Latest / Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Transcript

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

• 0:00
  Fit the first. After the siege and the assault had ceased, Detroy,
• 0:06
  the city had been destroyed and burned to brands and ashes. The warrior who
• 0:11
  wrought there the trains of treason was tried for his treachery. The truest on
• 0:16
  earth. This was aneas the noble. He and his high kindred afterwards conquered
• 0:23
  the provinces and became patrons of well nigh all the wealth in the West Aisles.
• 0:28
  As soon as rich Romulus turns him to Rome with great pride, he
• 0:33
  at once builds that city and names it with his own name, which it
• 0:37
  now has. Tissius turns to Tuscany and founds dwellings Longobard raises homes in Lombardy,
• 0:45
  and far over the French flood. Felix Brutus establishes Britain joyfully on many
• 0:51
  broad banks, where war and waste and wonders by turns have since dwelt,
• 0:57
  and many a swift interchange of bliss and woe. And when this Briton was
• 1:03
  founded by this great hero, bold men loving strife bred therein, and many
• 1:08
  a time they wrought destruction. More strange things have happened in this land since
• 1:15
  these days than in any other that I know. But of all the British
• 1:19
  kings that built here, Arthur was ever the most courteous, as I have
• 1:25
  heard tell. Therefore, I mean to tell of an adventure in the world
• 1:30
  which some count strange and extraordinary, even among the wonders of Arthur. If
• 1:37
  ye will listen to this lay but a little while, I will tell it
• 1:41
  forthright as I heard it told in town, as it is set down in
• 1:46
  story that cannot be changed, long written in the land. In true words,
• 1:53
  this king lay royally a camelot at Christmas Tide with many fine lords,
• 1:59
  the best of men, all the rich brethren of the round table, with
• 2:02
  right, rich revel and careless mirth. Therefore many heroes turn'd besides jousted full
• 2:10
  gaily, then return'd these gentle knights to the court to make carols. For
• 2:15
  there the feast was held full fifteen days alike, with all the meat and
• 2:22
  the mirth that men could devise, such a merry, tumult glorious to hear,
• 2:28
  joyful din by day, dancing at night. All was high joy in
• 2:34
  halls and chambers, with lords and ladies as pleased them best, with all
• 2:40
  the wheal in the world. They dwelt there together, the most famous knights
• 2:45
  save only Christ, the loveliest ladies that ever had life, and he,
• 2:51
  the comeliest of kings, who holds the court. For all this fair company
• 2:55
  were in their prime in the hall, the happiest troop and heaven with the
• 3:00
  proudest of kings. Truly, it would be hard to name anywhere so brave
• 3:06
  a band. When the new year was fresh and but newly come, the
• 3:13
  court was served double on the days. As soon as the King with his
• 3:16
  knights was come into the hall, the chanting in the chapel came to an
• 3:21
  end. Loud was the cry there of clerks and others. Noel was celebrated,
• 3:25
  anew shouted full often, and afterwards the great ones ran about to take
• 3:31
  Hansel called aloud for new Year's gifts. Ladies laughed full loud though they had
• 3:38
  lost, and he that one was not wroth, that may ye well trow
• 3:46
  all this mirth they made till the meat time, when they had washed worthily,
• 3:52
  they went to their seats. The best man ever above, as it
• 3:54
  best behooved, whoeen Gwenevere, for beauteus was set in the midst, placed
• 4:00
  on the high days adorned all about fine silk at the sides, a canopy
• 4:05
  over her of precious cloth of Toulouse, and tapestries of tars that were embroidered
• 4:12
  and set with the best gems that money could buy. Truly, no man
• 4:15
  could say that he ever beheld a comelier lady than she, with her dancing
• 4:20
  gray eyes. But Arthur could not eat till all were served. He was
• 4:28
  so merry in his birth, and somewhat childlike in his manner, his life
• 4:31
  pleased him well. He loved little, either to lie long or to sit
• 4:35
  low. So busied him his young blood in his wild brain. And another
• 4:43
  custom moved him also, that he, through chivalry, had taken up.
• 4:46
  He would never eat upon such a dear day before he was told an uncouth
• 4:50
  tale of some adventurous thing, of some great marble that he could believe,
• 4:57
  of ancient heroes of arms, of other adventures, or unless some person demanded
• 5:03
  of him a sure knight to join with him in jousting, to incur peril,
• 5:09
  to risk life against life, trusting each in the other, leaving the
• 5:13
  victory to fortune. This was the king's custom whenever he held court, at
• 5:18
  each goodly feast among his free company in the hall, and so with undaunted
• 5:25
  face he stride stoutly to his seat on that new year, making great mirth
• 5:31
  with everybody. Thus the great King stands waiting before the high table, talking
• 5:39
  of trifles full courteously. The good Gowan was placed there beside Gwenevere, an
• 5:45
  Agravain of the hard Hand, sat on the other side, both of them,
• 5:49
  the King's sisters sons and full shore knights. Bishop Baldwin at the top
• 5:55
  begins the table, and Yuaine Urion's son ate by these were placed on the
• 6:01
  days and honorably served, and after them many a good man at the side
• 6:05
  tables. Then the first course came in with a blare of trumpets, which
• 6:12
  were hung with many a bright banner. A new noise of kettle drums with
• 6:17
  noble pipes, wild and stirring melodies wakened the echoes, that many a heart
• 6:24
  heaved full high at their tones. Dainties of precious meats followed foison of fresh
• 6:30
  bands, and so on many dishes, that it was difficult to find place
• 6:35
  before the people to set on the cloth the silver that held the several courses.
• 6:41
  Each man, as he placed himself, preferred, partook without hesitation.
• 6:46
  Every two had twelve dishes between them, good beer and bright wine, both.
• 6:51
  Now I will tell you no more of their service, for everybody must
• 6:56
  well understand that there was no lack of opportunity for the people to take their
• 7:00
  food. Another noise, full news suddenly drew nigh. For scarcely had the
• 7:06
  music ceased a moment, and the first course had been properly served in the
• 7:11
  court, than there burst in at the hall door an awesome being in height,
• 7:16
  one of the tallest men in the world, from the neck to the
• 7:20
  waist. So square and so thick was he, and his loins and his
• 7:25
  limbs so long and so great that half giant. I believed him to have
• 7:29
  been, or at any rate, the largest of men, and with all
• 7:33
  the handsomest in spite of his bulk that ever rode. For though his back
• 7:39
  and breast were so vast, yet his belly and waist were properly slim,
• 7:44
  and all his form accordingly full, fairly shaped. At the hue of his
• 7:49
  noble face, men wondered he carried himself in hostile fashion, and was entirely
• 7:57
  green. All grew green was this man in his clothing, a straight coat
• 8:03
  sat tight to his sides, a fair mantle above adorned within the lining showed
• 8:09
  with costly trimming of shining white fur. And such his hood also that was
• 8:15
  caught back from his locks and lay on his shoulders, the hem well stretched
• 8:20
  hose of the same green that clung to his cap, and clean spurs under
• 8:26
  of bright gold upon silk bands richly barred, and shoes on his shanks as
• 8:33
  the hero rides, and all his vesture verily was clean, verdue both the
• 8:41
  bars of his belt and the other beauteous stones that were set in fine array
• 8:46
  about himself, and his saddle worked on silk. It would be too difficult
• 8:52
  to tell the half of the trifles that were embroidered there with birds and flies,
• 8:56
  with gay gods of green, the good over in the middle, the
• 9:01
  pendants of the Poottou, the proud crupper, the bits, and all the
• 9:07
  metal was enameled. The stirps that he stood on were colored the same,
• 9:13
  and his saddle bow likewise, and his fine reins that glimmered and glinted all
• 9:18
  of green stones. The horse that he rode on was of the same color,
• 9:24
  too, a green horse, great and thick, a steed full stiff
• 9:28
  to guide in gay embroidered bridle, and one bright dear to his master.
• 9:37
  This hero was splendidly dressed in green, and the hair of his head matched
• 9:41
  that of his horse. Fair flowing locks enfolded his shoulders. A beard as
• 9:48
  big as a bush hung over his breast, and it, together with his
• 9:52
  splendid hair, that reached from his head, was trimmed evenly all round above
• 9:58
  his elbows, so that half his arms were caught thereunder, in the manner
• 10:03
  of a king's hood that covers his neck. The mane of that great horse
• 10:09
  was much like it, very curly, and combed with knots full many folded
• 10:15
  in with gold wire about the fair green, always one knot of the hair
• 10:20
  another of gold. The tail and the forelock were twined in the same way,
• 10:26
  and both bound with a band of bright green, set with full precious
• 10:31
  stones the whole length of the dock, and then tied up with a thong
• 10:37
  in a tight knot, where rang many bells full bright of burnished gold.
• 10:43
  Such a steed in the world, such a hero as rides him, was
• 10:48
  never beheld in that hall before that time. His glances were like bright lightning,
• 10:54
  so set all that saw him. It seemed as if no man could
• 11:00
  door under his blows. He had neither helm, nor harbock, nor gorget,
• 11:07
  armor, nor breastplate, nor shaft, nor shield to guard or to
• 11:11
  smite. But in his one hand he had a holly twig that is greenest
• 11:18
  when groves are bare, and an axe in his other, a huge and
• 11:22
  prodigious one, a weapon merciless almost beyond description. The head had the vast
• 11:30
  length of an all yard, the blade all of green steel and of beaten
• 11:35
  gold, the bit brightly burnished, with a broad edge, as well shaped
• 11:41
  for cutting as sharp razors. The stern warrior gripped by it the steel of
• 11:46
  its stout staff, which was wound with iron to the end of the wood,
• 11:52
  and all engraven with green in beauteous work. A lace was lapped about
• 11:58
  it that was fastened the head and tied up often along the helve, with
• 12:03
  many precious tassels attached on rich embroidered buttons of bright green. This hero turns
• 12:11
  him in and enters the hall, riding straight to the high days, fearless
• 12:16
  of mischief. He greeted never a one, but looked loftily about, and
• 12:22
  the first word that he uttered was where is the governor of this company.
• 12:26
  Gladly I would see that hero and speak with him. He cast his eye
• 12:33
  on the knights, and rode fiercely up and down, stopped and gan ponder,
• 12:39
  who was there the most renowned. All gazed fixedly on the man,
• 12:46
  for everybody marbled what it might mean that a knight and a horse could have
• 12:50
  such a color as green grown as the grass, and greener it seemed,
• 12:56
  shining brighter than green enamel on gold. All were amazed, who stood there,
• 13:03
  and stalked nearer to him, with all the wonder in the world what
• 13:07
  he would do? For many marvels had they seen but such never before.
• 13:13
  Therefore, for phantom and fairy, the folk there deemed it, And for
• 13:18
  that reason many a noble warrior was slow to answer, and all were astonished
• 13:24
  at his voice, and sat stone still in a deep silence. Through the
• 13:30
  rich hall. Their voices sank, as though they had suddenly fallen asleep.
• 13:37
  I deem, however, that it was not all for fear, but somewhat
• 13:41
  for courtesy. But now let him to whom all differ, undertake the white.
• 13:50
  Then Arthur, before the high days, beheld that adventure and saluted the
• 13:56
  stranger properly, for never was he afraid, and said, sir, welcome
• 14:01
  indeed to this place. I am called Arthur, the head of this hostel.
• 14:07
  Light courteously down and tarry, I pray thee and whatso thy will is,
• 14:13
  we shall wit after nay, so help me he that sits on high
• 14:18
  quoth the hero to dwelt any time in this house was not my errand but
• 14:24
  because the fame of this people is lifted up so high, and thy town
• 14:31
  and thy men are held the best, the stoutest, and steel gear on
• 14:35
  steeds to ride, the whitest and the worthiest of the world's kind, and
• 14:41
  proved opponents in other proper sports. And here courtesy is known. As I
• 14:46
  have heard tell. It is this that has enticed me hither. Certainly at
• 14:52
  this time you may be sure by this branch that I bear here, that
• 14:58
  I pass in peace and seek not quarrel. For if I had set out
• 15:01
  with a company in fighting fashion, I have a hambok at home, and
• 15:07
  a helm, both a shield and a sharp spear shining bright, and other
• 15:11
  weapons to wield, I ween well also. But since I wished no war,
• 15:18
  my weeds are softer now. If thou these bold as all men tell,
• 15:24
  thou wilt grant me graciously the game that I ask. Arthur knew how
• 15:31
  to answer, and said, sir, courteous knight, if it is battle,
• 15:37
  thou cravest, thou shalt not fail of a fight here? Nay,
• 15:41
  I demand no fight in faith. I tell thee they are but beardless children
• 15:48
  about on this bench. If I were hasped in arms on a high steed,
• 15:52
  there is no man here to match me. Their might is so weak.
• 15:58
  Therefore I crave in this forward a Christmas game, for it is Yule
• 16:02
  and New Year, and there are many gallants. If there be a man
• 16:07
  in this house who holds himself so hearty, and is so old in his
• 16:11
  blood, so rash in his head, that he dares stiffly strike one stroke
• 16:18
  for another, I shall give him as my gift, this rich gizar,
• 16:22
  this axe that is heavy enough to handle as he likes, and I shall
• 16:27
  abide the first flow as bare as I sit. If any warrior be white
• 16:36
  enough to try what I propose, let him leap lightly to me and take
• 16:41
  this weapon. I quit claim it forever. Let him keep it as his
• 16:45
  own, and I shall stand him a stroke firmly on this floor. At
• 16:52
  another time, by our lady, thou wilt grant me the boon of dealing
• 16:57
  him another blow. I will give him respite of a twelvemonth and a day.
• 17:03
  Now high, and let us see quickly if any herein dare say aught.
• 17:12
  If he had astonished them at first stiller were then all the retainers in
• 17:18
  the hall, the high and the low. The warrior on his steed,
• 17:22
  settled himself in his saddle, and fiercely his red eyes. He reeled about,
• 17:27
  bent his thick brows shining green, and waved his beard, waiting whoso
• 17:34
  would rise. When none would answer him, he coughed aloud, stretched himself
• 17:41
  haughtily, and began to speak, What is this Arthur's house? Said the
• 17:45
  hero, then, that his fames threw so many realms. Where is now
• 17:51
  your pride and your conquest, your fierceness and your wrath and your great words?
• 17:56
  Now is the rebel and the renowned of the round table will overcome by
• 18:00
  the word of a single man, for all tremble for dread without a blow
• 18:07
  shone With this, he laughed so loud the lord grieved the blood shot for
• 18:15
  shame into his face. Fair he waxed as wroth as the wind, and
• 18:21
  so did all that were there. The King so Keen of Mood, then
• 18:26
  stood near that proud man. Sir said he, by Heaven, thy asking
• 18:33
  is foolish, and as thou hast demanded folly, it behooves thee to find
• 18:38
  it. I know no man that is aghast of thy great words. Give
• 18:45
  me now this gisarm for God's sake, and I will grant thy boon that
• 18:48
  thou hast bidden. Quickly he leaped to him and caught at his hand,
• 18:55
  and the other alights fiercely on foot. Now Arthur has his axe and grips
• 19:00
  the helve. He whirls it sternly about, as if he meant to strife
• 19:04
  with it. The bold stranger stood upright before him, higher than any in
• 19:11
  the house by a head, and more with stern cheer. He stood there,
• 19:15
  stroked his beard, and with cool countenance drew down his coat, no
• 19:21
  more afraid or dismayed for Arthur's great strokes than if some one had brought him
• 19:26
  a drink of wine. Upon the bench, Gawan that sat by the Queen
• 19:33
  turned to the King. I beseech now with all courtesy that this affair might
• 19:38
  be mine, Would ye worthy lord, quoth gawin to the King, bid
• 19:45
  me step from this bench and stand by you there, that I, without
• 19:48
  rudeness, might leave this table, and that by liege lady liked it not
• 19:53
  ill I would come to your help before your rich court for me. He
• 20:00
  thinks it is obviously unseemly that such an asking is made so much of in
• 20:06
  your hall, even though ye yourself be willing to take it upon you,
• 20:10
  while so many bold ones sit about you on the bench than whom I ween,
• 20:15
  none under heaven are higher of spirit, nor more mighty on the field
• 20:22
  where strike is reared. I am the weakest I know, and the feeblest
• 20:26
  of wit, And to tell the truth, they would be the least loss
• 20:30
  in my life. I am only to praise for as much as ye are
• 20:36
  my uncle. No other nobility than your blood, no eye in my body.
