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002 - Chapter 2 · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

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Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by M J. Sir Gawain
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Speaker 1: and The Green Knight, translated by W. A. Nielsen fit
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Speaker 1: the third full Early before the day, the folk arose
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Speaker 1: the guests that would go, called their grooms, and these
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Speaker 1: hastened to saddle the horses, arrange their gear, and trust
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Speaker 1: their mails. The great ones arrayed themselves to ride, leaped
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Speaker 1: up lightly and caught their bridles, each white on his
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Speaker 1: way where it plete well pleased him. The dear Lord
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Speaker 1: of the land was not the last arrayed for the riding,
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Speaker 1: with retainers full many, he ate a soft hastily after
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Speaker 1: he heard mass, and took his way quickly with his
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Speaker 1: bugle to the field. By the time that any daylight
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Speaker 1: gleamed upon the earth, he with his heroes were mounted
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Speaker 1: on their high horses. Then these hunters that understood it
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Speaker 1: coupled their hounds, unclosed the kennel doors, and called them
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Speaker 1: thereout blew blithely on bugles three simple calls. At this
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Speaker 1: the bratchet sprayed and made a wild noise, and the
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Speaker 1: hunters chastised and turned back those that wandered off. A
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Speaker 1: hundred hunters of the best there were, as I have heardell,
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Speaker 1: to their stations. The trackers went. Hunters cast off the couples,
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Speaker 1: and then arose for the good blasts right uproar in
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Speaker 1: that forest. At the first noise of the quest, the
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Speaker 1: game quaked. The deer moved down into the dale, dazed
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Speaker 1: for dread, hurried to the height, but quickly they were
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Speaker 1: hindered by the beaters, who cried stoutly. They let the
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Speaker 1: hearts with the high head go their way. The wild
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Speaker 1: bucks also with their broad palms, for the generous Lord
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Speaker 1: had forbidden that there should any man meddle with the
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Speaker 1: male deer in the close season. But the hides were
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Speaker 1: held back with hay and ho and the doze driven
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Speaker 1: with great din to the deep glades. There might once
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Speaker 1: see they ran the flight of arrows. At each turn
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Speaker 1: under the boughs, out flew a shaft that savagely bit
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Speaker 1: on the brown hide. With full broad heads. How they
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Speaker 1: leaped and bled and died by the banks. And ever
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Speaker 1: the hounds, with a rush, eagerly followed them. Hunters with
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Speaker 1: shrill horn hastened after with such a resounding cry as
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Speaker 1: if cliffs had cracked. What game escaped? The men who
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Speaker 1: shot was all run down and torn at the stands.
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Speaker 1: The deer were pestered at the heights, and worried at
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Speaker 1: the waters. The people were so alert at the low stations,
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Speaker 1: and the greyhounds so great, that got them quickly and
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Speaker 1: pulled them down as fast as a man could see.
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Speaker 1: The lord, shouting for joy, shot and alighted full oft,
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Speaker 1: and passed the day thus with joy till the dark night.
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Speaker 1: So this lord sports by the eaves of the linden wood,
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Speaker 1: and gow on the good lies in his gay bed
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Speaker 1: reposes till the daylight gleams on the walls under the
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Speaker 1: beautiful coverlets curtained about. And as he fell into a
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Speaker 1: doze faintly he heard a little din at the door,
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Speaker 1: then distinctly, and he heaved up his head out of
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Speaker 1: the clothes, caught up a corner of his curtain a little,
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Speaker 1: and watched warily in that direction to see what it
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Speaker 1: might be. It was the lady loveliest to behold, who
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Speaker 1: drew the door to after her right slyly and quietly,
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Speaker 1: and turned toward the bed the hero grew bashful and
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Speaker 1: laid himself down cunningly, and pretended that he slept. And
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Speaker 1: she stepped quietly and stole to his bed, cast up
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Speaker 1: the curtain, and crept therein, and seated herself full softly
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Speaker 1: on the bedside, and stayed there surprisingly long to see
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Speaker 1: when he should awake. The man lay, pretending a full
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Speaker 1: great while bothered in his conscience what this affair might
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Speaker 1: mean or amount to marvelous it seemed to him. But
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Speaker 1: yet he said to himself, more seemly would it be
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Speaker 1: to find out by asking what she would? Then he
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Speaker 1: waked and stretched and turned to her, unlocked his eyelids,
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Speaker 1: and made believe he was amazed, and crossed himself with
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Speaker 1: his hand to be the safer for his prayer. With
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Speaker 1: chin and cheek full sweet of mingled white and red,
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Speaker 1: quite lovely, she looked with her small, laughing lips. Good morrow,
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Speaker 1: Sir Gwin said that, fair lady, ye are a careless
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Speaker 1: sleeper when one can enter. Thus, now ye are certainly taken.
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Speaker 1: Unless we make a truce, I shall bind you in
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Speaker 1: your bed. You may be sure of that. All laughing,
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Speaker 1: the lady shot these jests. Good morrow, fair one, quoth
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Speaker 1: Gawan the blithe, I shall be at your disposal. And
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Speaker 1: that pleases me well, for I yield me outright and
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Speaker 1: pray for grace. And that is the best course I judge,
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Speaker 1: for I am in straits. And thus he returned the
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Speaker 1: jests with many a blithe laugh. But would ye, lovely lady,
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Speaker 1: grant me leave for your prisoner and bid him rise.
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Speaker 1: I would leave this bed and dress myself better. Then
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Speaker 1: I could talk with you in more comfort. Nay, Forsoth,
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Speaker 1: fair sir said that, sweet one, ye shall not rise
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Speaker 1: from your bed. I shall manage you better. I shall
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Speaker 1: tie you up securely, and afterwards talk with my knight
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Speaker 1: that I have caught. For I ween well. Ye are, indeed,
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Speaker 1: Sir Gowain, whom all the world worships. Whereso ye ride
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Speaker 1: your honor, Your courtesy is heartily praised by lords, by ladies,
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Speaker 1: by all alive. And now ye are here Forsoth, and
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Speaker 1: we are all alone. My lord and his people are
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Speaker 1: gone far away, the other men in their beds, and
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Speaker 1: my maidens also. The door shut and closed with a
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Speaker 1: strong hasp. And since I have in this house him
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Speaker 1: whom all like, I shall make good use of my
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Speaker 1: time while it lasts. Ye are welcome to my person
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Speaker 1: to do whatever you wish. I am perforce and must
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Speaker 1: remain your servant in good faith, quoth Gawa. A great privilege,
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Speaker 1: it seems to me, though I be not now he
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Speaker 1: that ye speak of, to reach such reverence as ye
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Speaker 1: rehearse here, I am a man unworthy, I know well
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Speaker 1: by God, I should be glad if it seemed good
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Speaker 1: to you to do what I might in speech or
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Speaker 1: in service to enhance your worship, it were a pure
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Speaker 1: joy in good faith, Sir Gawin, quoth the gay lady.
