For þe hede in his honde he haldeȝ vp euen,

To-ward þe derrest on þe dece he dresseȝ þe face,

& hit lyfte vp þe yȝe-lyddeȝ, & loked ful brode,

& meled þus much with his muthe, as ȝe may now here.

"Loke, Gawan, þou be grayþe to go as þou hetteȝ,

& layte as lelly til þou me, lude, fynde,

As þou hatȝ hette in þis halle, herande þise knyȝtes;

To þe grene chapel þou chose, I charge þe to fotte,

Such a dunt as þou hatȝ dalt disserued þou habbeȝ,

To be ȝederly ȝolden on nw ȝeres morn;

Þe knyȝt of þe grene chapel men knowen me mony;

For-þi me forto fynde if þou fraysteȝ, fayleȝ þou neuer,

Þer-fore com, oþer recreaunt be calde þe be-houeus."

With a runisch rout þe rayneȝ he torneȝ,

Halled out at þe hal-dor, his hed in his hande,

Þat þe fyr of þe flynt flaȝe fro fole houes.

To quat kyth he be-com, knwe non þere,

Neuermore þen þay wyste fram queþen he watȝ wonnen;

what þenne?

Þe kyng & Gawen þare,

At þat grene þay laȝe & grenne,

ȝet breued watȝ hit ful bare,

A meruayl among þo menne.

Þaȝ Arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder,

He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hyȝe

To þe comlych quene, wyth cortays speche,

"Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer;

Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse,

Laykyng of enterludeȝ, to laȝe & to syng.

Among þise, kynde caroles of knyȝteȝ & ladyeȝ;

Neuer-þe-lece to my mete I may me wel dres,

For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake."

He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde,

"Now sir, heng vp þyn ax, þat hatȝ in-nogh hewen."

& hit watȝ don abof þe dece, on doser to henge,

Þer alle men for meruayl myȝt on hit loke,

& bi trwe tytel þer-of to telle þe wonder.

Þenne þay boȝed to a borde þise burnes to-geder,

Þe kyng & þe gode knyȝt, & kene men hem serued

Of alle dayntyeȝ double, as derrest myȝt falle,

Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie boþe;

Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende,

in londe.

Now þenk wel, sir Gawan,

For woþe þat þou ne wonde,

Þis auenture forto frayn,

Þat þou hatȝ tan on honde.

This hanselle hatȝ Arthur of auenturus on fyrst,

In ȝonge ȝer, for he ȝerned ȝelpyng to here,

Thaȝ hym wordeȝ were wane, when þay to sete wenten;

Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond.

Gawan watȝ glad to be-gynne þose gomneȝ in halle,

Bot þaȝ þe ende be heuy, haf ȝe no wonder;

For þaȝ men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk,

A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne, & ȝeldeȝ neuer lyke,

Þe forme to þe fynisment foldeȝ ful selden.

For-þi þis ȝol ouer-ȝede, & þe ȝere after,

& vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer;

After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun,

Þat fraysteȝ flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple

Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepeȝ,

Colde clengeȝ adoun, cloudeȝ vp-lyften,

Schyre schedeȝ þe rayn in schowreȝ ful warme,

Falleȝ vpon fayre flat, flowreȝ þere schewen,

Boþe groundeȝ & þe greueȝ grene ar her wedeȝ,

Bryddeȝ busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen,

For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer after,

bi bonk;

& blossumeȝ bolne to blowe,

Bi raweȝ rych & ronk,

Þen noteȝ noble in-noȝe,

Ar herde in wod so wlonk.

After þe sesoun of somer wyth þe soft wyndeȝ,

Quen ȝeferus syfleȝ hym-self on sedeȝ & erbeȝ,

Wela-wynne is þe wort þat woxes þer-oute.

When þe donkande dewe dropeȝ of þe leueȝ,

To bide a blysful blusch of þe bryȝt sunne.