• 20:41
  And since this adventure is so foolish, it belongs not to you,
• 20:45
  I have asked it of you. First give it to me. Let this
• 20:49
  great court decide if I have not spoken well. The heroes took counsel together,
• 20:57
  and they all gave the same advice to free the crowned king and give
• 21:03
  the game to Gowan. Then the King commanded Gawin to rise from the table,
• 21:10
  and he right quickly stood up and made himself ready kneel down before the
• 21:15
  King and took the weapon, and Arthur lovingly left it to him, lifted
• 21:21
  up his hand and gave him God's blessing, and gladly bade him be hearty
• 21:26
  of heart and hand. Take care. Cousin, quoth the King, that
• 21:32
  thou give him a cut, and if thou handle him properly, I readily
• 21:36
  believe that thou shalt endure the blow which he shall give. After, Gawin
• 21:44
  goes to the man with the gizzard in a hand, and he boldly awaits
• 21:48
  him, shrinking never a whit then speaks to Sir Gawain, the Knight in
• 21:55
  the green rehearse we our agreement before we go farther. First I conjure thee
• 22:02
  hero how thou art call'd, that thou tell me it truly, so I
• 22:07
  may believe it in good faith, quoth the Knight Gowan. I am called,
• 22:14
  who give you this buffet whatever befalls after and at this time twelvemonth,
• 22:18
  I am to take from thee another with whatever weapon thou wilt, and from
• 22:25
  no wight else alive. The other answers again, Sir Gawain, so thrive
• 22:32
  I as I am heartily glad that thou shalt give this blow by gog quoth
• 22:38
  the Green Knight, Sir Gawain. It delights me that I am to get
• 22:44
  at thy fist what I have requested here, and thou hast readily and truly
• 22:48
  rehearsed the whole of the covenant that I asked of the King, save that
• 22:53
  thou shalt assure me, sir, by thy troth, that thou wilt seek
• 22:59
  me thyself wheresoever thou thinkest I may be found upon the earth, and fetch
• 23:06
  for thyself such wages as thou dealest me to day before this rich company.
• 23:12
  Where should I seek, thee quoth Gawan? Where is thy place? I
• 23:17
  know never where thou livest by him that wroth me, Nor do I know
• 23:22
  thee Knight, thy court, nor thy name. But tell me truly the
• 23:26
  way and how thou art call'd, and I will use all my wit to
• 23:30
  win my way thither, And that I swear thee foresoth, and by my
• 23:36
  sure troth new year will suffice for that. No more is needed now quoth
• 23:42
  the man in green to gowan the courteous to tell the truth. After I
• 23:48
  have received thy tap, and thou hast smitten me, well, I shall
• 23:52
  promptly inform THEE of my house and my home and mine own name. Then
• 24:00
  thou mayst inquire about my journey and whole promise. And if I speak no
• 24:06
  speech, then thou speedest the better, for thou mayest linger at ease in
• 24:11
  thy land and seek no further. Now take thy grim tool to thee,
• 24:17
  and let us see how thou knockst gladly, sir. Forsooth quoth Gawin,
• 24:22
  as he strokes his axe. The green knight on the ground prepared himself properly.
• 24:30
  With the head a little bowed, he disclos'd the flesh his long,
• 24:36
  lovely locks. He laid over his crown and let the naked nape of his
• 24:41
  neck show for the blow. Gwin gripped his axe and gathered it on high
• 24:47
  the left foot. He set before on the ground, and let the axe
• 24:52
  lightly light smartly down on the naked flesh, so that the sharp edge severed
• 24:59
  the giant's bones and shrank through the clear flesh, and sheared it in Twain
• 25:04
  till the edge of the brown steel bit into the ground. The fair head
• 25:11
  fell from the neck to the earth, and many pushed it with their feet,
• 25:15
  where it rolled forth. The blood burst from the body and glistened on
• 25:21
  the green. Yet never faltered nor fell the hero for all that, but
• 25:27
  stoutly he started up with firm steps, and fiercely he rushed forth where the
• 25:33
  hero stood, caught his lovely head and lifted it up straight away. Then
• 25:41
  he turned to his steed, seized the bridle, stepped into the steel bough,
• 25:47
  and strode aloft, holding the head in his hand by the hair,
• 25:52
  and as soberly the man sat in his saddle, as if no mishap had
• 25:57
  ailed him, though he was headless on the spot. He turned his trunk
• 26:04
  about that ugly body that bled many. A one of them thought he had
• 26:10
  lost his reason, for he held the head straight up in his hand,
• 26:18
  turned the face toward the highest on the days, and it lifted up the
• 26:22
  eyelids, and looked straight out, and spoke thus much with his mouth,
• 26:27
  as ye may now hear, look Gawan, that thou be ready to go
• 26:33
  as thou hast promised, and seek loyally Hero till thou findt me, as
• 26:38
  thou hast promised in this hall, in the hearing of these knights to the
• 26:44
  Green Chapel, Go thou, I charge thee to receive such a blow as
• 26:49
  thou hast doubt thou deservest to be promptly paid on New Year's morn. As
• 26:56
  the knight of the Green Chapel, many know me. Therefore, if thou
• 27:03
  strivest to find me, thou shalt never fail, and so come, or
• 27:10
  it behooves thee to be called recreant. With a wild rush, he turn'd
• 27:17
  the reins and flew out at the hall door, his head in his hand,
• 27:23
  so that the fire of the flint flew from the foal's hoofs to what
• 27:30
  country he vanish'd knew none there, no more than they wist. Whence he
• 27:37
  was come. The king and gown roared with laughter that green man. But
• 27:41
  this adventure was reckoned a marvel among men. Though the courteous King wondered at
• 27:49
  his heart. He let no semblance be seen, but set aloud to the
• 27:53
  comely Queen with courteous speech, Dear Dame, to day will be never dismayed.
• 28:00
  Well becoming are such tricks at Christmas in lack of entertainment to laugh and
• 28:04
  sing about among these pleasant carols of knights and ladies. Nevertheless, I may
• 28:11
  well go to my meat, for I cannot deny that I have seen a
• 28:15
  marvel. He glanced at Sir Gawain and said, cheerfully. Now, sir,
• 28:21
  hang up thine axe. It has hewn enough, and it was put
• 28:26
  above the days to hang on the tapestry, where all men might marvel at
• 28:30
  it and buy and avouch the wonderful happening. Then they turned to the board.
• 28:37
  These heroes together, the King and the good Knight, and the keen
• 28:41
  men, served them double of all dainties, as was most fitting, with
• 28:47
  all manner of meat and minstrevy. Both they spent that day in joy until
• 28:52
  it came to an end. Now take care, Sir Gawain, that thou
• 28:56
  blenche not for the pain to pross secuted. This adventure that thou hast taken
• 29:03
  on hand fit the second one. This handsel of adventures had Arthur in the
• 29:12
  beginning, in the young years, since he yearned to hear boasting. Although
• 29:18
  there was little news when they went to their seats. Now they are provided
• 29:22
  with stern work, their hands quite full Gowan was glad to begin those games
• 29:27
  in the hall. But it would not be surprising if the end were heavy.
• 29:32
  For though men be merry in mind when they have much drink, yet
• 29:36
  a year runs full swiftly, and yields never the same. The beginning full
• 29:41
  seldom matches the end. And so this Yule went by, and the year
• 29:48
  after it, each season in turn following the other. After Christmas came the
• 29:53
  crabbed lent that tries the flesh with fish and more simple food. But then
• 30:00
  the weather of the world quarrels with the winter, and though the cold still
• 30:06
  clings, the clouds lift copiously, descends the rain in warm showers, and
• 30:12
  falls upon the fair earth. Flowers show there, green are the garments,
• 30:19
  both of fields and of grows. Birds hurry to build, and lustily they
• 30:26
  sing for the solace of the soft summer that follows. Thereafter, blossoms swell
• 30:33
  into bloom in rose, rich and rank, and lovely notes are heard in
• 30:40
  the beauteous wood. Two after the season of summer, with the soft winds,
• 30:47
  when zephyrs blows on seeds and herbs, happy is the plant that waxes.
• 30:52
  Then, when the dank dew drops from the leaves to await the blissful
• 30:59
  glands of the bright sun. But then harvest hastens and hardens it soon warns
• 31:07
  it to wax full ripe against the winter. He drives withdrawt the dust to
• 31:12
  rise from the face of the earth, to fly full high. The wild
• 31:18
  wind of the welkin wrestles with the sun. The leaves fall from the bough
• 31:26
  and light on the ground. The grass becomes all gray that erst was green.
• 31:33
  Then all ripes and rots that which formerly flourish'd, And thus runs the
• 31:40
  year in yester years many and winter returns again, without asking any man till
• 31:48
  the michaelmass moon has come in wintry. Wise, then thinks gown full soon
• 31:56
  of his anxious voyage. Three Yet till all Hallow's day with Arthur, he
• 32:05
  lingers, and Arthur made a feast on that festival for the hero's sake,
• 32:10
  with great and gay revel of the round table knights, froe courteous and comely
• 32:16
  ladies, all for love of that man were in sorrow. But nevertheless they
• 32:23
  spoke only of earth, and many a joyless one there made jests for his
• 32:29
  gentle sake. After meat, he mournfully addresses his uncle and speaks of his
• 32:36
  passage, and openly he says, now, leach, Lord of my life,
• 32:40
  believe I ask of you, ye know the cost of this case.
• 32:45
  I do not care to tell you even a trifle of its dangers. But
• 32:50
  I am ready to start for the fray, no later than to morrow morn,
• 32:55
  to seek the man in green, as God will guide me. Then
• 33:01
  the best of the castle gathered together, Vain and Eirik and others for many
• 33:08
  Sir Dondinel de Savage, the Duke of Clarence, Lancelot and Lionel and Lucan,
• 33:15
  the good Sir Bors and Sir Bedevere, big men both, and many
• 33:22
  other proud ones, with Madour du Laporte. All this company of the court
• 33:29
  came nearer to the King to counsel the Knight with care at their hearts.
• 33:35
  There was much deep grief felt in the hall that so worthy a one as
• 33:39
  Gowan should go on that errand to endure a sorry dint and deal no one
• 33:46
  himself with his brand. But the Knight, ever made good cheer, and
• 33:53
  said, why should I swerve from stern and strange destiny? What can a
• 33:59
  man do but try? Four? He lingered there all that day, and
• 34:07
  on the morn made ready early, he asked for his arms, and they
• 34:12
  were all brought. First, a carpet of Toulouse was stretched over the floor,
• 34:17
  and much was the gilt gear that gleamed upon it. The brave man
• 34:22
  stepped thereon and handled the steel clad in a doublet of costly tars. And
• 34:30
  afterwards a well wrought hood closed on top and bound within with a glistening white
• 34:37
  fur. Then they put sabotans upon the hero's feet, lapped his legs in
• 34:45
  steel, with fair greaves, to which were attached well polished polynides fastened about
• 34:53
  his knees with knots of gold fine cuisses. Then that well enclosed his thick,
• 35:00
  brawny thighs they attached with thongs. Next the decorated bernie of bright steel
• 35:07
  rings upon precious stuff encased the hero, and well burnished braces upon his two
• 35:15
  arms, with elbow pieces goodly and gay, and gloves of plate, and
• 35:21
  all the goodly gear that might avail him at that time, with rich coat
• 35:25
  armor, gold spears well fastened, and a sure brant girt about his side
• 35:32
  with a silken sash. Five when he was hasped in arms, his harness
• 35:43
  was rich. The least latchet or loop gleamed with gold. So harnessed as
• 35:49
  he was, he heard his mass offered and adored at the high altar.
• 35:55
  When he came to the King and his court courteously took his leave of lords
• 36:00
  and ladies, and they kissed him and conveyed him, entrusting him to Christ.
• 36:07
  By that time was brigolet ready and girt with a saddle that gleamed full
• 36:14
  gaily, with many gold fringes everywhere, nailed anew prepared for that emergency.
• 36:22
  The bridle bared about was bound with bright gold. The decoration of the breastplate
• 36:29
  and of the fine housings, the crupper and the capisen accorded with the saddle
• 36:36
  bow, and all was adorned with rich red gold nails that glittered and gleamed
• 36:42
  like the gleam of the sun. Then he took the helm and quickly kissed
• 36:47
  it. It was stoutly stabled and stuffed within. It was high on his
• 36:52
  head, hasped behind with a light uryson over the ventel, embroidered and bound
• 37:01
  with the best gems on a broad silken border, and birds on the seams
• 37:08
  like painted popinjays. Preening themselves here and there turtle doves and true loves thickly
• 37:15
  interlaced. As many birds there were as had been in town for seven winters.
• 37:22
  The circlet that surrounded his crown was even more precious, a device of
• 37:28
  gleaming diamonds. Six Then they showed him the shield that was of sheer ghouls,
• 37:40
  with a pentangle painted in pure gold. He took it by the baldric
• 37:45
  and cast it about his neck, and it became the hero passing fair.
• 37:52
  And why the pentangle pertains to that noble prince, I mean to tell you,
• 37:57
  though it should delay me. It is a sign that Solomon set formerly
• 38:01
  as a token of truth by its own right. For it is a figure
• 38:07
  that holds five points, and each line overlaps and locks in another, and
• 38:14
  throughout it is endless, and the English call it everywhere as I hear the
• 38:21
  endless knot. Therefore it suits this knight in his clear arms, forever faithful
• 38:27
  in five things, and in each of them five ways. Gowan was known
• 38:34
  for good, And as we find gold devoid of every villainy adorned with virtues.
• 38:40
  Therefore the new pentangle he bore on shield and coat, as the man
• 38:46
  most true of speech, and the Knight gentlest of behavior. Seven First he
• 38:57
  was found faultless in his five wits. And again the hero failed never in
• 39:01
  his five fingers. And all his affiance in this world was in the fived
• 39:08
  wounds that Christ received on the cross, as the Creed tells. And wheresoever
• 39:15
  this man was hard bestead in the malay, his pious thought was in this,
• 39:22
  above all other things, to take all his strength from the five joys
• 39:30
  that the courteous Queen of Heaven had of her child. For this cause the
• 39:36
  Knight had her image comely painted in the greater half of his shield, that
• 39:42
  when he looked down there upon his courage never abated. The fifth five that
• 39:50
  I find that the Hero used for generosity and fellowship above all things, his
• 39:57
  purity, and his courteousy that never swerved, and pity that passes all qualities.
• 40:05
  These very five were more surely set upon that warrior than upon any other.
• 40:13
  Now, all these were established fivefold in this night, and each one
• 40:19
  was fastened in another that had no end. And they were fastened on five
• 40:23
  points that never failed, nor met anywhere, nor sundered either, but finished
• 40:30
  always without end, at each corner wherever the game began or concluded. Therefore,
• 40:39
  on his fair shield this knot was painted royally with red gold upon red
• 40:46
  ghouls. That is the true Pentangle, as the people properly call it now,
• 40:55
  was a gay gowan. Armed. He caught up his lance right there,
• 41:00
  and with a good day he went for evermore. Eight He spurred his
• 41:10
  steed with the spurs, and sprang on his way so swiftly that the stone
• 41:16
  struck out fire after him. All who saw the gentleman sighed in heart,
• 41:23
  and the hero said altogether to each other in their love, that comely night,
• 41:29
  by Christ, it is a shame that thou hero must be lost.