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Speaker 1: If I should speak ill of the fame and the
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Speaker 1: prowess that pleases all others, or esteem it light, it
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Speaker 1: would show, but small does. But there are ladies enough
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Speaker 1: who we leave her to have this courteous one in
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Speaker 1: their power, as I have thee here to dally dearly
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Speaker 1: with your dainty words, to comfort themselves and dispel their cares,
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Speaker 1: than much of the treasure and gold that they have.
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Speaker 1: But I praise the Lord who rules the sguise that
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Speaker 1: through his grace I have wholly in my hand that
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Speaker 1: which all desire. Great cheer. She that was so fair
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Speaker 1: a face made him the knight with discreet speeches, answered
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Speaker 1: her every proposal. Madam, quoth the merry man, Mary, reward you,
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Speaker 1: for in good faith I have found your generosity. Noble
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Speaker 1: people judge a person's deeds largely from the accounts of others.
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Speaker 1: But the praise that they accord my deserts is but idle.
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Speaker 1: It is simply your own nobility, who know nothing but good.
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Speaker 1: By Mary, quoth the gracious one. Methinks it is otherwise.
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Speaker 1: For were I worth all the store of women alive,
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Speaker 1: and all the wealth of the world were in my hands,
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Speaker 1: I should bargain and choose to get me a lord. Then,
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Speaker 1: for the good traits that I have found in the
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Speaker 1: night here, of beauty, and graciousness and gay seeming, and
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Speaker 1: from what I have heard before and hold in this
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Speaker 1: case to be true, there should be no hero in
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Speaker 1: the world ye chosen before you, Indeed, worthy one, quoth
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Speaker 1: the hero, YE might have chosen much better. But I
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Speaker 1: am proud of the estimation that YE put upon me,
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Speaker 1: And as your devoted servant, I hold you my sovereign,
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Speaker 1: and your knight I become, and CHRIST pay you for it.
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Speaker 1: Thus they spoke of various things till past the mid
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Speaker 1: morn and ever the lady behaved as if she loved
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Speaker 1: him much. But the hero fared with caution and made
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Speaker 1: courteous pretenses. Though why were the fairest of women, mused
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Speaker 1: the lady little love would he show? Because of the
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Speaker 1: danger that he seeks without reproach, the blow that may
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Speaker 1: slay him, but must needs be undergone. The lady then
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Speaker 1: asked lee, and he granted her full soon. Then she
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Speaker 1: gave him good day, and of a sudden laugh, And
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Speaker 1: as she stood there she astonished him with right smart words.
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Speaker 1: Now may he that speeds each speech pay you for
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Speaker 1: this entertainment, But that ye are gowan, it goes not
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Speaker 1: in my mind. Wherefore quoth the hero, And eagerly he asks,
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Speaker 1: afraid lest he had failed in the performance of his design.
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Speaker 1: But the lady blessed him and spake in this wise,
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Speaker 1: a man is good as gowan is properly held, and
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Speaker 1: courtesy is closed. So entirely in him could not easily
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Speaker 1: have lingered so long with a lady. But he had,
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Speaker 1: on some trifling excuse or other, courteously craved a kiss.
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Speaker 1: Then said, Gawin, indeed, be it as you like. I
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Speaker 1: shall kiss at your commandment, as becomes a knight, and
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Speaker 1: fear lest he displease you, so urge that plea no more.
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Speaker 1: She comes nearer at that and takes him in her arms,
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Speaker 1: stoops graciously down, and kisses the man. They courteously entrust
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Speaker 1: each other to Christ. She goes forth at the door
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Speaker 1: without more ado, and he prepares to rise and hurries.
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Speaker 1: A man calls to his chamberlain, chooses his weeds, steps
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Speaker 1: forth blithely to mass when he is ready, and then
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Speaker 1: he goes to his meet, behaving always courteously, and makes
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Speaker 1: merry all day till the bright moon rises. Never was
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Speaker 1: a hero fairer entertained by two such worthy dames, the
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Speaker 1: other and the younger. Much disport they make together, And
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Speaker 1: ever the lord of the land is bound in his
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Speaker 1: sport to hunt in holts and heath at barren hinds.
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Speaker 1: Such a sum of does and of other deer he
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Speaker 1: slew there by the time the sun was low, that
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Speaker 1: it were a marvel to estimate. Then eagerly they all
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Speaker 1: flocked together at the last, and quickly of the slain
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Speaker 1: deer they made a quarry. The leaders hastened there too,
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Speaker 1: with men enough gathered the greatest of Greece and proceeded
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Speaker 1: properly to undo them as the occasion demands. Some that
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Speaker 1: were there tried them at the essay and found two
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Speaker 1: fingers of fat on the leanest of all. Afterwards, they
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Speaker 1: slit the slot, seized the arbor, cut it free with
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Speaker 1: a sharp knife, and tied it up. Next they cut
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Speaker 1: down along the fore limbs and rent off the hide.
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Speaker 1: Then they opened the belly, took out the paunch, cutting eagerly,
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Speaker 1: and laid aside the knot. They began at the throat
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Speaker 1: again and skillfully divided the weazened from the windpipe and
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Speaker 1: threw out the guts. Then they cut out the shoulders
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Speaker 1: with their sharp knives and pulled them through by a
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Speaker 1: little hole, so as to have whole sides. Next they
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Speaker 1: divided the breast and cut it in two. And once
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Speaker 1: more they began at the throat, split the beasts quickly
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Speaker 1: right up to the crotch, took out the advancers, and
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Speaker 1: immediately severed all the filets by the ribs, and took
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Speaker 1: them off properly along the backbone, even to the haunch,
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Speaker 1: all of which hung together. Then they heaved it up
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Speaker 1: whole and cut it off there, and that they took
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Speaker 1: for the numbles, as it is rightly called. At the
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Speaker 1: fork of the thighs, they caught the flaps behind. Hastily,
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Speaker 1: they hewed the carcass two and severed it along the backbone.