Bot þen hyȝes heruest, & hardenes hym sone.

Warneȝ hym for þe wynter to wax ful rype;

He dryues wyth droȝt þe dust for to ryse.

Fro þe face of þe folde to flyȝe ful hyȝe;

Wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrasteleȝ with þe sunne,

Þe leueȝ lancen fro þe lynde, & lyȝten on þe grounde,

& al grayes þe gres, þat grene watȝ ere;

Þenne al rypeȝ & roteȝ þat ros vpon fyrst,

& þus ȝirneȝ þe ȝere in ȝisterdayeȝ mony,

& wynter wyndeȝ aȝayn, as þe worlde askeȝ

no sage.

Til meȝel-mas mone,

Watȝ cumen wyth wynter wage;

Þen þenkkeȝ Gawan ful sone,

Of his anious uyage.

Ȝet quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges,

& he made a fare on þat fest, for þe frekeȝ sake,

With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table;

Knyȝteȝ ful cortays & comlych ladies,

Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were,

Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe,

Mony ioyleȝ for þat ientyle iapeȝ þer maden.

For aftter mete, with mournyng he meleȝ to his eme,

& spekeȝ of his passage, & pertly he sayde,

"Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask;

ȝe knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more

To telle yow teneȝ þer-of neuer bot trifel;

Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne,

To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse."

Þenne þe best of þe burȝ boȝed to-geder,

Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony,

Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence,

Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode,

Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe,

& mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port.

Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre,

For to counseyl þe knyȝt, with care at her hert;

Þere watȝ much derue¹ doel driuen in þe sale,

Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde,

To dryȝe a delful dynt, & dele no more

wyth bronde.

Þe knyȝt mad ay god chere,

& sayde, "quat schuld I wonde,

Of destines derf & dere,

What may mon do bot fonde?"

He dowelleȝ þer al þat day, and dresseȝ on þe morn,

Askeȝ erly hys armeȝ, & alle were þay broȝt

Fyrst a tule tapit, tyȝt ouer þe flet,

& miche watȝ þe gyld gere þat glent þer alofte;

Þe stif mon steppeȝ þeron, & þe stel hondoleȝ,

Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars,

& syþen a crafty capados, closed aloft,

Þat wyth a bryȝt blaunner was bounden with-inne;

Þenne set þay þe sabatounȝ vpon þe segge foteȝ,

His legeȝ lapped in stel with luflych greueȝ,

With polayneȝ piched þer-to, policed ful clene,

Aboute his kneȝ knaged wyth knoteȝ of golde;

Queme quyssewes þen, þat coyntlych closed

His thik þrawen þyȝeȝ with þwonges to-tachched;

& syþen þe brawden bryne of bryȝt stel ryngeȝ,

Vmbe-weued þat wyȝ, vpon wlonk stuffe;

& wel bornyst brace vpon his boþe armes,

With gode cowters & gay, & gloueȝ of plate,

& alle þe godlych gere þat hym gayn schulde

Þat tyde;

Wyth ryche cote armure,

His gold sporeȝ spend with pryde,

Gurde wyth a bront ful sure,

With silk sayn vmbe his syde.

When he watȝ hasped in armes, his harnays watȝ ryche,

Þe lest lachet ou[þ]er loupe lemed of golde;

So harnayst as he watȝ he herkneȝ his masse,

Offred & honoured at þe heȝe auter;

Syþen he comeȝ to þe kyng & to his cort fereȝ,

Lacheȝ lufly his leue at lordeȝ & ladyeȝ;

& þay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst.

Bi þat watȝ Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel,

Þat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges,

Ay quere naylet ful nwe for þat note ryched;

Þe brydel barred aboute, with bryȝt golde bounden;

Þe apparayl of þe payttrure, & of þe proude skyrteȝ,

Þe cropore, & þe couertor, acorded wyth þe arsouneȝ;

& al watȝ rayled on red ryche golde nayleȝ,

Þat al glytered & glent as glem of þe sunne.

