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} -p.pcapc { margin-left:4.7em; text-indent:0em; text-align:justify; } -span.attr { font-size:80%; font-family:sans-serif; } -span.pn { display:inline-block; width:4.7em; text-align:left; margin-left:0; text-indent:0; } -</style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by Jessie L. Weston</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose, with Introduction & Notes</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Jessie L. Weston</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 18, 2021 [eBook #66084]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net </p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT ***</div> -<div id="cover" class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" width="800" height="1140" /> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<p class="center"><span class="large"><b>ARTHURIAN ROMANCES -<br />Unrepresented in Malory’s “Morte d’Arthur”</b></span></p> -<h1><i>No. I</i> -<br />Sir Gawain and the -<br />Green Knight</h1> -<p class="tb">A Middle-English Arthurian Romance -<i>Retold in Modern Prose, with Introduction -& Notes</i>, by Jessie L. Weston, -<i>Translator</i> of Wolfram von Eschenbach’s -“Parzival” • <i>With Designs by</i> -M. M. Crawford</p> -<p class="tb">London: David Nutt in the Strand -<br /><span class="small">mdcccxcviii</span></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_v">v</div> -<h2><span class="small">Preface</span></h2> -<p>The poem of which the following pages -offer a prose rendering is contained in a -MS., believed to be unique, of the Cottonian -Collection, Nero A. X., preserved -in the British Museum. The MS. is of -the end of the fourteenth century, but it -is possible that the composition of the -poem is somewhat earlier; the subject -matter is certainly of very old date. -There has been a considerable divergence -of opinion among scholars on the question -of authorship, but the view now -generally accepted is that it is the work -of the same hand as <i>Pearl</i>, another poem -<span class="pb" id="Page_vi">vi</span> -of considerable merit contained in the -same MS.</p> -<p>Our poem, or, to speak more correctly, -metrical romance, contains over 2500 lines, -and is composed in staves of varying length, -ending in five short rhyming lines, technically -known as a bob and a wheel,—the -lines forming the body of the stave being -not rhyming, but alliterative. The dialect -in which it is written has been decided to -be West Midland, probably Lancashire, -and is by no means easy to understand. -Indeed, it is the real difficulty and obscurity -of the language, which in spite of careful -and scholarly editing will always place the -poem in its original form outside the range -of any but professed students of mediæval -literature, which has encouraged me to make -an attempt to render it more accessible to -the general public, by giving it a form that -shall be easily intelligible, and at the same -time preserve as closely as possible the style -of the author.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_vii">vii</div> -<p>For that style, in spite of a certain roughness, -unavoidable at a period in which the -language was still in a partially developed -and amorphous stage, is really charming. -The author has a keen eye for effect; a -talent for description, detailed without becoming -wearisome; a genuine love of -Nature and sympathy with her varying -moods; and a real refinement and elevation -of feeling which enable him to deal with a -<i>risqué</i> situation with an absence of coarseness, -not, unfortunately, to be always met -with in a mediæval writer. Standards of -taste vary with the age, but even judged -by that of our own day the author of <i>Sir -Gawain and the Green Knight</i> comes not -all too badly out of the ordeal!</p> -<p>The story with which the poem deals, -too, has claims upon our interest. I have -shown elsewhere<a class="fn" id="fr_a" href="#fn_a">[a]</a> that the beheading -challenge is an incident of very early -<span class="pb" id="Page_viii">viii</span> -occurrence in heroic legend, and that the -particular form given to it in the English -poem is especially interesting, corresponding -as it does to the variations of the story -as preserved in the oldest known version, -that of the old Irish <i>Fled Bricrend</i>.</p> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_a" href="#fr_a">[a]</a>“The Legend of Sir Gawain,” Grimm Library, Vol. -VII. (Chapter IX. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight).</div> -<p>But in no other version is the incident -coupled with that of a temptation and -testing of the hero’s honour and chastity, -such as meets us here. At first sight one -is inclined to assign the episode of the lady -of the castle to the class of stories of which -the oldest version is preserved in Biblical -record—the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s -wife; a <i>motif</i> not unseldom employed by -mediæval writers, and which notably occurs -in what we may call the <i>Launfal</i> group -of stories. But there are certain points -which may make us hesitate as to whether -in its first conception the tale was really -one of this class.</p> -<p>It must be noted that here the lady is -acting throughout with the knowledge and -<span class="pb" id="Page_ix">ix</span> -consent of the husband, an important point -of difference. In the second place, it is -very doubtful whether her entire attitude -was not a <i>ruse</i>. From the Green Knight’s -words to Gawain when he finally reveals -himself, “I wot we shall soon make peace -with my wife, who was thy bitter enemy,” -her conduct hardly seems to have been -prompted by real passion.</p> -<p>In my <i>Studies on the Legend of Sir -Gawain</i>, already referred to, I have suggested -that the character of the lady here -is, perhaps, a reminiscence of that of the -Queen of the Magic Castle or Isle, daughter -or niece of an enchanter, who at an early -stage of Gawain’s story was undoubtedly -his love. I think it not impossible that -she was an integral part of the tale as first -told, and her rôle here was determined by -that which she originally played. In most -versions of the story she has dropped out -altogether. It is, of course, possible that, -there being but a confused reminiscence of -<span class="pb" id="Page_x">x</span> -the original tale, her share <i>may</i> have been -modified by the influence of the <i>Launfal</i> -group; but I should prefer to explain the -episode on the whole as a somewhat distorted -survival of an original feature.</p> -<p>But in any case we may be thankful for -this, that the author of the most important -English metrical romance dealing with -Arthurian legend faithfully adheres to the -original conception of Gawain’s character, -as drawn before the monkish lovers of -edification laid their ruthless hands on his -legend, and turned the model of knightly -virtues and courtesy into a mere vulgar -libertine.</p> -<p>Brave, chivalrous, loyally faithful to his -plighted word, scrupulously heedful of his -own and others’ honour, Gawain stands -before us in this poem. We take up -Malory or Tennyson, and in spite of their -charm of style, in spite of the halo of -religious mysticism in which they have -striven to enwrap their characters, we lay -<span class="pb" id="Page_xi">xi</span> -them down with a feeling of dissatisfaction. -How did the Gawain of their imagination, -this empty-headed, empty-hearted worldling, -cruel murderer, and treacherous -friend, ever come to be the typical English -hero? For such Gawain certainly was, -even more than Arthur himself. Then -we turn back to these faded pages, and -read the quaintly earnest words in which -the old writer reveals the hidden meaning -of that mystic symbol, the pentangle, and -vindicates Gawain’s title to claim it as his -badge—and we smile, perhaps; but we -cease to wonder at the widespread popularity -of King Arthur’s famous nephew, -or at the immense body of romance that -claims him as its hero.</p> -<p>Scholars know all this, of course; they -can read the poem for themselves in its -original rough and intricate phraseology; -perhaps they will be shocked at an attempt -to handle it in simpler form. But this -little book is not for them, and if to those -<span class="pb" id="Page_xii">xii</span> -to whom the tale would otherwise be a -sealed treasure these pages bring some -new knowledge of the way in which our -forefathers looked on the characters of the -Arthurian legend, the tales they told of -them (unconsciously betraying the while -how they themselves lived and thought -and spoke)—if by that means they gain a -keener appreciation of our national heroes, -a wider knowledge of our national literature,—then -the spirit of the long-dead -poet will doubtless not be the slowest to -pardon my handling of what was his -masterpiece, as it is, in M. Gaston Paris’ -words, “The jewel of English mediæval -literature.”</p> -<blockquote> -<p><span class="sc">Bournemouth</span>, <i>June 1898</i>.</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_xiii">xiii</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p02.jpg" id="ncfig1" alt="Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" width="600" height="809" /> -</div> -<h2 id="toc" class="center">CONTENTS</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#c1">I</a> 1</dt> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs1">Of the making of Britain</a> 1</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs2">How Arthur held high feast at Camelot</a> 2</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs3">New Year’s Day</a> 3</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs4">Of the noble knights there present</a> 4</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs5">The coming of the Green Knight</a> 5</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs6">The fashion of the knight</a> 5</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs7">Of the knight’s steed</a> 6</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs8">The arming of the knight</a> 7</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs9">Of the knight’s challenge</a> 9</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs10">The silence of the knights</a> 11</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs11">How Sir Gawain dared the venture</a> 12</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs12">The making of the covenant</a> 13</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs13">The giving of the blow</a> 15</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs14">The marvel of the Green Knight</a> 16</dd> -<dt><a href="#c2">II</a> 19</dt> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs15">The waning of the year</a> 19</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs16">Sir Gawain bethinks him of his covenant</a> 21</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs17">The arming of Sir Gawain</a> 22</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs18">Wherefore Sir Gawain bare the pentangle</a> 24</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs19">How Sir Gawain went forth</a> 25</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs20">Of Sir Gawain’s journey</a> 26</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs21">How Sir Gawain came to a fair castle on Christmas Eve</a> 29</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs22">How Sir Gawain was welcomed</a> 31</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs23">Sir Gawain tells his name</a> 34</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs24">The lady of the castle</a> 35</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs25">Of the Christmas feast</a> 37</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs26">How the feast came to an end but Gawain abode at the castle</a> 38</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs27">Sir Gawain makes a covenant with his host</a> 41</dd> -<dt><a href="#c3">III</a> 43</dt> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs28">The first day’s hunting</a> 43</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs29">How the lady of the castle came to Sir Gawain</a> 45</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs30">How the lady kissed Sir Gawain</a> 49</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs31">How the covenant was kept</a> 51</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs32">Of the second day’s hunting</a> 52</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs33">Of the lady and Sir Gawain</a> 54</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs34">How the lady strove to beguile Sir Gawain with words of love</a> 55</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs35">How the boar was slain</a> 57</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs36">The keeping of the covenant</a> 59</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs37">Of the third day’s hunting</a> 61</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs38">How the lady came for the third time to Sir Gawain</a> 62</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs39">The lady would fain have a parting gift from Gawain</a> 64</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs40">She would give him her ring</a> 65</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs41">Or her girdle</a> 65</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs42">The virtue of the girdle</a> 66</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs43">How Sir Gawain took the girdle</a> 67</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs44">The death of the fox</a> 68</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs45">How Sir Gawain kept not all the covenant</a> 69</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs46">How Sir Gawain took leave of his host</a> 71</dd> -<dt><a href="#c4">IV</a> 72</dt> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs47">The robing of Sir Gawain</a> 73</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs48">How Sir Gawain went forth from the castle</a> 74</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs49">The squire’s warning</a> 75</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs50">Of the knight of the Green Chapel</a> 76</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs51">Sir Gawain is none dismayed</a> 77</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs52">The finding of the chapel</a> 79</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs53">The coming of the Green Knight</a> 80</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs54">How Sir Gawain failed to stand the blow</a> 81</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs55">Of the Green Knight’s reproaches</a> 82</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs56">How the Green Knight dealt the blow</a> 83</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs57">Of the three covenants</a> 84</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs58">The shame of Sir Gawain</a> 85</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs59">How Sir Gawain would keep the girdle</a> 87</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs60">How the marvel was wrought</a> 88</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs61">How Sir Gawain came again to Camelot</a> 89</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs62">Sir Gawain makes confession of his fault</a> 90</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs63">The knights wear the lace in honour of Gawain</a> 90</dd> -<dd class="ddt"><a href="#cs64">The end of the tale</a> 91</dd> -<dt><a href="#c5">Notes</a> 93</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_1">1</div> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">I</span></h2> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p03.jpg" id="ncfig2" alt="Illustrated drop-cap" width="600" height="337" /> -</div> -<h3 id="cs1">Of the making of Britain</h3> -<p>After the siege and the -assault of Troy, when -that burg was destroyed -and burnt to ashes, and -the traitor slain for his treason, the noble -Æneas and his kin sailed forth to become -princes and patrons of well-nigh all the -Western Isles. Thus Romulus built Rome -(and gave to the city his own name, -which it bears even to this day); and -Ticius turned him to Tuscany; and -Langobard raised him up dwellings in -Lombardy; and Felix Brutus sailed far -over the French flood, and founded the -kingdom of Britain, wherein have been -war and waste and wonder, and bliss and -bale, oft-times since.