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Speaker 1: Both the head and the neck they hewed off them,
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Speaker 1: and afterwards they sundered the sides swiftly from the shine
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Speaker 1: and Corby's fee, they cast in a green tree. Then
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Speaker 1: they pierced either thick side through by the rib, and
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Speaker 1: hung them each by the hawks of the haunches. Each
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Speaker 1: man for his fee, as it befell him to have
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Speaker 1: it upon a skin of a fair beast. They fed
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Speaker 1: their hounds with the liver, and the lights, the leather
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Speaker 1: of the paunches, and bread bathed in blood, mingled there
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Speaker 1: among loudly, they blew the prize and bade their hounds.
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Speaker 1: Then they started to carry home their meat, blowing full
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Speaker 1: stoutly many loud notes. By the time daylight was done,
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Speaker 1: the band had all arrived at the Comely Castle, where
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Speaker 1: the Knight is quietly waiting in comfort beside a bright fire.
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Speaker 1: When the Lord arrived and Gowan met him, there was
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Speaker 1: joy enough. Then the Lord commanded to gather in the
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Speaker 1: hall all the household and both the ladies to come
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Speaker 1: down with their maids. Before all the folk on the floor,
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Speaker 1: He bade men fetch his venison before him, and all
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Speaker 1: in merry sport. He called Gowan, told him the number
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Speaker 1: of the choice beasts, and showed him the fat meat
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Speaker 1: cut from the ribs. How like you this play? Have
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Speaker 1: I won the prize? Have I properly earned thanks by
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Speaker 1: my woodcraft? Yes, indeed, quoth the other hero. Here is
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Speaker 1: the fairest store that I saw this seven years in
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Speaker 1: the season of winter, and all I give you, gawan,
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Speaker 1: quoth the host. Then, for by our plighted covenant, you
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Speaker 1: can claim it as your own. That is true, replied
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Speaker 1: the hero, And I say to you the same, I
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Speaker 1: too have won this worthy thing within doors, and I
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Speaker 1: am sure that with quite as good will, it belongs
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Speaker 1: to you. He throws his arms about his fair neck
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Speaker 1: and kisses him as courteously as he know. How take
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Speaker 1: you there, my merchandise. I have won no more, though
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Speaker 1: I should give it up willingly, even if it were greater.
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Speaker 1: It is good, quoth the good man grad Mercy. Therefore
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Speaker 1: her chance, it might be better if you would tell
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Speaker 1: me where you won the same favor by your own wit.
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Speaker 1: That was not the agreement, said he ask me no more,
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Speaker 1: For ye have God all that belongs to you, be
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Speaker 1: sure of that. They laughed and made merry in low tones.
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Speaker 1: Then they went quickly to supper with new dainties. Enough,
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Speaker 1: and afterwards, as they sat by a fireplace in a chamber,
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Speaker 1: servants poured to them oft the choice wine. And again,
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Speaker 1: in their jesting, they agreed to make the same bargain
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Speaker 1: on the morning that they made before whatsoever chance be tied,
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Speaker 1: to exchange their winnings at night, when they met whatsoever
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Speaker 1: knew they win. They made this agreement before all the court,
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Speaker 1: and the beverage was brought forth merrily at that time.
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Speaker 1: Then at length they politely took leave, and everybody hurried
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Speaker 1: to bed. When the cock had crowed and cackled, but
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Speaker 1: thrice the lord had leaped from his bed. Likewise his followers,
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Speaker 1: each one, so that the meat and the masts were
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Speaker 1: properly dispatched, and the troop ready for the chase in
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Speaker 1: the wood ere any day sprang with hunters and horns.
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Speaker 1: They passed through the plains and uncoupled the racing hounds
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Speaker 1: among the thorns. Soon they heard the cry of the
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Speaker 1: dogs by a marsh side. The huntsmen encouraged the hounds
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Speaker 1: that first caught the scent, hurled sharp words at them
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Speaker 1: with a great noise. The hounds that heard it hastened
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Speaker 1: thither quickly, and fell immediately to the scent. Forty at once.
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Speaker 1: Then there rose such a resounding cry of gathered hounds
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Speaker 1: that the rocks about rang. The hunters cheered them with
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Speaker 1: horn and with mouth. Then altogether whither they swung in
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Speaker 1: a troop between a pool in that wood and a
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Speaker 1: wild crag on a hill beside a cliff at the
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Speaker 1: side of the bog, where the rough rock was rudely fallen.
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Speaker 1: They fared to the finding, and the hunters after them.
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Speaker 1: The men surrounded both the rock and the hill, because
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Speaker 1: they knew well that he was within them, the beast
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Speaker 1: that the bloodhounds were proclaiming. There. Then they beat on
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Speaker 1: the bushes and bade him rise up, and he savagely
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Speaker 1: rushed out athwart the men, the most formidable of swine.
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Speaker 1: Long since had he left the herd on account of
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Speaker 1: his age. For he was a huge beast, the greatest
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Speaker 1: of boars. His grinders when he grunted, grieved many for
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Speaker 1: when his first burst he thrust three to the earth,
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Speaker 1: and sped hastily forth at great speed, without respite. And
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Speaker 1: they hallooed high full loudly, and cried hey, hey, with
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Speaker 1: horns to mouth lustily they blew the recheat. Many were
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Speaker 1: the merry cries of men and of hounds that hastened
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Speaker 1: after this boar with hue and cry to kill him
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Speaker 1: full oft. He bides at bay and maims the pack
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Speaker 1: in the malay. He hurts many of the hounds, and
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Speaker 1: grievously they howl and yell. The hunters pushed forward then
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Speaker 1: to shoot at him, aimed at him with their arrows,
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Speaker 1: and hit him often, But the shafts that struck on
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Speaker 1: his shields give way at the pith, and the barbs
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Speaker 1: would not bite on his brawn, though the shaven shafts
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Speaker 1: shivered in pieces. The head hopp'd out again wheresoever it hit.
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Speaker 1: But when the dints of their keen strokes scared him
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Speaker 1: and then mad for destruction, and he rushed on, the
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Speaker 1: men did them soar hurt where he hurled forth, And
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Speaker 1: many a one grew weary thereat and gave back a little.
