Part 5

VIII.

Ande al grayþed in grene þis gome & his wedes, 152 A strayt cote ful stre3t, þat stek on his sides, A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne, With pelure pured apert þe pane ful clene, With blyþe blaunner ful bry3t, & his hod boþe, 156 Þat wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes Heme wel haled, hose of þat same grene, Þat spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder, Of bry3t golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche 160 & scholes vnder schankes, þere þe schalk rides; & alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure, Boþe þe barres of his belt & oþer blyþe stones, Þat were richely rayled in his aray clene, 164 Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3, Þat were to tor for to telle of tryfles þe halue, Þat were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es, With gay gaudi of grene, þe golde ay in myddes; 168 Þe pendauntes of his payttrure, þe proude cropure His molaynes, & alle þe metail anamayld was þenne Þe steropes þat he stod on, stayned of þe same, & his arsoun3 al after, & his aþel sturtes, 172 Þat euer glemered & glent al of grene stones. Þe fole þat he ferkkes on, fyn of þat ilke, sertayn; A grene hors gret & þikke, 176 A stede ful stif to strayne, In brawden brydel quik, To þe gome he wat3 ful gayn. [Fol. 93b.]

IX.

Wel gay wat3 þis gome gered in grene, 180 & þe here of his hed of his hors swete; Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes; A much berd as a busk ouer his brest henges, Þat wyth his hi3lich here, þat of his hed reches, 184 Wat3 euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes, Þat half his armes þer vnder were halched in þe wyse Of a kynge3 capados, þat closes his swyre. Þe mane of þat mayn hors much to hit lyke, 188 Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony, Folden in wyth fildore aboute þe fayre grene, Ay a herle of þe here, an oþer of golde; Þe tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute, 192 & bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bry3t grene, Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as þe dok lasted, Syþen þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte, Þer mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen. 196 Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke þat hym rydes, Wat3 neuer sene in þat sale wyth sy3t er þat tyme, with y3e; He loked as layt so ly3t, 200 So sayd al þat hym sy3e, Hit semed as no mon my3t, Vnder his dyntte3 dry3e.

Wheþer hade he no helme ne hawbrgh nauþer, 204 Ne no pysan, ne no plate þat pented to armes, Ne no schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte, Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe, Þat is grattest in grene, when greue3 ar bare, 208 & an ax in his oþer, a hoge & vn-mete, A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle quo-so my3t; Þe hede of an eln3erde þe large lenkþe hade, Þe grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen, 212 Þe bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge, As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores; Þe stele of a stif staf þe sturne hit bi-grypte, Þat wat3 wounden wyth yrn to þe wande3 ende, [Fol. 94.] 216 & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios werkes; A lace lapped aboute, þat louked at þe hede, & so after þe halme halched ful ofte, Wyth tryed tassele3 þerto tacched in-noghe, 220 On botoun3 of þe bry3t grene brayden ful ryche. Þis haþel helde3 hym in, & þe halle entres, Driuande to þe he3e dece, dut he no woþe, Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked. 224 Þe fyrst word þat he warp, "wher is," he sayd, "Þe gouernour of þis gyng? gladly I wolde Se þat segg in sy3t, & with hym self speke raysoun." 228 To kny3te3 he kest his y3e, & reled hym vp & doun, He stemmed & con studie, Quo walt þer most renoun.

XI.

232 Ther wat3 lokyng on lenþe, þe lude to be-holde, For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t, Þat a haþel & a horse my3t such a hwe lach, As growe grene as þe gres & grener hit semed, 236 Þen grene aumayl on golde lowande bry3ter; Al studied þat þer stod, & stalked hym nerre, Wyth al þe wonder of þe worlde, what he worch schulde. For fele sellye3 had þay sen, bot such neuer are, 240 For-þi for fantoum & fayry3e þe folk þere hit demed; Þer-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony aþel freke, & al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten, In a swoghe sylence þur3 þe sale riche 244 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3 in hy3e; I deme hit not al for doute, Bot sum for cortaysye, 248 Bot let hym þat al schulde loute, Cast vnto þat wy3e.