</p> -<p>And in that kingdom of Britain have -been wrought more gallant deeds than in -<span class="pb" id="Page_2">2</span> -any other; but of all British kings Arthur -was the most valiant, as I have heard tell, -therefore will I set forth a wondrous -adventure that fell out in his time. And if -ye will listen to me, but for a little while, -I will tell it even as it stands in story stiff -and strong, fixed in the letter, as it hath -long been known in the land.</p> -<hr /> -<h3 id="cs2">How Arthur held high feast at Camelot</h3> -<p>King Arthur lay at Camelot upon a -Christmas-tide, with many a gallant lord -and lovely lady, and all the noble brotherhood -of the Round Table. There they -held rich revels with gay talk and jest; -one while they would ride forth to joust -and tourney, and again back to the court -to make carols;<a class="fn" id="fr_0" href="#fn_0">[0]</a> for there was the feast -holden fifteen days with all the mirth that -men could devise, song and glee, glorious to -hear, in the daytime, and dancing at night. -Halls and chambers were crowded with -noble guests, the bravest of knights and the -loveliest of ladies, and Arthur himself was -the comeliest king that ever held a court. -For all this fair folk were in their youth, -the fairest and most fortunate under heaven, -<span class="pb" id="Page_3">3</span> -and the king himself of such fame that it -were hard now to name so valiant a hero.</p> -<h3 id="cs3">New Year’s Day</h3> -<p>Now the New Year had but newly come -in, and on that day a double portion was -served on the high table to all the noble -guests, and thither came the king with all -his knights, when the service in the chapel -had been sung to an end. And they -greeted each other for the New Year, and -gave rich gifts, the one to the other (and -they that received them were not wroth, -that may ye well believe!), and the maidens -laughed and made mirth till it was time to -get them to meat. Then they washed and -sat them down to the feast in fitting rank -and order, and Guinevere the queen, gaily -clad, sat on the high daïs. Silken was her -seat, with a fair canopy over her head, of rich -tapestries of Tars, embroidered, and studded -with costly gems; fair she was to look -upon, with her shining grey eyes, a fairer -woman might no man boast himself of -having seen.</p> -<p>But Arthur would not eat till all were -served, so full of joy and gladness was he, -even as a child; he liked not either to lie -long, or to sit long at meat, so worked -upon him his young blood and his wild brain. -<span class="pb" id="Page_4">4</span> -And another custom he had also, that came -of his nobility, that he would never eat -upon an high day till he had been advised -of some knightly deed, or some strange and -marvellous tale, of his ancestors, or of arms, -or of other ventures. Or till some knight -should seek of him leave to joust with -another, that they might set their lives in -jeopardy, one against another, as fortune -might favour them. Such was the king’s -custom when he sat in hall at each high -feast with his noble knights, therefore on -that New Year tide, he abode, fair of face, on -the throne, and made much mirth withal.</p> -<h3 id="cs4">Of the noble knights there present</h3> -<p>Thus the king sat before the high table, -and spake of many things; and there good -Sir Gawain was seated by Guinevere the -queen, and on her other side sat Agravain,<a class="fn" id="fr_1" href="#fn_1">[1]</a> -<i>à la dure main</i>; both were the king’s sister’s -sons and full gallant knights. And at the -end of the table was Bishop Bawdewyn, and -Ywain, King Urien’s son, sat at the other -side alone. These were worthily served on -the daïs, and at the lower tables sat many -valiant knights. Then they bare the first -course with the blast of trumpets and -waving of banners, with the sound of drums -and pipes, of song and lute, that many a -<span class="pb" id="Page_5">5</span> -heart was uplifted at the melody. Many -were the dainties, and rare the meats, so -great was the plenty they might scarce find -room on the board to set on the dishes. -Each helped himself as he liked best, and -to each two were twelve dishes, with great -plenty of beer and wine.</p> -<h3 id="cs5">The coming of the Green Knight</h3> -<p>Now I will say no more of the service, -but that ye may know there was no lack, -for there drew near a venture that the folk -might well have left their labour to gaze -upon. As the sound of the music ceased, -and the first course had been fitly served, -there came in at the hall door one terrible -to behold, of stature greater than any on -earth; from neck to loin so strong and -thickly made, and with limbs so long and -so great that he seemed even as a giant. -And yet he was but a man, only the -mightiest that might mount a steed; broad -of chest and shoulders and slender of waist, -and all his features of like fashion; but men -marvelled much at his colour, for he rode -even as a knight, yet was green all over.</p> -<h3 id="cs6">The fashion of the knight</h3> -<p>For he was clad all in green, with a -straight coat, and a mantle above; all -decked and lined with fur was the cloth -and the hood that was thrown back from -<span class="pb" id="Page_6">6</span> -his locks and lay on his shoulders. Hose -had he of the same green, and spurs of -bright gold with silken fastenings richly -worked; and all his vesture was verily -green. Around his waist and his saddle -were bands with fair stones set upon silken -work, ’twere too long to tell of all the trifles -that were embroidered thereon—birds and -insects in gay gauds of green and gold.</p> -<h3 id="cs7">Of the knight’s steed</h3> -<p>All the trappings of his steed were of metal -of like enamel, even the stirrups that he -stood in stained of the same, and stirrups -and saddle-bow alike gleamed and shone -with green stones. Even the steed on -which he rode was of the same hue, a green -horse, great and strong, and hard to hold, -with broidered bridle, meet for the rider.</p> -<p>The knight was thus gaily dressed in -green, his hair falling around his shoulders, -on his breast hung a beard, as thick and -green as a bush, and the beard and the hair -of his head were clipped all round above his -elbows. The lower part of his sleeves -were fastened with clasps in the same wise -as a king’s mantle. The horse’s mane -was crisped and plaited with many a knot -folded in with gold thread about the fair -green, here a twist of the hair, here another -<span class="pb" id="Page_7">7</span> -of gold. The tail was twined in like -manner, and both were bound about with -a band of bright green set with many a -precious stone; then they were tied aloft -in a cunning knot, whereon rang many -bells of burnished gold. Such a steed -might no other ride, nor had such ever -been looked upon in that hall ere that time; -and all who saw that knight spake and said -that a man might scarce abide his stroke.</p> -<h3 id="cs8">The arming of the knight</h3> -<p>The knight bore no helm nor hauberk, -neither gorget nor breast-plate, neither -shaft nor buckler to smite nor to shield, but -in one hand he had a holly-bough, that is -greenest when the groves are bare, and in -his other an axe, huge and uncomely, a -cruel weapon in fashion, if one would -picture it. The head was an ell-yard long, -the metal all of green steel and gold, the -blade burnished bright, with a broad edge, -as well shapen to shear as a sharp razor. -The steel was set into a strong staff, all -bound round with iron, even to the end, -and engraved with green in cunning work. -A lace was twined about it, that looped at -the head, and all adown the handle it was -clasped with tassels on buttons of bright -green richly broidered.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_8">8</div> -<p>The knight halted in the entrance of the -hall, looking to the high daïs, and greeted -no man, but looked ever upwards; and the -first words he spake were, “Where is the -ruler of this folk? I would gladly look -upon that hero, and have speech with -him.” He cast his eyes on the knights, -and mustered them up and down, striving -ever to see who of them was of most -renown.</p> -<p>Then was there great gazing to behold -that chief, for each man marvelled what it -might mean that a knight and his steed -should have even such a hue as the green -grass; and that seemed even greener than -green enamel on bright gold. All looked -on him as he stood, and drew near unto -him wondering greatly what he might be; -for many marvels had they seen, but none -such as this, and phantasm and faërie did -the folk deem it. Therefore were the -gallant knights slow to answer, and gazed -astounded, and sat stone still in a deep -silence through that goodly hall, as if a -slumber were fallen upon them. I deem it -was not all for doubt, but some for -courtesy that they might give ear unto his -errand.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<p>Then Arthur beheld this adventure before -his high daïs, and knightly he greeted -him, for discourteous was he never. “Sir,” -he said, “thou art welcome to this place—lord -of this hall am I, and men call -me Arthur. Light thee down, and tarry -awhile, and what thy will is, that shall we -learn after.”</p> -<h3 id="cs9">Of the knight’s challenge</h3> -<p>“Nay,” quoth the stranger, “so help -me He that sitteth on high, ’twas not -mine errand to tarry any while in this -dwelling; but the praise of this thy folk -and thy city is lifted up on high, and thy -warriors are holden for the best and the -most valiant of those who ride mail-clad to -the fight. The wisest and the worthiest -of this world are they, and well proven in -all knightly sports. And here, as I have -heard tell, is fairest courtesy, therefore -have I come hither as at this time. Ye -may be sure by the branch that I bear -here that I come in peace, seeking no -strife. For had I willed to journey in -warlike guise I have at home both -hauberk and helm, shield and shining -spear, and other weapons to mine hand, -but since I seek no war my raiment is -that of peace. But if thou be as bold as -<span class="pb" id="Page_10">10</span> -all men tell thou wilt freely grant me the -boon I ask.”</p> -<p>And Arthur answered, “Sir Knight, if -thou cravest battle here thou shalt not fail -for lack of a foe.”</p> -<p>And the knight answered, “Nay, I ask -no fight, in faith here on the benches are -but beardless children, were I clad in -armour on my steed there is no man here -might match me. Therefore I ask in this -court but a Christmas jest, for that it is -Yule-tide, and New Year, and there are -many here. If any one in this hall holds -himself so hardy,<a class="fn" id="fr_2" href="#fn_2">[2]</a> so bold both of blood and -brain, as to dare strike me one stroke for -another, I will give him as a gift this axe, -which is heavy enough, in sooth, to handle -as he may list, and I will abide the first -blow, unarmed as I sit. If any knight be -so bold as to prove my words let him come -swiftly to me here, and take this weapon, I -quit claim to it, he may keep it as his own, -and I will abide his stroke, firm on the -floor. Then shalt thou give me the right -to deal him another, the respite of a year -from to-day shall he have. Now pledge -me thy word, and let see whether any here -dare say aught.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<h3 id="cs10">The silence of the knights</h3> -<p>Now if the knights had been astounded -at the first, yet stiller were they all, high -and low, when they had heard his words. -The knight on his steed straightened himself -in the saddle, and rolled his eyes fiercely -round the hall, red they gleamed under his -green and bushy brows. He frowned and -twisted his beard, waiting to see who should -rise, and when none answered he cried -aloud in mockery, “What, is this Arthur’s -hall, and these the knights whose renown -hath run through many realms? Where -are now your pride and your conquests, -your wrath, and anger, and mighty words? -Now are the praise and the renown of the -Round Table overthrown by one man’s -speech, since all keep silence for dread ere -ever they have seen a blow!”</p> -<p>With that he laughed so loudly that the -blood rushed to the king’s fair face for very -shame; he waxed wroth, as did all his -knights, and sprang to his feet, and drew -near to the stranger and said, “Now by -heaven foolish is thine asking, and thy folly -shall find its fitting answer. I know no man -aghast at thy great words. Give me here -thine axe and I shall grant thee the boon -thou hast asked.” Lightly he sprang to -<span class="pb" id="Page_12">12</span> -him and caught at his hand, and the -knight, fierce of aspect, lighted down from -his charger.</p> -<p>Then Arthur took the axe and gripped -the haft, and swung it round, ready to -strike. And the knight stood before him, -taller by the head than any in the hall; he -stood, and stroked his beard, and drew -down his coat, no more dismayed for the -king’s threats than if one had brought him -a drink of wine.</p> -<h3 id="cs11">How Sir Gawain dared the venture</h3> -<p>Then Gawain, who sat by the queen, -leaned forward to the king and spake, “I -beseech ye, my lord, let this venture be -mine. Would ye but bid me rise from -this seat, and stand by your side, so that -my liege lady thought it not ill, then -would I come to your counsel before this -goodly court. For I think it not seemly -that such challenge should be made in your -hall that ye yourself should undertake it, -while there are many bold knights who sit -beside ye, none are there, methinks, of -readier will under heaven, or more valiant -in open field. I am the weakest, I wot, -and the feeblest of wit, and it will be the -less loss of my life if ye seek sooth. For -save that ye are mine uncle naught is there -<span class="pb" id="Page_13">13</span> -in me to praise, no virtue is there in my -body save your blood, and since this -challenge is such folly that it beseems ye -not to take it, and I have asked it from -ye first, let it fall to me, and if I bear -myself ungallantly then let all this court -blame me.”</p> -<p>Then they all spake with one voice that -the king should leave this venture and grant -it to Gawain.</p> -<p>Then Arthur commanded the knight to -rise, and he rose up quickly and knelt -down before the king, and caught hold of -the weapon; and the king loosed his hold -of it, and lifted up his hand, and gave him -his blessing, and bade him be strong both -of heart and hand. “Keep thee well, -nephew,” quoth Arthur, “that thou give -him but the one blow, and if thou redest -him rightly I trow thou shalt well abide -the stroke he may give thee after.”</p> -<h3 id="cs12">The making of the covenant</h3> -<p>Gawain stepped to the stranger, axe in -hand, and he, never fearing, awaited his -coming. Then the Green Knight spake -to Sir Gawain, “Make we our covenant -ere we go further. First, I ask thee, -knight, what is thy name? Tell me truly, -that I may know thee.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>“In faith,” quoth the good knight, -“Gawain am I, who give thee this buffet, -let what may come of it; and at this time -twelvemonth will I take another at thine -hand with whatsoever weapon thou wilt, -and none other.”</p> -<p>Then the other answered again, “Sir -Gawain, so may I thrive as I am fain to -take this buffet at thine hand,” and he -quoth further, “Sir Gawain, it liketh me -well that I shall take at thy fist that -which I have asked here, and thou hast -readily and truly rehearsed all the covenant -that I asked of the king, save that thou -shalt swear me, by thy troth, to seek -me thyself wherever thou hopest that I -may be found, and win thee such reward -as thou dealest me to-day, before this -folk.”</p> -<p>“Where shall I seek thee?” quoth -Gawain. “Where is thy place? By Him -that made me, I wot never where thou -dwellest, nor know I thee, knight, thy -court, nor thy name. But teach me truly -all that pertaineth thereto, and tell me thy -name, and I shall use all my wit to win -my way thither, and that I swear thee for -sooth, and by my sure troth.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>“That is enough in the New Year, it -needs no more,” quoth the Green Knight -to the gallant Gawain, “if I tell thee -truly when I have taken the blow, and -thou hast smitten me; then will I teach -thee of my house and home, and mine -own name, then mayest thou ask thy road -and keep covenant. And if I waste no -words then farest thou the better, for thou -canst dwell in thy land, and seek no -further. But take now thy toll, and let -see how thy strikest.”</p> -<p>“Gladly will I,” quoth Gawain, handling -his axe.