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Speaker 1: But the lord, on a light horse hurries after him,
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Speaker 1: blowing his bugle. Like a bold hero, he whinds the
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Speaker 1: retreat as he rides through the thick groves, following this
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Speaker 1: wild swine till the sun declined. Thus they drive on
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Speaker 1: the day with such doings. While our lovely hero lies
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Speaker 1: comfortably in his bed at home, in close full rich
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Speaker 1: of Hugh. The lady did not forget. She came to
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Speaker 1: greet him full early she was by him to change
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Speaker 1: his mind. She comes to the curtain and peeps at
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Speaker 1: the night. Sir Gowin at once welcomes her worthily, and
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Speaker 1: she returns his greeting right properly, seats yourself softly by
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Speaker 1: his side, laughs, opens, and with a lovely look, addresses
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Speaker 1: these words to him, Sir, if ye be Gowin, it
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Speaker 1: seems to me a very strange thing that a man
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Speaker 1: of such quality should not follow the conventions of good society,
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Speaker 1: and should, after making acquaintance with a person, cast him
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Speaker 1: utterly from his mind. Thou hast already forgotten what I
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Speaker 1: taught you yesterday in the best language that I knew.
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Speaker 1: What was that? Quoth the Hero? Forsooth I know not
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Speaker 1: if what YE say be true, I am to blame.
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Speaker 1: Yet I taught you about kissing, replied the fair lady.
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Speaker 1: Wherever a countenance is known, quickly to claim a kiss
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Speaker 1: that becomes every knight who practices courtesy. Seech such speech,
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Speaker 1: My dear lady, said the ready man. I durst not
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Speaker 1: claim it, lest I should be denied. If I proposed
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Speaker 1: and were refused, I should certainly be wrong in proffering,
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Speaker 1: by my faith, quoth the lovely dame. Ye cannot be refused.
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Speaker 1: Ye are strong enough to compel it by strength, if
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Speaker 1: ye pleased, supposing anywhere so ill bred as to deny you.
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Speaker 1: Yea by God, said gawin. Your speech is good, but
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Speaker 1: violence is considered discourteous among my people, as is any
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Speaker 1: gift that is not given with a good will. I
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Speaker 1: am at your command to kiss when ye like. Ye
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Speaker 1: may begin when ye please, and leave off whenever it
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Speaker 1: likes you. The lady stoops down and gracefully kisses his face.
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Speaker 1: They converse long of the fears and joys of love.
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Speaker 1: I should like to know from you, sir, said the
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Speaker 1: peerless lady. If it vexes you not, what might be
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Speaker 1: the reason that so young and so gallant person as
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Speaker 1: ye now are one so courteous and so knightly as
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Speaker 1: ye are known everywhere to be, have never spoken of love,
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Speaker 1: for in relating the pains of true knights, the chief
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Speaker 1: thing praised in all of chivalry, as the royal sport
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Speaker 1: of love and the science of arms. It is the title,
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Speaker 1: token and text of their works. How heroes, for their
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Speaker 1: true love adventured their lives, endured for their sweethearts doleful hours,
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Speaker 1: and afterwards avenged themselves by their valor, dispersed their care,
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Speaker 1: and brought bliss to bower with plenteous rewards for themselves.
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Speaker 1: And ye are the most renowned knight of your time.
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Speaker 1: Your fame and your worship walks everywhere. And now I
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Speaker 1: have sat by you here two separate times, Yet have
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Speaker 1: I never heard from your head a single word that
25:13
Speaker 1: betained at all to love less or more? And ye,
25:19
Speaker 1: that are so courteous and so distinguished in your vows,
25:22
Speaker 1: ought willingly to show and teach to a young thing
25:26
Speaker 1: some tokens of the art true love. Why are ye
25:31
Speaker 1: so rude, who are so praised? Is it that ye
25:35
Speaker 1: deem me too dull to hearken to your dalliance? For
25:39
Speaker 1: shame I came hither all alone to sit and learn
25:43
Speaker 1: from you some accomplishment. Do teach me part of your
25:47
Speaker 1: skill while my lord is from home. In good faith,
25:52
Speaker 1: quoth Gallan, God reward you. Great is the entertainment, and
25:57
Speaker 1: huge the pleasure to me, so worthy a one as
26:01
Speaker 1: ye should come hither and take pains with so poor
26:05
Speaker 1: a man, and play with your knight. In anywise it
26:09
Speaker 1: delights me but to take upon myself the task of
26:13
Speaker 1: expounding true love, of touching upon the themes of that
26:18
Speaker 1: text and the tales of arms before you, who I
26:22
Speaker 1: WoT well have more knowledge of that sort by the
26:27
Speaker 1: half than I or a hundred such have, or ever
26:31
Speaker 1: shall have so long as I live. That were a
26:35
Speaker 1: manifold folly by my troth, dear one, But I would
26:40
Speaker 1: work your will with all my might, highly beholden to
26:44
Speaker 1: you as I am, and I wish evermore to be
26:48
Speaker 1: your servant, So God save me. Thus the fair lady
26:54
Speaker 1: besought him and tried him oft, for to have won
26:59
Speaker 1: him to wrong whatever it was she purposed. But he
27:03
Speaker 1: defended himself fairly, so that no fault appeared, nor any
27:09
Speaker 1: evil on either side. They knew not but joy. They
27:14
Speaker 1: laughed and played a long time, till at last she
27:18
Speaker 1: kissed him, and took her leave fairly, and went her way.