• 41:34
  Thou art so noble of life in a faith, it is not easy to
• 41:39
  find his match upon earth. To have acted more, were it warily,
• 41:45
  would have been better counsel, and to have made Yon dear one a duke.
• 41:52
  It would well become him to be a brilliant leader of people here.
• 41:58
  This would have been better than to have him utterly destroyed, given over to
• 42:01
  an elfish man for mere boasting pride. Who ever knew any king to take
• 42:07
  such counsel as to suffer knights to be so tricked for a Christmas game,
• 42:14
  much warm water welled from eyes. When that seemly sire departed from the dwellings
• 42:20
  that day, he made no stop, but whightily went his way. Many
• 42:24
  a tiresome path he rode, as I heard the book tell nine now rides
• 42:38
  his hero Sir Gawin, through the realm of low Grays in God's behalf.
• 42:45
  Though to him it seemed no play oft alone companionless, he lodged at night
• 42:51
  in places where he found not before him the fare that he liked. No
• 42:55
  company had he but his full by friths and doubt, nor nobody but God
• 43:01
  to talk with. By the way till that he approached nigh unto North Wales,
• 43:08
  he kept all the isles of Anglesea on the left side, and fared
• 43:14
  over the fords by the forelands over at the Holy Head, till he again
• 43:20
  took land in the wilderness of Wirral. There dwelt but few that loved either
• 43:28
  God or man with good heart. And ever as he fared, he asked
• 43:32
  of men that he met if they had heard any talk of a green knight,
• 43:37
  saw the green chapel in any spot thereabout. It all nicked him with
• 43:42
  nay that never in their life, saw they any man of such green hue.
• 43:50
  The Knight took strange roads, by many a rough bank. His cheer
• 43:54
  changed full oft ere he saw that chapel, many a cliff he overclimbed,
• 44:02
  in strange countries, far sundered from his friends, lonely he rode at each
• 44:08
  ford or water where the hero passed. It were strange if he found not
• 44:14
  a foe before him, and that so foul and so fell, that it
• 44:19
  behooved him to fight so many marbles in the mountains. There the man found
• 44:24
  that it were too tedious to tell of the tenth part. Sometimes he roared
• 44:30
  with serpents, and with wolves, also sometimes with savages that dwelt in the
• 44:36
  cliffs, both with bulls and bears, and boars, sometimes and giants that
• 44:42
  assailed him from high fell. Had he not been doughty and stern and served
• 44:49
  God, doubtless he had been dead and slain for oft But the warfare tried
• 44:54
  him not so much, but that the winter was worse, and the cold
• 45:00
  clear waters shed from the clouds and froze ere it might fall to the barren
• 45:06
  earth near slain with the sleet. He slept in his iron more nights than
• 45:12
  enough on naked rocks, where clattering from the crest, the cold burn ran
• 45:19
  and hung high over his head in hard icicles. Thus, in peril and
• 45:25
  pain and plights full hard through the country, wanders this night all alone till
• 45:32
  Christmas Eve. At that tide to Mary, he made his moan that she
• 45:39
  might direct his riding and lead him to some dwelling. Eleven merrily on the
• 45:46
  morn he rides by a mount into a forest full deep, that was strangely
• 45:52
  wild. High hills were on each side, and woods beneath of hoar oaks
• 45:59
  full hue a hundred together. The hazel and the hawthorn were twined, all
• 46:05
  together, covered everywhere with rough, ragged moss, and many unblithe birds upon
• 46:12
  bare twigs that piteously pipe bear for pain of the cold. The knight upon
• 46:20
  Brigolette rides all alone under the boughs, threw many a moss and mire,
• 46:27
  mourning for his trials, lest he should never survive to see the service of
• 46:31
  that sire who on that very night was born of a lady. To quell
• 46:37
  our pain. And therefore, sighning, he said, I beseech thee Lord
• 46:43
  and marry that is mildest mother. So dear for some harbor where I might
• 46:49
  properly hear mass in thy mattens to morrow. Meekly I ask it, And
• 46:54
  there too, earnestly I pray my painter to ave. And he rode in
• 47:02
  his prayer and lamented for his misdeeds. Oftentimes he blessed himself and said,
• 47:08
  Christ cross speed me. Twelve the hero had not crossed himself more than thrice.
• 47:19
  Ere he was aware in the wood of a dwelling on a hill,
• 47:22
  above a clearing, on a mount, hidden under the boughs of many a
• 47:27
  huge tree. About the ditches a castle, the comeliest that ever knight owned,
• 47:32
  set on a prairie, a park all about, with its beautiful palace,
• 47:37
  pinnacled, full thick, and surrounded with many a tree for more than
• 47:43
  two miles. The hero gazed at the castle on that one side, as
• 47:49
  it shimmered and shone through the fair oaks. Then he humbly doffed his helm,
• 47:55
  and devoutly he thanked Jesus and Saint Julian, who are both gentle,
• 48:01
  who courteously had directed him, And hearkened to his cry. Now bonn hostile,
• 48:07
  quoth the man, I beseech you Yet then he spurs Brigolai with his
• 48:15
  gilt heels, and he full fortunately takes the way to the chief road that
• 48:22
  soon brought the hero to the bridge, And in haste the bridge was securely
• 48:27
  lifted, the gates locked fast, the walls were well arrayed. No wind
• 48:32
  blast did it fear. Thirteen. The hero that sat on his horse abode
• 48:40
  on the bank of the deep double ditch that stretched to the place the wall
• 48:46
  sank in the water, wondrous deep, and again a full huge height.
• 48:52
  It towered aloft of hard hewn stone up to the top courses corbelt an the
• 49:00
  battlement in the best manner, and above fine watch towers ranged, along with
• 49:06
  many good loop holes that shone full clean, a better Barbican than Hero never
• 49:14
  looked upon. And farther within he beheld the high hall, with towers set
• 49:22
  full thickly about and fair and wondrous high filioles with carved tops, cunningly devised
• 49:30
  chalk white chimneys. Enough he saw that gleamed for white on the battlements.
• 49:37
  So many painted pinnacles were set everywhere, built so thick among the crenellations of
• 49:43
  the castle that it verily appeared cut out of paper. Fair enough, it
• 49:49
  seemed to the noble Knight on his horse, if he could only attain the
• 49:52
  shelter within to harbor in that hostel while the holiday lasted. He and soon
• 50:00
  there appeared on the wall a right pleasant porter, who took his message and
• 50:06
  greeted the knight. Rout forty good sir, quoth gawan, which'll go,
• 50:15
  my errand to the high lord of this house to crave harbor. Yea by
• 50:20
  Peter, quoth the porter. And truly I trow that ye are welcome,
• 50:23
  sir, to dwell while you like. Then the man went again quickly,
• 50:30
  and a crowd of folk with him to receive the knight. They let down
• 50:35
  the great draw and eagerly poured out and kneeled down on their knees upon the
• 50:40
  cold earth to welcome the hero, as it seemed to them proper. They
• 50:45
  opened up wide the broad gate for him, and he raised them courteously and
• 50:51
  rode over the bridge. Several attendants held his saddle while he alighted, and
• 50:57
  afterwards good men enough stabled his deed. Then knights and squires came down to
• 51:04
  bring this hero joyfully into the hall. When he lifted up his helm,
• 51:08
  people enough hurried to take it at his hand. In order to serve the
• 51:13
  courteous one his sword and his shield. They took two. Then he greeted
• 51:20
  full courteously the knights, each one, and many a proud man pressed there
• 51:24
  to honor that prince, all hasped in his high weeds. They led him
• 51:31
  to the hall, where a fair fire burned fiercely upon the hearth. Then
• 51:37
  the Lord of the people came from his chamber to meet courteously the man on
• 51:43
  the floor. He said, ye are welcome to wield as you like what
• 51:49
  is here. All is your own to have at your will and commandment.
• 51:54
  Gramercy quoth gown Christ reward you for it. Like glad heroes, either folded
• 52:02
  the other in his arms. Fifteen Gowan looked on the man who greeted him
• 52:10
  so goodly, and thought it a bold hero that owned the castle, a
• 52:15
  huge warrior for the knots, and of great age. Broad and bright was
• 52:22
  his beard, and all beaver hued from gated was he on his stalwart limbs,
• 52:29
  with a face as fierce as fire, and a free speech. And
• 52:32
  to the hero he seemed well suited indeed to govern a nation of good people.
• 52:38
  The Lord turned to a chamber and promptly commanded to give Gowen a retinue
• 52:45
  to serve him in lowly wise, and they were ready at his bidding,
• 52:50
  men enough, who brought him to a bright bower, where the bending was
• 52:54
  curtains of pure silk with clear gold hems and kovach right curious, with comely
• 53:01
  borders, adorned above with bright fur curtains running on ropes, red gold rings,
• 53:09
  tapestries of Toulouse and tars hung on the wall, and underfoot on the
• 53:16
  floor of the same pattern. There with mirthful speeches, the hero was despoiled
• 53:23
  of his burne and of his bright weeds. Quickly men brought him rich robes
• 53:30
  that he might pick and choose the best for his change. As soon as
• 53:35
  he took one and was wrapped therein that sat upon him seemly with sailing skirts,
• 53:43
  the hero, by his fidgeon visage verily seemed to wellnigh every man in
• 53:49
  looks glowing and lovely is all his limbs. It seemed to them that Christ
• 53:54
  never made a comelier night. Wherever in the world he were. It seemed
• 54:00
  as if he might be a prince without peer. In the field where fell
• 54:04
  men fight sixteen. A chair before the chimney where charcoal burned was prepared for
• 54:14
  Sir Gowain richly with cloths and cushions upon counterpanes that were both fine. And
• 54:22
  then a beauteous mantle was cast on the man of a brown fabric, richly
• 54:27
  embroidered and fairly furred within with the best skins, all of ermine the hood
• 54:34
  of the same. And he sat on that settle in seemly rich attire,
• 54:38
  and warmed him thoroughly, and then his chair mended. Soon a table was
• 54:45
  raised up on trestle's full fare, and set with a clean cloth that showed
• 54:49
  clear white napkins, salt cellar, and silver spoons. The hero washed when
• 54:57
  he would, and went to his meet. Men served him seemly enough,
• 55:01
  double fold as was proper, with pottages various and suitable, seasoned in the
• 55:07
  best manner, and many kinds of fish, some baked in bread, some
• 55:13
  broiled on the coals, some boiled, some in sauces, savored with spices,
• 55:19
  and always discourse so pleasant that it pleased the warrior full freely, and
• 55:27
  often the hero called it a feast right courteously. When all the retainers together
• 55:32
  praised him as courteous, Do this penance now, and soon things will be
• 55:38
  better. Right mirthful was he for the wine that went to his head seventeen
• 55:47
  Then they questioned and inquired sparingly, in skillful queries put to the Prince himself,
• 55:53
  till he courteously acknowledged that he was of the court which noble Arthur holds
• 55:59
  alone, who is the rich royal king of the round table, And that
• 56:05
  it was Gowan himself that sits in the house by chance come for that Christmas.
• 56:12
  When the Lord had learned that he had that hero, he laughed aloud,
• 56:16
  so dear it seemed to him, and all the men in the castle
• 56:20
  made much joy at appearing promptly in the presence of him who contains in his
• 56:24
  own per person all worth and prowess and gracious traits, and is ever praised
• 56:34
  above all the men in the world. His renowned is the greatest. Each
• 56:39
  warrior said full softly to his companion, Now shall we see courteous turms of
• 56:46
  behavior and the blameless forms of noble talking? What profit there is in speech?
• 56:53
  May we learn without asking? Since we have taken that fine Father of
• 56:59
  nurture, God has indeed given us his grace, who grants us to have
• 57:06
  such a guest as Gowan, on account of whose birth men sit and sing
• 57:10
  for joy. This hero will now teach us what distinguished manners are. I
• 57:16
  think that those who hear him will learn how to make love. Eighteen.
• 57:30
  When dinner was done, and the dear ones risen, the time was nigh
• 57:34
  arrived at the night. Chaplains took their way to the chapels and rang full
• 57:38
  loudly as they should, to the melodious even song of the high time.
• 57:45
  The Lord turns thither, and the lady also into a comely closet. Daintily
• 57:50
  she enters Gowan joyfully proceeds and goes thither straight away. The Lord takes him
• 57:58
  by the mantle and leads him to his seat, recognizes him openly, and
• 58:01
  calls him by his name, and says he is welcomest white in the world.
• 58:07
  And Gawan thanked him thoroughly, and either embraced the other, and they
• 58:13
  sat soberly together during the service. Then the lady desired to look on the
• 58:17
  night, and came from her closet with many fair maidens. But she was
• 58:22
  fairer than all the others in flesh and face, in skin and form,
• 58:29
  in complexion and demeanor, more beautiful than Genevere, it seemed to the hero
• 58:36
  he walked through the chancel to greet that gracious one. Another lady led her
• 58:43
  by the left hand, that was older than she, an ancient lady,
• 58:47
  it seemed, and one highly honored by the knights about her. But unlike
• 58:52
  to look on were the ladies. For if the younger was fair, yellow,
• 58:58
  was the other rich red. On the one bloomed everywhere, rough wrinkled
• 59:02
  cheeks rolled on the other. The kerchiefs of one, broidered with many clear
• 59:08
  pearls, openly displayed her breast in her bright throat, which shone clearer than
• 59:15
  snow that falls on the hills. The other covered her neck with a gorget
• 59:21
  that wrapped her black chin in milk white pleats. Her forehead was completely enveloped
• 59:28
  in silken folds, adorned and tricked with many small ornaments. And naught was
• 59:34
  bare of that lady, but the black brows, the two eyes, the
• 59:37
  nose, and the naked lips, and those were ugly to behold, and
• 59:43
  oddly bleared a gracious lady in the land, one might call her forsooth.
• 59:49
  Her body was short and thick her hips round and broad. More pleasant to
• 59:55
  look on was the beams she led nineteen. When Gowmon looked on that beauteous
• 1:00:06
  one, who gazed graciously, he took leave of the Lord and went toward
• 1:00:09
  them. The elder he saluted, bowing full low. The lovelier he took
• 1:00:15
  a little in his arms. He kissed her calmly and nightly. He greeted
• 1:00:20
  her. They welcomed him, and he quickly asked to be their servant if
• 1:00:24
  it pleased them. They took him between them and led him conversing to the
• 1:00:30
  fireplace in the parlor, and straightway they called for spices, which men speeded
• 1:00:36
  to bring them unsparingly, and the pleasant wine therewith each time. The Lord
• 1:00:42
  leaped up merrily, full often, and saw to it that the mirth never
• 1:00:46
  faulted. Gaily, He snatched off his hood and hung it on a spear,
• 1:00:52
  and extorted them to win it as a prize. He to have it,
• 1:01:00
  who should make the most mirth that Christmas tide? And I shall try,
• 1:01:04
  by my faith, with the help of my friends, to compete the
• 1:01:07
  best. Ere I lose my apparel. Thus, with laughing mien, the
• 1:01:14
  Lord makes Mary in order to glad Sir Gowain with games in the hall.
• 1:01:19
  That night. When it came time, the king commanded lights. Sir Gowain
• 1:01:24
  took his leave and went to his bed twenty on the morn, when,
• 1:01:30
  as every man knows, God was born to die for us, joy waxes
• 1:01:37
  in every dwelling in the world for his sake. So it did there on
• 1:01:42
  that day, with many dainties, a meats and meals, right quaint dishes,
• 1:01:46
  and brave men on the days, dressed in their best. The old
• 1:01:52
  ancient wife sits in the highest, the courteous lord placed by her as I
• 1:01:57
  trow Gowan and the gay Lady together just in the middle, and as the
• 1:02:02
  courses properly come, and afterwards the rest throughout all the hall, as it
• 1:02:09
  seemed to them, each man, in his degree, was properly served.
