. 104. ]
? e tweyne y3en, & ? e nase, ? e naked lyppe3,
& ? ose were soure to se, & sellyly blered;
964 A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,
for gode;
[M] Hir body wat3 schort & ? ik.
[N] Hir buttoke3 bay & brode,
968 More lykker-wys on to lyk,
Wat3 ? at scho hade on lode.
[Sidenote A: After dinner the company go to the chapel,]
[Sidenote B: to hear the evensong of the great season. ]
[Sidenote C: The lord of the castle and Sir Gawayne sit together during
service. ]
[Sidenote D: His wife, accompanied by her maids, leaves her seat. ]
[Sidenote E: She appeared even fairer than Guenever. ]
[Sidenote F: An older lady (an ancient one she seemed) led her by the
hand. ]
[Sidenote G: Very unlike were these two. ]
[Sidenote H: if the young one was fair the other was yellow,]
[Sidenote I: and had rough and wrinkled cheeks. ]
[Sidenote J: The younger had breast and throat "bare displayed. "]
[Sidenote K: The ancient one exposed only her "black brows," her two eyes,]
[Sidenote L: nose, and naked lips, all sour and bleared. ]
[Sidenote M: Her body was short and thick;]
[Sidenote N: her buttocks broad and round. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. [claplayne3. ]]
[Footnote 2: schedes (? ). ]
XIX.
[A] When Gawayn gly3t on ? at gay, ? at graciously loked,
Wyth leue la3t of ? e lorde he went hem a3aynes;
972 [B] ? e alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,
? e loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,
[C] He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;
? ay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3
976 [D] To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.
? ay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden
[E] To chambre, to chemne, & chefly ? ay asken
[F] Spyce3, ? at vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,
980 & ? e wynne-lych wyne ? er-with vche tyme.
? e lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,
Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony sy? e3.
[G] Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,
984 & wayned hom to wynne ? e worchip ? er-of,
[H] ? at most myr? e my3t mene[1] ? at crystenmas whyle;
"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth ? e best,
Er me wont ? e wede3, with help of my frende3. "
988 ? us wyth la3ande lote3 ? e lorde hit tayt[2] make3,
[I] For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle
? at ny3t;
Til ? at hit wat3 tyme,
992 ? e kyng comaundet ly3t,
[J] Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,
& to his bed hym di3t.
[Sidenote A: With permission of the lord,]
[Sidenote B: Sir Gawayne salutes the elder,]
[Sidenote C: but the younger he kisses,]
[Sidenote D: and begs to be her servant. ]
[Sidenote E: To chamber all go,]
[Sidenote F: where spices and wine are served. ]
[Sidenote G: The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear. ]
[Sidenote H: He who makes most mirth is to win it. ]
[Sidenote I: Night approaches, and then]
[Sidenote J: Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest. ]
[Footnote 1: meue (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: layt (? ). ]
XX.
[A] On ? e morne, as vch mon myne3 ? at tyme,
996 [B] [? ]at dry3tyn for oure destyne to de3e wat3 borne,
Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;
[C] So did hit ? ere on ? at day, ? ur3 dayntes mony;
Bo? e at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt [Fol. 104b. ]
1000 Derf men vpon dece drest of ? e best.
[D] ? e olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3;
? e lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;
[E] Gawan & ? e gay burde to-geder ? ay seten,
1004 Euen in-mydde3, as ? e messe metely come;
& sy? en ? ur3 al ? e sale, as hem best semed,
[F] Bi vche grome at his degre gray? ely wat3 serued.
? er wat3 mete, ? er wat3 myr? e, ? er wat3 much ioye,
1008 ? at for to telle ? erof hit me tene were,
& to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture;
[G] Bot 3et I wot ? at Wawen & ? e wale burde
Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder,
1012 ?
ur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3,
Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fyl? e;
& hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen,
in vayres;
1016 [H] Trumpe3 & nakerys,
Much pypyng ? er repayres,
Vche mon tented hys,
& ? ay two tented ? ayres.