Þenne hentes he þe holme, & hastily hit kysses,

Þat watȝ stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne:

Hit watȝ hyȝe on his hede, hasped bihynde,

Wyth a lyȝtli vrysoun ouer þe auentayle,

Enbrawden & bounden wyth þe best gemmeȝ,

On brode sylkyn borde, & bryddeȝ on semeȝ,

As papiayeȝ paynted pernyng bitwene,

Tortors & trulofeȝ entayled so þyk,

As mony burde þer aboute had ben seuen wynter

in toune;

Þe cercle watȝ more o prys,

Þat vmbe-clypped hys croun,

Of diamaunteȝ a deuys,

Þat boþe were bryȝt & broun.

Then þay schewed hym þe schelde, þat was of schyr gouleȝ,

Wyth þe pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hweȝ;

He braydeȝ hit by þe baude-ryk, aboute þe hals kestes,

Þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre.

& quy þe pentangel apendeȝ to þat prynce noble,

I am in tent yow to telle, þof tary hyt me schulde;

Hit is a syngne þat Salamon set sum-quyle,

In bytoknyng of trawþe, bi tytle þat hit habbeȝ,

For hit is a figure þat haldeȝ fyue poynteȝ,

& vche lyne vmbe-lappeȝ & loukeȝ in oþer,

& ay quere hit is endeleȝ,¹ & Englych hit callen

Ouer-al, as I here, þe endeles knot.

For-þy hit acordeȝ to þis knyȝt, & to his cler armeȝ,

For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue syþeȝ,

Gawan watȝ for gode knawen, & as golde pured,

Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertueȝ² ennourned

in mote;

For-þy þe pen-tangel nwe

He ber in schelde & cote,

As tulk of tale most trwe,

& gentylest knyȝt of lote.

Fyrst he watȝ funden fautleȝ in his fyue wytteȝ,

& efte fayled neuer þe freke in his fyue fyngres,

& alle his afyaunce vpon folde watȝ in þe fyue woundeȝ

Þat Cryst kaȝt on þe croys, as þe crede telleȝ;

& quere-so-euer þys mon in melly watȝ stad,

His þro þoȝt watȝ in þat, þurȝ alle oþer þyngeȝ,

Þat alle his forsnes he fong at þe fyue ioyeȝ,

Þat þe hende heuen quene had of hir chylde;

At þis cause þe knyȝt comlyche hade

In þe more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted,

Þat quen he blusched þerto, his belde neuer payred.

Þe fyrst¹ fyue þat I finde þat þe frek vsed,

Watȝ fraunchyse, & felaȝschyp for-be² al þyng;

His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer,

& pite, þat passeȝ alle poynteȝ, þyse pure fyue

Were harder happed on þat haþel þen on any oþer.

Now alle þese fyue syþeȝ, forsoþe, were fetled on þis knyȝt,

& vchone halched in oþer, þat non ende hade,

& fyched vpon fyue poynteȝ, þat fayld neuer,

Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nouþ[er],

With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde,

Where-euer þe gomen bygan, or glod to an ende.

Þer-fore on his schene schelde schapen watȝ þe knot,

Þus alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowleȝ,

Þat is þe pure pentaungel wyth þe peple called,

with lore.

Now grayþed is Gawan gay,

& laȝt his launce ryȝt þore,

& gef hem alle goud day,

He wende for euer more.

He sperred þe sted with þe spureȝ, & sprong on his way,

So stif þat þe ston fyr stroke out þer-after;

Al þat seȝ þat semly syked in hert,

& sayde soþly al same segges til oþer,

Carande for þat comly, "bi Kryst, hit is scaþe,

Þat þou, leude, schal be lost, þat art of lyf noble!