</p> -<h3 id="cs13">The giving of the blow</h3> -<p>Then the Green Knight swiftly made -him ready, he bowed down his head, and -laid his long locks on the crown that his -bare neck might be seen. Gawain gripped -his axe and raised it on high, the left foot -he set forward on the floor, and let the -blow fall lightly on the bare neck. The -sharp edge of the blade sundered the -bones, smote through the neck, and clave -it in two, so that the edge of the steel bit -on the ground, and the head rolled even to -the horse’s feet.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<h3 id="cs14">The marvel of the Green Knight</h3> -<p>The blood spurted forth, -and glistened on the green raiment, but -the knight neither faltered nor fell; he -started forward with out-stretched hand, -and caught the head, and lifted it up; then -he turned to his steed, and took hold of -the bridle, set his foot in the stirrup, and -mounted. His head he held by the hair, -in his hand. Then he seated himself in -his saddle as if naught ailed him, and he -were not headless. He turned his steed -about, the grim corpse bleeding freely the -while, and they who looked upon him -doubted them much for the covenant.</p> -<p>For he held up the head in his hand, -and turned the face towards them that sat -on the high daïs, and it lifted up the eye-lids -and looked upon them, and spake as -ye shall hear. “Look, Gawain, that thou -art ready to go as thou hast promised, and -seek leally till thou find me, even as thou -hast sworn in this hall in the hearing of -these knights. Come thou, I charge thee, -to the Green Chapel, such a stroke as thou -hast dealt thou hast deserved, and it shall -be promptly paid thee on New Year’s morn. -Many men know me as the knight of the -Green Chapel, and if thou askest thou -shalt not fail to find me. Therefore it -behoves thee to come, or to yield thee as -recreant.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>With that he turned his bridle, and -galloped out at the hall door, his head in -his hands, so that the sparks flew from -beneath his horse’s hoofs. Whither he -went none knew, no more than they -wist whence he had come; and the king -and Gawain they gazed and laughed, -for in sooth this had proved a greater -marvel than any they had known aforetime.</p> -<p>Though Arthur the king was astonished -at his heart, yet he let no sign of it be -seen, but spake in courteous wise to the -fair queen: “Dear lady, be not dismayed, -such craft is well suited to Christmas-tide -when we seek jesting, laughter and song, -and fair carols of knights and ladies. But -now I may well get me to meat, for I -have seen a marvel I may not forget.” -Then he looked on Sir Gawain, and said -gaily, “Now, fair nephew, hang up thine -axe, since it has hewn enough,” and they -hung it on the dossal above the daïs, -where all men might look on it for a -marvel, and by its true token tell of the -wonder. Then the twain sat them down -together, the king and the good knight, -and men served them with a double portion, -<span class="pb" id="Page_18">18</span> -as was the share of the noblest, with -all manner of meat and of minstrelsy. -And they spent that day in gladness, -but Sir Gawain must well -bethink him of the heavy -venture to which he -had set his hand.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">II</span></h2> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p04.jpg" id="ncfig3" alt="Illustrated drop-cap" width="600" height="350" /> -</div> -<p>This beginning of adventures -had Arthur at -the New Year, for he -yearned to hear gallant -tales, though his words were few when -he sat at the feast. But now had they -stern work on hand. Gawain was glad -to begin the jest in the hall, but ye need -have no marvel if the end be heavy. For -though a man be merry in mind when -he has well drunk, yet a year runs full -swiftly, and the beginning but rarely -matches the end.</p> -<h3 id="cs15">The waning of the year</h3> -<p>For Yule was now over-past,<a class="fn" id="fr_3" href="#fn_3">[3]</a> and the -year after, each season in its turn following -the other. For after Christmas comes -crabbed Lent, that will have fish for flesh -and simpler cheer. But then the weather -of the world chides with winter; the cold -<span class="pb" id="Page_20">20</span> -withdraws itself, the clouds uplift, and the -rain falls in warm showers on the fair -plains. Then the flowers come forth, -meadows and groves are clad in green, the -birds make ready to build, and sing sweetly -for solace of the soft summer that follows -thereafter. The blossoms bud and blow -in the hedgerows rich and rank, and noble -notes enough are heard in the fair woods.</p> -<p>After the season of summer, with the -soft winds, when zephyr breathes lightly -on seeds and herbs, joyous indeed is the -growth that waxes thereout when the dew -drips from the leaves beneath the blissful -glance of the bright sun. But then comes -harvest and hardens the grain, warning -it to wax ripe ere the winter. The drought -drives the dust on high, flying over the -face of the land; the angry wind of the -welkin wrestles with the sun; the leaves -fall from the trees and light upon the -ground, and all brown are the groves that -but now were green, and ripe is the fruit -that once was flower. So the year passes -into many yesterdays, and winter comes -again, as it needs no sage to tell us.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<h3 id="cs16">Sir Gawain bethinks him of his covenant</h3> -<p>When the Michaelmas moon was come -in with warnings of winter, Sir Gawain -bethought him full oft of his perilous -journey. Yet till All Hallows Day he -lingered with Arthur, and on that day -they made a great feast for the hero’s sake, -with much revel and richness of the Round -Table. Courteous knights and comely -ladies, all were in sorrow for the love of -that knight, and though they spake no -word of it many were joyless for his -sake.</p> -<p>And after meat, sadly Sir Gawain turned -to his uncle, and spake of his journey, and -said, “Liege lord of my life, leave from -you I crave. Ye know well how the matter -stands without more words, to-morrow am -I bound to set forth in search of the Green -Knight.”</p> -<p>Then came together all the noblest -knights, Ywain and Erec, and many another. -Sir Dodinel le Sauvage, Launcelot and -Lionel, and Lucan the Good, Sir Bors -and Sir Bedivere, valiant knights both, and -many another hero, with Sir Mador de la -Porte, and they all drew near, heavy at -heart, to take counsel with Sir Gawain. -Much sorrow and weeping was there in the -hall to think that so worthy a knight as -Gawain should wend his way to seek a -<span class="pb" id="Page_22">22</span> -deadly blow, and should no more wield his -sword in fight. But the knight made -ever good cheer, and said, “Nay, wherefore -should I shrink? What may a man -do but prove his fate?”</p> -<h3 id="cs17">The arming of Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>He dwelt there all that day, and on the -morn he arose and asked betimes for his -armour; and they brought it unto him on -this wise: first, a rich carpet was stretched -on the floor<a class="fn" id="fr_4" href="#fn_4">[4]</a> (and brightly did the gold gear -glitter upon it), then the knight stepped -on to it, and handled the steel; clad he was -in a doublet of silk, with a close hood, lined -fairly throughout. Then they set the steel -shoes upon his feet, and wrapped his legs -with greaves, with polished knee-caps -fastened with knots of gold. Then they -cased his thighs in cuisses closed with -thongs, and brought him the byrny of -bright steel rings sewn upon a fair stuff. -Well burnished braces they set on each arm -with good elbow-pieces, and gloves of mail, -and all the goodly gear that should shield -him in his need. And they cast over all -a rich surcoat, and set the golden spurs on -his heels, and girt him with a trusty sword -fastened with a silken bawdrick. When he -was thus clad his harness was costly, for -<span class="pb" id="Page_23">23</span> -the least loop or latchet gleamed with gold. -So armed as he was he hearkened Mass and -made his offering at the high altar. Then -he came to the king, and the knights of his -court, and courteously took leave of lords -and ladies, and they kissed him, and commended -him to Christ.</p> -<p>With that was Gringalet ready, girt -with a saddle that gleamed gaily with many -golden fringes, enriched and decked anew for -the venture. The bridle was all barred -about with bright gold buttons, and all the -covertures and trappings of the steed, the -crupper and the rich skirts, accorded with -the saddle; spread fair with the rich red -gold that glittered and gleamed in the rays -of the sun.</p> -<p>Then the knight called for his helmet, -which was well lined throughout, and set -it high on his head, and hasped it behind. -He wore a light kerchief over the vintail, -that was broidered and studded with fair -gems on a broad silken ribbon, with birds -of gay colour, and many a turtle and true-lover’s -knot interlaced thickly, even as -many a maiden had wrought them. But -the circlet which crowned his helmet was -yet more precious, being adorned with a -<span class="pb" id="Page_24">24</span> -device in diamonds. Then they brought -him his shield, which was of bright red, -with the pentangle painted thereon in -gleaming gold.<a class="fn" id="fr_5" href="#fn_5">[5]</a></p> -<h3 id="cs18">Wherefore Sir Gawain bare the pentangle</h3> -<p>And why that noble -prince bare the pentangle I am minded to -tell you, though my tale tarry thereby. It -is a sign that Solomon set ere-while, as -betokening truth; for it is a figure with -five points and each line overlaps the other, -and nowhere hath it beginning or end, so -that in English it is called “the endless -knot.” And therefore was it well suiting -to this knight and to his arms, since -Gawain was faithful in five and five-fold, -for pure was he as gold, void of all villainy -and endowed with all virtues. Therefore -he bare the pentangle on shield and surcoat -as truest of heroes and gentlest of -knights.</p> -<p>For first he was faultless in his five -senses; and his five fingers never failed -him; and all his trust upon earth was in -the five wounds that Christ bare on the -cross, as the Creed tells. And wherever -this knight found himself in stress of battle -he deemed well that he drew his strength -from the five joys which the Queen of -Heaven had of her Child. And for this -<span class="pb" id="Page_25">25</span> -cause did he bear an image of Our Lady -on the one half of his shield, that whenever -he looked upon it he might not lack for -aid. And the fifth five that the hero used -were frankness and fellowship above all, -purity and courtesy that never failed him, -and compassion that surpasses all; and in -these five virtues was that hero wrapped -and clothed. And all these, five-fold, were -linked one in the other, so that they had -no end, and were fixed on five points that -never failed, neither at any side were they -joined or sundered, nor could ye find -beginning or end. And therefore on his -shield was the knot shapen, red-gold upon -red, which is the pure pentangle. Now -was Sir Gawain ready, and he took his -lance in hand, and bade them all <i>Farewell</i>, -he deemed it had been for ever.</p> -<h3 id="cs19">How Sir Gawain went forth</h3> -<p>Then he smote the steed with his spurs, -and sprang on his way, so that sparks flew -from the stones after him. All that saw -him were grieved at heart, and said one to -the other, “By Christ, ’tis great pity that -one of such noble life should be lost! I’ -faith, ’twere not easy to find his equal upon -earth. The king had done better to have -wrought more warily. Yonder knight -<span class="pb" id="Page_26">26</span> -should have been made a duke; a gallant -leader of men is he, and such a fate had -beseemed him better than to be hewn in -pieces at the will of an elfish man, for mere -pride. Who ever knew a king to take -such counsel as to risk his knights on a -Christmas jest?” Many were the tears -that flowed from their eyes when that -goodly knight rode from the hall. He -made no delaying, but went his way swiftly, -and rode many a wild road, as I heard say -in the book.</p> -<h3 id="cs20">Of Sir Gawain’s journey</h3> -<p>So rode Sir Gawain through the realm of -Logres, on an errand that he held for no -jest. Often he lay companionless at night, -and must lack the fare that he liked. No -comrade had he save his steed, and none -save God with whom to take counsel. At -length he drew nigh to North Wales, and -left the isles of Anglesey on his left hand, -crossing over the fords by the foreland -over at Holyhead, till he came into the -wilderness of Wirral,<a class="fn" id="fr_6" href="#fn_6">[6]</a> that is loved neither -of God nor of man, and there he abode but -a little time. And ever he asked, as he -fared, of all whom he met, if they had -heard any tidings of a Green Knight in -the country thereabout, or of a Green -<span class="pb" id="Page_27">27</span> -Chapel? And all answered him, Nay, -never in their lives had they seen any man -of such a hue. And the knight wended -his way by many a strange road and many -a rugged path, and the fashion of his countenance -changed full often ere he saw the -Green Chapel.</p> -<p>Many a cliff did he climb in that unknown -land, where afar from his friends he rode as -a stranger. Never did he come to a stream -or a ford but he found a foe before him, -and that one so marvellous, so foul and fell, -that it behoved him to fight. So many -wonders did that knight behold that it -were too long to tell the tenth part of -them. Sometimes he fought with dragons -and wolves; sometimes with wild men that -dwelt in the rocks; another while with -bulls, and bears, and wild boars, or with -giants of the high moorland that drew near -to him. Had he not been a doughty knight, -enduring, and of well-proved valour, doubtless -he had been slain, for he was oft in -danger of death. Yet he cared not so much -for the strife, what he deemed worse was -when the cold clear water was shed from -the clouds, and froze ere it fell on the fallow -ground. More nights than enough he -<span class="pb" id="Page_28">28</span> -slept in his harness on the bare rocks, -near slain with the sleet, while the stream -leapt bubbling from the crest of the -hills, and hung in hard icicles over his -head.</p> -<p>Thus in peril and pain, and many a -hardship, the knight rode alone till Christmas -Eve, and in that tide he made his prayer to -the Blessed Virgin that she would guide -his steps and lead him to some dwelling. -On that morning he rode by a hill, and -came into a thick forest, wild and drear; -on each side were high hills, and thick -woods below them of great hoar oaks, a -hundred together, of hazel and hawthorn -with their trailing boughs intertwined, and -rough ragged moss spreading everywhere. -On the bare twigs the birds chirped piteously, -for pain of the cold. The knight -upon Gringalet rode lonely beneath them, -through marsh and mire, much troubled at -heart lest he should fail to see the service -of the Lord, who on that self-same night -was born of a Maiden for the cure of our -grief; and therefore he said, sighing, “I -beseech Thee, Lord, and Mary Thy gentle -Mother, for some shelter where I may hear -Mass, and Thy mattins at morn. This I -<span class="pb" id="Page_29">29</span> -ask meekly, and thereto I pray my Paternoster, -Ave, and Credo.” Thus he rode -praying, and lamenting his misdeeds, and -he crossed himself, and said, “May the -Cross of Christ speed me.”</p> -<h3 id="cs21">How Sir Gawain came to a fair castle on Christmas Eve</h3> -<p>Now that knight had crossed himself but -thrice ere he was aware in the wood of a -dwelling within a moat, above a lawn, on a -mound surrounded by many mighty trees -that stood round the moat. ’Twas the -fairest castle that ever a knight owned;<a class="fn" id="fr_7" href="#fn_7">[7]</a> -built in a meadow with a park all about it, -and a spiked palisade, closely driven, that -enclosed the trees for more than two miles. -The knight was ware of the hold from the -side, as it shone through the oaks. Then -he lifted off his helmet, and thanked Christ -and S. Julian that they had courteously -granted his prayer, and hearkened to his -cry. “Now,” quoth the knight, “I beseech -ye, grant me fair hostel.” Then he -pricked Gringalet with his golden spurs, -and rode gaily towards the great gate, and -came swiftly to the bridge end.