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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Neilson Translation) - The Gawain Poet · Jules Verne Audiobooks

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