To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not eþe;

Warloker to haf wroȝt had more wyt bene,

& haf dyȝt ȝonder dere a duk to haue worþed;

A lowande leder of ledeȝ in londe hym wel semeȝ,

& so had better haf ben þen britned to noȝt,

Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angardeȝ pryde.

Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take,

As knyȝteȝ in cauelounȝ on cryst-masse gomneȝ!"

Wel much watȝ þe warme water þat waltered of yȝen,

When þat semly syre soȝt fro þo woneȝ

þat¹ daye;

He made non abode,

Bot wyȝtly went hys way,

Mony wylsum way he rode,

Þe bok as I herde say.

Now rideȝ þis renk þurȝ þe ryalme of Logres,

Sir Gauan on Godeȝ halue, þaȝ hym no gomen þoȝt;

Oft, leudleȝ alone, he lengeȝ on nyȝteȝ,

Þer he fonde noȝt hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked;

Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frytheȝ & douneȝ,

Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,

Til þat he neȝed ful noghe¹ in to þe Norþe Waleȝ;

Alle þe iles of Anglesay on lyft half he haldeȝ,

& fareȝ ouer þe fordeȝ by þe for-londeȝ,

Ouer at þe Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk

In þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde þer bot lyte

Þat auþer God oþer gome wyth goud hert louied.

& ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekeȝ þat he met,

If þay hade herde any karp of a knyȝt grene,

In any grounde þer-aboute, of þe grene chapel;²

& al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue

Þay seȝe neuer no segge þat watȝ of suche hweȝ

of grene.

Þe knyȝt tok gates straunge,

In mony a bonk vnbene,

His cher ful oft con chaunge,

Þat chapel er he myȝt sene.

Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contrayeȝ straunge,

Fer floten fro his frendeȝ fremedly he rydeȝ;

At vche warþe oþer water þer þe wyȝe passed,

He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were,

& þat so foule & so felle, þat feȝt hym by-hode;

So mony meruayl hi mount þer þe mon fyndeȝ,

Hit were to tore for to telle of þe tenþe dole.

Sumwhyle wyth wormeȝ he werreȝ, & with wolues als,

Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, þat woned in þe knarreȝ,

Boþe wyth bulleȝ & bereȝ, & boreȝ oþer-quyle,

& etayneȝ, þat hym a-nelede, of þe heȝe felle;

Nade he ben duȝty & dryȝe, & dryȝtyn had serued,

Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte.

For werre wrathed hym not so much, þat wynter was wors,

When þe colde cler water fro þe cloudeȝ schadden,

& fres er hit falle myȝt to þe fale erþe;

Ner slayn wyth þe slete he sleped in his yrnes,

Mo nyȝteȝ þen in-noghe in naked rokkeȝ,

Þer as claterande fro þe crest þe colde borne renneȝ,

& henged heȝe ouer his hede in hard ÿsse-ikkles.

Þus in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde,

Bi contray caryeȝ þis knyȝt, tyl kryst-masse euen,

al one;

Þe knyȝt wel þat tyde,

To Mary made his mone.

Þat ho hym red to ryde,

& wysse hym to sum wone.

Bi a mounte on þe morne meryly he rydes,

Into a forest ful dep, þat ferly watȝ wylde,

Hiȝe hilleȝ on vche a halue, & holt wodeȝ vnder,

Of hore okeȝ fill hoge a hundreth to-geder;

Þe hasel & þe haȝ-þorne were harled al samen,

With roȝe raged mosse rayled ay-where,

With mony bryddeȝ vnblyþe vpon bare twyges,

Þat pitosly þer piped for pyne of þe colde.

Þe gome vpon Gryngolet glydeȝ hem vnder,

Þurȝ mony misy & myre, mon al hym one,

Carande for his costes, lest he ne keuer schulde,

To se þe seruy¹ of þat syre, þat on þat self nyȝt

Of a burde watȝ borne, oure baret to quelle;

& þerfore sykyng he sayde, "I be-seche þe, lorde,

& Mary, þat is myldest moder so dere.