• 1:02:15
  There was meat, there was mirth. There was much joy that it were
• 1:02:21
  arduous for me to tell thereof, though to note that I took pains belike.
• 1:02:27
  But yet I know that Gowin and the lovely Lady took comfort in each
• 1:02:30
  other's company, in the choice play of their of their sharp wits, and
• 1:02:36
  the pure courtesy of their modest talk, their disport surpassed. Indeed, that
• 1:02:43
  at any royal game trumps and drums came playing loudly. Each man minded his
• 1:02:49
  own business, and they too minded theirs. Twenty one much delight was taken
• 1:02:57
  there that day, and the second and the third followed is pleasantly. The
• 1:03:01
  joy of Saint John's day was gentle to hear of, and it was the
• 1:03:07
  last of the festival. The people considered there were guests to go upon the
• 1:03:13
  gray morn, therefore wondrous. Late they sat up and drank the wine,
• 1:03:17
  danced full gaily with sweet carols. At the last, when it was late,
• 1:03:22
  they took their leave, each good man to wend on his way.
• 1:03:29
  Gowan gave his host good day. But the good man takes him and leads
• 1:03:34
  him to his own chamber by the fireplace, And there he draws him aside
• 1:03:37
  and prompt properly thanks him for the great worship that he had granted him in
• 1:03:43
  honoring his house on that high tide, in embellishing his castle with his good
• 1:03:49
  cheer. Indeed, Sir, while I live, I shall be the better
• 1:03:52
  that Gawan hath been my guest at God's own feast, Gray Mercy, Sir,
• 1:04:00
  both Gawan in good faith. The merit is yours. All, the
• 1:04:03
  honor is your own. The High King reward you, and I am your
• 1:04:08
  man to work your behest in high and low, as I am bound by
• 1:04:14
  right. The Lord eagerly strives to hold the night longer, but Gawan answers
• 1:04:19
  him that he can in no wise. Twenty two. Then the Hero asked
• 1:04:27
  of him full fairly, what extraordinary deed had driven him at that dear time
• 1:04:32
  from the King's court to go all alone so boldly ere the holidays were wholly
• 1:04:38
  over forsooth, sir, quoth the Hero, Ye say, but the truth,
• 1:04:43
  a high errand and a hasty had me from these dwellings. For I
• 1:04:47
  am summoned to such a place as I know not in the world whitherward to
• 1:04:54
  when to find it? I would not, for all the land in logress,
• 1:04:59
  fail to reach it on New Year's morns. So our Lord help me.
• 1:05:04
  Therefore, sir, this request I require of you here, that ye
• 1:05:10
  tell me truly if ever ye heard the tale of the Green Chapel, where
• 1:05:15
  in the world it stands, and of the green and of the night green
• 1:05:18
  in color that keeps it there was established by statue an agreement between us that
• 1:05:24
  I should meet that man at that landmark, if I could but survive,
• 1:05:30
  and of that new year there now lacks but little, And by God's son,
• 1:05:35
  I would gladlier look on that person if God would let me then wield
• 1:05:41
  any possession in the world. Therefore, indeed, by your good will,
• 1:05:46
  it behooves me to wend. I have now at my disposal barely three days,
• 1:05:54
  and I were as fain fall dead as fail of mine Errand then laughing
• 1:06:01
  quoth the Lord. Now it behooves thee to stay, for I shall direct
• 1:06:06
  you to that spot by the time's end, the green chapel upon the ground
• 1:06:13
  grieve you no more, for ye shall be in your bed, sir,
• 1:06:16
  at thine ease some days yet, and set out on the first of the
• 1:06:21
  year, and come to that place at midmorn to do what you like.
• 1:06:29
  Stay till New Year's day and rise and go. Then one shall set you
• 1:06:33
  on your way. It is not two miles, hence twenty three. Then
• 1:06:45
  was gawin full glad and merrily he laughed. Now I thank you especially for
• 1:06:49
  this above all other things. Now that my quest is achieved, I shall
• 1:06:55
  dwell at your will and do whatever else ye decide. Then the sire seized
• 1:07:00
  him and set him beside him, and let the ladies be fetched to please
• 1:07:06
  them the better fair entertainment they had quietly among themselves. The Lord, in
• 1:07:12
  his jovial, friendly demeanor, behaved as a man out of his wits that
• 1:07:16
  knew not what he did. Then he spake to the knight, crying loud,
• 1:07:21
  ye have agreed to do the deed that I bid. Will ye hold
• 1:07:26
  this hest here at once? Yea sir, forsooth, said the true Hero.
• 1:07:31
  While I stay in your castle, I shall be obedient to your hest
• 1:07:35
  Since ye have traveled from Afar, quoth the Warrior, and then have sat
• 1:07:41
  late with me. Ye are not well nourished, I know, either with
• 1:07:45
  sustenance or with sleep. Ye shall linger in your loft and lie at your
• 1:07:50
  ease tomorrow till mass time, and go to meet when ye will, with
• 1:07:55
  my wife, who shall sit with you and comfort you with her company,
• 1:07:59
  till I return home, and I shall rise early and go hunting. Gowan
• 1:08:04
  grants all this, bowing courteously. Yet further quoth the Hero. Let us
• 1:08:14
  make an agreement. Whatsoever I win in the wood, it shall be yours.
• 1:08:18
  And whatsoever fortune ye achieve exchange with me. Therefore, sweet sir,
• 1:08:25
  swap we so swear truly whichever one of us gets the worse or the better.
• 1:08:31
  By God, quoth Gowan the Good. I consent there too. And
• 1:08:35
  whatever game you like agreeable, it seems to me on this beverage just brought.
• 1:08:43
  The bargain is made, said the Lord of that people, and both
• 1:08:45
  laughed. Then they drank and played and amused themselves, these lords and ladies,
• 1:08:53
  so long as it pleased them. And then, with polite demeanor and
• 1:08:58
  many fair gestures, they stood up and lingered awhile, and talked quietly,
• 1:09:03
  kissed full calmly, and took their leave, with many a gay servant in
• 1:09:09
  gleaming torches. Each hero was brought to his bed full softly at the last.
• 1:09:15
  Yet before they went to bed, they oft rehearsed the covenants. The
• 1:09:18
  old lord of that people knew well how to keep up a jest end of
• 1:09:29
  fit, the second fit the third full. Early before the day, the
• 1:09:38
  folk arose the guests that would go, called their grooms, and these hastened
• 1:09:43
  to saddle the horses, arranged their gear, and trust their mails. The
• 1:09:48
  great ones arrayed themselves to ride, leaped up lightly and caught their bridles,
• 1:09:55
  each white on his way where it plead well pleased him. The dear lord
• 1:10:00
  of the land was not the last arrayed for the riding with retainers full many
• 1:10:06
  he ate a sob hastily after he heard mass, and took his way quickly
• 1:10:12
  with his bugle to the field. By the time that any daylight gleamed upon
• 1:10:17
  the earth, he with his heroes were mounted on their high horses. Then
• 1:10:23
  these hunters that understood it coupled their hounds, unclosed the kennel doors, and
• 1:10:29
  called them thereout glew blithely on bugles three simple calls. At this the bratchet
• 1:10:36
  sprayed and made a wild noise, and the hunters chastised and turned back those
• 1:10:43
  that wandered off. A hundred hunters of the best there were, as I
• 1:10:47
  have heardell to their stations. The trackers went. Hunters cast off the couples,
• 1:10:54
  and then arose for the good blasts right uproar in that forest. At
• 1:11:01
  the first noise of the quest, the game quaked. The deer moved down
• 1:11:05
  into the dale, dazed for dread, hurried to the height, but quickly
• 1:11:12
  they were hindered by the beaters, who cried stoutly. They let the hearts
• 1:11:16
  with the high head go their way, the wild bucks also with their broad
• 1:11:21
  palms, For the generous Lord had forbidden that there should any man meddle with
• 1:11:28
  the male deer in the close season. But the hides were held back with
• 1:11:33
  hay and ho and the doze driven with great din to the deep glades.
• 1:11:40
  There might once see they ran the flight of arrows. At each turn under
• 1:11:45
  the boughs, out flew a shaft that savagely bit on the brown hide with
• 1:11:50
  full broad heads. How they leaped and bled and died by the banks,
• 1:11:57
  And ever the hounds, with a rush, eagerly followed them. Hunters with
• 1:12:00
  shrill horn hastened after with such a resounding cry, as if cliffs had cracked.
• 1:12:09
  What game escaped The men who shot was all run down and torn at
• 1:12:14
  the stands. The deer were pestered at the heights, and worried at the
• 1:12:17
  waters. The people were so alert at the low stations, and the greyhounds
• 1:12:24
  so great, that got them quickly and pulled them down as fast as a
• 1:12:28
  man could see. The Lord, shouting for joy, shot and alighted full
• 1:12:32
  oft, and passed the day thus with joy. Till the dark night.
• 1:12:41
  So this lord sports by the eaves of the linden wood and gow, and
• 1:12:45
  the good lies in his gay bed reposes till the daylight gleams on the walls
• 1:12:53
  under the beautiful covernments curtained about. And as he fell into a doze faintly
• 1:13:00
  he heard a little din at the door, then distinctly, and he heaved
• 1:13:05
  up his head out of the clothes, caught up a corner of his curtain
• 1:13:10
  a little, and watched warily in that direction to see what it might be.
• 1:13:15
  It was the lady, loveliest to behold, who drew the door to
• 1:13:20
  after her right slyly and quietly, and turned toward the bed. The hero
• 1:13:30
  grew bashful and laid himself down cunningly, and pretended that he slept. And
• 1:13:35
  she stepped quietly and stole to his bed, cast up the curtain, and
• 1:13:41
  crept there in, and seated herself full softly on the bedside, and stayed
• 1:13:46
  there surprisingly long to see when he should awake. The man lay pretending a
• 1:13:54
  full great while bothered in his conscience what this affair might mean or out to
• 1:14:00
  marvelous it seemed to him. But yet he said to himself more seemly would
• 1:14:06
  it be to find out by asking what she would? Then he waked and
• 1:14:12
  stretched and turned to her, unlocked his eyelids, and made believe he was
• 1:14:16
  amazed, and crossed himself with his hand to be the safer for his prayer.
• 1:14:25
  With chin and cheek full sweet of mingled white and red. Quite lovely,
• 1:14:30
  she looked with her small, laughing lips. Good morrow, Sir Gowin
• 1:14:35
  said that, fair lady, ye are a careless sleeper when one can enter.
• 1:14:41
  Thus, now ye are certainly taken. Unless we make a truce.
• 1:14:45
  I shall bind you in your bed. You may be sure of that.
• 1:14:49
  All laughing, the lady shot these jests. Good morrow, fair one,
• 1:14:55
  quoth Gowan the blithe I shall be at your disposal, and that that pleases
• 1:15:00
  me well, for I yield me outright and pray for grace. And that
• 1:15:04
  is the best course I judge, for I am in straits. And thus
• 1:15:11
  he returned the jests with many a blithe laugh. But would ye, lovely
• 1:15:15
  lady, grant me leave for your prisoner and bid him rise. I would
• 1:15:20
  leave this bed and dress myself better. Then I could talk with you in
• 1:15:25
  more comfort. Nay, forsoth fair sir said that, sweet one, ye
• 1:15:30
  shall not rise from your bed. I shall manage you better. I shall
• 1:15:34
  tie you up securely, and afterwards talk with my knight that I have caught.
• 1:15:41
  For I ween well. Ye are indeed, Sir Gowan, whom all
• 1:15:45
  the world worships. Whereso ye ride your honor, your courtesy is heartily praised
• 1:15:51
  by lords, by ladies, by all alive. And now ye are here
• 1:15:58
  forsoth, and we are all alone. My lord and his people are gone
• 1:16:03
  far away, the other men in their beds, and my maidens also.
• 1:16:08
  The door shut and closed with a strong hasp. And since I have in
• 1:16:14
  this house him whom all like, I shall make good use of my time
• 1:16:18
  while it lasts. Ye are welcome to my person to do whatever you wish.
• 1:16:26
  I am perforce and must remain your servant in good faith, quoth gawin
• 1:16:34
  a great privilege. It seems to me, though I be not now he
• 1:16:39
  that YE speak of, to reach such reverence as ye rehearse here, I
• 1:16:45
  am a man unworthy, I know well by God, I should be glad
• 1:16:48
  if it seem'd good to you to do what I might in speech or in
• 1:16:54
  service to enhance your worship it were a pure joy in good faith. Sir
• 1:17:00
  Gawing, quoth the gay lady. If I should speak ill of the fame
• 1:17:03
  and the prowess that pleases all others, or esteem it light, it would
• 1:17:09
  show but small discernment. But there are ladies enough who would leave her to
• 1:17:14
  have this courteous one in their power, as I have thee here to dally
• 1:17:19
  dearly with your dainty words, to comfort themselves and dispel their cares, than
• 1:17:26
  much of the treasure and gold that they have. But I praise the Lord
• 1:17:30
  who rules disguise, that through his grace, I have holly in my hand
• 1:17:34
  that which all desire great cheer. She that was so fair a face,
• 1:17:41
  made him the knight with discreet speeches, answered her every proposal, Madam,
• 1:17:47
  quoth the merry man, Mary, reward you, for in good faith I
• 1:17:54
  have found your generosity. Noble people judge a person's deeds largely from the accounts
• 1:17:59
  of others. But the praise that they accord my deserts is but idle.
• 1:18:05
  It is simply your own nobility, who know nothing but good. By Mary,
• 1:18:15
  quoth the gracious one. Methinks it is otherwise, for were I worth
• 1:18:21
  all the store of women alive, and all the wealth of the world were
• 1:18:25
  in my hands, I should bargain and choose to get me a lord.
• 1:18:30
  Then, for the good traits that I have found in the night here,
• 1:18:34
  of beauty, and graciousness and gay seeming, and from what I have heard
• 1:18:39
  before, and hold in this case to be true. There should be no
• 1:18:44
  hero in the world. He chosen before you, indeed worthy one, quoth
• 1:18:48
  the hero, YE might have chosen much better. But I am proud of
• 1:18:54
  the estimation that YE put upon me. And as your devoted servant, I
• 1:18:59
  hold you my sovereign, and your knight I become, and CHRIST pay you
• 1:19:03
  for it. Thus they spoke of various things till past the mind morn and
• 1:19:11
  ever. The lady behaved as if she loved him much, But the hero
• 1:19:15
  fared with caution and made courteous pretenses. Though why were the fairest of women,
• 1:19:20
  mused the lady little love would he show? Because of the danger that
• 1:19:26
  he seeks without reproach, the blow that may slay him, but must needs
• 1:19:31
  be undergone. The lady then asked lee, and he granted her full Soon
• 1:19:39
  then she gave him good day, and of a sudden laugh, and as
• 1:19:43
  she stood there, she astonished him with right smart words. Now may he
• 1:19:48
  that speeds each speech pay you for this entertainment, But that ye are gwan,
• 1:19:55
  it goes not in my mind? Where for quoth the hero, And
• 1:20:00
  eagerly he asks, afraid lest he had failed in the performance of his design.
• 1:20:05
  But the lady blessed him and spake in this wise, a man as
• 1:20:10
  good as gowain is properly held, and courtesy is closed so entirely in him,
• 1:20:16
  could not easily have lingered so long with a lady. But he had,
• 1:20:20
  on some trifling excuse or other, courteously craved a kiss. Then said
• 1:20:29
  Gawin. Indeed, be it as you like. I shall kiss at your
• 1:20:33
  commandment, as becomes a knight. And fear lest he displease you, so
• 1:20:40
  urge that plea no more. She comes nearer at that and takes him in
• 1:20:45
  her arms, stoops graciously down, and kisses the man. They courteously entrust
• 1:20:53
  each other to Christ. She goes forth at the door without more ado,
• 1:20:58
  and he prepares to rise and hurries. A man calls to his chamberlain,
• 1:21:03
  chooses his weeds, steps forth blithely to mass when he is ready, and
• 1:21:09
  then he goes to his meet, behaving always courteously, and makes merry all
• 1:21:15
  day till the bright moon rises. Never was a hero fairer entertained like two
• 1:21:21
  such worthy dames, the other and the younger. Much disport they make together.