27:23
Speaker 1: Then the hero bestirred himself and rose to the mass,
27:26
Speaker 1: And afterwards their dinner was dight and splendidly served. The
27:31
Speaker 1: hero sported with the ladies all day. But the lord
27:35
Speaker 1: raced over the land full oft, following his uncouth swine
27:40
Speaker 1: that rushed along the banks and bit in sunder the
27:44
Speaker 1: backs of his best bratches. There he abode at his
27:49
Speaker 1: bay till bowmen broke it and maugre his head made
27:54
Speaker 1: him move forth. Many fell arrows there flew when the
28:00
Speaker 1: folk gathered about. But yet at times he made the
28:04
Speaker 1: stoutest to start, till at last he was so weary
28:08
Speaker 1: he could no more run. But with the haste that
28:13
Speaker 1: he might, he won to a hole in a cleft
28:17
Speaker 1: by a rock where the burn runs. He got the
28:21
Speaker 1: bank at his back and began to scrape. The ugly
28:26
Speaker 1: froth foamed from the corners of his mouth, and he
28:29
Speaker 1: wet his white tusks. It was not pleasant for all
28:34
Speaker 1: the bold hunters that stood about him to approach him,
28:37
Speaker 1: even remotely, and to go nigh him durst none for
28:41
Speaker 1: fear of harm. He had hurt so many before that
28:46
Speaker 1: all seemed then full loath to be more torn with
28:50
Speaker 1: the tusks of that savage and crazed beast. When the
28:56
Speaker 1: night came himself reining his deed, and saw him bide
29:01
Speaker 1: at the bay near his men, he lighted nimbly down
29:05
Speaker 1: left his cursor, pulled out a bright brand, and boldly
29:10
Speaker 1: strode forth and hurried fast through the stream where the
29:14
Speaker 1: fell one abode. The wild creature was ware of the white,
29:19
Speaker 1: with weapon in hand, and heaved on high his hairs
29:25
Speaker 1: so fiercely he snorted that many feared for their lord,
29:29
Speaker 1: lest to him befell the worst. The swine rushed directly
29:34
Speaker 1: upon the hero, so that man and boar were both
29:38
Speaker 1: in a heap in the wildest of the water. But
29:42
Speaker 1: the boar had the worst, for the man marked him
29:45
Speaker 1: well as they first met, and skillfully set his point
29:49
Speaker 1: exactly in the slot, pierced him up to the hilt,
29:53
Speaker 1: so that his heart split, and he gave way squeally,
29:58
Speaker 1: and went quickly down the water. A hundred hounds seized
30:03
Speaker 1: him and fiercely bit on him. Men brought him to land,
30:07
Speaker 1: and the dogs finished him. There was blowing of the
30:13
Speaker 1: prize on many a loud horn high hallooing aloft by
30:18
Speaker 1: mighty hunters. Branchets bade the beast, as the masters bade,
30:24
Speaker 1: who were the chief huntsmen of that swift chase. Then
30:29
Speaker 1: a wight that was wise, and woodcraft begins skillfully to
30:33
Speaker 1: unlace this bore. First he hews off his head and
30:37
Speaker 1: sets it on high, and afterwards splits him all down
30:42
Speaker 1: his rough back, and takes out the bowels and singes
30:46
Speaker 1: them on the coals. Then, with bread mingled with these,
30:50
Speaker 1: he rewards his hounds. Afterwards he cuts the brawn in
30:54
Speaker 1: fine broad shields, and has out the hasslets in the
30:59
Speaker 1: proper manner. And now they bind the halves all whole together,
31:05
Speaker 1: and afterwards stoutly hang them on a stiff staff. Now
31:10
Speaker 1: with this same swine they take their way home. The
31:14
Speaker 1: boar's head was borne before the warrior who slew him
31:18
Speaker 1: at this dream through the force of his own strong hand.
31:23
Speaker 1: It seemed long to him until he saw Sir Gowin
31:26
Speaker 1: in the hall. Then he called, and Gowan came promptly
31:30
Speaker 1: to take his fees there. The lord jested full loudly
31:36
Speaker 1: and merrily. He laughed when he saw Sir Gowin. With pleasure.
31:40
Speaker 1: He spoke the good ladies were called, and the household gathered.
31:44
Speaker 1: He showed them the shields and told them the tale
31:47
Speaker 1: of the girth and the length of the wild swine,
31:51
Speaker 1: and also of his viciousness in the wood where he fled.
31:56
Speaker 1: That other knight full calmly commended his deeds, and praised
31:59
Speaker 1: it as a great bag that he had made for
32:03
Speaker 1: such brawn of a beast. The bold man said, nor
32:07
Speaker 1: such sides of a swine saw he never before. Then
32:13
Speaker 1: they handled the huge head. The courteous man praised it
32:17
Speaker 1: and made much of it to honor the Lord. Now gwan,
32:21
Speaker 1: quoth the good man, this game is your own, by
32:24
Speaker 1: fine and fast forward. Truly ye know it is, sooth
32:29
Speaker 1: quoth the hero, and is truly all my getting I
32:33
Speaker 1: shall give you in turn by my troth. He took
32:37
Speaker 1: the warrior about the neck and courteously kissed him, and
32:40
Speaker 1: another time he served him the same. Now we are even,
32:45
Speaker 1: quoth the warrior to night, of all the covenants that
32:48
Speaker 1: we knit by law since I came hither, said the Lord,
32:53
Speaker 1: by Saint Giles, ye are the best that I know.
32:57
Speaker 1: Ye will be rich in a short time if ye
33:00
Speaker 1: drive such chafer. Then they raised tables aloft on trestles
33:06
Speaker 1: and cast cloths upon them. The clear light then appeared
33:10
Speaker 1: along the walls. As men sat and distributed waxen torches
33:16
Speaker 1: all about the hall. Much mirth and glee rose up
33:19
Speaker 1: therein about the fire and the hearth, and in various
33:23
Speaker 1: wise at supper, and after many noble songs, they sang
33:28
Speaker 1: as Christmas carols and new dance tunes, with all the
33:32
Speaker 1: mannerly mirth that a man can tell of. And ever
33:36
Speaker 1: our lovely Knight sat beside the lady, such seemly cheers
33:41
Speaker 1: she made to the hero, sought with such sly stolen
33:45
Speaker 1: glances to please the stalwart miner, that the White was
33:49
Speaker 1: all amazed and wroth with himself. But he would not,
33:53
Speaker 1: on account of his breeding, reprove her, but responded in
33:57
Speaker 1: all courteousy, how howsoever outrageous she might be. When they
34:04
Speaker 1: had played in the hall as long as their will lasted,
34:08
Speaker 1: the Lord called to bedwoods, and to the room with
34:12
Speaker 1: the fireplace. They passed, and there they drank and talk,
34:17
Speaker 1: and the Lord proposed again to make the same arrangement
34:21
Speaker 1: for New Year's Eve. But the Knight craved leave to depart,
34:25
Speaker 1: for it was nigh at the term that he must keep.
34:29
Speaker 1: The Lord hindered him from that, persuaded him to linger,
34:32
Speaker 1: and said, as I am a true man, I pledge
34:35
Speaker 1: my troth thou shalt reach the green chapel to do
34:39
Speaker 1: thy tasks, Sir by new year's light, long before prime. Therefore,
34:45
Speaker 1: lie in thy loft and take thine ease, and I
34:48
Speaker 1: shall hunt in this holt and keep the covenant. Change
34:53
Speaker 1: merchandise with THEE when I return hither, For I have
34:57
Speaker 1: tried THEE twice, and faithful I find THEE now third time.