</p> -<p>The bridge was drawn up and the gates -close shut; the walls were strong and -thick, so that they might fear no tempest. -The knight on his charger abode on the -<span class="pb" id="Page_30">30</span> -bank of the deep double ditch that surrounded -the castle. The walls were set -deep in the water, and rose aloft to a -wondrous height; they were of hard hewn -stone up to the corbels, which were adorned -beneath the battlements with fair carvings, -and turrets set in between with many a -loophole; a better barbican Sir Gawain -had never looked upon. And within he -beheld the high hall, with its tower and -many windows with carven cornices, and -chalk-white chimneys on the turreted roofs -that shone fair in the sun. And everywhere, -thickly scattered on the castle -battlements, were pinnacles, so many that -it seemed as if it were all wrought out of -paper, so white was it.</p> -<p>The knight on his steed deemed it fair -enough, if he might come to be sheltered -within it to lodge there while that the -Holy-day lasted. He called aloud, and soon -there came a porter of kindly countenance, -who stood on the wall and greeted this -knight and asked his errand.</p> -<p>“Good sir,” quoth Gawain, “wilt thou -go mine errand to the high lord of the -castle, and crave for me lodging?”</p> -<p>“Yea, by S. Peter,” quoth the porter. -<span class="pb" id="Page_31">31</span> -“In sooth I trow that ye be welcome to -dwell here so long as it may like ye.”</p> -<h3 id="cs22">How Sir Gawain was welcomed</h3> -<p>Then he went, and came again swiftly, -and many folk with him to receive the -knight. They let down the great drawbridge, -and came forth and knelt on their -knees on the cold earth to give him worthy -welcome. They held wide open the great -gates, and he greeted them courteously, -and rode over the bridge. Then men -came to him and held his stirrup while he -dismounted, and took and stabled his steed. -There came down knights and squires -to bring the guest with joy to the hall. -When he raised his helmet there were many -to take it from his hand, fain to serve him, -and they took from him sword and shield.</p> -<p>Sir Gawain gave good greeting to the -nobles and the mighty men who came to -do him honour. Clad in his shining -armour they led him to the hall, where a -great fire burnt brightly on the floor; and -the lord of the household came forth from -his chamber to meet the hero fitly. He -spake to the knight, and said: “Ye are -welcome to do here as it likes ye. All -that is here is your own to have at your -will and disposal.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>“Gramercy!” quote Gawain, “may -Christ requite ye.”</p> -<p>As friends that were fain each embraced -the other; and Gawain looked on the knight -who greeted him so kindly, and thought -’twas a bold warrior that owned that burg.</p> -<p>Of mighty stature he was, and of high -age; broad and flowing was his beard, and -of a bright hue. He was stalwart of limb, -and strong in his stride, his face fiery red, -and his speech free: in sooth he seemed one -well fitted to be a leader of valiant men.</p> -<p>Then the lord led Sir Gawain to a -chamber, and commanded folk to wait -upon him, and at his bidding there came -men enough who brought the guest to a -fair bower. The bedding was noble, with -curtains of pure silk wrought with gold, -and wondrous coverings of fair cloth all -embroidered. The curtains ran on ropes -with rings of red gold, and the walls were -hung with carpets of Orient, and the same -spread on the floor. There with mirthful -speeches they took from the guest his -byrny and all his shining armour, and -brought him rich robes of the choicest in -its stead. They were long and flowing, -and became him well, and when he was -<span class="pb" id="Page_33">33</span> -clad in them all who looked on the hero -thought that surely God had never made a -fairer knight: he seemed as if he might be -a prince without peer in the field where -men strive in battle.</p> -<p>Then before the hearth-place, whereon -the fire burned, they made ready a chair -for Gawain, hung about with cloth and -fair cushions; and there they cast around -him a mantle of brown samite, richly -embroidered and furred within with costly -skins of ermine, with a hood of the same, -and he seated himself in that rich seat, and -warmed himself at the fire and was cheered -at heart. And while he sat thus the -serving men set up a table on trestles, and -covered it with a fair white cloth, and set -thereon salt-cellar, and napkin, and silver -spoons; and the knight washed at his will, -and set him down to meat.</p> -<p>The folk served him courteously with -many dishes seasoned of the best, a double -portion. All kinds of fish were there, -some baked in bread, some broiled on the -embers, some sodden, some stewed and -savoured with spices, with all sorts of -cunning devices to his taste. And often -he called it a feast, when they spake gaily -<span class="pb" id="Page_34">34</span> -to him all together, and said, “Now take -ye this penance, and it shall be for your -amendment.” Much mirth thereof did Sir -Gawain make.</p> -<h3 id="cs23">Sir Gawain tells his name</h3> -<p>Then they questioned that prince -courteously of whence he came; and he -told them that he was of the court of -Arthur, who is the rich royal King of the -Round Table, and that it was Gawain -himself who was within their walls, and -would keep Christmas with them, as the -chance had fallen out. And when the -lord of the castle heard those tidings he -laughed aloud for gladness, and all men in -that keep were joyful that they should be -in the company of him to whom belonged -all fame, and valour, and courtesy, and -whose honour was praised above that of all -men on earth. Each said softly to his -fellow, “Now shall we see courteous bearing, -and the manner of speech befitting -courts. What charm lieth in gentle speech -shall we learn without asking, since here -we have welcomed the fine father of -courtesy. God has surely shewn us His -grace since He sends us such a guest as -Gawain! When men shall sit and sing, -blithe for Christ’s birth, this knight shall -<span class="pb" id="Page_35">35</span> -bring us to the knowledge of fair manners, -and it may be that hearing him we may -learn the cunning speech of love.”</p> -<p>By the time the knight had risen from -dinner it was near nightfall. Then chaplains -took their way to the chapel, and -rang loudly, even as they should, for the -solemn evensong of the high feast. Thither -went the lord, and the lady also, and entered -with her maidens into a comely closet, and -thither also went Gawain. Then the lord -took him by the sleeve and led him to a -seat, and called him by his name, and told -him he was of all men in the world the -most welcome. And Sir Gawain thanked -him truly, and each kissed the other, and -they sat gravely together throughout the -service.</p> -<h3 id="cs24">The lady of the castle</h3> -<p>Then was the lady fain to look upon -that knight; and she came forth from her -closet with many fair maidens. The fairest -of ladies was she in face, and figure, and -colouring, fairer even than Guinevere, so -the knight thought. She came through -the chancel to greet the hero, another lady -held her by the left hand, older than she, -and seemingly of high estate, with many -nobles about her. But unlike to look upon -<span class="pb" id="Page_36">36</span> -were those ladies, for if the younger were -fair, the elder was yellow. Rich red were -the cheeks of the one, rough and wrinkled -those of the other; the kerchiefs of the -one were broidered with many glistening -pearls, her throat and neck bare, and -whiter than the snow that lies on the hills; -the neck of the other was swathed in a -gorget, with a white wimple over her black -chin. Her forehead was wrapped in silk -with many folds, worked with knots, so -that naught of her was seen save her black -brows, her eyes, her nose, and her lips, -and those were bleared, and ill to look -upon. A worshipful lady in sooth one -might call her! In figure was she short -and broad, and thickly made—far fairer to -behold was she whom she led by the hand.</p> -<p>When Gawain beheld that fair lady, who -looked at him graciously, with leave of the -lord he went towards them, and, bowing -low, he greeted the elder, but the younger -and fairer he took lightly in his arms, and -kissed her courteously, and greeted her in -knightly wise. Then she hailed him as -friend, and he quickly prayed to be counted -as her servant, if she so willed. Then they -took him between them, and talking, led -<span class="pb" id="Page_37">37</span> -him to the chamber, to the hearth, and -bade them bring spices, and they brought -them in plenty with the good wine that -was wont to be drunk at such seasons. -Then the lord sprang to his feet and bade -them make merry, and took off his hood, -and hung it on a spear, and bade him win -the worship thereof who should make most -mirth that Christmas-tide. “And I shall -try, by my faith, to fool it with the best, by -the help of my friends, ere I lose my -raiment.” Thus with gay words the lord -made trial to gladden Gawain with jests -that night, till it was time to bid them -light the tapers, and Sir Gawain took leave -of them and gat him to rest.</p> -<h3 id="cs25">Of the Christmas feast</h3> -<p>In the morn when all men call to mind -how Christ our Lord was born on earth to -die for us, there is joy, for His sake, in all -dwellings of the world; and so was there -here on that day. For high feast was held, -with many dainties and cunningly cooked -messes. On the daïs sat gallant men, clad -in their best. The ancient dame sat on -the high seat, with the lord of the castle -beside her. Gawain and the fair lady sat -together, even in the midst of the board, -when the feast was served; and so throughout -<span class="pb" id="Page_38">38</span> -all the hall each sat in his degree, and -was served in order. There was meat, -there was mirth, there was much joy, so -that to tell thereof would take me too long, -though peradventure I might strive to -declare it. But Gawain and that fair lady -had much joy of each other’s company -through her sweet words and courteous -converse. And there was music made -before each prince, trumpets and drums, -and merry piping; each man hearkened -his minstrel, and they too hearkened -theirs.</p> -<h3 id="cs26">How the feast came to an end but Gawain abode at the castle</h3> -<p>So they held high feast that day and the -next, and the third day thereafter, and the -joy on S. John’s Day was fair to hearken, -for ’twas the last of the feast, and the -guests would depart in the grey of the -morning. Therefore they awoke early, -and drank wine, and danced fair carols, and -at last, when it was late, each man took his -leave to wend early on his way. Gawain -would bid his host farewell, but the lord -took him by the hand, and led him to his -own chamber beside the hearth, and there -he thanked him for the favour he had -shown him in honouring his dwelling at -that high season, and gladdening his castle -<span class="pb" id="Page_39">39</span> -with his fair countenance. “I wis, sir, -that while I live I shall be held the worthier -that Gawain has been my guest at God’s -own feast.”</p> -<p>“Gramercy, sir,” quoth Gawain, “in -good faith, all the honour is yours, may the -High King give it ye, and I am but at -your will to work your behest, inasmuch as -I am beholden to ye in great and small by -rights.”</p> -<p>Then the lord did his best to persuade the -knight to tarry with him, but Gawain -answered that he might in no wise do so. -Then the host asked him courteously what -stern behest had driven him at the holy -season from the king’s court, to fare all -alone, ere yet the feast was ended?</p> -<p>“Forsooth,” quoth the knight, “ye say -but the truth: ’tis a high quest and a -pressing that hath brought me afield, for I -am summoned myself to a certain place, -and I know not whither in the world I may -wend to find it; so help me Christ, I -would give all the kingdom of Logres an -I might find it by New Year’s morn. -Therefore, sir, I make request of ye that -ye tell me truly if ye ever heard word of -the Green Chapel, where it may be found, -<span class="pb" id="Page_40">40</span> -and the Green Knight that keeps it. For -I am pledged by solemn compact sworn -between us to meet that knight at the New -Year if so I were on life; and of that same -New Year it wants but little—I’ faith, I -would look on that hero more joyfully than -on any other fair sight! Therefore, by -your will, it behoves me to leave ye, for I -have but barely three days, and I would as -fain fall dead as fail of mine errand.”</p> -<p>Then the lord quoth, laughing, “Now -must ye needs stay, for I will show ye -your goal, the Green Chapel, ere your -term be at an end, have ye no fear! But -ye can take your ease, friend, in your bed, -till the fourth day, and go forth on the first -of the year, and come to that place at mid-morn -to do as ye will. Dwell here till -New Year’s Day, and then rise and set -forth, and ye shall be set in the way; ’tis not -two miles hence.”</p> -<p>Then was Gawain glad, and he laughed -gaily. “Now I thank ye for this above -all else. Now my quest is achieved I will -dwell here at your will, and otherwise do as -ye shall ask.”</p> -<p>Then the lord took him, and set him -beside him, and bade the ladies be fetched -<span class="pb" id="Page_41">41</span> -for their greater pleasure, tho’ between -themselves they had solace. The lord, for -gladness, made merry jest, even as one who -wist not what to do for joy; and he cried -aloud to the knight, “Ye have promised to -do the thing I bid ye: will ye hold to this -behest, here, at once?”</p> -<p>“Yea, forsooth,” said that true knight, -“while I abide in your burg I am bound -by your behest.”</p> -<p>“Ye have travelled from far,” said the -host, “and since then ye have waked with -me, ye are not well refreshed by rest and -sleep, as I know. Ye shall therefore abide -in your chamber, and lie at your ease to-morrow -at Mass-tide, and go to meat when -ye will with my wife, who shall sit with -ye, and comfort ye with her company -till I return; and I shall rise early and go -forth to the chase.” And Gawain agreed -to all this courteously.</p> -<h3 id="cs27">Sir Gawain makes a covenant with his host</h3> -<p>“Sir knight,” quoth the host, “we will -make a covenant. Whatsoever I win in -the wood shall be yours, and whatever may -fall to your share, that shall ye exchange for -it. Let us swear, friend, to make this -exchange, however our hap may be, for -worse or for better.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>“I grant ye your will,” quoth Gawain -the good; “if ye list so to do, it liketh me -well.”</p> -<p>“Bring hither the wine-cup, the bargain -is made,” so said the lord of that castle. -They laughed each one, and drank of the -wine, and made merry, these lords and -ladies, as it pleased them. Then with gay -talk and merry jest they arose, and stood, -and spoke softly, and kissed courteously, -and took leave of each other. With burning -torches, and many a serving man, was -each led to his couch; yet ere they -gat them to bed the old lord oft -repeated their covenant, for -he knew well how to -make sport.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">III</span></h2> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p05.jpg" id="ncfig4" alt="Illustrated drop-cap" width="600" height="345" /> -</div> -<h3 id="cs28">The first day’s hunting</h3> -<p>Full early, ere daylight, -the folk rose up; the -guests who would depart -called their grooms, and -they made them ready, and saddled the -steeds, tightened up the girths, and trussed -up their mails. The knights, all arrayed -for riding, leapt up lightly, and took their -bridles, and each rode his way as pleased -him best.</p> -<p>The lord of the land was not the last. -Ready for the chase, with many of his -men, he ate a sop hastily when he had -heard Mass, and then with blast of the bugle -fared forth to the field.<a class="fn" id="fr_8" href="#fn_8">[8]</a> He and his nobles -were to horse ere daylight glimmered upon -the earth.</p> -<p>Then the huntsmen coupled their hounds, -unclosed the kennel door, and called them -<span class="pb" id="Page_44">44</span> -out. They blew three blasts gaily on the -bugles, the hounds bayed fiercely, and they -that would go a-hunting checked and chastised -them. A hundred hunters there were -of the best, so I have heard tell. Then the -trackers gat them to the trysting-place and -uncoupled the hounds, and the forest rang -again with their gay blasts.