• 1:21:30
  And ever the lord of the land is bound in his sport to hunt
• 1:21:33
  in holts and heath at barren hinds. Such a sum of does and of
• 1:21:40
  other deer he slew there by the time the sun was low, that it
• 1:21:44
  were a marvel to estimate. Then eagerly they all flock together at the last,
• 1:21:50
  and quickly of the slain deer they made a quarry. The leaders hastened
• 1:21:55
  there too, with men enough, gathered the greatest of Greece, and proceeded
• 1:22:00
  properly to undo them, as the occasion demands. Some that were there tried
• 1:22:06
  them at the essay, and found two fingers of fat on the leanest of
• 1:22:11
  all. Afterwards, they slit the slot, seized the arbor, cut it
• 1:22:16
  free with a sharp knife, and tied it up. Next, they cut
• 1:22:21
  down along the fore limbs and rent off the hide. Then they opened the
• 1:22:27
  belly, took out the paunch, cutting eagerly, and laid aside the knot.
• 1:22:32
  They began at the throat again and skillfully divided the weazened from the windpipe
• 1:22:38
  and threw out the guts. Then they cut out the shoulders with their sharp
• 1:22:43
  knives, and pulled them through by a little hole, so as to have
• 1:22:47
  whole sides. Next they divided the breast and cut it in two. And
• 1:22:54
  once more they began at the throat, split the beasts quickly right up to
• 1:22:59
  the crotch, took out the advancers, and immediately severed all the filets by
• 1:23:03
  the ribs, and took them off properly along the backbone, even to the
• 1:23:09
  haunch, all of which hung together. Then they heaved it up whole and
• 1:23:15
  cut it off there, and that they took for the numbles, as it
• 1:23:18
  is rightly called. At the fork of the thighs, they caught the flaps
• 1:23:24
  behind Hastily, they hewed the carcass two and severed it along the backbone.
• 1:23:33
  Both the head and the neck they hewed off them, and afterwards they sundered
• 1:23:39
  the sides swiftly from the shine and Corby's fee they cast in a green tree.
• 1:23:46
  Then they pierced either thick side through by the rib and hung them each
• 1:23:53
  by the hawks of the haunches, each man for his fee, as it
• 1:23:58
  befell him to have it upon a skin of a fair beast. They fed
• 1:24:03
  their hounds with the liver, and the lights, the leather of the ponches,
• 1:24:09
  and bread bathed in blood. Mingled there among loudly, they blew the
• 1:24:15
  prize and bathe their hounds. Then they started to carry home their meat,
• 1:24:20
  blowing full stoutly many loud notes. By the time daylight was done, the
• 1:24:28
  band had all arrived at the Comely Castle, where the Knight is quietly waiting
• 1:24:33
  in comfort beside a bright fire. When the Lord arrived and Gowan met him,
• 1:24:41
  there was joy enough. Then the Lord commanded to gather in the hall
• 1:24:47
  all the household, and both the ladies to come down with their maids.
• 1:24:54
  Before all the folk on the floor, he bade men fetch his venison before
• 1:24:59
  him, and all in merry sport. He called Gowan, told him the
• 1:25:04
  number of the choice beasts, and showed him the fat meat cut from the
• 1:25:09
  ribs. How like you this play? Have I won the prize? Have
• 1:25:14
  I properly earned thanks by my woodcraft? Yes, indeed, quoth the other
• 1:25:19
  hero. Here is the fairest store that I saw this seven years in the
• 1:25:25
  season of winter, and all I give you gawin, quoth the host.
• 1:25:30
  Then, for by our plighted covenant, you can claim it as your own.
• 1:25:35
  That is true, replied the hero. And I say to you the
• 1:25:39
  same, I too have won this worthy thing within doors, and I am
• 1:25:45
  sure that with quite as good will, it belongs to you. He throws
• 1:25:50
  his arms about his fair neck and kisses him as courteously as he know.
• 1:25:56
  How, take you there, my merchandise. I have one no more,
• 1:26:00
  though I should give it up willingly, even if it were greater, It
• 1:26:04
  is good, quoth the good man gra Mercy. Therefore her chance, it
• 1:26:10
  might be better if you would tell me where you won the same favor by
• 1:26:14
  your own wit. That was not the agreement, said he ask me no
• 1:26:18
  more, For ye have God all that belongs to you. Be sure of
• 1:26:24
  that. They laughed and made merry in low tones. Then they went quickly
• 1:26:29
  to supper with new dainties. Enough, and afterwards, as they sat by
• 1:26:36
  a fireplace in a chamber, servants poured to them oft the choice wine.
• 1:26:43
  And again, in their jesting, they agreed to make the same bargain on
• 1:26:46
  the morning that they made before whatsoever chance be tied to exchange their winnings at
• 1:26:54
  night when they met whatsoever knew they win. They made this agreement before all
• 1:27:00
  the court, and the beverage was brought forth merrily at that time. Then
• 1:27:05
  at length they politely took leave, and everybody hurried to bed. When the
• 1:27:11
  cock had crowed and cackled, but thrice the lord had leaped from his bed.
• 1:27:16
  Likewise his followers, each one, so that the meat and the mass
• 1:27:20
  were properly dispatched, and the troop ready for the chase in the wood ere
• 1:27:27
  any day sprang with hunters and horns. They passed through the plains and uncoupled
• 1:27:33
  the racing hounds among the thorns. Soon they heard the cry of the dogs
• 1:27:41
  by a marsh side. The huntsmen encouraged the hounds that first caught the scent,
• 1:27:47
  hurled sharp words at them with a great noise. The hounds that heard
• 1:27:53
  it hastened thither quickly, and fell immediately to the scent forty at once.
• 1:27:59
  Then, when there rose such a resounding cry of gathered hounds that the rocks
• 1:28:03
  about rang, the hunters cheered them with horn and with mouth. Then altogether
• 1:28:11
  they swung in a troop between a pool in that wood, and a wild
• 1:28:15
  crag on a hill beside a cliff at the side of the bog, where
• 1:28:21
  the rough rock was rudely fallen. They fared to the finding, and the
• 1:28:28
  hunters after them. The men surrounded both the rock and the hill, because
• 1:28:33
  they knew well that he was within them, the beast that the bloodhounds were
• 1:28:38
  proclaiming there. Then they beat on the bushes and bade him rise up,
• 1:28:44
  And he savagely rushed out athwart the men, the most formidable of swine,
• 1:28:50
  long since had he left the herd on account of his age. For he
• 1:28:55
  was a huge beast, the greatest of boars. Hiss when he grunted,
• 1:29:00
  griev'd many. For when his first burst he thrust three to the earth,
• 1:29:08
  and sped hastily forth at great speed, without respite. And they hallooed high
• 1:29:14
  full loudly, and cried hey, hey, with horns to mouth. Lustily
• 1:29:18
  they blew the recheat. Many were the merry cries of men and of hounds
• 1:29:25
  that hastened after this boar, with hue and cry to kill him full oft.
• 1:29:30
  He bides at bay and maims the pack in the malay. He hurts
• 1:29:35
  many of the hounds, and grievously they howl and yell. The hunters pushed
• 1:29:42
  forward then to shoot at him, aimed at him with their arrows, and
• 1:29:45
  hit him often. But the shafts that struck on his shields give way at
• 1:29:50
  the pith, and the barbs would not bite on his brawn. Though the
• 1:29:56
  shaven shafts shivered in pieces. The head hopped out again wheresoever it hit.
• 1:30:03
  But when the dints of their keen stroke scared him, and then mad for
• 1:30:10
  destruction, he rush'd on. The men, did them sore hurt where he
• 1:30:15
  hurled forth, And many a one grew weary thereat and gave back a little.
• 1:30:20
  But the lord, on a light horse hurries after him, blowing his
• 1:30:25
  bugle like a bold hero. He whinds the retreat as he rides through the
• 1:30:30
  thick groves, following this wild swine till the sun declin'd. Thus they drive
• 1:30:38
  on the day with such doings. While our lovely hero lies comfortably in his
• 1:30:45
  bed at home, in close full rich of hue, the lady did not
• 1:30:50
  forget. She came to greet him full early. She was by him to
• 1:30:57
  change his mind. She comes to the curtain and peeps at the knight Sir
• 1:31:04
  Gowin at once welcomes her worthily, and she returns his greeting right properly,
• 1:31:11
  seats herself softly by his side, laughs, opens, and with a lovely
• 1:31:17
  look, addresses these words to him, Sir, if ye be gowan,
• 1:31:26
  it seems to me a very strange thing that a man of such quality should
• 1:31:30
  not follow the conventions of good society, and should, after making acquaintance with
• 1:31:35
  a person, cast him utterly from his mind. Thou hast already forgotten what
• 1:31:42
  I taught you yesterday in the best language that I knew. What was that?
• 1:31:47
  Quoth the hero. Forsooth I know not? If what YE say be
• 1:31:53
  true, I am to blame. Yet I taught you about kissing, replied
• 1:31:58
  the fair lady. Wherever a countenance is known quickly to claim a kiss,
• 1:32:03
  that becomes every knight who practices courtesy seech such speech, My dear lady,
• 1:32:11
  said the ready man. I durst not claim it, lest I should be
• 1:32:15
  denied. If I proposed and were refused, I should certainly be wrong in
• 1:32:20
  proffering by my faith, quoth the lovely Dame. Ye cannot be refused.
• 1:32:28
  Ye are strong enough to compel it by strength if ye pleased, supposing anywhere
• 1:32:33
  so ill bred as to deny you. Yea by God, said gawin your
• 1:32:40
  speech is good, but violence is considered discourteous among my people, as is
• 1:32:45
  any gift that is not given with a good will. I am at your
• 1:32:49
  command to kiss when ye like. Ye may begin when ye please, and
• 1:32:55
  leave off whenever it likes you. Lady stoops down and gracefully kisses his face.
• 1:33:03
  They converse long of the fears and joys of love. I should like
• 1:33:11
  to know from you, sir, said the peerless lady, if it vexes
• 1:33:15
  you not, what might be the reason that so young and so gallant person
• 1:33:20
  as ye now are one, so courteous and so knightly as ye are known
• 1:33:26
  everywhere to be, have never spoken of love, For in relating the pains
• 1:33:32
  of true knights, the chief thing praised in all of chivalry as the royal
• 1:33:38
  sport of love and the science of arms. It is the title, token,
• 1:33:45
  and text of their works. How heroes, for their true love adventured
• 1:33:49
  their lives, endured for their sweethearts doleful hours, and afterwards avenged themselves by
• 1:33:57
  their valor, dispersed their care, and brought bliss to bower with plenteous rewards
• 1:34:04
  for themselves. And ye are the most renowned knight of your time. Your
• 1:34:11
  fame and your worship walks everywhere. And now I have sat by you here
• 1:34:16
  two separate times. Yet have I never heard from your head a single word
• 1:34:24
  that betained at all to love less or more? And ye, that are
• 1:34:30
  so courteous and so distinguished in your vows, ought willingly to show and teach
• 1:34:35
  to a young thing some tokens of the art true love. Why are ye
• 1:34:42
  so rude? Who are so praised? Is it that ye deem me too
• 1:34:46
  dull to hearken to your dallions? For shame I came hither all alone to
• 1:34:53
  sit and learn from you some accomplishment. Do teach me part of your skill
• 1:34:59
  while my lord is from home. In good faith, quoth Gallan, God,
• 1:35:04
  reward you. Great is the entertainment, and huge the pleasure to me
• 1:35:10
  that so worthy a one as ye should come hither and take pains with so
• 1:35:15
  poor a man, and play with your knight. In anywise it delights me
• 1:35:21
  but to take upon myself the task of expounding true love, of touching upon
• 1:35:28
  the themes of that text and the tales of arms before you, who I
• 1:35:32
  WoT well have more knowledge of that sort by the half than I or a
• 1:35:40
  hundred such have, or ever shall have so long as I live. That
• 1:35:45
  were a manifold folly by my troth, dear one, But I would work
• 1:35:50
  your will with all my might, highly beholden to you as I am,
• 1:35:57
  and I wish evermore to be your servant, So God save me. Thus
• 1:36:04
  the fair lady besought him and tried him oft, for to have won him
• 1:36:10
  too wrong whatever it was she purposed. But he defended himself fairly, so
• 1:36:16
  that no fault appeared, nor any evil on either side. They knew not
• 1:36:23
  but joy. They laughed and played a long time, till at last she
• 1:36:29
  kissed him and took her leave fairly, and went her way. Then the
• 1:36:33
  hero bestirred himself and rose to the mass, And afterwards their dinner was dight
• 1:36:40
  and splendidly served. The hero sported with the ladies all day. But the
• 1:36:45
  lord raced over the land full oft, following his uncouth swine that rushed along
• 1:36:51
  the banks and bit in sunder the backs of his best bratches. There he
• 1:36:59
  abode at his bay till bowmen broke it and maugre his head made him move
• 1:37:05
  forth. Many fell arrows there flew when the folk gathered about. But yet
• 1:37:13
  at times he made the stoutest to start, till at last he was so
• 1:37:18
  weary he could no more run. But with the haste that he might,
• 1:37:24
  he won to a hole in a clop by a rock where the burn runs.
• 1:37:31
  He got the bank at his back and began to scrape. The ugly
• 1:37:36
  froth foamed from the corners of his mouth, and he wet his white tusks.
• 1:37:44
  It was not pleasant for all the bold hunters that stood about him to
• 1:37:46
  approach him, even remotely, and to go nigh him, durst none for
• 1:37:51
  fear of harm. He had hurt so many before that all seemed then full
• 1:37:59
  loath to be more torn with the tusks of that savage and crazed beast.
• 1:38:05
  When the knight came himself reining his deed, and saw him bide at the
• 1:38:12
  bay near his men, he lighted nimbly down left his cursor, pulled out
• 1:38:17
  a bright brand, and boldly strode forth and hurried fast through the stream where
• 1:38:25
  the fell one abode. The wild creature was ware of the white, with
• 1:38:30
  weapon in hand, and heaved on high his hairs so fiercely he snorted that
• 1:38:38
  many feared for their lord lest to him befell the worst. The swine rushed
• 1:38:44
  directly upon the hero, so that man and boar were both in a heap
• 1:38:49
  in the wildest of the water. But the boar had the worse, for
• 1:38:55
  the man marked him well as they first met, and skillfully set his poor
• 1:39:00
  point exactly in the slot, pierced him up to the hilt, so that
• 1:39:04
  his heart split, and he gave way, squealing, and went quickly down
• 1:39:11
  the water. A hundred hounds seized him and fiercely bit on him. Men
• 1:39:16
  brought him to land, and the dogs finished him. There was blowing of
• 1:39:24
  the prize on many a loud horn, high hallooing, aloft by mighty hunters.
• 1:39:30
  Branchets bade the beast, as the masters bade, who were the chief
• 1:39:35
  huntsmen of that swift chase. Then a wight that was wise and woodcraft begins
• 1:39:43
  skillfully to unlace this bore. First he hews off his head and sets it
• 1:39:48
  on high, and afterwards splits him all down his rough back, and takes
• 1:39:55
  out the bowels and singes them on the coals. Then with bread mingled with
• 1:40:00
  these he rewards his hounds. Afterwards he cuts the brawn in fine broad shields,
• 1:40:06
  and has out the hasslets in the proper manner. And now they bind
• 1:40:13
  the halves all whole together, and afterwards stoutly hang them on a stiff staff.