[Sidenote A: On Christmas morn,]
[Sidenote B: joy reigns in every dwelling in the world. ]
[Sidenote C: So did it in the castle where our knight abode. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne sits by the wife of his host. ]
[Sidenote F: It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the
joy that abounded everywhere. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from
each other's conversation. ]
[Sidenote H: Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds. ]
XXI.
1020 [A] Much dut wat3 ? er dryuen ? at day & ? at o? er,
& ? e ? ryd as ? ro ? ronge in ? erafter;
[B] ? e ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here,
& wat3 ? e last of ? e layk, leude3 ? er ? o3ten.
1024 ? er wer gestes to go vpon ? e gray morne,
For-? y wonderly ? ay woke, & ? e wyn dronken,
Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3;
[C] At ? e last, when hit wat3 late, ? ay lachen her leue,
1028 Vchon to wende on his way, ? at wat3 wy3e stronge.
Gawan gef hym god-day, ? e god mon hym lachche3,
Ledes hym to his awen chambre, ? [e] chymne bysyde,
[D] & ? ere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym ? onkke3,
1032 Of ? e wynne worschip &[1] he hym wayned hade,
As to honour his hous on ? at hy3e tyde,
& enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere.
"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me wor? e3 ? e better,
1036 ? at Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest. " [Fol. 105. ]
"Grant merci[2] sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3,
Al ? e honour is your awen, ? e he3e kyng yow 3elde;
& I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest,
1040 As I am halden ? er-to, in hy3e & in lo3e,
bi ri3t. "
[E] ? e lorde fast can hym payne,
To holde lenger ? e kny3t,
1044 To hym answre3 Gawayn,
Bi non way ? at he my3t.
[Sidenote A: Great was the joy for three days. ]
[Sidenote B: St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival. ]
[Sidenote C: On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the
castle. ]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure
of his visit. ]
[Sidenote E: He endeavours to keep the knight at his court. ]
[Footnote 1: ? at (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: nerci, in MS. ]
XXII.
[A] Then frayned ? e freke ful fayre at him-seluen,
Quat derne[1] dede had hym dryuen, at ? at dere tyme,
1048 So kenly fro ? e kynge3 kourt to kayre al his one,
Er ? e halidaye3 holly were halet out of toun?
[B] "For so? e sir," quod ? e segge, "3e sayn bot ? e traw? e
A he3e ernde & a hasty me hade fro ? o wone3,
1052 For I am sumned my selfe to sech to a place,
I wot[2] in worlde wheder warde to wende, hit to fynde;
I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,
For alle ? e londe in-wyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!
1056 For-? y, sir, ? is enquest I require yow here,
[C] ? at 3e me telle with traw? e, if euer 3e tale herde
Of ? e grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stonde3,
& of ? e kny3t ? at hit kepes, of colour of grene?
1060 ? er wat3 stabled bi statut a steuen vus by-twene,
[D] To mete ? at mon at ? at mere, 3if I my3t last;
& of ? at ilk nw3ere hot neked now wonte3,
& I wolde loke on ? at lede, if God me let wolde,
1064 Gladloker, bi Godde3 sun, ? en any god welde!
For-? i, I-wysse, bi 3owre wylle, wende me bi-houes,
[E] Naf I now to busy bot bare ? re daye3,
& me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde. "
1068 [F] ? enne la3ande quod ? e lorde, "now leng ? e by-houes,
For I schal teche yow to ? a[t] terme bi ? e tyme3 ende,
? e grene chapayle vpon grounde, greue yow no more;
Bot 3e schal be in yowre bed, burne, at ? yn ese,
1072 Quyle forth dayej, & ferk on pe fyrst of pe 3ere,
& cum to ? at merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow like3 [Fol. 105b]
in spenne;
Dowelle3 whyle new 3eres daye,
1076 & rys, & rayke3 ? enne,
[G] Mon schal yow sette in waye,
Hit is not two myle henne. "
[Sidenote A: He desires to know what had driven Sir Gawayne from Arthur's
court before the end of the Christmas holidays. ]
[Sidenote B: The knight replies that "a high errand and a hasty one" had
forced him to leave the court. ]
[Sidenote C: He asks his host whether he has ever heard of the Green
Chapel,]
[Sidenote D: for he has to be there on New Year's-day. ]
[Sidenote E: He wonld as lief die as fail in his errand. ]
[Sidenote F: The prince tells Sir Gawayne that he will teach him the way. ]
[Sidenote G: The Green chapel is not more than two miles from the castle. ]
[Footnote 1: derue (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: not (? ). ]
XXIII.