</p> -<p>At the first sound of the hunt the game -quaked for fear, and fled, trembling, along -the vale. They betook them to the heights, -but the liers in wait turned them back with -loud cries; the harts they let pass them, -and the stags with their spreading antlers, -for the lord had forbidden that they should -be slain, but the hinds and the does they -turned back, and drave down into the -valleys. Then might ye see much shooting -of arrows. As the deer fled under the -boughs a broad whistling shaft smote and -wounded each sorely, so that, wounded and -bleeding, they fell dying on the banks. -The hounds followed swiftly on their tracks, -and hunters, blowing the horn, sped after -them with ringing shouts that well-nigh -burst the cliffs asunder. What game escaped -those that shot was run down at the outer -ring. Thus were they driven on the hills, -<span class="pb" id="Page_45">45</span> -and harassed at the waters, so well did the -men know their work, and the greyhounds -were so great and swift that they ran them -down as fast as the hunters could slay them. -Thus the lord passed the day in mirth and -joyfulness, even to nightfall.</p> -<h3 id="cs29">How the lady of the castle came to Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>So the lord roamed the woods, and -Gawain, that good knight, lay ever a-bed, -curtained about, under the costly coverlet, -while the daylight gleamed on the walls. -And as he lay half slumbering, he heard a -little sound at the door, and he raised his -head, and caught back a corner of the -curtain, and waited to see what it might -be. It was the lovely lady, the lord’s wife; -she shut the door softly behind her, and -turned towards the bed; and Gawain laid -him down softly and made as if he slept. -And she came lightly to the bedside, within -the curtain, and sat herself down beside -him, to wait till he wakened. The knight -lay there awhile, and marvelled within himself -what her coming might betoken; and -he said to himself, “’Twere more seemly -if I asked her what hath brought her -hither.” Then he made feint to waken, -and turned towards her, and opened his -eyes as one astonished, and crossed himself; -<span class="pb" id="Page_46">46</span> -and she looked on him laughing, with her -cheeks red and white, lovely to behold.</p> -<p>“Good morrow, Sir Gawain,” said that -fair lady; “ye are but a careless sleeper, -since one can enter thus. Now are ye -taken unawares, and lest ye escape me I -shall bind you in your bed; of that be ye -assured!” Laughing, she spake these -words.</p> -<p>“Good morrow, fair lady,” quoth Gawain -blithely. “I will do your will, as it likes -me well. For I yield me readily, and pray -your grace, and that is best, by my faith, -since I needs must do so.” Thus he jested -again, laughing. “But an ye would, fair -lady, grant me this grace that ye pray your -prisoner to rise. I would get me from bed, -and array me better, then could I talk with -ye in more comfort.”</p> -<p>“Nay, forsooth, fair sir,” quoth the -lady, “ye shall not rise, I will rede ye -better. I shall keep ye here, since ye can -do no other, and talk with my knight -whom I have captured. For I know well -that ye are Sir Gawain, whom all the world -worships, wheresoever ye may ride. Your -honour and your courtesy are praised by -lords and ladies, by all who live. Now ye -<span class="pb" id="Page_47">47</span> -are here and we are alone, my lord and his -men are afield; the serving men in their -beds, and my maidens also, and the door -shut upon us. And since in this hour I -have him that all men love, I shall use my -time well with speech, while it lasts. Ye -are welcome to my company, for it behoves -me in sooth to be your servant.”</p> -<p>“In good faith,” quoth Gawain, “I -think me that I am not he of whom ye -speak, for unworthy am I of such service -as ye here proffer. In sooth, I were glad if -I might set myself by word or service to -your pleasure; a pure joy would it be -to me!”</p> -<p>“In good faith, Sir Gawain,” quoth the -gay lady, “the praise and the prowess that -pleases all ladies I lack them not, nor hold -them light; yet are there ladies enough -who would liever now have the knight in -their hold, as I have ye here, to dally with -your courteous words, to bring them comfort -and to ease their cares, than much of -the treasure and the gold that are theirs. -And now, through the grace of Him who -upholds the heavens, I have wholly in my -power that which they all desire!”</p> -<p>Thus the lady, fair to look upon, -<span class="pb" id="Page_48">48</span> -made him great cheer, and Sir Gawain, -with modest words, answered her again: -“Madam,” he quoth, “may Mary requite -ye, for in good faith I have found in ye a -noble frankness. Much courtesy have -other folk shown me, but the honour they -have done me is naught to the worship of -yourself, who knoweth but good.”</p> -<p>“By Mary,” quoth the lady, “I think -otherwise; for were I worth all the women -alive, and had I the wealth of the world in -my hand, and might choose me a lord to -my liking, then, for all that I have seen in -ye, Sir Knight, of beauty and courtesy -and blithe semblance, and for all that I -have hearkened and hold for true, there -should be no knight on earth to be chosen -before ye!”</p> -<p>“Well I wot,” quoth Sir Gawain, “that -ye have chosen a better; but I am proud -that ye should so prize me, and as your -servant do I hold ye my sovereign, and -your knight am I, and may Christ reward -ye.”</p> -<p>So they talked of many matters till mid-morn -was past, and ever the lady shewed -her love to him, and the knight turned her -speech aside. For though she were the -<span class="pb" id="Page_49">49</span> -brightest of maidens, yet had he forborne -to shew her love for the danger that awaited -him, and the blow that must be given -without delay.</p> -<p>Then the lady prayed her leave from -him, and he granted it readily. And she -gave him good-day, with laughing glance, -but he must needs marvel at her words:</p> -<p>“Now He that speeds fair speech reward -ye this disport; but that ye be Gawain my -mind misdoubts me greatly.”</p> -<p>“Wherefore?” quoth the knight quickly, -fearing lest he had lacked in some courtesy.</p> -<p>And the lady spake: “So true a knight -as Gawain is holden, and one so perfect in -courtesy, would never have tarried so long -with a lady but he would of his courtesy -have craved a kiss at parting.”</p> -<h3 id="cs30">How the lady kissed Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>Then quoth Gawain, “I wot I will do -even as it may please ye, and kiss at your -commandment, as a true knight should -who forbears to ask for fear of displeasure.”</p> -<p>At that she came near and bent down -and kissed the knight, and each commended -the other to Christ, and she went -forth from the chamber softly.</p> -<p>Then Sir Gawain arose and called his -chamberlain and chose his garments, and -<span class="pb" id="Page_50">50</span> -when he was ready he gat him forth to -Mass, and then went to meat, and made -merry all day till the rising of the moon, -and never had a knight fairer lodging than -had he with those two noble ladies, the -elder and the younger.</p> -<p>And ever the lord of the land chased the -hinds through holt and heath till eventide, -and then with much blowing of bugles and -baying of hounds they bore the game -homeward; and by the time daylight was -done all the folk had returned to that fair -castle. And when the lord and Sir Gawain -met together, then were they both well -pleased. The lord commanded them all to -assemble in the great hall, and the ladies to -descend with their maidens, and there, -before them all, he bade the men fetch in -the spoil of the day’s hunting, and he -called unto Gawain, and counted the tale -of the beasts, and showed them unto him, -and said, “What think ye of this game, Sir -Knight? Have I deserved of ye thanks for -my woodcraft?”</p> -<p>“Yea, I wis,” quoth the other, “here is -the fairest spoil I have seen this seven year -in the winter season.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<h3 id="cs31">How the covenant was kept</h3> -<p>“And all this do I give ye, Gawain,” -quoth the host, “for by accord of covenant -ye may claim it as your own.”</p> -<p>“That is sooth,” quoth the other, “I -grant you that same; and I have fairly -won this within walls, and with as good -will do I yield it to ye.” With that he -clasped his hands round the lord’s neck and -kissed him as courteously as he might. -“Take ye here my spoils, no more have I -won; ye should have it freely, though it -were greater than this.”</p> -<p>“’Tis good,” said the host, “gramercy -thereof. Yet were I fain to know where -ye won this same favour, and if it were by -your own wit?”</p> -<p>“Nay,” answered Gawain, “that was -not in the bond. Ask me no more: ye -have taken what was yours by right, be -content with that.”</p> -<p>They laughed and jested together, and -sat them down to supper, where they were -served with many dainties; and after -supper they sat by the hearth, and wine -was served out to them; and oft in their -jesting they promised to observe on the -morrow the same covenant that they had -made before, and whatever chance might -betide to exchange their spoil, be it much -<span class="pb" id="Page_52">52</span> -or little, when they met at night. Thus -they renewed their bargain before the -whole court, and then the night-drink was -served, and each courteously took leave of -the other and gat him to bed.</p> -<h3 id="cs32">Of the second day’s hunting</h3> -<p>By the time the cock had crowed thrice -the lord of the castle had left his bed; -Mass was sung and meat fitly served. The -folk were forth to the wood ere the day -broke, with hound and horn they rode over -the plain, and uncoupled their dogs among -the thorns. Soon they struck on the scent, -and the hunt cheered on the hounds who -were first to seize it, urging them with -shouts. The others hastened to the cry, -forty at once, and there rose such a clamour -from the pack that the rocks rang again. -The huntsmen followed hard after with -shouting and blasts of the horn; and the -hounds drew together to a thicket betwixt -the water and a high crag in the cliff -beneath the hillside. As the rough rocks -were ill for riding the huntsmen sprang -to earth and hastened on foot, and cast -about round the hill and the thicket. -The knights wist well what beast was -within, and would drive him forth with -the bloodhounds. And as they beat the -<span class="pb" id="Page_53">53</span> -bushes, suddenly over the beaters there -rushed forth a wondrous great and fierce -boar, long since had he left the herd to -roam by himself. Grunting, he cast many -to the ground, and fled forth at his best -speed, without more mischief. The men -hallooed loudly and cried, “<i>Hay! Hay!</i>” -and blew the horns to urge on the hounds, -and rode swiftly after the boar. Many a -time did he turn to bay and tare the -hounds, and they yelped, and howled -shrilly. Then the men made ready their -arrows and shot at him, but the points -were turned on his thick hide, and the -barbs would not bite upon him, for the -shafts shivered in pieces, and the head but -leapt again wherever it hit.</p> -<p>But when the boar felt the stroke of -the arrows he waxed mad with rage, and -turned on the hunters and tare many, so -that, affrighted, they fled before him. But -the lord on a swift steed pursued him, -blowing his bugle; as a gallant knight he -rode through the woodland chasing the -boar till the sun grew low.</p> -<p>So did the hunters this day, while Sir -Gawain lay in his bed lapped in rich gear; -and the lady forgat not to salute him, for -<span class="pb" id="Page_54">54</span> -early was she at his side, to cheer his -mood.</p> -<h3 id="cs33">Of the lady and Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>She came to the bedside and looked on -the knight, and Gawain gave her fit -greeting, and she greeted him again with -ready words, and sat her by his side and -laughed, and with a sweet look she spoke -to him:</p> -<p>“Sir, if ye be Gawain, I think it a -wonder that ye be so stern and cold, and -care not for the courtesies of friendship, -but if one teach ye to know them ye cast -the lesson out of your mind. Ye have -soon forgotten what I taught ye yesterday, -by all the truest tokens that I knew!”</p> -<p>“What is that?” quoth the knight. -“I trow I know not. If it be sooth that -ye say, then is the blame mine own.”</p> -<p>“But I taught ye of kissing,” quoth the -fair lady. “Wherever a fair countenance is -shown him, it behoves a courteous knight -quickly to claim a kiss.”</p> -<p>“Nay, my dear,” said Sir Gawain, -“cease that speech; that durst I not do -lest I were denied, for if I were forbidden -I wot I were wrong did I further entreat.”</p> -<p>“I’ faith,” quoth the lady merrily, “ye -may not be forbid, ye are strong enough to -<span class="pb" id="Page_55">55</span> -constrain by strength an ye will, were any -so discourteous as to give ye denial.”</p> -<p>“Yea, by Heaven,” said Gawain, “ye -speak well; but threats profit little in the -land where I dwell, and so with a gift that -is given not of good will! I am at your -commandment to kiss when ye like, to take -or to leave as ye list.”</p> -<p>Then the lady bent her down and -kissed him courteously.</p> -<h3 id="cs34">How the lady strove to beguile Sir Gawain with words of love</h3> -<p>And as they spake together she said, -“I would learn somewhat from ye, an ye -would not be wroth, for young ye are and -fair, and so courteous and knightly as ye -are known to be, the head of all chivalry, -and versed in all wisdom of love and war—’tis -ever told of true knights how they -adventured their lives for their true love, -and endured hardships for her favours, and -avenged her with valour, and eased her -sorrows, and brought joy to her bower; -and ye are the fairest knight of your time, -and your fame and your honour are everywhere, -yet I have sat by ye here twice, -and never a word have heard of love! -Ye who are so courteous and skilled in -such lore ought surely to teach one so -young and unskilled some little craft of -<span class="pb" id="Page_56">56</span> -true love! Why are ye so unlearned who -art otherwise so famous? Or is it that -ye deem me unworthy to hearken to your -teaching? For shame, Sir Knight! I -come hither alone and sit at your side to -learn of ye some skill; teach me of your -wit, while my lord is from home.”</p> -<p>“In good faith,” quoth Gawain, “great -is my joy and my profit that so fair a lady as -ye are should deign to come hither, and -trouble ye with so poor a man, and make -sport with your knight with kindly countenance, -it pleaseth me much. But that I, in -my turn, should take it upon me to tell of -love and such like matters to ye who know -more by half, or a hundred fold, of such -craft than I do, or ever shall in all my lifetime, -by my troth ’twere folly indeed! I -will work your will to the best of my -might as I am bounden, and evermore will -I be your servant, so help me Christ!”</p> -<p>Then often with guile she questioned -that knight that she might win him to woo -her, but he defended himself so fairly that -none might in any wise blame him, and -naught but bliss and harmless jesting was -there between them. They laughed and -talked together till at last she kissed him, -<span class="pb" id="Page_57">57</span> -and craved her leave of him, and went her -way.</p> -<h3 id="cs35">How the boar was slain</h3> -<p>Then the knight arose and went forth -to Mass, and afterward dinner was served, -and he sat and spake with the ladies all -day. But the lord of the castle rode ever -over the land chasing the wild boar, that -fled through the thickets, slaying the best -of his hounds and breaking their backs in -sunder; till at last he was so weary he -might run no longer, but made for a hole -in a mound by a rock. He got the mound -at his back and faced the hounds, whetting -his white tusks and foaming at the mouth. -The huntsmen stood aloof, fearing to draw -nigh him; so many of them had been -already wounded that they were loth to be -torn with his tusks, so fierce he was and -mad with rage. At length the lord himself -came up, and saw the beast at bay, and the -men standing aloof. Then quickly he -sprang to the ground and drew out a bright -blade, and waded through the stream to the -boar.</p> -<p>When the beast was ware of the knight -with weapon in hand, he set up his bristles -and snorted loudly, and many feared for -their lord lest he should be slain. Then -<span class="pb" id="Page_58">58</span> -the boar leapt upon the knight so that -beast and man were one atop of the other -in the water; but the boar had the worst -of it, for the man had marked, even as he -sprang, and set the point of his brand to the -beast’s chest, and drove it up to the hilt, so -that the heart was split in twain, and the -boar fell snarling, and was swept down by -the water to where a hundred hounds seized -on him, and the men drew him to shore -for the dogs to slay.