35:02
Speaker 1: Best time. Think on the morrow. Make we marry while
35:08
Speaker 1: we may, and be joyful, for a man can catch
35:11
Speaker 1: trouble whensoever he likes. This was readily granted, and Gowan stayed.
35:19
Speaker 1: Drink was quickly brought to them, and to bed they
35:22
Speaker 1: went with lights. Sir gowin lay and slept full, still
35:26
Speaker 1: and soft all night. The Lord, mindful of his hunting,
35:31
Speaker 1: was dightful. Early after Mass, he and his men took
35:35
Speaker 1: a morsel. Mary was the morning he asks for his mount,
35:40
Speaker 1: and all the sportsmen who should accompany him on horse
35:44
Speaker 1: were ready mounted on their steeds before the hall gates.
35:48
Speaker 1: Wondrous fair was the field for the frost still lingered,
35:52
Speaker 1: the sun rose in a rack of ruddy red, and
35:56
Speaker 1: drove all the clouds from the welkin. The hunter's uncoupled
36:00
Speaker 1: by a holt side, and the rocks in the forest
36:03
Speaker 1: rang for the noise of their horns. Some dogs fell
36:07
Speaker 1: in ascent where the fox had loitered, followed it obliquely
36:11
Speaker 1: through the cunning of their wilds. A kennet cried upon it.
36:16
Speaker 1: The huntsmen encouraged him, and his fellows hastened. After panting thickly,
36:22
Speaker 1: they ran forth in a rabble on Renaud's very track,
36:27
Speaker 1: and he hurried before them. Soon they found him, and
36:30
Speaker 1: when they actually saw him, they chased him fast, baying
36:35
Speaker 1: him full fiercely, with a huge noise. And he tramps
36:40
Speaker 1: and runs through many a rough grove, doubles, and hearkens
36:44
Speaker 1: by hedges, full oft. At the last by a little ditch,
36:48
Speaker 1: he leaps over a spinney and steals out full stilly
36:53
Speaker 1: by a ruffed rand. Half escaped from the wood, he
36:58
Speaker 1: turns with wiles from the house. But then he arrived
37:02
Speaker 1: ere he knew it at a chosen stand, where in
37:06
Speaker 1: an instant three stout hunters in gray threatened him. At once.
37:12
Speaker 1: He blenched again quickly, and bravely started off, with all
37:17
Speaker 1: the woe in the word he turned away to the wood.
37:23
Speaker 1: Then was it a pure joy to listen to the hounds.
37:26
Speaker 1: When all the gathered mute got few of him. The
37:31
Speaker 1: cry they sat on his head at the sight was
37:34
Speaker 1: as if all the resounding cliffs had clattered down in
37:38
Speaker 1: a heap. Here he was hallooed loudly when the hunters
37:42
Speaker 1: met him, loudly, cried upon with noisy calls. There he
37:47
Speaker 1: was threatened, and often called thief. And ever the ticklers
37:51
Speaker 1: were at his tail, so that he could not tarry.
37:55
Speaker 1: Oft was he run at when he raked out, and
37:59
Speaker 1: oft he reeled in again. So wily was Renard, And
38:03
Speaker 1: ever he led the bespattered lord and his troop in
38:07
Speaker 1: this manner among the hills, now in them, now over,
38:12
Speaker 1: now under. While the courteous knight at home slept wholesomely
38:17
Speaker 1: within the comely curtains on the cold morn. But the
38:23
Speaker 1: lady for love cared not to sleep, nor to give
38:27
Speaker 1: up the purpose that bode in her heart. But up
38:30
Speaker 1: she rose quickly and took her way thither in a
38:33
Speaker 1: gay mantle, neatly reaching to the earth and furred, full fine,
38:40
Speaker 1: with skins of the best, no ornaments of gold on
38:44
Speaker 1: her head, but only the bright stone set above her
38:48
Speaker 1: tressor in clusters of twenty, with her fair face and
38:53
Speaker 1: her lovely throat, all naked, her breast bare before and
38:58
Speaker 1: behind too. She comes within the chamber door and closes it.
39:04
Speaker 1: After her throws up a window and calls out the
39:07
Speaker 1: white and smartly thus stirred him with her fair, cheery words, Ah, man,
39:15
Speaker 1: how can you sleep this morning? Is so clear? Though
39:21
Speaker 1: he was drowsing deep, yet could he hear her in
39:26
Speaker 1: the dreary depths of a dream. The noble was sunk
39:29
Speaker 1: like a man suffering from many sad thoughts. How destiny
39:34
Speaker 1: should dight him? Is weird at the Green Chapel that
39:37
Speaker 1: day when he met the man and had to abide
39:41
Speaker 1: his buffet without more debate. But when he had fully
39:45
Speaker 1: recovered his wits, he emerged from his dreams and answered
39:49
Speaker 1: with haste. The lovely lady came, laughing, sweetly, stooped over
39:54
Speaker 1: his fair face, and courteously kissed him. He welcomed her
39:59
Speaker 1: worthily with choice cheer to see her so glorious and
40:03
Speaker 1: so gaily attired, so faultless a feature, and so lovely
40:08
Speaker 1: of color, warmed his heart with a welling joy. With
40:12
Speaker 1: smooth and gracious smiling, they straight way waxed mirthful. All
40:18
Speaker 1: was bliss and good cheer that passed between them. They
40:22
Speaker 1: exchanged goodly words, much happiness they felt, and great was
40:26
Speaker 1: the peril between them unless Mary thought of her knight,
40:33
Speaker 1: For that beauteous princess constrained him so sorely, and the
40:38
Speaker 1: danger pressed him so nigh that of necessity it behooved
40:42
Speaker 1: him either to accept her love or rudely refuse it.
40:47
Speaker 1: He thought much of his courtesy lest he should prove
40:51
Speaker 1: a clown, and more on his villainy, lest he should
40:54
Speaker 1: do sin, and betrayed her to the hero who owned
40:57
Speaker 1: the castle god shield, quoth the warrior, that shall not
41:02
Speaker 1: befall with a little loved aliance, he laid aside all
41:08
Speaker 1: the pointed speeches that sprang from her mouth, quoth the
41:12
Speaker 1: lady to the hero. Ye deserve blame if ye not
41:16
Speaker 1: love her, who is so near you, of all creatures
41:20
Speaker 1: in the world, most wounded in heart, Unless indeed ye
41:24
Speaker 1: have a sweetheart, a dearer being that pleases you better,
41:29
Speaker 1: and ye have plighted faith so firmly to that gentle one,
41:33
Speaker 1: that ye care not loosen it verily. Now that is
41:38
Speaker 1: what I believe, and I pray you that you tell
41:41
Speaker 1: me truly. For all the loves in the world deny
41:44
Speaker 1: not the truth with guile by Saint John, said the knight,
41:50
Speaker 1: and courteously he smiled, I have none, and none will
41:54
Speaker 1: I have. That is the worst of all, quoth the lady.