[A] ? enne wat3 Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he la3ed,--
1080 "Now I ? onk yow ? ryuandely ? ur3 alle o? er ? ynge,
[B] Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle
Dowelle, & elle3 do quat 3e demen. "
? enne sesed hym ? e syre, & set hym bysyde,
1084 [C] Let ? e ladie3 be fette, to lyke hem ? e better;
? er wat3 seme solace by hem-self stille;
? e lorde let for luf lote3 so myry,
As wy3 ? at wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he my3t.
1088 ? enne he carped to ? e kny3t, criande loude,
[D] "3e han demed to do ? e dede ? at I bidde;
Wyl 3e halde ? is hes here at ? ys one3? "
"3e sir, for-so? e," sayd ? e segge trwe,
1092 "Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest. "
"For 3e haf trauayled," quod ? e tulk, "towen fro ferre,
& sy? en waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,
[E] Nau? er of sostnaunce ne of slepe, so? ly I knowe;
1096 3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,
[F] To morn quyle ? e messe-quyle, & to mete wende,
When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, ? at wyth yow schal sitte,
& comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,
1100 3e lende;
& I schal erly ryse,
On huntyng wyl I wende. "
[G] Gauayn grante3 alle ? yse,
1104 Hym heldande, as ? e hende.
[Sidenote A: Then was Gawayne glad,]
[Sidenote B: and consents to tarry awhile at the castle. ]
[Sidenote C: The ladies are brought in to solace him. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one
request;]
[Sidenote E: That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,]
[Sidenote F: and then go to meat with his hostess. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne accedes to his request. ]
XXIV.
[A] "3et firre," quod ? e freke, "a forwarde we make;
Quat-so-euer I wynne in ? e wod, hit wor? e3 to youre3,
[B] & quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me ? er-forne;
1108 Swete, swap we so, sware with traw? e,
Que? er, leude, so lymp lere o? er better. "
"Bi God," quod Gawayn ? e gode, "I grant ? er-tylle,
& ? at yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me ? ynkes. [Fol. 106. ]
1112 [C] "Who bringe3 vus ? is beuerage, ? is bargayn is maked:"
So sayde ? e lorde of ? at lede; ? ay la3ed vchone,
? ay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,[1]
? ise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle ? at hem lyked;
1116 & sy? en with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3
? ay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,
Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.
[D] With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,
1120 Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at ? e laste,
ful softe;
To bed 3et er ? ay 3ede,
Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;
1124 ? e olde lorde of ? at leude,[2]
Cow? e wel halde layk a-lofte.
[Sidenote A: "Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be
yours,]
[Sidenote B: and what check you achieve shall be mine. "]
[Sidenote C: A bargain is made between them. ]
[Sidenote D: Night approaches and each "to his bed was brought at the
last. "]
[Footnote 1: vntyl ny3te (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: lede (? ). ]
[FYTTE THE THIRD.
904 [B] ? at a? el Arthure ? e hende halde3 hym one,
? at is ? e ryche ryal kyng of ? e rounde table;
& hit wat3 Wawen hym-self ? at in ? at won sytte3,
Comen to ? at krystmasse, as case hym ? en lymped.
908 [C] When ? e lorde hade lerned ? at he ? e leude hade,
Loude la3ed he ? erat, so lef hit hym ? o3t,
[D] & alle ? e men in ? at mote maden much joye,
To apere in his presense prestly ? at tyme,
912 ? at alle prys, & prowes, & pured ? ewes
Apendes to hys persoun, & praysed is euer,
By-fore alle men vpon molde, his mensk is ? e most.
[E] Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere,
916 [F] "Now schal we semlych se sle3te3 of ? ewe3,
& ? e teccheles termes of talkyng noble,
Wich spede is in speche, vnspurd may we lerne,
[G] Syn we haf fonged ? at fyne fader of nurture;
920 God hat3 geuen vus his grace godly for so? e,
? at such a gest as Gawan graunte3 vus to haue,
When burne3 bly? e of his bur? e schal sitte
& synge.