</p> -<p>Then was there loud blowing of horns -and baying of hounds, the huntsmen smote -off the boar’s head, and hung the carcase -by the four feet to a stout pole, and so -went on their way homewards. The head -they bore before the lord himself, who had -slain the beast at the ford by force of his -strong hand.</p> -<p>It seemed him o’er long ere he saw Sir -Gawain in the hall, and he blew a blast on -his horn to let all men know that he was -come again to take his part in the covenant. -And when he saw Gawain the lord laughed -aloud, and bade them call the ladies and the -household together, and he showed them -the game, and told them the tale, how -they had hunted the wild boar through the -<span class="pb" id="Page_59">59</span> -woods, and of his length and breadth and -height; and Sir Gawain commended his -deeds and praised him for his valour, well -proven, for so mighty a beast had he never -seen before.</p> -<h3 id="cs36">The keeping of the covenant</h3> -<p>Then they handled the huge head, and -the lord said aloud, “Now, Gawain, this -game is your own by sure covenant, as ye -right well know.”</p> -<p>“’Tis sooth,” quoth the knight, “and -as truly will I give ye all I have gained.” -He took the host round the neck, and -kissed him courteously twice. “Now are -we quits,” he said, “this eventide, of all -the covenants that we made since I came -hither.”</p> -<p>And the lord answered, “By S. Giles, ye -are the best I know; ye will be rich in a -short space if ye drive such bargains!”</p> -<p>Then they set up the tables on trestles, -and covered them with fair cloths, and lit -waxen tapers on the walls. The knights -sat and were served in the hall, and much -game and glee was there round the hearth, -with many songs, both at supper and after; -songs of Christmas, and new carols, with -all the mirth one may think of. And ever -that lovely lady sat by the knight, and -<span class="pb" id="Page_60">60</span> -with still stolen looks made such feint of -pleasing him, that Gawain marvelled -much, and was wroth with himself, but -he could not for his courtesy return her -fair glances, but dealt with her cunningly, -however she might strive to wrest the thing.</p> -<p>When they had tarried in the hall so -long as it seemed them good, they turned -to the inner chamber and the wide hearth-place, -and there they drank wine, and the -host proffered to renew the covenant for -New Year’s Eve; but the knight craved -leave to depart on the morrow, for it was -nigh to the term when he must fulfil his -pledge. But the lord would withhold him -from so doing, and prayed him to tarry, -and said,</p> -<p>“As I am a true knight I swear my -troth that ye shall come to the Green -Chapel to achieve your task on New Year’s -morn, long before prime. Therefore abide -ye in your bed, and I will hunt in this -wood, and hold ye to the covenant to -exchange with me against all the spoil I -may bring hither. For twice have I tried -ye, and found ye true, and the morrow -shall be the third time and the best. Make -we merry now while we may, and think -<span class="pb" id="Page_61">61</span> -on joy, for misfortune may take a man -whensoever it wills.”</p> -<p>Then Gawain granted his request, and -they brought them drink, and they gat -them with lights to bed.</p> -<h3 id="cs37">Of the third day’s hunting</h3> -<p>Sir Gawain lay and slept softly, but the -lord, who was keen on woodcraft, was -afoot early. After Mass he and his men -ate a morsel, and he asked for his steed; -all the knights who should ride with him -were already mounted before the hall gates.</p> -<p>’Twas a fair frosty morning, for the sun -rose red in ruddy vapour, and the welkin -was clear of clouds. The hunters scattered -them by a forest side, and the rocks rang -again with the blast of their horns. Some -came on the scent of a fox, and a hound -gave tongue; the huntsmen shouted, and -the pack followed in a crowd on the trail. -The fox ran before them, and when they -saw him they pursued him with noise and -much shouting, and he wound and turned -through many a thick grove, often cowering -and hearkening in a hedge. At last by a -little ditch he leapt out of a spinney, stole -away slily by a copse path, and so out of -the wood and away from the bounds. But -he went, ere he wist, to a chosen tryst, -<span class="pb" id="Page_62">62</span> -and three started forth on him at once, so -he must needs double back, and betake him -to the wood again.</p> -<p>Then was it joyful to hearken to the -hounds; when all the pack had met -together and had sight of their game they -made as loud a din as if all the lofty cliffs -had fallen clattering together. The huntsmen -shouted and threatened, and followed -close upon him so that he might scarce -escape, but Reynard was wily, and he -turned and doubled upon them, and led the -lord and his men over the hills, now on -the slopes, now in the vales, while the -knight at home slept through the cold -morning beneath his costly curtains.</p> -<h3 id="cs38">How the lady came for the third time to Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>But the fair lady of the castle rose -betimes, and clad herself in a rich mantle -that reached even to the ground, and was -bordered and lined with costly furs. On -her head she wore no golden circlet, but a -network of precious stones, that gleamed -and shone through her tresses in clusters of -twenty together. Thus she came into the -chamber and set open a window, and called -to him gaily, “Sir Knight, how may ye -sleep? The morning is so fair.”</p> -<p>Sir Gawain was deep in slumber, and in -<span class="pb" id="Page_63">63</span> -his dream he vexed him much for the -destiny that should befall him on the -morrow, when he should meet the knight -at the Green Chapel, and abide his blow; -but when the lady spake he heard her, and -came to himself, and roused from his dream -and answered swiftly. The lady came -laughing, and kissed him courteously, and -he welcomed her fittingly with a cheerful -countenance. He saw her so glorious and -gaily dressed, so faultless of features and -complexion, that it warmed his heart to -look upon her.</p> -<p>They spake to each other smiling, and -all was bliss and good cheer between them. -They exchanged fair words, and much -happiness was therein, yet was there a gulf -between them, and she might win no more -of her knight, for that gallant prince -watched well his words—he would neither -take her love, nor frankly refuse it. He -cared for his courtesy, lest he be deemed -churlish, and yet more for his honour lest -he be traitor to his host. “God forbid,” -quoth he to himself, “that it should so -befall.” Thus with courteous words did -he set aside all the special speeches that -came from her lips.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>Then spake the lady to the knight, “Ye -deserve blame if ye hold not that lady who -sits beside ye above all else in the world, if -ye have not already a love whom ye hold -dearer, and like better, and have sworn -such firm faith to that lady that ye care not -to loose it—as I scarce may believe. And -now I pray ye straitly that ye tell me that -in truth, and hide it not.”</p> -<p>And the knight answered, “By S. John” -(and he smiled as he spake) “no such love -have I, nor do I think to have yet awhile.”</p> -<p>“That is the worst word I may hear,” -quoth the lady, “but in sooth I have mine -answer; kiss me now courteously, and I -will go hence; I can but mourn as a -maiden that loves much.”</p> -<p>Sighing, she stooped down and kissed -him, and then she rose up and spake as she -stood, “Now, dear, at our parting do me -this grace: give me some gift, if it were -but thy glove, that I may bethink me of -my knight, and lessen my mourning.”</p> -<h3 id="cs39">The lady would fain have a parting gift from Gawain</h3> -<p>“Now, I wis,” quoth the knight, “I -would that I had here but the least thing -that I possess on earth that I might leave -ye as love-token, great or small, for ye have -deserved forsooth more reward than I -<span class="pb" id="Page_65">65</span> -might give ye. But it is not to your -honour to have at this time a glove for -reward as gift from Gawain, and I am here -on a strange errand, and have no man with -me, nor mails with goodly things—that -mislikes me much, lady, at this time; but -each man must fare as he is taken, if for -sorrow and ill.”</p> -<h3 id="cs40">She would give him her ring</h3> -<p>“Nay, knight highly honoured,” quoth -that lovesome lady, “though I have naught -of yours, yet shall ye have somewhat of -mine.” With that she reached him a -ring of red gold with a sparkling stone -therein, that shone even as the sun (wit -ye well, it was worth many marks); but -the knight refused it, and spake readily,</p> -<p>“I will take no gift, lady, at this time. -I have none to give, and none will I take.”</p> -<p>She prayed him to take it, but he refused -her prayer, and sware in sooth that he -would not have it.</p> -<h3 id="cs41">Or her girdle</h3> -<p>The lady was sorely vexed, and said, -“If ye refuse my ring as too costly, that -ye will not be so highly beholden to me, I -will give ye my girdle<a class="fn" id="fr_9" href="#fn_9">[9]</a> as a lesser gift.” -With that she loosened a lace that was -fastened at her side, knit upon her kirtle -under her mantle. It was wrought of -<span class="pb" id="Page_66">66</span> -green silk, and gold, only braided by the -fingers, and that she offered to the knight, -and besought him though it were of little -worth that he would take it, and he said -nay, he would touch neither gold nor gear -ere God give him grace to achieve the -adventure for which he had come hither. -“And therefore, I pray ye, displease ye -not, and ask me no longer, for I may not -grant it. I am dearly beholden to ye for -the favour ye have shown me, and ever, in -heat and cold, will I be your true servant.”</p> -<h3 id="cs42">The virtue of the girdle</h3> -<p>“Now,” said the lady, “ye refuse this -silk, for it is simple in itself, and so it -seems, indeed; lo, it is small to look upon -and less in cost, but whoso knew the virtue -that is knit therein he would, peradventure, -value it more highly. For whatever -knight is girded with this green lace, while -he bears it knotted about him there is no -man under heaven can overcome him, for -he may not be slain for any magic on -earth.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<h3 id="cs43">How Sir Gawain took the girdle</h3> -<p>Then Gawain bethought him, and it -came into his heart that this were a jewel -for the jeopardy that awaited him when he -came to the Green Chapel to seek the -return blow—could he so order it that he -should escape unslain, ’twere a craft worth -trying. Then he bare with her chiding, -and let her say her say, and she pressed the -girdle on him and prayed him to take it, -and he granted her prayer, and she gave it -him with good will, and besought him for -her sake never to reveal it but to hide it -loyally from her lord; and the knight -agreed that never should any man know it, -save they two alone. He thanked her -often and heartily, and she kissed him for -the third time.</p> -<p>Then she took her leave of him, and -when she was gone Sir Gawain arose, and -clad him in rich attire, and took the girdle, -and knotted it round him, and hid it -beneath his robes. Then he took his way -to the chapel, and sought out a priest -privily, and prayed him to teach him better -how his soul might be saved when he -should go hence; and there he shrived -him, and showed his misdeeds, both great -and small, and besought mercy and craved -absolution; and the priest assoiled him, -and set him as clean as if Doomsday had -been on the morrow. And afterwards Sir -Gawain made him merry with the ladies, -with carols, and all kinds of joy, as never -<span class="pb" id="Page_68">68</span> -he did but that one day, even to nightfall; -and all the men marvelled at him, and -said that never since he came thither had -he been so merry.</p> -<h3 id="cs44">The death of the fox</h3> -<p>Meanwhile the lord of the castle was -abroad chasing the fox; awhile he lost -him, and as he rode through a spinney he -heard the hounds near at hand, and Reynard -came creeping through a thick grove, -with all the pack at his heels. Then the -lord drew out his shining brand, and cast -it at the beast, and the fox swerved aside -for the sharp edge, and would have doubled -back, but a hound was on him ere he -might turn, and right before the horse’s -feet they all fell on him, and worried him -fiercely, snarling the while.</p> -<p>Then the lord leapt from his saddle, and -caught the fox from their jaws, and held it -aloft over his head, and hallooed loudly, -and the hunters hied them thither, blowing -their horns; all that bare bugles blew -them at once, and all the others shouted. -’Twas the merriest meeting that ever -men heard, the clamour that was raised at -the death of the fox. They rewarded the -hounds, stroking them and rubbing their -heads, and took Reynard and stripped him -<span class="pb" id="Page_69">69</span> -of his coat; then blowing their horns, -they turned them homewards, for it was -nigh nightfall.</p> -<h3 id="cs45">How Sir Gawain kept not all the covenant</h3> -<p>The lord was gladsome at his return, -and found a bright fire on the hearth, -and the knight beside it, the good Sir -Gawain, who was in joyous mood for the -pleasure he had had with the ladies. He -wore a robe of blue, that reached even to -the ground, and a surcoat richly furred, -that became him well. A hood like to -the surcoat fell on his shoulders, and all -alike were done about with fur. He met -the host in the midst of the floor, and -jesting, he greeted him, and said, “Now -shall I be first to fulfil our covenant which -we made together when there was no lack -of wine.” Then he embraced the knight, -and kissed him thrice, as solemnly as he -might.</p> -<p>“Of a sooth,” quoth the other, “ye -have good luck in the matter of this -covenant, if ye made a good exchange!”</p> -<p>“Yea, it matters naught of the exchange,” -quoth Gawain, “since what I -owe is swiftly paid.”</p> -<p>“Marry,” said the other, “mine is -behind, for I have hunted all this day, and -<span class="pb" id="Page_70">70</span> -naught have I got but this foul fox-skin, -and that is but poor payment for three -such kisses as ye have here given me.”</p> -<p>“Enough,” quoth Sir Gawain, “I thank -ye, by the Rood.”</p> -<p>Then the lord told them of his hunting, -and how the fox had been slain.</p> -<p>With mirth and minstrelsy, and dainties -at their will, they made them as merry as -a folk well might till ’twas time for them -to sever, for at last they must needs betake -them to their beds. Then the knight -took his leave of the lord, and thanked him -fairly.</p> -<p>“For the fair sojourn that I have had -here at this high feast may the High King -give ye honour. I give ye myself, as one -of your servants, if ye so like; for I must -needs, as ye know, go hence with the -morn, and ye will give me, as ye promised, -a guide to show me the way to the Green -Chapel, an God will suffer me on New -Year’s Day to deal the doom of my weird.”</p> -<p>“By my faith,” quoth the host, “all -that ever I promised, that shall I keep -with good will.” Then he gave him a -servant to set him in the way, and lead -him by the downs, that he should have no -<span class="pb" id="Page_71">71</span> -need to ford the stream, and should fare by -the shortest road through the groves; and -Gawain thanked the lord for the honour -done him. Then he would take leave of -the ladies, and courteously he kissed them, -and spake, praying them to receive his -thanks, and they made like reply; then -with many sighs they commended him to -Christ, and he departed courteously from -that folk. Each man that he met he -thanked him for his service and his solace, -and the pains he had been at to do his -will; and each found it as hard to part -from the knight as if he had ever dwelt -with him.</p> -<h3 id="cs46">How Sir Gawain took leave of his host</h3> -<p>Then they led him with torches to his -chamber, and brought him to his bed to -rest. That he slept soundly I may not -say, for the morrow gave him much -to think on. Let him rest a while, -for he was near that which he -sought, and if ye will but -listen to me I will tell -ye how it fared with -him thereafter.