• 1:40:20
  Now with this same swine they take their way home. The boar's head
• 1:40:26
  was borne before the warrior who slew him at this dream through the force of
• 1:40:30
  his own strong hand. It seemed long to him until he saw Sir Gowan
• 1:40:36
  in the hall. Then he called, and Gowan came promptly to take his
• 1:40:41
  fees there. The lord jested full loudly and merrily. He laughed when he
• 1:40:47
  saw Sir Gowan. With pleasure he spoke. The good ladies were called,
• 1:40:54
  and the household gathered. He showed them the shields and told them the tale
• 1:40:58
  of the girth and the length of the wild swine, and also of his
• 1:41:03
  viciousness in the wood where he fled. That other knight ful calmly commended his
• 1:41:09
  deeds and praised it as a great bag that he had made for such brawn
• 1:41:15
  of a beast. The bold man said, nor such sides of a swine
• 1:41:19
  saw he never before. Then they handled the huge head. The courteous man
• 1:41:27
  praised it and made much of it to honor the Lord. Now gwan,
• 1:41:31
  quoth the good man, this game is your own, by fine and fast
• 1:41:36
  forward. Truly ye know it is, sooth quoth the hero, and is
• 1:41:42
  truly all my getting. I shall give you in turn by my trough.
• 1:41:46
  He took the warrior about the neck and courteously kissed him, and another time
• 1:41:51
  he served him the same. Now we are even, quoth the warrior to
• 1:41:57
  night, of all the covenants that we knit by law since I came hither,
• 1:42:02
  said the Lord, by Saint Giles, ye are the best that I
• 1:42:06
  know. Ye will be rich in a short time if ye drive such chafer.
• 1:42:14
  Then they raised tables aloft on trestles, and cast cloths upon them.
• 1:42:19
  The clear light then appeared along the walls, as men set and distributed waxen
• 1:42:26
  torches all about the hall. Much mirth and glee rose up therein about the
• 1:42:31
  fire and the hearth, and in various wise at supper and after many noble
• 1:42:38
  songs, they sang as Christmas carols and new dance tunes, with all the
• 1:42:43
  mannerly mirth that a man can tell of. And ever our lovely knight sat
• 1:42:48
  beside the lady. Such seemly cheers she made to the hero, sought with
• 1:42:54
  such sly stolen glances to please the stalwart miner. That the white was all
• 1:43:00
  amazed and wroth with himself. But he would not, on account of his
• 1:43:04
  breeding, reprove her, but responded in all courteousy, how howsoever outrageous she
• 1:43:13
  might be. When they had played in the hall as long as their will
• 1:43:17
  lasted, the Lord called to bedwoods and to the room with the fireplace they
• 1:43:24
  passed, and there they drank and talk, and the Lord proposed again to
• 1:43:30
  make the same arrangement for New Year's Eve. But the knight craved leave to
• 1:43:35
  depart, for it was nigh at the term that he must keep. The
• 1:43:40
  Lord hindered him from that, persuaded him to linger, and said, as
• 1:43:44
  I am a true man, I pledge my troth thou shalt reach the green
• 1:43:48
  Chapel to do thy tasks, sir, by new Year's light long before prime.
• 1:43:55
  Therefore, lie in thy loft and take thine ease, and I shall.
• 1:44:00
  I'll hunt in this holt and keep the covenant, change merchandise with thee
• 1:44:04
  when I return hither, For I have tried thee twice, and faithful I
• 1:44:10
  find thee now third time. Best time. Think on the morrow. Make
• 1:44:16
  we marry while we may, and be joyful. For a man can catch
• 1:44:21
  trouble whensoever he likes. This was readily granted, and Gowan stayed. Drink
• 1:44:30
  was quickly brought to them, and to bed they went with lights. Sir
• 1:44:34
  Gowain lay and slept full still and soft all night. The Lord, mindful
• 1:44:40
  of his hunting, was dightful. Early after Mass, he and his men
• 1:44:45
  took a morsel. Mary was the morning he asks for his mount, and
• 1:44:50
  all the sportsmen who should accompany him on horse were ready mounted on their steeds
• 1:44:57
  before the hall gates. Dress fair was the field, for the frost still
• 1:45:01
  lingered. The sun rose in a rack of ruddy red and drove all the
• 1:45:08
  clouds from the welkin. The hunters uncoupled by a holt side, and the
• 1:45:13
  rocks in the forest rang for the noise of their horns. Some dogs fell
• 1:45:17
  in ascent where the fox had loitered, followed it obliquely through the cunning of
• 1:45:23
  their wilds. A kennet cried upon it. The huntsmen encouraged him and his
• 1:45:30
  fellows hastened. After panting thickly, they ran forth in a rabble on Renaud's
• 1:45:35
  very track, and he hurried before them. Soon they found him, and
• 1:45:42
  when they actually saw him, they chased him fast, baying him full fiercely
• 1:45:46
  with a huge noise. And he tramps and runs through many a rough grove,
• 1:45:54
  doubles, and hearkens by hedges full oft. At the last by a
• 1:45:59
  little ditch, he leaps over a spinney and steals out full stilly by a
• 1:46:03
  roughed rand. Half escaped from the wood, he turns with wiles from the
• 1:46:10
  hounds. But then he arrived ere he knew it at a chosen stand,
• 1:46:15
  where in an instant three stout hunters in gray threatened him at once. He
• 1:46:23
  blenched again quickly and bravely started off. With all the woe in the word,
• 1:46:30
  he turned away to the wood. Then was it a pure joy to
• 1:46:35
  listen to the hounds. When all the gathered mute got view of him,
• 1:46:42
  The cry they sat on his head at the sight was as if all the
• 1:46:45
  resounding cliffs had clattered down in a heap here. He was hallooed loudly when
• 1:46:51
  the hunters met him, loudly cried upon with noisy calls. There he was
• 1:46:58
  threatened and often called thief. And ever the ticklers were at his tail,
• 1:47:02
  so that he could not tarry. Oft was he run at when he raked
• 1:47:09
  out, and oft he reeled in again. So wily was Renard, And
• 1:47:14
  ever he led the bespattered lord and his troop in this manner among the hills,
• 1:47:20
  now in them, now over, now under. While the courteous knight
• 1:47:26
  at home slept wholesomely within the comely curtains on the cold morn. But the
• 1:47:33
  lady for love cared not to sleep, nor to give up the purpose that
• 1:47:39
  bode in her heart. But up she rose quickly and took her way thither
• 1:47:44
  in a gay mantle, neatly reaching to the earth, and furred full fine,
• 1:47:50
  with skins of the best, no ornaments of gold on her head,
• 1:47:56
  but only the bright stone set above her trest in clusters of twenty, with
• 1:48:02
  her fair face and her lovely throat, all naked, her breast bare before
• 1:48:09
  and behind too, she comes within the chamber door and closes it. After
• 1:48:15
  her throws up a window and calls out the white and smartly thus stirred him
• 1:48:21
  with her fair, cheery words, Ah man, how can you sleep this
• 1:48:28
  morning? Is so clear? Though he was drowsing deep, yet could he
• 1:48:34
  hear her? In the dreary depths of a dream. The noble was sunk,
• 1:48:40
  like a man suffering from many sad thoughts. How destiny should dight him?
• 1:48:45
  Is weird at the Green Chapel that day when he met the man and
• 1:48:50
  had to abide his buffet without more debate. But when he had fully recovered
• 1:48:57
  his wits, he emerged from his dreams and answered with haste. The lovely
• 1:49:01
  lady came, laughing, sweetly, stooped over his fair face, and courteously
• 1:49:06
  kissed him. He welcomed her worthily with choice cheer. To see her,
• 1:49:13
  so glorious and so gaily attired, so faultless a feature, and so lovely
• 1:49:18
  of color, warmed his heart with a welling joy. With smooth and gracious
• 1:49:25
  smiling, they straight way waxed mirthful. All was bliss and good cheer that
• 1:49:30
  passed between them. They exchanged goodly words, much happiness they felt, and
• 1:49:36
  great was the peril between them unless Mary thought of her knight, For that
• 1:49:45
  beauteous princess constrained him so sorely, and the danger pressed him so nigh that
• 1:49:50
  of necessity it behooved him either to accept her love or rudely refuse it.
• 1:49:58
  He thought much of his curtage see lest he should prove a clown, and
• 1:50:02
  more on his villainy, lest he should do sin and betraitor to the hero
• 1:50:08
  who owned the castle god shield, quoth the warrior, that shall not befall
• 1:50:15
  with a little loved aliance. He laid aside all the point of speeches that
• 1:50:19
  sprang from her mouth, quoth the lady to the hero, Ye deserve blame
• 1:50:26
  if ye not love her, who is so near you, of all creatures
• 1:50:31
  in the world, most wounded in heart, unless indeed ye have a sweetheart,
• 1:50:36
  a dearer being that pleases you better. And ye have plighted faith so
• 1:50:42
  firmly to that gentle one, that ye care not loosen it verily. Now
• 1:50:47
  that is what I believe, and I pray you that you tell me truly,
• 1:50:51
  for all the loves in the world, deny not the truth with guile,
• 1:50:59
  by saint, said the knight, And courteously he smiled, I have
• 1:51:03
  none, and none will I have. That is the worst of all,
• 1:51:10
  quoth the lady. I am answered, indeed to my sorrow kiss me now
• 1:51:15
  calmly, and I shall go. Hence I can only mourn in the world
• 1:51:18
  as a maid that has loved much. Sighing, she stooped down and kissed
• 1:51:25
  him seemly, and then she severed from him, and said, as she
• 1:51:30
  stood now, dear at this departing, do me this comfort, Give me
• 1:51:35
  somewhat of thy gift, thy glove, if it might be that I might
• 1:51:42
  think on thee sir, to lessen my mourning. Now in truth, quoth
• 1:51:45
  that man, I would I had here for thy love, the dearest thing
• 1:51:50
  that I wield, For truly ye have right oft in reason deserved a greater
• 1:51:57
  reward than I could reckon. But to exchange with you love tokens that would
• 1:52:02
  profit but little. It is not for your honor to have at this time
• 1:52:09
  a glove of Gowan's gift for a keepsake. And I am here on an
• 1:52:15
  errand in Land's uncouth, and have no men with mails full of precious things
• 1:52:20
  for remembrance at this moment. And that mislikes me, lady. But every
• 1:52:27
  man must act according to his circumstances, and none should take it ill or
• 1:52:32
  repine. Now courteous, an honorable one quoth that lovesome lady. Though I
• 1:52:39
  shall have nothing of yours, yet shall ye have of mine? She reached
• 1:52:45
  him a rich ring of red gold work, with a gleaming stone standing aloft
• 1:52:51
  that shed blushing beams like the bright sun. Know ye well it was worth
• 1:52:59
  for wealth full huge. But the man refused it, and readily he said,
• 1:53:05
  I desire no great gifts, my gay one, at this time.
• 1:53:10
  I have naught to give you, and naught will I take. She offered
• 1:53:15
  it him full pressingly, and he refused her offer, and swore swiftly on
• 1:53:20
  his sooth that he would not take it. And she sorrowed that he refused,
• 1:53:26
  and said, thereafter, if ye refuse my ring, since it seems
• 1:53:30
  too rich, and ye would not be so highly beholden to me, I
• 1:53:34
  shall give you my girdle that will enrich you less. She lightly caught a
• 1:53:41
  lace that went about her sides, knit upon her kirtle under the bright mantle.
• 1:53:46
  It was adorned with green silk and ornamented with gold broidered all around,
• 1:53:53
  decked with fringes, and that she offered to the hero, and gaily besought
• 1:53:58
  that though it were unworthy, he would take it, And he denied that
• 1:54:02
  he would in any wise, take either gold or present ere. God sent
• 1:54:08
  him grace to achieve the chance that he had chosen there. And therefore I
• 1:54:14
  pray you be not displeased, and give over your attempt, for I intend
• 1:54:18
  never to consent. I am dearly beholden to you because of your entertainment,
• 1:54:25
  and ever in hot and in cold, I will be your true servant.
• 1:54:30
  Now refuse you this silk, said the lady there, because it is simple
• 1:54:35
  in itself, as it certainly seems to be. Lo little it is unless
• 1:54:42
  it is worth But whoso knew the virtues that are knit therein, he would
• 1:54:48
  esteem it at a greater price peradventure. For whatsoever man is girt with this
• 1:54:56
  green lace, while he has it fittingly wrapped about him, there is no
• 1:55:01
  warrior under heaven that can wound him, For he would not be slain by
• 1:55:06
  any device in the world. Then the night paused, and it came to
• 1:55:15
  his heart that it would be a jewel for the peril that awaited him when
• 1:55:19
  he arrived at the chapel to undergo his ordeal. Could he manage to be
• 1:55:26
  unslain that were a noble device. Then he indulged her entreaties and suffered her
• 1:55:32
  to speak, and she pressed the belt on him and offered it to him
• 1:55:39
  eagerly, and he accepted it. And she gave it him with a good
• 1:55:44
  will, and besought him for her sake, never to discover it, but
• 1:55:48
  to conceal it loyally from her lord. The man agreed that never person should
• 1:55:55
  know it, indeed, but they twain full oft. He thanked her right
• 1:55:59
  glad in heart, and thought by that she had kissed the stout knight three
• 1:56:04
  times. Then she takes her leave and leaves him there for more entertainment she
• 1:56:13
  could not get from that man when she was gone. Sir Gawain bestirs himself,
• 1:56:18
  rises and dresses in noble array. He lays up the lovelace the lady
• 1:56:24
  had given him, hides it full cleverly where he can find it again.
• 1:56:29
  Then promptly he takes his way to the chapel, quietly approaches to the priest
• 1:56:33
  and prays him there that he would elevate his life and teach him better how
• 1:56:40
  his soul should be saved when he should go. Hence, then he shrives
• 1:56:45
  him cleanly and shows his misdeeds both the more and the less, beseeches mercy
• 1:56:53
  and begs for absolution, and the priest assoils him thoroughly and sets him as
• 1:56:59
  cleanly as if Doomsday had been due on the morrow. And afterwards Gowan makes
• 1:57:04
  more mirth among the fair ladies that day, with comely carols and all kinds
• 1:57:10
  of joy, than ever he did before till the dark night. Everyone had
• 1:57:15
  pleasure of him there, and said indeed that he had never been so merry
• 1:57:20
  since he came hither. Now let him linger in that place where love be
• 1:57:29
  tied him. The Lord is still in the field leading his men. He
• 1:57:34
  has overtaken the fox that he has followed so long as he sprinted over a
• 1:57:40
  spinney to spy the rascal. Where he heard the hounds that hastened fast after
• 1:57:45
  him. Renard came running through a rough grove, and all the rabble in
• 1:57:49
  a rout right at his heels. The man was ware of the game,
• 1:57:56
  and warily abode, hold out his bright brand and struck at the beast.
• 1:58:01
  And he dodged from the sharp weapon, and would have turned, but a
• 1:58:05
  dog seized him ere he could and write before the horse's feet. They all
• 1:58:13
  fell on him and worried the wily one. With a great noise. The
• 1:58:16
  Lord lighted quickly and caught him forthwith, pulled him full hastily out of the
• 1:58:23
  dog's mouths, and holding him high over his head, hallooed fast. And
• 1:58:28
  there many fierce hounds bade him hunters hide them thither with horns full merry,
• 1:58:34
  ever blowing the rig sheet until they saw the hero. As soon as his
• 1:58:41
  noble company was come, all that bare bugle blew at once, and all
• 1:58:46
  the others that had no horns hallooed. It was the merriest mute that ever
• 1:58:53
  man heard, the rich riot that there was raised for Renard's soul. They
• 1:58:59
  reward the hounds there, stroked them and rubbed their heads. And afterwards they
• 1:59:03
  took Renaud and turned off his coat. And then they hastened home, for
• 1:59:12
  it was nigh night, blowing full stoutly in their great horns. The lord
• 1:59:17
  alighted at last at his dear home, found fire on the floor, and
• 1:59:21
  the hero beside it. Sir Gowain, the good that glad was withal among
• 1:59:28
  the ladies in their love, he had much joy. He wore a mantle
• 1:59:32
  of blue that reached to the earth. His surcoat, that was softly furred,
• 1:59:38
  became him well, and his hood of the same hung on his shoulder,
• 1:59:44
  trimmed all about with fine fur were both. He met this good man
• 1:59:48
  in the middle of the floor, and all joyfully he greeted him, and
• 1:59:53
  goodly he said, Now I shall fulfill our covenant that we have just made.