924 In menyng of manere3 mere,
? is burne now schal vus bryng, [Fol. 103b. ]
[H] I hope ? at may hym here,
Schal lerne of luf-talkyng. "
[Sidenote A: Sir Gawayne, in answer to questions put to him,]
[Sidenote B: tells the prince that he is of Arthur's court. ]
[Sidenote C: When this was made known,]
[Sidenote D: great was the joy in the hall. ]
[Sidenote E: Each one said softly to his mate,]
[Sidenote F: "Now we shall see courteous manners and hear noble speech,]
[Sidenote G: for we have amongst us the 'father of nurture. ']
[Sidenote H: He that may him hear shall learn of love-talking. "]
XVIII.
928 [A] Bi ? at ? e diner wat3 done, & ? e dere vp,
Hit wat3 ne3 at ? e niy3t ne3ed ? e tyme;
Chaplayne3[1] to ? e chapeles chosen ? e gate,
Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as ? ay schulden,
932 [B] To ? e hersum euensong of ? e hy3e tyde.
? e lorde loutes ? erto, & ? e lady als,
In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entre3;
Gawan glyde3 ful gay, & gos ? eder sone;
936 ? e lorde laches hym by ? e lappe, & lede3 hym to sytte,
& cou? ly hym knowe3, & calle3 hym his nome,
& sayde he wat3 ? e welcomest wy3e of ? e worlde;
[C] & he hym ? onkked ? roly, & ay? er halched o? er.
940 & seten soberly samen ? e seruise-quyle;
? enne lyst ? e lady to loke on ? e kny3t.
[D] ? enne com ho of hir closet, with mony cler burde3,
Ho wat3 ? e fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre,
944 & of compas, & colour, & costes of alle o? er,
[E] & wener ? en Wenore, as ? e wy3e ? o3t.
He ches ? ur3 ? e chaunsel, to cheryche ? at hende;
[F] An o? er lady hir lad bi ? e lyft honde,
948 ? at wat3 alder ? en ho, an auncian hit semed,
& he3ly honowred with ha? ele3 aboute.
[G] Bot yn-lyke on to loke ? o ladyes were,
[H] For if ? e 3onge wat3 3ep, 3ol3e wat3 ? at o? er;
952 Riche red on ? at on rayled ay quere,
[I] Rugh ronkled cheke3 ? at o? er on rolled;
Kerchofes of ? at on wyth mony cler perle3
[J] Hir brest & hir bry3t ? rote bare displayed,
956 Schon schyrer ? en snawe, ? at scheder[2] on hille3;
? at o? er wyth a gorger wat3 gered ouer ? e swyre,
Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with mylk-quyte vayles,
[K] Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ay quere,
960 Toret & treieted with tryfle3 aboute,
[L] ? at no3t wat3 bare of ? at burde bot ? e blake bro3es. [Fol. 104. ]
? e tweyne y3en, & ? e nase, ? e naked lyppe3,
& ? ose were soure to se, & sellyly blered;
964 A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,
for gode;
[M] Hir body wat3 schort & ? ik.
[N] Hir buttoke3 bay & brode,
968 More lykker-wys on to lyk,
Wat3 ? at scho hade on lode.
[Sidenote A: After dinner the company go to the chapel,]
[Sidenote B: to hear the evensong of the great season. ]
[Sidenote C: The lord of the castle and Sir Gawayne sit together during
service. ]
[Sidenote D: His wife, accompanied by her maids, leaves her seat. ]
[Sidenote E: She appeared even fairer than Guenever. ]
[Sidenote F: An older lady (an ancient one she seemed) led her by the
hand. ]
[Sidenote G: Very unlike were these two. ]
[Sidenote H: if the young one was fair the other was yellow,]
[Sidenote I: and had rough and wrinkled cheeks. ]
[Sidenote J: The younger had breast and throat "bare displayed. "]
[Sidenote K: The ancient one exposed only her "black brows," her two eyes,]
[Sidenote L: nose, and naked lips, all sour and bleared. ]
[Sidenote M: Her body was short and thick;]
[Sidenote N: her buttocks broad and round. ]
[Footnote 1: MS. [claplayne3. ]]
[Footnote 2: schedes (? ). ]
XIX.