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">IV</span></h2> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p06.jpg" id="ncfig5" alt="Illustrated drop-cap" width="600" height="339" /> -</div> -<p>Now the New Year drew -nigh, and the night -passed, and the day chased -the darkness, as is God’s -will; but wild weather wakened therewith. -The clouds cast the cold to the -earth, with enough of the north to slay -them that lacked clothing. The snow -drave smartly, and the whistling wind blew -from the heights, and made great drifts -in the valleys. The knight, lying in his -bed, listened, for though his eyes were shut -he might sleep but little, and hearkened -every cock that crew.</p> -<p>He arose ere the day broke, by the light -of a lamp that burned in his chamber, and -called to his chamberlain, bidding him bring -his armour and saddle his steed. The other -gat him up, and fetched his garments, and -robed Sir Gawain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<h3 id="cs47">The robing of Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>First he clad him in his clothes to keep -off the cold, and then in his harness, which -was well and fairly kept. Both hauberk -and plates were well burnished, the rings -of the rich byrny freed from rust, and all as -fresh as at first, so that the knight was fain -to thank them. Then he did on each -piece, and bade them bring his steed, while -he put the fairest raiment on himself; his -coat with its fair cognizance, adorned with -precious stones upon velvet, with broidered -seams, and all furred within with costly -skins. And he left not the lace, the lady’s -gift, that Gawain forgot not, for his own -good. When he had girded on his sword -he wrapped the gift twice about him, -swathed around his waist. The girdle of -green silk set gaily and well upon the royal -red cloth, rich to behold, but the knight -ware it not for pride of the pendants, -polished though they were, with fair gold -that gleamed brightly on the ends, but to -save himself from sword and knife, when -it behoved him to abide his hurt without -question. With that the hero went forth, -and thanked that kindly folk full often.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<h3 id="cs48">How Sir Gawain went forth from the castle</h3> -<p>Then was Gringalet ready, that was -great and strong, and had been well cared -for and tended in every wise; in fair condition -was that proud steed, and fit for a -journey. Then Gawain went to him, and -looked on his coat, and said by his sooth, -“There is a folk in this place that thinketh -on honour; much joy may they have, and -the lord who maintains them, and may all -good betide that lovely lady all her life -long. Since they for charity cherish a -guest, and hold honour in their hands, may -He who holds the heaven on high requite -them, and also ye all. And if I might live -anywhile on earth, I would give ye full -reward, readily, if so I might.” Then he -set foot in the stirrup and bestrode his -steed, and his squire gave him his shield, -which he laid on his shoulder. Then he -smote Gringalet with his golden spurs, and -the steed pranced on the stones and would -stand no longer.</p> -<p>By that his man was mounted, who bare -his spear and lance, and Gawain quoth, -“I commend this castle to Christ, may He -give it ever good fortune.” Then the -drawbridge was let down, and the broad -gates unbarred and opened on both sides; -the knight crossed himself, and passed -through the gateway, and praised the -<span class="pb" id="Page_75">75</span> -porter, who knelt before the prince, and -gave him good-day, and commended him -to God. Thus the knight went on his -way with the one man who should guide -him to that dread place where he should -receive rueful payment.</p> -<p>The two went by hedges where the -boughs were bare, and climbed the cliffs -where the cold clings. Naught fell from -the heavens, but ’twas ill beneath them; -mist brooded over the moor and hung on -the mountains; each hill had a cap, a -great cloak, of mist. The streams foamed -and bubbled between their banks, dashing -sparkling on the shores where they shelved -downwards. Rugged and dangerous was -the way through the woods, till it was time -for the sun-rising. Then were they on a -high hill; the snow lay white beside them, -and the man who rode with Gawain drew -rein by his master.</p> -<h3 id="cs49">The squire’s warning</h3> -<p>“Sir,” he said, “I have brought ye -hither, and now ye are not far from the -place that ye have sought so specially. -But I will tell ye for sooth, since I know -ye well, and ye are such a knight as I well -love, would ye follow my counsel ye would -fare the better.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<h3 id="cs50">Of the knight of the Green Chapel</h3> -<p>“The place whither ye go -is accounted full perilous, for he who liveth -in that waste is the worst on earth, for he -is strong and fierce, and loveth to deal -mighty blows; taller is he than any man -on earth, and greater of frame than any four -in Arthur’s court, or in any other. And -this is his custom at the Green Chapel: -there may no man pass by that place, however -proud his arms, but he does him to -death by force of his hand, for he is a -discourteous knight, and shews no mercy. -Be he churl or chaplain who rides by that -chapel, monk or mass-priest, or any man -else, he thinks it as pleasant to slay them -as to pass alive himself. Therefore, I tell -ye, as sooth as ye sit in saddle, if ye come -there and that knight know it, ye shall be -slain, though ye had twenty lives; trow -me that truly! He has dwelt here full -long and seen many a combat; ye may -not defend ye against his blows. Therefore, -good Sir Gawain, let the man be, and -get ye away some other road; for God’s -sake seek ye another land, and there may -Christ speed ye! And I will hie me home -again, and I promise ye further that I will -swear by God and the saints, or any other -oath ye please, that I will keep counsel -<span class="pb" id="Page_77">77</span> -faithfully, and never let any wit the tale -that ye fled for fear of any man.”</p> -<h3 id="cs51">Sir Gawain is none dismayed</h3> -<p>“Gramercy,” quoth Gawain, but ill -pleased. “Good fortune be his who -wishes me good, and that thou wouldst -keep faith with me I well believe; but -didst thou keep it never so truly, an I -passed here and fled for fear as thou sayest, -then were I a coward knight, and might -not be held guiltless. So I will to the -chapel let chance what may, and talk with -that man, even as I may list, whether for -weal or for woe as fate may have it. Fierce -though he may be in fight, yet God knoweth -well how to save His servants.”</p> -<p>“Well,” quoth the other, “now that ye -have said so much that ye will take your -own harm on yourself, and ye be pleased to -lose your life, I will neither let nor keep ye. -Have here your helm and the spear in your -hand, and ride down this same road beside -the rock till ye come to the bottom of the -valley, and there look a little to the left -hand, and ye shall see in that vale the -chapel, and the grim man who keeps it. -Now fare ye well, noble Gawain; for all -the gold on earth I would not go with ye -nor bear ye fellowship one step further.” -<span class="pb" id="Page_78">78</span> -With that the man turned his bridle into -the wood, smote the horse with his spurs -as hard as he could, and galloped off, leaving -the knight alone.</p> -<p>Quoth Gawain, “I will neither greet -nor groan, but commend myself to God, -and yield me to His will.”</p> -<p>Then the knight spurred Gringalet, and -rode adown the path close in by a bank -beside a grove. So he rode through the -rough thicket, right into the dale, and -there he halted, for it seemed him wild -enough. No sign of a chapel could he see, -but high and burnt banks on either side and -rough rugged crags with great stones above. -An ill-looking place he thought it.</p> -<p>Then he drew in his horse and looked -around to seek the chapel, but he saw none -and thought it strange. Then he saw as -it were a mound on a level space of land -by a bank beside the stream where it ran -swiftly, the water bubbled within as if -boiling. The knight turned his steed to -the mound, and lighted down and tied the -rein to the branch of a linden; and he -turned to the mound and walked round it, -questioning with himself what it might be. -It had a hole at the end and at either side, -<span class="pb" id="Page_79">79</span> -and was overgrown with clumps of grass, -and it was hollow within as an old cave or -the crevice of a crag; he knew not what -it might be.</p> -<h3 id="cs52">The finding of the chapel</h3> -<p>“Ah,” quoth Gawain, “can this be the -Green Chapel? Here might the devil say -his mattins at midnight! Now I wis -there is wizardry here. ’Tis an ugly -oratory, all overgrown with grass, and -’twould well beseem that fellow in green to -say his devotions on devil’s wise. By my -five wits, ’tis the foul fiend himself who -hath set me this tryst, to destroy me here! -This is a chapel of mischance: ill-luck -betide it, ’tis the cursedest kirk that ever I -came in!”</p> -<p>Helmet on head and lance in hand, he -came up to the rough dwelling, when he -heard over the high hill beyond the brook, -as it were in a bank, a wondrous fierce -noise, that rang in the cliff as if it would -cleave asunder. ’Twas as if one ground a -scythe on a grindstone, it whirred and -whetted like water on a mill-wheel and -rushed and rang, terrible to hear.</p> -<p>“By God,” quoth Gawain, “I trow -that gear is preparing for the knight who -will meet me here. Alas! naught may -<span class="pb" id="Page_80">80</span> -help me, yet should my life be forfeit, I -fear not a jot!” With that he called -aloud. “Who waiteth in this place to -give me tryst? Now is Gawain come -hither: if any man will aught of him let -him hasten hither now or never.”</p> -<h3 id="cs53">The coming of the Green Knight</h3> -<p>“Stay,” quoth one on the bank above -his head, “and ye shall speedily have that -which I promised ye.” Yet for a while -the noise of whetting went on ere he -appeared, and then he came forth from a -cave in the crag with a fell weapon, a -Danish axe newly dight, wherewith to -deal the blow. An evil head it had, four -feet large, no less, sharply ground, and -bound to the handle by the lace that -gleamed brightly. And the knight himself -was all green as before, face and foot, locks -and beard, but now he was afoot. When -he came to the water he would not wade -it, but sprang over with the pole of his axe, -and strode boldly over the brent that was -white with snow.</p> -<p>Sir Gawain went to meet him, but he -made no low bow. The other said, “Now, -fair sir, one may trust thee to keep tryst. -Thou art welcome, Gawain, to my place. -Thou hast timed thy coming as befits a -<span class="pb" id="Page_81">81</span> -true man. Thou knowest the covenant -set between us: at this time twelve months -agone thou didst take that which fell to -thee, and I at this New Year will readily -requite thee. We are in this valley, verily -alone, here are no knights to sever us, do -what we will. Have off thy helm from -thine head, and have here thy pay; make -me no more talking than I did then when -thou didst strike off my head with one -blow.”</p> -<p>“Nay,” quoth Gawain, “by God that -gave me life, I shall make no moan whatever -befall me, but make thou ready for the -blow and I shall stand still and say never a -word to thee, do as thou wilt.”</p> -<p>With that he bent his head and shewed -his neck all bare, and made as if he had no -fear, for he would not be thought a-dread.</p> -<h3 id="cs54">How Sir Gawain failed to stand the blow</h3> -<p>Then the Green Knight made him -ready, and grasped his grim weapon to -smite Gawain. With all his force he bore -it aloft with a mighty feint of slaying him: -had it fallen as straight as he aimed he -who was ever doughty of deed had been slain -by the blow. But Gawain swerved aside -as the axe came gliding down to slay him -as he stood, and shrank a little with the -<span class="pb" id="Page_82">82</span> -shoulders, for the sharp iron. The other -heaved up the blade and rebuked the prince -with many proud words:</p> -<h3 id="cs55">Of the Green Knight’s reproaches</h3> -<p>“Thou art not Gawain,” he said, “who -is held so valiant, that never feared he man -by hill or vale, but <i>thou</i> shrinkest for fear -ere thou feelest hurt. Such cowardice did -I never hear of Gawain! Neither did <i>I</i> -flinch from thy blow, or make strife in -King Arthur’s hall. My head fell to my -feet, and yet I fled not, but thou didst -wax faint of heart ere any harm befell. -Wherefore must I be deemed the braver -knight.”</p> -<p>Quoth Gawain, “I shrank once, but so -will I no more, though an <i>my</i> head fall on -the stones I cannot replace it. But haste, -Sir Knight, by thy faith, and bring me to -the point, deal me my destiny, and do it out -of hand, for I will stand thee a stroke and -move no more till thine axe have hit me—my -troth on it.”</p> -<p>“Have at thee, then,” quoth the other, -and heaved aloft the axe with fierce mien, -as if he were mad. He struck at him -fiercely but wounded him not, withholding -his hand ere it might strike him.</p> -<p>Gawain abode the stroke, and flinched -<span class="pb" id="Page_83">83</span> -in no limb, but stood still as a stone or the -stump of a tree that is fast rooted in the -rocky ground with a hundred roots.</p> -<p>Then spake gaily the man in green, “So -now thou hast thine heart whole it behoves -me to smite. Hold aside thy hood that -Arthur gave thee, and keep thy neck thus -bent lest it cover it again.”</p> -<p>Then Gawain said angrily, “Why talk -on thus? Thou dost threaten too long. -I hope thy heart misgives thee.”</p> -<h3 id="cs56">How the Green Knight dealt the blow</h3> -<p>“For sooth,” quoth the other, “so -fiercely thou speakest I will no longer let -thine errand wait its reward.” Then he -braced himself to strike, frowning with lips -and brow, ’twas no marvel that he who -hoped for no rescue misliked him. He -lifted the axe lightly and let it fall with the -edge of the blade on the bare neck. Though -he struck swiftly it hurt him no more than -on the one side where it severed the skin. -The sharp blade cut into the flesh so that -the blood ran over his shoulder to the ground. -And when the knight saw the blood staining -the snow, he sprang forth, swift-foot, -more than a spear’s length, seized his -helmet and set it on his head, cast his -shield over his shoulder, drew out his bright -<span class="pb" id="Page_84">84</span> -sword, and spake boldly (never since he -was born was he half so blithe), “Stop, Sir -Knight, bid me no more blows. I have -stood a stroke here without flinching, and -if thou give me another, I shall requite -thee, and give thee as good again. By the -covenant made betwixt us in Arthur’s hall -but one blow falls to me here. Halt, -therefore.”</p> -<h3 id="cs57">Of the three covenants</h3> -<p>Then the Green Knight drew off from -him, and leaned on his axe, setting the -shaft on the ground, and looked on Gawain -as he stood all armed and faced him fearlessly—at -heart it pleased him well. Then -he spake merrily in a loud voice, and said -to the knight, “Bold sir, be not so fierce, -no man here hath done thee wrong, nor -will do, save by covenant, as we made -at Arthur’s court. I promised thee a blow -and thou hast it—hold thyself well paid! -I release thee of all other claims. If I had -been so minded I might perchance have -given thee a rougher buffet. First I -menaced thee with a feigned one, and hurt -thee not for the covenant that we made in -the first night, and which thou didst hold -truly. All the gain didst thou give me as -a true man should. The other feint I -<span class="pb" id="Page_85">85</span> -proffered thee for the morrow: my fair wife -kissed thee, and thou didst give me her -kisses—for both those days I gave thee two -blows without scathe—true man, true -return. But the third time thou didst fail, -and therefore hadst thou that blow. For -’tis my weed thou wearest, that same woven -girdle, my own wife wrought it, that do I -wot for sooth. Now know I well thy -kisses, and thy conversation, and the -wooing of my wife, for ’twas mine own -doing. I sent her to try thee, and in sooth -I think thou art the most faultless knight -that ever trode earth. As a pearl among -white peas is of more worth than they, so -is Gawain, i’ faith, by other knights. But -thou didst lack a little, Sir Knight, and -wast wanting in loyalty, yet that was for -no evil work, nor for wooing neither, but -because thou lovedst thy life—therefore I -blame thee the less.”