• 1:59:58
  Where no drink was fentd. Then he embraces the Knight and kisses him
• 2:00:02
  thrice with as much gusto and as soberly as he could give them. By
• 2:00:08
  Christ, quoth the other knight, YE get much bliss in the profits of
• 2:00:13
  this business if ye drive good bargains of the bargain, no matter, quoth
• 2:00:17
  Curtly that other, so long as the debts that I owed are properly paid,
• 2:00:23
  Mary, quoth the other man. My offering is the worse, for
• 2:00:27
  I have hunted all this day, and not have I got but this foul
• 2:00:30
  fox fell the fiend have the good ones, and that is full poor to
• 2:00:41
  pay for such fine things as ye have given me here, three such rare
• 2:00:46
  kisses. It is enough, quoth Sir Gawain. I thank you by the
• 2:00:51
  rude. And as they stood there, the Lord told him how the fox
• 2:00:57
  was slain with mirth and min's with meats. At their will, they made
• 2:01:03
  as merry as any men could, with laughing of ladies, with merry jests.
• 2:01:11
  Gowin and the good men were both as glad as if the court were
• 2:01:15
  mad or else drunk. Both the man and his retinue made many jokes till
• 2:01:21
  the season arrived, when they must sever the men had to go to their
• 2:01:26
  beds at last. Then, humbly, this gentleman takes his leave of the
• 2:01:30
  Lord first and fairly he thanks him for such a joyous sojourn as I have
• 2:01:36
  had here, For the honor you have shown me at this high feast,
• 2:01:41
  the High King reward you. I can only give you myself to be one
• 2:01:45
  of your men, if that pleases you, For I must needs, as
• 2:01:49
  ye know, proceed tomorrow. If ye grant me some man to show,
• 2:01:55
  as you promised, the way to the Green Chapel, as God will suffer
• 2:02:00
  me to take on New Year's Day the doom of my fate in good faith,
• 2:02:08
  quoth the good Man, with a good will, all that ever I
• 2:02:12
  promised you, I will perform therewith. He assigns a servant to set him
• 2:02:17
  in the way and conduct him by the downs, that he should, without
• 2:02:23
  hesitation, travel through the forest and fare at the best in the woods.
• 2:02:29
  The Lord thanked Gowin for the worship he had been willing to show him.
• 2:02:32
  Then the Knight took his leave of the beautiful ladies. With care and with
• 2:02:39
  kissing, he speaks to them, and many earnest thanks he presses upon them,
• 2:02:45
  and they returned the same again. Promptly they entrusted him to Christ with
• 2:02:50
  sighings full sad. Afterwards he graciously departs from the household. Each man that
• 2:02:59
  he met he thanked him for his service and his solace, and the various
• 2:03:03
  pains with which they had been busy to serve him. And each man was
• 2:03:10
  as sad to sever from him there as they had ever dwelt worthily with that
• 2:03:15
  hero. Then, with people and with light, he was led to his
• 2:03:20
  chamber, and blithely brought to bed to be at his rest. Whether he
• 2:03:26
  slept soundly I dared not say, for he had much to think of on
• 2:03:31
  the morrow. If he would let him lie there, he was near what
• 2:03:35
  he sought. If ye will be still awhile I shall tell you how they
• 2:03:42
  fared end a fit. The third fit. The fourth now nighs the new
• 2:03:57
  year, and the night passes, the day drives on to the dark as
• 2:04:02
  God bids, But outside wild storms waken'd in the world. Clouds cast the
• 2:04:11
  cold keenly to the earth, with discomfort enough to the naked. The snow
• 2:04:16
  from the north flew sharply and nipped the game. The blustering wind blew from
• 2:04:24
  the heights and drove each dale full of great drifts. The man who lay
• 2:04:30
  in his bed heard it right well. Though he locks his lids full,
• 2:04:34
  little he sleeps by each calk thick crew, he knew well the hour.
• 2:04:42
  Promptly he leap'd up ere the day sprang, for there was the light of
• 2:04:47
  a lamp that gleamed in his chamber. He called to his chamberlain, who
• 2:04:53
  quickly answered him and bade him bring his burney and saddle his horse. The
• 2:05:00
  chamberlain gets up and fetches him his weeds, and arrays, Sir Gowain in
• 2:05:04
  proper fashion. First he dressed him in all in his clothes to keep out
• 2:05:10
  the cold, and then he put on the rest of his harness that had
• 2:05:14
  been well kept, both mail and plate, and brightly polished. The rings
• 2:05:19
  of his rich burney had been rocked from the rust, and all was fresh
• 2:05:25
  as at first. And Gowin was fain to give thanks for it. The
• 2:05:30
  attendant had wiped each piece well and often. Then the noblest man betwixt here
• 2:05:36
  and grease bade his steed be brought. Meanwhile, he threw upon himself his
• 2:05:44
  finest weeds, his surcoat, with its cognizance of excellent work, virtuous stones
• 2:05:49
  set upon velvet, all wrought about and bound with embroidered seams, and fairly
• 2:05:56
  furred within with rare skins. Yet left he not the lace, the lady's
• 2:06:01
  gift that forgot not gowin for his own good. When he had belted his
• 2:06:09
  brand upon his broad haunches, he dressed his love token double about him,
• 2:06:15
  the knight swathed sweetly about his waist the girdle of green silk, which became
• 2:06:19
  him well upon the royal red cloth that was fair to see. But this
• 2:06:26
  hero wore not the girdle for its wealth, for pride of the pendants,
• 2:06:30
  though they were polished, and though the glittering gold gleamed on the ends,
• 2:06:34
  but to save himself when it behooved him, to suffer to await his doom
• 2:06:41
  without resistance, with no brand or knife to defend him. By this,
• 2:06:46
  the good man is ready and goes out quickly full often. He thanks the
• 2:06:51
  distinguished company. Gringo Lay, the huge and strong was ready, who had
• 2:06:58
  been kept skillfully in the best manner. The proud horse, in his splendid
• 2:07:03
  condition, longed for spurring. The hero approached him, noticed his coat and
• 2:07:09
  said, soberly and by his sooth swore here in this castle is a company
• 2:07:15
  that are mindful of courtesy. The man who maintains them joy. May he
• 2:07:19
  have the dear lady love betide her in this life, since they for charity
• 2:07:26
  cherish a guest and uphold honor in their hand. May the Being reward them,
• 2:07:31
  who holds the heavens on high, and also you all. And if
• 2:07:36
  I might live any longer in the world, I should give you some reward
• 2:07:42
  if I could. Then he stepped into stirrup and strode aloft. His servant
• 2:07:47
  offered him his shield. He put it on his shoulder. He spurred Gringolae
• 2:07:53
  with his gilt heels, and the steed jumped on the stone. No longer
• 2:07:58
  he stood still, but pranced. Sir Gowan's servant, who bore his lance
• 2:08:01
  in helm, was by then on the horse. This castle I entrust to
• 2:08:07
  Christ. May he give it I good chance. The bridge was let down,
• 2:08:13
  and the broad gates unbarred and borne open on both sides. The hero
• 2:08:18
  crossed himself quickly and passed the boards, praised the porter who knelt down before
• 2:08:24
  him, giving good day, and praying God that he save Gowan. And
• 2:08:30
  so he went on his way with his one man that should teach him how
• 2:08:33
  to find that dismal place where he should receive the rueful blow. They rode
• 2:08:39
  by banks where boughs are bare. They climbed by cliffs where the cold clings.
• 2:08:43
  The sky was upheld, but it was ugly beneath. Mist hung on
• 2:08:48
  the moor and melted on the mount. Each hill had a hat, a
• 2:08:52
  huge mist cloak. Brooks boiled and broke from their banks, about shattering s
• 2:09:00
  on their shores, where they showered down. Dreary was the way where they
• 2:09:05
  should travel by the wood till soon came the season when the sun rises.
• 2:09:11
  At that time they were on a hill full high the white snow about them,
• 2:09:16
  when the man that rode beside them bade his master abide, I have
• 2:09:22
  brought you hither, sir, at this time, and now ye are not
• 2:09:26
  far from that famous spot that ye have asked and inquires so specially after.
• 2:09:31
  But I shall say to you forsooth, since I know you, and ye
• 2:09:35
  are a man that I love. Well, if ye would work by my
• 2:09:39
  wit, ye should be the better for it. The place that ye press
• 2:09:45
  to is held full perilous. There dwells in that waste alight, the worst
• 2:09:52
  upon earth. For he is stiff and stern, and loves to strike.
• 2:09:56
  And greater he is than any man in the world, and his body be
• 2:10:00
  bigger than the four best that are in Arthur's house, and bigger than Hector
• 2:10:05
  or any other. He maintains that adventure at the Green Chapel. There passes
• 2:10:09
  by that place, none so proud in arms, But he dens him to
• 2:10:15
  death with dint of his hand, For he is a man without measure,
• 2:10:18
  and uses no mercy. For be it Churl or Chaplain that rides by the
• 2:10:24
  chapel, monk, or mass priest, or any man else, he likes
• 2:10:30
  as well to kill him as to go alive himself. Therefore, I tell
• 2:10:35
  ye, as truly as ye sit in the saddle, come ye there ye
• 2:10:39
  shall be killed. Trust me well, though ye had twenty lives to spend,
• 2:10:46
  he has dwelt here full long and caused much strife in the land against
• 2:10:50
  his swordints ye cannot defend yourself. Therefore, good Sir Gawain, let the
• 2:10:58
  fellow and go away some other road for God's sake, repair to some other
• 2:11:05
  country where Christ may speed you. And I shall hie me home again and
• 2:11:09
  promise you further, which I will swear by God and all his good saints.
• 2:11:15
  So help me God and the Haladom and oaths enough that I will loyally
• 2:11:20
  conceal you, and never tell tale that ever ye fled for any man that
• 2:11:24
  I know of. Gram Mercy, quoth Gawin, And sternly he added,
• 2:11:30
  well worth thee man who wishes my good, and I well believe thou would
• 2:11:37
  slowly conceal, loyally conceal me. But if thou kept promise, never so
• 2:11:41
  faithfully. And I gave up here sought for fear to fly. As you
• 2:11:46
  advise, I were a knight coward, I could not be excused. But
• 2:11:54
  I will go to the chapel, whatever chance may fall, and talk with
• 2:11:58
  that same man, and the tale that I like, be good or evil
• 2:12:03
  as it pleases fate to have it. Though he be a stern champion to
• 2:12:07
  cope with, and armed with a club full well can God manage to save
• 2:12:13
  his servants marry quoth the other man. Now, thou sayest as much as
• 2:12:20
  that thou wilt take upon thyself thine own destruction, if it pleases THEE to
• 2:12:26
  lose thy life, I shall not let nor hinder THEE. Have here thy
• 2:12:35
  helm on thy head, thy spear in thy hand, and ride down this
• 2:12:39
  same lane by yon rockside till thou be brought to the bottom of the ragged
• 2:12:45
  valley. Then look a little up the grassy slope on thy left hand,
• 2:12:50
  and thou shalt see in that ravine the chapel itself, and the burly man
• 2:12:54
  on the field who keeps it. Now farewell in God's name, Gow and
• 2:12:58
  the noble, for all the gold in the world. I would not go
• 2:13:03
  with thee, nor bear thee fellowship through this wood afoot further. At that,
• 2:13:11
  the man turned his bridle in the wood and hit the horse with his
• 2:13:16
  heels as hard as he could, leaped over the land, and left the
• 2:13:20
  knight there all alone. By God's self. Quoaf gwan, I will neither
• 2:13:26
  grieve nor groan. By God's will, I am full obedient, and to
• 2:13:30
  him I have entrusted myself Then he spurs grigolet and follows the path, pushes
• 2:13:37
  in by a hollow beside a thicket, rides through the rough slope right to
• 2:13:41
  the dale. And then he looked about him and wild it seemed to him
• 2:13:46
  he saw no sign of dwelling anywhere around, but on both sides high steep
• 2:13:52
  banks and rough hunched crags with projecting stones. The shadows of the cliffs seemed
• 2:13:58
  to him terrible. Then he paused and held back his horse, and off
• 2:14:03
  changed his cheer. While seeking the chapel, he saw none such on any
• 2:14:09
  side, and strange, it seemed to him. But soon a little distance
• 2:14:13
  off, on a grassy spot, he descried a mound as it were,
• 2:14:18
  a smooth hill by the bank of the stream, near a ford of the
• 2:14:20
  flood that ran there. The burn babbled there as if it were boiling.
• 2:14:26
  The Knight urges his steed and comes to the hill, lights nimbly down,
• 2:14:33
  and ties the rein and his rich bridle to a tree by a rough branch.
• 2:14:39
  Then he turns to the hill and walks about it, debating with himself
• 2:14:43
  what it might be. It had a hole at the end and on either
• 2:14:48
  side, and was overgrown with grass, and clumps everywhere, and was all
• 2:14:56
  hollow within nothing but an old cave or crevice of an old crag. He
• 2:15:03
  could not understand it at all. Alas Lord, quoth the gentle Knight.
• 2:15:09
  Can this be the green chapel here about midnight the devil might tell his matins?
• 2:15:16
  Now, quoth Gawan, It certainly is mysterious here this oratory is ugly
• 2:15:22
  overgrown with herbs, while it beseems the white clad in green here to do
• 2:15:28
  his devotions in the devil's wives. Now I feel in my five wits it
• 2:15:33
  is the fiend that has made this bargain with me to destroy me. Here
• 2:15:39
  this is a chapel of mischance. May ill fortune be tied it. It
• 2:15:43
  is the cursedess Kirk that ever I came in. With high helm on his
• 2:15:50
  head, his lance in his hand, he strides up to the rock of
• 2:15:54
  the rude dwelling. Then he heard from that high hill, in a rough
• 2:15:58
  cave on a bank beyond the brook, a marvelously savage noise. Lo The
• 2:16:03
  cliff chattered as though it would split, as if one were grinding a scythe
• 2:16:09
  on a grindstone. It whirred and screeched like water at a mill. It
• 2:16:16
  rushed and rang that it was ruth to hear. By God, quoth Gawan.
• 2:16:20
  Then that gear I fancy is being prepared to give me a good reception.
• 2:16:26
  Yet though I must lose my life, fear shall never make me change
• 2:16:31
  color. Then the knight called full High, who dwells in this place,
• 2:16:37
  to keep covenant with me. For now, the good Gowan is passing right
• 2:16:41
  here. If any white wishes aught, let him come hither fast now or
• 2:16:46
  never, to fulfill his need. Abide, quoth one on the bank over
• 2:16:52
  his head, thou shalt have in all haste that which I promised thee once.
• 2:17:01
  Yet he kept on with that noise sharply for a while, turning and
• 2:17:05
  wetting. Ere he would come down. And then he crossed by a crag
• 2:17:11
  and came from a hole, whirling out of a dark place with a fell
• 2:17:15
  weapon, a Danish axe, new dight to give the blow with it,
• 2:17:20
  had fast to the helm. A great head sharpened on the stone, four
• 2:17:26
  feet long was the weapon. No less by that lace that gleamed full bright.
• 2:17:31
  And the man in the green was arrayed as before, both his skin
• 2:17:35
  and limbs, locks and beard, save that on foot he strides fairly on
• 2:17:43
  the earth. He set the steel shaft to the stone and stalked beside it.