[A] When Gawayn gly3t on ? at gay, ? at graciously loked,
Wyth leue la3t of ? e lorde he went hem a3aynes;
972 [B] ? e alder he haylses, heldande ful lowe,
? e loueloker he lappe3 a lyttel in arme3,
[C] He kysses hir comlyly, & kny3tly he mele3;
? ay kallen hym of a quoyntaunce, & he hit quyk aske3
976 [D] To be her seruaunt sothly, if hem-self lyked.
? ay tan hym bytwene hem, wyth talkyng hym leden
[E] To chambre, to chemne, & chefly ? ay asken
[F] Spyce3, ? at vn-sparely men speded hom to bryng,
980 & ? e wynne-lych wyne ? er-with vche tyme.
? e lorde luflych aloft lepe3 ful ofte,
Mynned merthe to be made vpon mony sy? e3.
[G] Hent he3ly of his hode, & on a spere henged,
984 & wayned hom to wynne ? e worchip ? er-of,
[H] ? at most myr? e my3t mene[1] ? at crystenmas whyle;
"& i schal fonde, bi my fayth, to fylter wyth ? e best,
Er me wont ? e wede3, with help of my frende3. "
988 ? us wyth la3ande lote3 ? e lorde hit tayt[2] make3,
[I] For to glade sir Gawayn with gomne3 in halle
? at ny3t;
Til ? at hit wat3 tyme,
992 ? e kyng comaundet ly3t,
[J] Sir Gawen his leue con nyme,
& to his bed hym di3t.
[Sidenote A: With permission of the lord,]
[Sidenote B: Sir Gawayne salutes the elder,]
[Sidenote C: but the younger he kisses,]
[Sidenote D: and begs to be her servant. ]
[Sidenote E: To chamber all go,]
[Sidenote F: where spices and wine are served. ]
[Sidenote G: The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear. ]
[Sidenote H: He who makes most mirth is to win it. ]
[Sidenote I: Night approaches, and then]
[Sidenote J: Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest. ]
[Footnote 1: meue (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: layt (? ). ]
XX.
[A] On ? e morne, as vch mon myne3 ? at tyme,
996 [B] [? ]at dry3tyn for oure destyne to de3e wat3 borne,
Wele waxe3 in vche a won in worlde, for his sake;
[C] So did hit ? ere on ? at day, ? ur3 dayntes mony;
Bo? e at mes & at mele, messes ful quaynt [Fol. 104b. ]
1000 Derf men vpon dece drest of ? e best.
[D] ? e olde auncian wyf he3est ho sytte3;
? e lorde lufly her by lent, as I trowe;
[E] Gawan & ? e gay burde to-geder ? ay seten,
1004 Euen in-mydde3, as ? e messe metely come;
& sy? en ? ur3 al ? e sale, as hem best semed,
[F] Bi vche grome at his degre gray? ely wat3 serued.
? er wat3 mete, ? er wat3 myr? e, ? er wat3 much ioye,
1008 ? at for to telle ? erof hit me tene were,
& to poynte hit 3et I pyned me parauenture;
[G] Bot 3et I wot ? at Wawen & ? e wale burde
Such comfort of her compaynye ca3ten to-geder,
1012 ?
ur3 her dere dalyaunce of her derne worde3,
Wyth clene cortays carp, closed fro fyl? e;
& hor play wat3 passande vche prynce gomen,
in vayres;
1016 [H] Trumpe3 & nakerys,
Much pypyng ? er repayres,
Vche mon tented hys,
& ? ay two tented ? ayres.
[Sidenote A: On Christmas morn,]
[Sidenote B: joy reigns in every dwelling in the world. ]
[Sidenote C: So did it in the castle where our knight abode. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together. ]
[Sidenote E: Gawayne sits by the wife of his host. ]
[Sidenote F: It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the
joy that abounded everywhere. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from
each other's conversation. ]
[Sidenote H: Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds. ]
XXI.