42:00
Speaker 1: I am answered, indeed, to my sorrow, kiss me now calmly,
42:04
Speaker 1: and I shall go. Hence I can only mourn in
42:07
Speaker 1: the world as a maid that has loved much. Sighing,
42:12
Speaker 1: she stooped down and kissed him seemly, and then she
42:17
Speaker 1: severed from him and said, as she stood now, dear
42:22
Speaker 1: at this departing, do me this comfort, give me somewhat
42:26
Speaker 1: of thy gift, thy glove, if it might be that
42:30
Speaker 1: I might think on thee sir, to lessen my mourning.
42:34
Speaker 1: Now in truth, quoth that man, I would I had
42:38
Speaker 1: here for thy love, the dearest thing that I wield,
42:42
Speaker 1: For truly ye have right oft in reason deserved a
42:46
Speaker 1: greater reward than I could reckon. But to exchange with
42:50
Speaker 1: you love tokens that would profit but little, it is
42:55
Speaker 1: not for your honor to have at this time a
42:58
Speaker 1: glove of gowans gift for a keepsake. And I am
43:03
Speaker 1: here on an errand in land's uncouth, and have no
43:07
Speaker 1: men with males full of precious things for remembrance at
43:11
Speaker 1: this moment, And that mislikes me, lady. But every man
43:17
Speaker 1: must act according to his circumstances, and none should take
43:21
Speaker 1: it ill or repine. Now, courteous, an honorable one, quoth
43:26
Speaker 1: that lovesome lady. Though I shall have nothing of yours,
43:30
Speaker 1: yet shall ye have of mine? She reached him a
43:35
Speaker 1: rich ring of red gold work, with a gleaming stone
43:39
Speaker 1: standing aloft that shed blushing beams like the bright sun.
43:46
Speaker 1: Know ye well it was worth wealthful huge. But the
43:53
Speaker 1: man refused it, and readily he said, I desire no
43:56
Speaker 1: great gifts, my gay one. At this time. I have
44:00
Speaker 1: naught to give you, and naught will I take. She
44:04
Speaker 1: offered it him full pressingly, and he refused her offer,
44:08
Speaker 1: and swore swiftly on his sooth that he would not
44:12
Speaker 1: take it. And she sorrowed that he refused, and said, thereafter,
44:16
Speaker 1: if ye refuse my ring, since it seems too rich,
44:20
Speaker 1: and ye would not be so highly beholden to me,
44:24
Speaker 1: I shall give you my girdle that will enrich you less.
44:29
Speaker 1: She lightly caught a laze that went about her sides,
44:32
Speaker 1: knit upon her kirtle under the bright mantle. It was
44:36
Speaker 1: adorned with green silk, and ornamented with gold broidered all around,
44:42
Speaker 1: decked with fringes, and that she offered to the hero,
44:46
Speaker 1: and gaily besought that though it were unworthy, he would
44:50
Speaker 1: take it. And he denied that he would in any
44:53
Speaker 1: wise take either gold or present ere. God sent him
44:57
Speaker 1: grace to achieve the chance the he had chosen there.
45:02
Speaker 1: And therefore I pray you be not displeased, and give
45:06
Speaker 1: over your attempt, for I intend never to consent. I
45:10
Speaker 1: am dearly beholden to you because of your entertainment, and
45:14
Speaker 1: ever in hot and in cold, I will be your
45:18
Speaker 1: true servant. Now refuse you this silk, said the lady.
45:23
Speaker 1: There because it is simple in itself, as it certainly
45:27
Speaker 1: seems to be. Lo little it is unless it is worth.
45:32
Speaker 1: But whoso knew the virtues that are knit therein, he
45:37
Speaker 1: would esteem it at a greater price peradventure. For whatsoever
45:43
Speaker 1: man is girt with this green lace? While he has
45:47
Speaker 1: it fittingly wrapped about him. There is no warrior under
45:52
Speaker 1: heaven that can wound him, for he would not be
45:55
Speaker 1: slain by any device in the world. Then the Knight paused,
46:03
Speaker 1: and it came to his heart that it would be
46:06
Speaker 1: a jewel for the peril that awaited him when he
46:09
Speaker 1: arrived at the chapel to undergo his ordeal. Could he
46:14
Speaker 1: manage to be unslain that were a noble device? Then
46:20
Speaker 1: he indulged her entreaties and suffered her to speak, And
46:24
Speaker 1: she pressed the belt on him and offered it to
46:27
Speaker 1: him eagerly, and he accepted it. And she gave it
46:32
Speaker 1: him with a good will, and besought him for her sake,
46:36
Speaker 1: never to discover it, but to conceal it loyally from
46:40
Speaker 1: her lord. The man agreed that never person should know it, indeed,
46:45
Speaker 1: but they twain full oft. He thanked her right glad
46:49
Speaker 1: in heart, and thought by that she had kissed the
46:53
Speaker 1: stout Knight three times. Then she takes her leave and
46:59
Speaker 1: leaves him there for more entertainment she could not get
47:03
Speaker 1: from that man. When she was gone, Sir Gowain bestirs himself,
47:08
Speaker 1: rises and dresses in noble array. He lays up the
47:12
Speaker 1: lovelace the lady had given him, hides it full cleverly
47:16
Speaker 1: where he can find it again. Then promptly he takes
47:20
Speaker 1: his way to the chapel, quietly approaches to the priest,
47:23
Speaker 1: and prays him there that he would elevate his life
47:27
Speaker 1: and teach him better how his soul should be saved
47:31
Speaker 1: when he should go. Hence, then he shrives him cleanly
47:35
Speaker 1: and shows his misdeeds both the more and the less,
47:40
Speaker 1: beseeches mercy and begs for absolution, and the priest assoils
47:46
Speaker 1: him thoroughly and sets him as cleanly as if Doomsday
47:49
Speaker 1: had been due on the morrow. And afterwards Gowin makes
47:54
Speaker 1: more mirth among the fair ladies that day, with comely
47:58
Speaker 1: carols and all kinds of jobs, than ever he did
48:01
Speaker 1: before till the dark night. Everyone had pleasure of him there,
48:06
Speaker 1: and said indeed that he had never been so merry
48:10
Speaker 1: since he came hither. Now let him linger in that
48:16
Speaker 1: place where love he tied him. The Lord is still
48:21
Speaker 1: in the field leading his men. He has overtaken the
48:25
Speaker 1: fox that he has followed so long as he sprinted
48:28
Speaker 1: over a spinney to spy the rascal, where he heard
48:32
Speaker 1: the hounds that hastened fast after him. Renard came running
48:36
Speaker 1: through a rough grove, and all the rabble in a
48:40
Speaker 1: rout right at his heels. The man was ware of
48:44
Speaker 1: the game, and warily abode, hold out his bright brand
48:49
Speaker 1: and struck at feast. And he dodged from the sharp weapon,
48:54
Speaker 1: and would have turned, but a dog seized him ere
48:58
Speaker 1: he could and write before the horses feet. They all
49:02
Speaker 1: fell on him and worried the wily one with a
49:04
Speaker 1: great noise. The lord lighted quickly and caught him forthwith,
49:10
Speaker 1: pulled him full hastily out of the dog's mouths, and
49:13
Speaker 1: holding him high over his head, hallooed fast. And there
49:18
Speaker 1: many fierce hounds bade him hunters hide them thither with
49:23
Speaker 1: horns full merry, ever blowing the rig sheet until they
49:27