• 2:17:50
  When he came to the water, where he did not wish to wade,
• 2:17:54
  he hopped over on his axe and fiercely advanced with savage ferocity, hasting
• 2:18:01
  the broad snow cover'd glade. Sir Gawain met the Knight and bowed to him,
• 2:18:07
  not at all low. The other said, Now, sweet sir,
• 2:18:11
  in a covenant, a man can trust thee, gawan, quoth the Green
• 2:18:16
  Warrior. May God preserve thee. Indeed, thou art welcome hero to my
• 2:18:22
  place, and thou hast time to thy travel as a true man should,
• 2:18:26
  and thou knowest the covenants may between us. At this time twelvemonth, thou
• 2:18:31
  tookest what fell to THEE, and I at this new year, was to
• 2:18:35
  repay you handsomely. And now we are in this valley entirely alone. Here
• 2:18:41
  are no men to part us, however we may behave have thy helm off
• 2:18:48
  thy head, and have here thy pay. Make no more debate than I
• 2:18:54
  offered THEE. Then, when thou whipped off my head at one blow,
• 2:19:00
  nay, quoth Gawen, By God that lend me life, I shall grudge
• 2:19:05
  thee not a whit whatever misfortune falls, but arrange thee for thy one stroke,
• 2:19:11
  and I shall stand still and hinder THEE not the least from doing the
• 2:19:15
  work as you like. He ben the neck and bowed down, showing the
• 2:19:20
  flesh all bare, and behaved as if he cared. Not for no dread
• 2:19:28
  would he flinch. Then the man in green got ready quickly gathered up his
• 2:19:33
  grim tool to smite Gowan with all the might in his body. He bare
• 2:19:39
  it aloft, and aim'd a savage blow, as though he wished to kill
• 2:19:43
  him. Had it driven down as earnestly as he fainted, the ever doughty
• 2:19:48
  one would have been dead of his dint. But Gowan glanced to one side
• 2:19:54
  on the chisarm as it came gliding down to slay him there in the glade,
• 2:20:00
  and shrank a little with the shoulders from the sharp iron. The other
• 2:20:05
  warrior, with a quick motion, withheld the bright weapon, and then he
• 2:20:09
  reprov'd the prince with many proud words, Thou art not Gowans, that the
• 2:20:15
  man who is held so good, who never flinched for any army by hill
• 2:20:20
  or by veil, And now thou fleeest for fear before thou feelest any harm
• 2:20:26
  such cowardice I never heard of that knight. I neither WinCE nor fled,
• 2:20:33
  Sir, When thou didst strike, nor tried any tricks in King Arthur's house,
• 2:20:39
  my head flew to my foot, and yet I never budged, And
• 2:20:43
  thou ere any harm taken. Art fearful in heart. Wherefore the better man
• 2:20:48
  I ought to be called for it. I flinch'd once, quoth Gawan,
• 2:20:54
  and will do so no more. Yet, if my head should fall on
• 2:20:58
  the stones, I cannot restore it. But make ready, sir, by
• 2:21:03
  my faith, and bring me to the point. Deal to me my destiny,
• 2:21:09
  and do it promptly, for I shall stand thee a stroke, and
• 2:21:13
  not start again till thine axe has hit me. Have here my troth have
• 2:21:20
  it thee, then, quoth the other, and heaves it aloft and aims
• 2:21:24
  as savagely as if he were mad. He strikes on him mightily, but
• 2:21:28
  touches the man not, for he withheld his hand cleverly ere it could hurt.
• 2:21:37
  Gowano waits it properly and flinches with no member, but stands as a
• 2:21:43
  stone or a stump that is twisted into the rocky ground with a hundred roots.
• 2:21:50
  Then merrily spoke the man in green. So now thou hast thy heart
• 2:21:54
  whole, it behooves me to hit. Now keep back the fine that Arthur
• 2:22:00
  gave thee, and see if thou canst keep thy neck whole from this stroke,
• 2:22:07
  said Gowan, in great anger. Why thrash on thou wild man,
• 2:22:11
  Thou threaten'dst too long? I guess that thine own heart is timid. Forsooth
• 2:22:20
  quoth the other warrior. Thou speakest so fiercely that I will not delay Thine
• 2:22:24
  erran a bit longer. Then he takes his stride to strike, and knits
• 2:22:28
  both brow and lip. No wonder Gowan mislikes it, and gives up all
• 2:22:33
  thought of escape. Lightly, he lifts his axe and lets the edge come
• 2:22:37
  down fairly on the bare neck. Yet, though he smote rudely, it
• 2:22:45
  hurt him but little. It only cut him on one side, so that
• 2:22:48
  it severed the skin. The sharp bit reached the flesh through the fat,
• 2:22:52
  fair fat, so that the bright blood shot over his shoulders to the earth.
• 2:22:58
  And when the hero saw the blood glint on the snow, he leaped
• 2:23:03
  forth more than a spear's length, eagerly seized his helm, cast it on
• 2:23:09
  his head, threw his shoulders under his fierce shield, pulled out a bright's
• 2:23:13
  sword, and fiercely spoke. Never in this world since he was born of
• 2:23:18
  his mother was he half so blithe. Sease, Sir, of thy blow,
• 2:23:24
  offer me no more. I have, without strife, taken a stroke
• 2:23:28
  in this place, And if thou givest me more, I shall promptly repay
• 2:23:31
  and yield quickly. Again. Trust thou that only one stroke falls to me
• 2:23:39
  here. The covenant which we made in Arthur's halls provided just that. And
• 2:23:43
  therefore, courteous Sir, now hold the warrior turned from him and rested on
• 2:23:50
  his axe. He set the shaft on the ground, leaned on the head,
• 2:23:54
  and beheld how the doughty hero stood his ground, grimly armed and devoid
• 2:24:01
  of fear in his heart. It pleased him. Then, with a great
• 2:24:05
  voice and a huge laugh, he spoke merrily to the hero, bold,
• 2:24:09
  Sir, in this place, be not so savage. Nobody has here unmannerly
• 2:24:16
  mishandled thee, nor done. But according to the covenant made at the King's
• 2:24:20
  court, I promised thee a stroke, and thou hast it hold THEE well
• 2:24:24
  paid, I release THEE of the remnant of all other rights. Had I
• 2:24:31
  been successful peradventure, I could have given you a worse buffet. First,
• 2:24:35
  I menaced you merrily with a pure fate, and gave THEE no blow,
• 2:24:39
  which was but justice, considering the covenant we made on the first night,
• 2:24:45
  and which thou helped with me trustily. For truly, all again, thou
• 2:24:50
  gave me, as a good man should the second faith this morning, sir,
• 2:24:54
  I proffered THEE, because thou didst kissed my fair wife, and did
• 2:25:00
  hand the kisses over to me. For these two occasions, I gave THEE
• 2:25:05
  here but two bare faiths without harm. A true man truly restores such an
• 2:25:11
  one need dread no harm. At the third time, thou didst fail.
• 2:25:18
  And so take THEE that tap, for it is my weed that thou wearest,
• 2:25:26
  that same woven girdle. Mine own wife gave it THEE I know well,
• 2:25:33
  forsooth now know I well thy kisses and thy virtues. Also, And
• 2:25:39
  as for the wooing of my wife, I managed it myself. I sent
• 2:25:43
  her to try THEE, And truly it seems to me thou art the most
• 2:25:46
  faultless hero that ever went on foot as a pearl is of greater price than
• 2:25:54
  white peace. So is Gowan in good faith compared with other gay knights.
• 2:26:00
  But in this case, sir, you lacked a little, and loyalty failed
• 2:26:07
  you. But that was form no amorous work, nor wooing either. But
• 2:26:11
  because ye loved your life the less I believe that other brave man stood awhile
• 2:26:20
  in his study. So stricken was he for grief that he groaned within all
• 2:26:26
  the blood of his breast rushed to his face, and he shrank for shame.
• 2:26:30
  When the warrior talked, this was the first word that the man spoke.
• 2:26:35
  Curse would be cowardice and covetousness, both in you his villainy, and
• 2:26:39
  vice that destroy virtue. Then he caught at the knot and loosed the fastening,
• 2:26:46
  fiercely reached the belt to the warrior himself. Lo there is the deception,
• 2:26:52
  foul may it fall for fear of thy knock. Cowardice taught me to
• 2:26:56
  make a truce with covetousness, to forsake my nature, which is generosity and
• 2:27:03
  loyalty that belongs to knights. Now am I faulty and false? And a
• 2:27:07
  coward have ever been from treachery and untruth ever come sorrow and care. Here
• 2:27:15
  I confess to you, Knight, that my conduct is all faulty. Let
• 2:27:18
  me but please you now, and after I shall beware. Then the other
• 2:27:24
  laughed and said, courteously, I hold it quite remedied the harm that I
• 2:27:28
  had. Thou hast made a clean confession, acknowledging all thy misdeeds, and
• 2:27:33
  hast received the penance openly. From the point of my edge, I hold
• 2:27:39
  thee quit of that plight and purified as clean as if thou hast never forfeited,
• 2:27:48
  since thou wast first born. And I give thee, sir, the
• 2:27:52
  girdle that is gold hemmed, since it is green, as is my gown.
• 2:27:56
  Sir Gawin, ye may think upon this same adventure where thou goest forth
• 2:28:01
  among great princes, and this shall be a genuine token among chivalrous knights,
• 2:28:07
  of the adventure of the Green Chapel. And ye shall come again this new
• 2:28:13
  year to my dwelling, and we shall revel the remnant of this rich feast
• 2:28:18
  full well. The Lord pressed the invitation and said, with my wife,
• 2:28:22
  who was your great enemy, I think we shall reconcile you, nay,
• 2:28:28
  forsooth quoth the hero, and seizing his helm, he took it off quickly
• 2:28:33
  and thanked the warrior. But I have had a good visit. Bliss betide
• 2:28:37
  you, and may he pay you well. Who directs all mercy, commend
• 2:28:43
  me to that courteous one, your comely mate. Both the one and the
• 2:28:46
  other, my honored ladies, who have thus with their craft quaintly beguiled their
• 2:28:52
  knight. But it is no wonder that a fool should rave and through wiles
• 2:28:58
  of women be won to sorrow. For so was Adam beguiled by one,
• 2:29:03
  and Solomon by many. Indeed, and Sampson also Delilah dealt him his weird
• 2:29:11
  and David thereafter was deceiv'd by Bathsheba, who suffer'd much sorrow. Since these
• 2:29:16
  men were plagued by their wiles, it were a huge gain to love them
• 2:29:22
  well and believe them not if a person but good. For these men were
• 2:29:28
  of old, the best and the most fortunate, excellent above all others under
• 2:29:33
  the heavens, and all they were beguiled by women whom they had to do
• 2:29:39
  with. If I be now deceived me, seems I might be excused,
• 2:29:45
  But your girdle, quoth Gawan, God, reward you for it. That
• 2:29:50
  will I keep with good will, not for the precious gold, not for
• 2:29:54
  the psamite, nor the silk, nor the white pendants, for its wealth,
• 2:30:01
  nor for its beauty, nor for its fine work. But in sign
• 2:30:05
  of my fault I shall behold it oft. When I ride in renown,
• 2:30:11
  I shall lament to myself the fault and the deceit of the crabbed flesh.
• 2:30:16
  How tender it is to catch stains of filth. And thus, when pride
• 2:30:22
  shall prick me for prowess of arms, a look on this lovelace shall moderate
• 2:30:28
  my heart. But one thing I would pray you. May it displease you
• 2:30:33
  not, Since ye are lord of the land yonder where I have stayed worshipfully
• 2:30:37
  with you. May the being who upholds the heaven and sits on high repay
• 2:30:43
  you for it? How name ye your right name? And then no more
• 2:30:48
  that shall I tell thee truly quoth the other, then burn lac d'Hote dessert.
• 2:30:54
  I am called in this land through the might of Morgan Lee, who
• 2:31:00
  dwells in my house. She has acquired deep learning hard one's skill. Many
• 2:31:07
  of the masteries of Merlin. For she has at times dealt in rare magic
• 2:31:13
  with that renowned clerk who knows all your knights at home. Morgan, the
• 2:31:18
  goddess is therefore her name, nor person is so haughty, but she contain
• 2:31:22
  him. She sent me in this wise to your rich hall to assay its
• 2:31:26
  pride, and try if it were true that circulates about the great renown of
• 2:31:31
  the round table. She prepared for me this wonder to take away your wits,
• 2:31:37
  to have grieved Guenevere and caused her to die through fright of that same
• 2:31:41
  man, that ghostly speaker with his head in his hand before the high table.
• 2:31:46
  That is she the ancient lady at home. She is even thine aunt,
• 2:31:52
  Arthur's half sister, the daughter of that Duchess of Tindeville, upon whom
• 2:31:58
  dear Uther afterwards begot Arthur, that is now king. Therefore I beg you,
• 2:32:05
  sir, to come to thine aunt, make merry in my house.
• 2:32:09
  My people love THEE, and I THEE as well, Sir, by my
• 2:32:13
  faith, as I do any man under God, for thy great truth.
• 2:32:18
  But he answered him, nay, he would do. In no wise.
• 2:32:22
  They embraced and kissed each entrusted other to the Prince of Paradise, and they
• 2:32:28
  parted right there in the cold. Gowan, on horseful fare, writes boldly
• 2:32:33
  to the King's court and the Knight, all in green, whithersoever he would
• 2:32:39
  wild ways in the world. Gowan now rides on Gringelae, He who had
• 2:32:43
  got the boon of his life oft he harbored in houses and oft without,
• 2:32:48
  and many an adventure and veil he had, and one oft but that I
• 2:32:54
  care not at this time to mention in my tale. The hurt was whole
• 2:32:58
  that he had got in his neck, and he bare the glistening belt about
• 2:33:01
  him, crossed obliquely like a baldric, the lace fastened under his left arm
• 2:33:07
  with a knot, and in token that he was taken in a fault.
• 2:33:13
  And thus he comes to the court the night, all sound, the awakened
• 2:33:16
  joy in that dwelling. When the great ones knew that good Gowan had come
• 2:33:22
  joyous, it seemed to them the king kisses the Knight, and the queen
• 2:33:26
  also, and afterwards many a sure knight who sought to embrace him, and
• 2:33:33
  asked him of his journey, And wondrously he tells it, confessing all the
• 2:33:37
  trials that he had, the adventure of the chapel, the behavior of the
• 2:33:41
  Knight, the love of the lady, and at the last the lace he
• 2:33:48
  showed them, the knick in his neck that he caught the Lord's hands for
• 2:33:50
  his unloyalty. He grieved when he had to tell it. He groaned for
• 2:33:56
  sorrow, and the blood rushed to his face for shame. When he declared
• 2:33:58
  it, lo, Lord, quoth the Hero, as he handled the lace.
• 2:34:03
  This that I bear in my neck is the badge of this blame.
• 2:34:07
  This is the evil and the loss that I have got from the cowardice in
• 2:34:11
  covetousness that I showed there. This is the token of untruth that I am
• 2:34:16
  taken in, and I must needs wear it while I may last, For
• 2:34:20
  none may hide his shame without mishap, For where it once is incurred depart
• 2:34:28
  it will never The King and all the court comfort the Knight. They laugh
• 2:34:33
  loud his tale and lovingly agree that the lords and the ladies that belong to
• 2:34:39
  the table. Each Knight of the brotherhood should have a baldric an oblique band
• 2:34:43
  about him of a bright green, and where that for the sake of the
• 2:34:48
  hero, and that emblem was accorded the renowned of the round table, and
• 2:34:52
  he was ever after honored that had it. As it is told in the
• 2:34:58
  Best Book of Romance. Thus in Arthur's day this adventure be tid, which
• 2:35:03
  the Brutus books bear a witness of. After Brutus the Bold Hero first came
• 2:35:09
  hither, when the siege and the assault had seized Detroit, many adventures of
• 2:35:15
  this sort happened. Now, may he that bore the crown of Thorns bring
• 2:35:20
  us to his bliss Amen