XII.

Þenn Arþour bifore þe hi3 dece þat auenture byholde3, & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer, 252 & sayde, "wy3e, welcum iwys to þis place, Þe hede of þis ostel Arthour I hat, [Fol. 94b.] Li3t luflych adoun, & lenge, I þe praye, & quat so þy wylle is, we schal wyt after." 256 "Nay, as help me," quod þe haþel, "he þat on hy3e syttes, To wone any quyle in þis won, hit wat3 not myn ernde; Bot for þe los of þe lede is lyft vp so hy3e, & þy bur3 & þy burnes best ar holden, 260 Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde, Þe wy3test & þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde, Preue for to play wyth in oþer pure layke3; & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, 264 & þat hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at þis tyme. 3e may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here, Þat I passe as in pes, & no ply3t seche; For had I founded in fere, in fe3tyng wyse, 268 I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme boþe, A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry3t, Ande oþer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als, Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer. 272 Bot if þou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen, Þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask, bi ry3t." Arthour con onsware, 276 & sayd, "sir cortays kny3t, If þou craue batayl bare, Here fayle3 þou not to fy3t."

XIII.

"Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I þe telle, 280 Hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdle3 chylder; If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede, Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so wayke. For-þy I craue in þis court a crystmas gomen, 284 For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony; If any so hardy in þis hous holde3 hym-seluen, Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede, Þat dar stifly strike a strok for an oþer, 288 I schal gif hym of my gyft þys giserne ryche, Þis ax, þat is heué in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes, & I schal bide þe fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95.] If any freke be so felle to fonde þat I telle, 292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach þis weppen, I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen, & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on þis flet, Elle3 þou wyl di3t me þe dom to dele hym an oþer, 296 barlay; & 3et gif hym respite, A twelmonyth & a day;-- Now hy3e, & let se tite 300 Dar any her-inne o3t say."

XIV.

If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were þanne Alle þe hered-men in halle, þe hy3 & þe lo3e; Þe renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel, 304 & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute, Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene, Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse. When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e, 308 Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke: "What, is þis Arþures hous," quod þe haþel þenne, "Þat al þe rous rennes of, þur3 ryalmes so mony? Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes, 312 Your grydel-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes? Now is þe reuel & þe renoun of þe rounde table Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche; For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed!" 316 Wyth þis he la3es so loude, þat þe lorde greued; Þe blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face & lere; He wex as wroth as wynde, 320 So did alle þat þer were Þe kyng as kene bi kynde, Þen stod þat stif mon nere.

XV.

Ande sayde, "haþel, by heuen þyn askyng is nys, 324 & as þou foly hat3 frayst, fynde þe be-houes; I know no gome þat is gast of þy grete wordes. Gif me now þy geserne, vpon gode3 halue, & I schal bayþen þy bone, þat þou boden habbes." 328 Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde; [Fol. 95b.] Þen feersly þat oþer freke vpon fote ly3tis. Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & þe halme grype3, & sturnely sture3 hit aboute, þat stryke wyth hit þo3t. 332 Þe stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t, Herre þen ani in þe hous by þe hede & more; Wyth sturne schere þer he stod, he stroked his berde, & wyth a countenaunce dry3e he dro3 doun his cote, 336 No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dinte3, Þen any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk of wyne, Gawan, þat sate bi þe quene, 340 To þe kyng he can enclyne, "I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene, Þis melly mot be myne."

XVI.