1020 [A] Much dut wat3 ? er dryuen ? at day & ? at o? er,
& ? e ? ryd as ? ro ? ronge in ? erafter;
[B] ? e ioye of sayn Ione3 day wat3 gentyle to here,
& wat3 ? e last of ? e layk, leude3 ? er ? o3ten.
1024 ? er wer gestes to go vpon ? e gray morne,
For-? y wonderly ? ay woke, & ? e wyn dronken,
Daunsed ful dre3ly wyth dere carole3;
[C] At ? e last, when hit wat3 late, ? ay lachen her leue,
1028 Vchon to wende on his way, ? at wat3 wy3e stronge.
Gawan gef hym god-day, ? e god mon hym lachche3,
Ledes hym to his awen chambre, ? [e] chymne bysyde,
[D] & ? ere he dra3e3 hym on-dry3e, & derely hym ? onkke3,
1032 Of ? e wynne worschip &[1] he hym wayned hade,
As to honour his hous on ? at hy3e tyde,
& enbelyse his bur3 with his bele chere.
"I-wysse sir, quyl I leue, me wor? e3 ? e better,
1036 ? at Gawayn hat3 ben my gest, at Godde3 awen fest. " [Fol. 105. ]
"Grant merci[2] sir," quod Gawayn, "in god fayth hit is yowre3,
Al ? e honour is your awen, ? e he3e kyng yow 3elde;
& I am wy3e at your wylle, to worch youre hest,
1040 As I am halden ? er-to, in hy3e & in lo3e,
bi ri3t. "
[E] ? e lorde fast can hym payne,
To holde lenger ? e kny3t,
1044 To hym answre3 Gawayn,
Bi non way ? at he my3t.
[Sidenote A: Great was the joy for three days. ]
[Sidenote B: St. John's-day was the last of the Christmas festival. ]
[Sidenote C: On the morrow many of the guests took their departure from the
castle. ]
[Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne is thanked by his host for the honour and pleasure
of his visit. ]
[Sidenote E: He endeavours to keep the knight at his court. ]
[Footnote 1: ? at (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: nerci, in MS. ]
XXII.
[A] Then frayned ? e freke ful fayre at him-seluen,
Quat derne[1] dede had hym dryuen, at ? at dere tyme,
1048 So kenly fro ? e kynge3 kourt to kayre al his one,
Er ? e halidaye3 holly were halet out of toun?
[B] "For so? e sir," quod ? e segge, "3e sayn bot ? e traw? e
A he3e ernde & a hasty me hade fro ? o wone3,
1052 For I am sumned my selfe to sech to a place,
I wot[2] in worlde wheder warde to wende, hit to fynde;
I nolde, bot if I hit negh my3t on nw3eres morne,
For alle ? e londe in-wyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!
1056 For-? y, sir, ? is enquest I require yow here,
[C] ? at 3e me telle with traw? e, if euer 3e tale herde
Of ? e grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stonde3,
& of ? e kny3t ? at hit kepes, of colour of grene?
1060 ? er wat3 stabled bi statut a steuen vus by-twene,
[D] To mete ? at mon at ? at mere, 3if I my3t last;
& of ? at ilk nw3ere hot neked now wonte3,
& I wolde loke on ? at lede, if God me let wolde,
1064 Gladloker, bi Godde3 sun, ? en any god welde!
For-? i, I-wysse, bi 3owre wylle, wende me bi-houes,
[E] Naf I now to busy bot bare ? re daye3,
& me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde. "
1068 [F] ? enne la3ande quod ? e lorde, "now leng ? e by-houes,
For I schal teche yow to ? a[t] terme bi ? e tyme3 ende,
? e grene chapayle vpon grounde, greue yow no more;
Bot 3e schal be in yowre bed, burne, at ? yn ese,
1072 Quyle forth dayej, & ferk on pe fyrst of pe 3ere,
& cum to ? at merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow like3 [Fol. 105b]
in spenne;
Dowelle3 whyle new 3eres daye,
1076 & rys, & rayke3 ? enne,
[G] Mon schal yow sette in waye,
Hit is not two myle henne. "
[Sidenote A: He desires to know what had driven Sir Gawayne from Arthur's
court before the end of the Christmas holidays. ]
[Sidenote B: The knight replies that "a high errand and a hasty one" had
forced him to leave the court. ]
[Sidenote C: He asks his host whether he has ever heard of the Green
Chapel,]
[Sidenote D: for he has to be there on New Year's-day. ]
[Sidenote E: He wonld as lief die as fail in his errand. ]
[Sidenote F: The prince tells Sir Gawayne that he will teach him the way. ]
[Sidenote G: The Green chapel is not more than two miles from the castle. ]
[Footnote 1: derue (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: not (? ). ]
XXIII.