Speaker 1: saw the hero. As soon as his noble company was come,
49:32
Speaker 1: all that bare bugle blew at once, and all the
49:36
Speaker 1: others that had no horns hallooed. It was the merriest
49:41
Speaker 1: mute that ever man heard, the rich riot that there
49:45
Speaker 1: was raised for Renard's soul. They rewarded the hounds there,
49:50
Speaker 1: stroked them and rubbed their heads, And afterwards they took
49:53
Speaker 1: Renaud and turned off his coat. And then they hastened home,
50:01
Speaker 1: for it was nigh knight blowing full stoutly in their
50:05
Speaker 1: great horns. The lord alighted at last at his dear home,
50:10
Speaker 1: found fire on the floor, and the hero beside it, Sir,
50:13
Speaker 1: gawain the good that glad was withal among the ladies
50:18
Speaker 1: in their love, he had much joy. He wore a
50:22
Speaker 1: mantle of blue that reached to the earth. His surcoat,
50:25
Speaker 1: that was softly furred became him well, and his hood
50:29
Speaker 1: of the same hung on his shoulder, trimmed all about
50:34
Speaker 1: with fine fur were both. He met this good man
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Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor, and all joyfully he
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Speaker 1: greeted him, and goodly he said, Now I shall fulfill
50:44
Speaker 1: our covenant that we have just made. Where no drink
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Speaker 1: was spared. Then he embraces the knight and kisses him
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Speaker 1: thrice with as much gusto and as soberly as he
50:55
Speaker 1: could give them. By Christ, quoth the other Knight, YE
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Speaker 1: get much bliss in the profits of this business, if
51:03
Speaker 1: ye drive good bargains of the bargain, No matter, quoth
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Speaker 1: curtly that other, so long as the debts that I
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Speaker 1: owed are properly paid. Merry quoth the other man. My
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Speaker 1: offering is the worse. For I have hunted all this day,
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Speaker 1: and nought have I got, But this foul fox fell
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Speaker 1: the fiend have the good ones, and that is full
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Speaker 1: poor to pay for such fine things as ye have
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Speaker 1: given me here, three such rare kisses. It is enough,
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Speaker 1: quoth Sir Gawain. I thank you by the rude. And
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Speaker 1: as they stood there, the Lord told him how the
51:45
Speaker 1: fox was slain. With mirth and minstrelry, with meats at
51:51
Speaker 1: their will, they made as merry as any men could,
51:57
Speaker 1: with laughing of ladies, with merry jests. Gwin and the
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Speaker 1: good men were both as glad as if the court
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Speaker 1: were mad or else drunk. Both the man and his
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Speaker 1: retinue made many jokes till the season arrived, when they
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Speaker 1: must sever the men had to go to their beds
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Speaker 1: at last. Then, humbly, this gentleman takes his leave of
52:20
Speaker 1: the Lord first, and fairly he thanks him for such
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Speaker 1: a joyous sojourn as I have had here, for the
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Speaker 1: honor you have shown me at this high feast, the
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Speaker 1: High King reward you. I can only give you myself
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Speaker 1: to be one of your men, if that pleases you,
52:37
Speaker 1: For I must needs as ye know, proceed to morrow,
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Speaker 1: if ye grant me some man to show, as you promised,
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Speaker 1: the way to the green Chapel, as God will suffer
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Speaker 1: me to take on New Year's Day the doom of
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Speaker 1: my fate. In good faith, quoth the good Man, with
52:58
Speaker 1: a good will, all that ever I promised you, I
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Speaker 1: will perform therewith He assigns a servant to set him
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Speaker 1: in the way and conduct him by the downs, that
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Speaker 1: he should, without hesitation, travel through the forest and fare
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Speaker 1: at the best in the woods. The Lord thanked Gowin
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Speaker 1: for the worship he had been willing to show him.
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Speaker 1: Then the Knight took his leave of the beautiful ladies.
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Speaker 1: With care and with kissing, he speaks to them, and
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Speaker 1: many earnest thanks he presses upon them, and they returned
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Speaker 1: the same again promptly they entrusted him to Christ with
53:40
Speaker 1: sighings full sad. Afterwards, he graciously departs from the household.
53:47
Speaker 1: Each man that he met he thanked him for his
53:50
Speaker 1: service and his solace, and the various pains with which
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Speaker 1: they had been busy to serve him. And each man
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Speaker 1: was as to sever from him there as they had
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Speaker 1: ever dwelt worthily with that hero. Then with people and
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Speaker 1: with light. He was led to his chamber and blithely
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Speaker 1: brought to bed, to be at his rest. Whether he
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Speaker 1: slept soundly I dared not say, for he had much
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Speaker 1: to think of on the morrow. If he would let
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Speaker 1: him lie there, he was near what he sought. If
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Speaker 1: ye will be still, awhile I shall tell you how
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Speaker 1: they fared end a fit. The third