"Wolde 3e, worþilych lorde," quod Gawan to þe kyng, 344 "Bid me bo3e fro þis benche, & stonde by yow þere, Þat I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde þis table, & þat my legge lady lyked not ille, I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche. 348 For me þink hit not semly, as hit is soþ knawen, Þer such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale, Þa33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen, Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten, 352 Þat vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle, Ne better bodyes on bent, þer baret is rered; I am þe wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest, & lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes þe soþe, 356 Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse, No bounté bot your blod I in my bodé knowe; & syþen þis note is so nys, þat no3t hit yow falles, & I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me, 360 & if I carp not comlyly, let alle þis cort rych, bout blame." Ryche to-geder con roun, & syþen þay redden alle same, 364 To ryd þe kyng wyth croun, & gif Gawan þe game.

XVII.

Þen comaunded þe kyng þe kny3t for to ryse; [Fol. 96.] & he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre, 368 Kneled doun bifore þe kyng, & cache3 þat weppen; & he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde, & gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes Þat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boþe. 372 "Kepe þe cosyn," quod þe kyng, "þat þou on kyrf sette, & if þou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe, Þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after. Gawan got3 to þe gome, with giserne in honde, 376 & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer þe helder Þen carppe3 to sir Gawan þe kny3t in þe grene, "Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe. Fyrst I eþe þe, haþel, how þat þou hattes, 380 Þat þou me telle truly, as I tryst may?" "In god fayth," quod þe goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte, Þat bede þe þis buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after, & at þis tyme twelmonyth take at þe anoþer, 384 Wyth what weppen so þou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3, on lyue." Þat oþer on-sware3 agayn, "Sir Gawan, so mot I þryue, 388 As I am ferly fayn. Þis dint þat þou schal dryue."

XVIII.

"Bigog," quod þe grene kny3t, "sir Gawan, melykes, Þat I schal fange at þy fust þat I haf frayst here; 392 & þou hat3 redily rehersed, bi resoun ful trwe, Clanly al þe couenaunt þat I þe kynge asked, Saf þat þou schal siker me, segge, bi þi trawþe, Þat þou schal seche me þi-self, where-so þou hopes 396 I may be funde vpon folde, & foch þe such wages As þou deles me to day, bifore þis douþe ryche." "Where schulde I wale þe," quod Gauan, "where is þy place? I wot neuer where þou wonyes, bi hym þat me wro3t, 400 Ne I know not þe, kny3t, þy cort, ne þi name. Bot teche me truly þer-to, & telle me howe þou hattes, & I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me þeder, & þat I swere þe for soþe, & by my seker traweþ." [Fol. 96b.] 404 "Þat is in-nogh in nwe 3er, hit nedes no more," Quod þe gome in þe grene to Gawan þe hende, "3if I þe telle trwly, quen I þe tape haue, & þou me smoþely hat3 smyten, smartly I þe teche 408 Of my hous, & my home, & myn owen nome, Þen may þou frayst my fare, & forwarde3 holde, & if I spende no speche, þenne spede3 þou þe better, For þou may leng in þy londe, & layt no fyrre, 412 bot slokes; Ta now þy grymme tole to þe, & let se how þou cnoke3." "Gladly sir, for soþe," 416 Quod Gawan; his ax he strokes.

XIX.

The grene kny3t vpon grounde grayþely hym dresses, A littel lut with þe hede, þe lere he discouere3, His longe louelych lokke3 he layd ouer his croun. 420 Let þe naked nec to þe note schewe. Gauan gripped to his ax, & gederes hit on hy3t, Þe kay fot on þe folde he be-fore sette, Let hit doun ly3tly ly3t on þe naked, 424 Þat þe scharp of þe schalk schyndered þe bones, & schrank þur3 þe schyire grece, & scade hit in twynne, Þat þe bit of þe broun stel bot on þe grounde. Þe fayre hede fro þe halce hit [felle] to þe erþe, 428 Þat fele hit foyned wyth her fete, þere hit forth roled; Þe blod brayd fro þe body, þat blykked on þe grene; & nawþer faltered ne fel þe freke neuer þe helder, Bot styþly he start forth vpon styf schonkes, 432 & ruyschly he ra3t out, þere as renkke3 stoden, La3t to his lufly hed, & lyft hit vp sone; & syþen bo3e3 to his blonk, þe brydel he cachche3, Steppe3 in to stel bawe & stryde3 alofte, 436 & his hede by þe here in his honde halde3; & as sadly þe segge hym in his sadel sette, As non vnhap had hym ayled, þa3 hedle3 he we, in stedde; 440 He brayde his bluk aboute, Þat vgly bodi þat bledde, [Fol. 97.] Moni on of hym had doute, Bi þat his resoun3 were redde.