[A] ? enne wat3 Gawan ful glad, & gomenly he la3ed,--
1080 "Now I ? onk yow ? ryuandely ? ur3 alle o? er ? ynge,
[B] Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle
Dowelle, & elle3 do quat 3e demen. "
? enne sesed hym ? e syre, & set hym bysyde,
1084 [C] Let ? e ladie3 be fette, to lyke hem ? e better;
? er wat3 seme solace by hem-self stille;
? e lorde let for luf lote3 so myry,
As wy3 ? at wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he my3t.
1088 ? enne he carped to ? e kny3t, criande loude,
[D] "3e han demed to do ? e dede ? at I bidde;
Wyl 3e halde ? is hes here at ? ys one3? "
"3e sir, for-so? e," sayd ? e segge trwe,
1092 "Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3ow[r]e hest. "
"For 3e haf trauayled," quod ? e tulk, "towen fro ferre,
& sy? en waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst,
[E] Nau? er of sostnaunce ne of slepe, so? ly I knowe;
1096 3e schal lenge in your lofte, & ly3e in your ese,
[F] To morn quyle ? e messe-quyle, & to mete wende,
When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, ? at wyth yow schal sitte,
& comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne,
1100 3e lende;
& I schal erly ryse,
On huntyng wyl I wende. "
[G] Gauayn grante3 alle ? yse,
1104 Hym heldande, as ? e hende.
[Sidenote A: Then was Gawayne glad,]
[Sidenote B: and consents to tarry awhile at the castle. ]
[Sidenote C: The ladies are brought in to solace him. ]
[Sidenote D: The lord of the castle asks the knight to grant him one
request;]
[Sidenote E: That he will stay in his chamber during mass time,]
[Sidenote F: and then go to meat with his hostess. ]
[Sidenote G: Gawayne accedes to his request. ]
XXIV.
[A] "3et firre," quod ? e freke, "a forwarde we make;
Quat-so-euer I wynne in ? e wod, hit wor? e3 to youre3,
[B] & quat chek so 3e acheue, chaunge me ? er-forne;
1108 Swete, swap we so, sware with traw? e,
Que? er, leude, so lymp lere o? er better. "
"Bi God," quod Gawayn ? e gode, "I grant ? er-tylle,
& ? at yow lyst forto layke, lef hit me ? ynkes. [Fol. 106. ]
1112 [C] "Who bringe3 vus ? is beuerage, ? is bargayn is maked:"
So sayde ? e lorde of ? at lede; ? ay la3ed vchone,
? ay dronken, & daylyeden, & dalten vnty3tel,[1]
? ise lorde3 & ladye3, quyle ? at hem lyked;
1116 & sy? en with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lote3
? ay stoden, & stemed, & stylly speken,
Kysten ful comlyly, & ka3ten her leue.
[D] With mony leude ful ly3t, & lemande torches,
1120 Vche burne to his bed wat3 bro3t at ? e laste,
ful softe;
To bed 3et er ? ay 3ede,
Recorded couenaunte3 ofte;
1124 ? e olde lorde of ? at leude,[2]
Cow? e wel halde layk a-lofte.
[Sidenote A: "Whatsoever," says the host, "I win in the wood shall be
yours,]
[Sidenote B: and what check you achieve shall be mine. "]
[Sidenote C: A bargain is made between them. ]
[Sidenote D: Night approaches and each "to his bed was brought at the
last. "]
[Footnote 1: vntyl ny3te (? ). ]
[Footnote 2: lede (? ). ]
[FYTTE THE THIRD.