</p> -<h3 id="cs58">The shame of Sir Gawain</h3> -<p>Then the other stood a great while still, -sorely angered and vexed within himself; -all the blood flew to his face, and he shrank -for shame as the Green Knight spake; and -the first words he said were, “Cursed be -ye, cowardice and covetousness, for in ye -is the destruction of virtue.” Then he -<span class="pb" id="Page_86">86</span> -loosed the girdle, and gave it to the knight. -“Lo, take there the falsity, may foul befall -it! For fear of thy blow cowardice bade -me make friends with covetousness and -forsake the customs of largess and loyalty, -which befit all knights. Now am I faulty -and false and have been afeard: from -treachery and untruth come sorrow and -care. I avow to thee, Sir Knight, that I -have ill done; do then thy will. I shall be -more wary hereafter.”</p> -<p>Then the other laughed and said gaily, -“I wot I am whole of the hurt I had, and -thou hast made such free confession of thy -misdeeds, and hast so borne the penance of -mine axe-edge, that I hold thee absolved -from that sin, and purged as clean as if -thou hadst never sinned since thou wast -born. And this girdle that is wrought with -gold and green, like my raiment, do I give -thee, Sir Gawain, that thou mayest think -upon this chance when thou goest forth -among princes of renown, and keep this -for a token of the adventure of the Green -Chapel, as it chanced between chivalrous -knights. And thou shalt come again with -me to my dwelling and pass the rest of this -feast in gladness.” Then the lord laid -<span class="pb" id="Page_87">87</span> -hold of him, and said, “I wot we shall soon -make peace with my wife, who was thy -bitter enemy.”</p> -<h3 id="cs59">How Sir Gawain would keep the girdle</h3> -<p>“Nay, forsooth,” said Sir Gawain and -seized his helmet and took it off swiftly, -and thanked the knight: “I have fared -ill, may bliss betide thee, and may He who -rules all things reward thee swiftly. Commend -me to that courteous lady, thy fair -wife, and to the other my honoured ladies, -who have beguiled their knight with skilful -craft. But ’tis no marvel if one be made -a fool and brought to sorrow by women’s -wiles, for so was Adam beguiled, and many -a mighty man of old, Samson, and David, -and Solomon—if one might love a woman -and believe her not, ’twere great gain! -And since all they were beguiled by women, -methinks ’tis the less blame to me that I -was misled! But as for thy girdle, that -will I take with good will, not for gain of -the gold, nor for samite, nor silk, nor the -costly pendants, neither for weal nor for -worship, but in sign of my frailty. I shall -look upon it when I ride in renown and -remind myself of the fault and faintness of -the flesh; and so when pride uplifts me -for prowess of arms, the sight of this lace -<span class="pb" id="Page_88">88</span> -shall humble my heart. But one thing -would I pray, if it displease thee not: since -thou art lord of yonder land wherein I -have dwelt, tell me what thy rightful name -may be, and I will ask no more.”</p> -<h3 id="cs60">How the marvel was wrought</h3> -<p>“That will I truly,” quoth the other. -“Bernlak de Hautdesert am I called in -this land. Morgain le Fay dwelleth in mine -house,<a class="fn" id="fr_10" href="#fn_10">[10]</a> and through knowledge of clerkly -craft hath she taken many. For long time -was she the mistress of Merlin, who knew -well all you knights of the court. Morgain -the goddess is she called therefore, and -there is none so haughty but she can bring -him low. She sent me in this guise to -yon fair hall to test the truth of the renown -that is spread abroad of the valour of the -Round Table. She taught me this marvel -to betray your wits, to vex Guinevere and -fright her to death by the man who spake -with his head in his hand at the high table. -That is she who is at home, that ancient -lady, she is even thine aunt, Arthur’s half-sister, -the daughter of the Duchess of -Tintagel, who afterward married King -Uther. Therefore I bid thee, knight, -come to thine aunt, and make merry in -thine house; my folk love thee, and I wish -<span class="pb" id="Page_89">89</span> -thee as well as any man on earth, by my -faith, for thy true dealing.”</p> -<p>But Sir Gawain said nay, he would in -no wise do so; so they embraced and -kissed, and commended each other to the -Prince of Paradise, and parted right there, -on the cold ground. Gawain on his steed -rode swiftly to the king’s hall, and the -Green Knight got him whithersoever he -would.</p> -<h3 id="cs61">How Sir Gawain came again to Camelot</h3> -<p>Sir Gawain, who had thus won grace -of his life, rode through wild ways on -Gringalet; oft he lodged in a house, and -oft without, and many adventures did he -have and came off victor full often, as at -this time I cannot relate in tale. The -hurt that he had in his neck was healed, -he bare the shining girdle as a baldric -bound by his side, and made fast with a -knot ’neath his left arm, in token that he -was taken in a fault—and thus he came in -safety again to the court.</p> -<p>Then joy awakened in that dwelling -when the king knew that the good Sir -Gawain was come, for he deemed it gain. -King Arthur kissed the knight, and the -queen also, and many valiant knights sought -to embrace him. They asked him how he -<span class="pb" id="Page_90">90</span> -had fared, and he told them all that had -chanced to him—the adventure of the -chapel, the fashion of the knight, the love -of the lady—at last of the lace. He showed -them the wound in the neck which he won -for his disloyalty at the hand of the knight, -the blood flew to his face for shame as he -told the tale.</p> -<h3 id="cs62">Sir Gawain makes confession of his fault</h3> -<p>“Lo, lady,” he quoth, and handled the -lace, “this is the bond of the blame that I -bear in my neck, this is the harm and the -loss I have suffered, the cowardice and -covetousness in which I was caught, the -token of my covenant in which I was taken. -And I must needs wear it so long as I live, -for none may hide his harm, but undone it -may not be, for if it hath clung to thee -once, it may never be severed.”</p> -<h3 id="cs63">The knights wear the lace in honour of Gawain</h3> -<p>Then the king comforted the knight, -and the court laughed loudly at the tale, and -all made accord that the lords and the ladies -who belonged to the Round Table, each hero -among them, should wear bound about him -a baldric of bright green<a class="fn" id="fr_11" href="#fn_11">[11]</a> for the sake of Sir -Gawain. And to this was agreed all the -honour of the Round Table, and he who -ware it was honoured the more thereafter, -as it is testified in the best book of romance.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<h3 id="cs64">The end of the tale</h3> -<p>That in Arthur’s days this adventure befell, -the book of Brutus bears witness. For -since that bold knight came hither -first, and the siege and the -assault were ceased at -Troy, I wis</p> -<div class="b small"> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Many a venture herebefore</p> -<p class="t">Hath fallen such as this:</p> -<p class="t0">May He that bare the crown of thorn</p> -<p class="t">Bring us unto His bliss.</p> -</div> -<p class="tbcenter"><i class="larger">Amen</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">Notes</span></h2> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_0" href="#fr_0">[0]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 2.</span>—<i>Carol.</i> Dance accompanied by song. Often mentioned in -old romances.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_1" href="#fr_1">[1]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 4.</span>—<i>Agravain</i>, “<i>à la dure main</i>.” This characterisation -of Gawain’s brother seems to indicate that -there was a French source at the root of this story. The -author distinctly tells us more than once that the tale, as -he tells it, was written <i>in a book</i>. M. Gaston Paris thinks -that the direct source was an Anglo-Norman poem, now -lost.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_2" href="#fr_2">[2]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 10.</span>—<i>If any in this hall holds himself so hardy.</i> -This, the main incident of the tale, is apparently of very -early date. The oldest version we possess is that found in -the Irish tale of the <i>Fled Bricrend</i> (Bricriu’s feast), where -the hero of the tale is the Irish champion, Cuchulinn. -Two mediæval romances, the <i>Mule sans Frein</i> (French) -and <i>Diu Krône</i> (German), again attribute it to Gawain; -while the continuator of Chrétien de Troye’s <i>Conte del -Graal</i> gives as hero a certain Carados, whom he represents -as Arthur’s nephew; and the prose <i>Perceval</i> has Lancelot. -So far as the mediæval versions are concerned, the original -hero is undoubtedly Gawain; and our poem gives the -fullest and most complete form of the story we possess. -In the Irish version the magician is a <i>giant</i>, and the -abnormal size and stature of the Green Knight is, in all -probability, the survival of a primitive feature. His -curious <i>colour</i> is a trait found nowhere else. In <i>Diu Krône</i> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -we are told that the challenger changes shapes in a terrifying -manner, but no details are given.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_3" href="#fr_3">[3]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 19.</span>—<i>For Yule was over-past.</i> This passage, -descriptive of the flight of the year, should be especially -noticed. Combined with other passages—the description -of Gawain’s journey, the early morning hunts, the dawning -of New Year’s Day, and the ride to the Green Chapel—they -indicate a knowledge of Nature, and an observant eye -for her moods, uncommon among mediæval poets. It is -usual enough to find graceful and charming descriptions of -spring and early summer—an appreciation of <i>May</i> in -especial, when the summer courts were held, is part of the -stock-in-trade of mediæval romancers—but a sympathy -with the year in all its changes is far rarer, and certainly -deserves to be specially reckoned to the credit of this -nameless writer.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_4" href="#fr_4">[4]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 22.</span>—<i>First a rich carpet was stretched on the -floor.</i> The description of the arming of Gawain is rather -more detailed in the original, but some of the minor -points are not easy to understand, the identification of -sundry of the pieces of armour being doubtful.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_5" href="#fr_5">[5]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 24.</span>—<i>The pentangle painted thereupon in gleaming -gold.</i> I do not remember that the pentangle is elsewhere -attributed to Gawain. He often bears a red shield; but -the blazon varies. Indeed, the heraldic devices borne by -Arthur’s knights are distractingly chaotic—their legends -are older than the science of heraldry, and no one has -done for them the good office that the compiler of the -Thidrek Saga has rendered to his Teutonic heroes.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_6" href="#fr_6">[6]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 26.</span>—<i>The Wilderness of Wirral.</i> This is in -Cheshire. Sir F. Madden suggests that the forest which -forms the final stage of Gawain’s journey is that of -Inglewood, in Cumberland. The geography here is far -clearer than is often the case in such descriptions.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_7" href="#fr_7">[7]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 29.</span>—<i>’Twas the fairest castle that ever a knight -owned.</i> Here, again, I have omitted some of the details of -the original, the architectural terms lacking identification.</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_8" href="#fr_8">[8]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 43.</span>—<i>With blast of the bugle fared forth to the -field.</i> The account of each day’s hunting contains a -number of obsolete terms and details of woodcraft, not -given in full. The meaning of some has been lost, and -the minute description of skinning and dismembering the -game would be distinctly repulsive to the general reader. -They are valuable for a student of the history of the -English sport, but interfere with the progress of the story. -The fact that the author devotes so much space to them -seems to indicate that he lived in the country and was -keenly interested in field sports. (Gottfried von Stressbourg’s -<i>Tristan</i> contains a similar and almost more detailed -description.)</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_9" href="#fr_9">[9]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 65.</span>—<i>I will give thee my girdle.</i> This magic -girdle, which confers invulnerability on its owner, is a -noticeable feature of our story. It is found nowhere else -in this connection, yet in other romances we find that -Gawain possesses a girdle with similar powers (cf., my -<i>Legend of Sir Gawain</i>, Chap. IX.). Such a talisman was -also owned by Cuchulinn, the Irish hero, who has many -points of contact with Gawain. It seems not improbable -that this was also an old feature of the story. I have -commented, in the Introduction, on the lady’s persistent -wooing of Gawain, and need not repeat the remarks here. -The Celtic <i>Lay of the Great Fool</i> (<i>Amadan Mor</i>) presents -some curious points of contact with our story, which may, -however, well be noted here. In the <i>Lay</i> the hero is -mysteriously deprived of his legs, through the draught from -a cup proffered by a <i>Gruagach</i> or magician. He comes to -a castle, the lord of which goes out hunting, leaving his -wife in the care of the Great Fool, who is to allow no -man to enter. He falls asleep, and a young knight arrives -and kisses the host’s wife. The Great Fool, awaking, -refuses to allow the intruder to depart; and, in spite of -threats and blandishments, insists on detaining him till the -husband returns. Finally, the stranger reveals himself as -the host in another shape; he is also the <i>Gruagach</i>, who -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -deprived the hero of his limbs, and the Great Fool’s -brother. He has only intended to test the <i>Amadan Mor’s</i> -fidelity. A curious point in connection with this story is -that it possesses a prose opening which shows a marked -affinity with the “Perceval” <i>enfances</i>. That the Perceval -and Gawain stories early became connected is certain, but -what is the precise connection between them and the -Celtic <i>Lay</i> is not clear. <i>In its present form</i> the latter is -certainly posterior to the Grail romances, but it is quite -possible that the matter with which it deals represents a -tradition older than the Arthurian story.</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_10" href="#fr_10">[10]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 88.</span>—<i>Morgain le Fay, who dwelleth in my house.</i> -The enmity between Morgain le Fay and Guinevere, -which is here stated to have been the <i>motif</i> of the -enchantment, is no invention of the author, but is found -in the <i>Merlin</i>, probably the earliest of the Arthurian <i>prose</i> -romances. In a later version of our story, a poem, written -in ballad form, and contained in the “Percy” MS., -Morgain does not appear; her place is taken by an old -witch, mother to the lady, but the enchantment is still -due to her spells. In this later form the knight bears the -curious name of <i>Sir Bredbeddle</i>. That given in our -romance, <i>Bernlak de Hautdesert</i>, seems to point to the -original French source of the story. (It is curious that -Morgain should here be represented as extremely old, -while Arthur is still in his first youth. There is evidently -a discrepancy or misunderstanding of the source here.)</div> -<div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_11" href="#fr_11">[11]</a>. <span class="sc">Page 90.</span>—<i>A baldric of bright green, for sake of Sir -Gawain.</i>—The later version connects this <i>lace</i> with that -worn by the knights of the Bath; but this latter was -<i>white</i>, not <i>green</i>. The knights wore it on the left shoulder -till they had done some gallant deed, or till some noble -lady took it off for them.</div> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">Printed by <span class="sc">Ballantyne, Hanson <i>&</i> Co.</span> -<br />London & Edinburgh</span></p> -<h2 id="trnotes">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<ul> -<li>Silently corrected a few typos.</li> -<li>Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.</li> -<li>Created a Table of Contents based on the sidenotes.</li> -</ul> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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