XX.

444 For þe hede in his honde he halde3 vp euen, To-ward þe derrest on þe dece he dresse3 þe face, & hit lyfte vp þe y3e-lydde3, & loked ful brode, & meled þus much with his muthe, as 3e may now here. 448 "Loke, Gawan, þou be grayþe to go as þou hette3, & layte as lelly til þou me, lude, fynde, As þou hat3 hette in þis halle, herande þise kny3tes; To þe grene chapel þou chose, I charge þe to fotte, 452 Such a dunt as þou hat3 dalt disserued þou habbe3, To be 3ederly 3olden on nw 3eres morn; Þe kny3t of þe grene chapel men knowen me mony; For-þi me forto fynde if þou frayste3, fayle3 þou neuer, 456 Þer-fore com, oþer recreaunt be calde þe be-houeus." With a runisch rout þe rayne3 he torne3, Halled out at þe hal-dor, his hed in his hande, Þat þe fyr of þe flynt fla3e fro fole houes. 460 To quat kyth he be-com, knwe non þere, Neuermore þen þay wyste fram queþen. he wat3 wonnen; what þenne? Þe kyng & Gawen þare, 464 At þat grene þay la3e & grenne, 3et breued wat3 hit ful bare, A meruayl among þo menne.

XXI.

Þa3 Arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder, 468 He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e To þe comlych quene, wyth cortays speche, "Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer; Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse, 472 Laykyng of enterlude3, to la3e & to syng. Among þise, kynde caroles of kny3te3 & ladye3; Neuer-þe-lece to my mete I may me wel dres, For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake." 476 He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde, "Now sir, heng vp þyn ax, þat hat3 in-nogh hewen." & hit wat3 don abof þe dece, on doser to henge, [Fol. 97b.] Þer alle men for meruayl my3t on hit loke, 480 & bi trwe tytel þer-of to telle þe wonder. Þenne þay bo3ed to a borde þise burnes to-geder, Þe kyng & þe gode kny3t, & kene men hem serued Of alle dayntye3 double, as derrest my3t falle, 484 Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie boþe; Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende, in londe. Now þenk wel, sir Gawan, 488 For woþe þat þou ne wonde, Þis auenture forto frayn, Þat þou hat3 tan on honde.

This hanselle hat3 Arthur of auenturus on fyrst, 492 In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here, Tha3 hym worde3 were wane, when þay to sete wenten; Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond. Gawan wat3 glad to be-gynne þose gomne3 in halle, 496 Bot þa3 þe ende be heuy, haf 3e no wonder; For þa3 men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk, A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, & 3elde3 neuer lyke, Þe forme to þe fynisment folde3 ful selden. 500 For-þi þis 3ol ouer-3ede, & þe 3ere after, & vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer; After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun, Þat frayste3 flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple 504 Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepe3, Colde clenge3 adoun, cloude3 vp-lyften, Schyre schede3 þe rayn in schowre3 ful warme, Falle3 vpon fayre flat, flowre3 þere schewen, 508 Boþe grounde3 & þe greue3 grene ar her wede3, Brydde3 busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen, For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after, bi bonk; 512 & blossume3 bolne to blowe, Bi rawe3 rych & ronk, Þen note3 noble in-no3e, Ar herde in wod so wlonk. [Fol. 98]