Of sum herber, þer heȝly I myȝt here masse.

Ande þy matyneȝ to-morne, mekely I ask,

& þer-to prestly I pray my pater & aue,

& crede."

He rode in his prayere,

& cryed for his mysdede,

He sayned hym in syþes sere,

& sayde "cros Kryst me spede!"

Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot þrye,

Er he watȝ war in þe wod of a won in a mote.

Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder boȝeȝ,

Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi þe diches;

A castel þe comlokest þat euer knyȝt aȝte,

Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,

With a pyked palays, pyned ful þik,

Þat vmbe-teȝe mony tre mo þen two myle.

Þat holde on þat on syde þe haþel auysed,

As hit schemered & schon þurȝ þe schyre okeȝ;

Þenne hatȝ he hendly of his helme, & heȝly he þonkeȝ

Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, þat gentyle ar boþe,

Þat cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened.

"Now bone hostel," coþe þe burne, "I be-seche yow ȝette!"

Þenne gedereȝ he to Gryngolet with þe gilt heleȝ,

& he ful chauncely hatȝ chosen to þe chef gate,

Þat broȝt bremly þe burne to þe bryge ende,

in haste;

Þe bryge watȝ breme vp-brayde,

Þe ȝateȝ wer stoken faste,

Þe walleȝ were wel arayed,

Hit dut no wyndeȝ blaste.

Þe burne bode on bonk, þat on blonk houed,

Of þe depe double dich þat drof to þe place,

Þe walle wod in þe water wonderly depe,

Ande eft a ful huge heȝt hit haled vpon lofte,

Of harde hewen ston vp to þe tableȝ,

Enbaned vnder þe abataylment, in þe best lawe;

& syþen garyteȝ ful gaye gered bi-twene,

Wyth mony luflych loupe, þat louked ful clene;

A better barbican þat burne blusched vpon neuer;

& innermore he be-helde þat halle ful hyȝe,

Towre telded bytwene trochet ful þik,

Fayre fylyoleȝ þat fyȝed, & ferlyly long,

With coruon coprounes, craftyly sleȝe;

Chalk whyt chymnees þer ches he in-noȝe,

Vpon bastel roueȝ, þat blenked ful quyte;

So mony pynakle payntet watȝ poudred ay quere,

Among þe castel carneleȝ, clambred so þik,

Þat pared out of papure purely hit semed.

Þe fre freke on þe fole hit fayr in-n[o]ghe þoȝt,

If he myȝt keuer to com þe cloyster wyth-inne,

To herber in þat hostel, whyl halyday lested

auinant;

He calde, & sone þer com

A porter pure plesaunt,

On þe wal his ernd he nome,

& haylsed þe knyȝt erraunt.

"Gode sir," quod Gawan, "woldeȝ þou go myn ernde,

To þe heȝ lorde of þis hous, herber to craue?"

"ȝe, Peter," quod þe porter, "& purely I trowe,¹

Þat ȝe be, wyȝe, welcum to won quyle yow lykeȝ."

Þen ȝede þat wyȝe aȝayn awyþe,

& folke frely hym wyth, to fonge þe knyȝt;

Þay let doun þe grete draȝt, & derely out ȝeden,

& kneled doun on her knes vpon þe colde erþe,

To welcum þis ilk wyȝ, as worþy hom þoȝt;

Þay ȝolden hym þe brode ȝate, ȝarked vp wyde,

& he hem raysed rekenly, & rod ouer þe brygge;

Sere seggeȝ hym sesed by sadel, quel² he lyȝt,

& syþen stabeled his stede stif men in-noȝe.

Knyȝteȝ & swyereȝ comen doun þenne,

For to bryng þis burne³ wyth blys in-to halle;

Quen he hef vp his helme, þer hiȝed in-noghe

For to hent hit at his honde, þe hende to seruen,

His bronde & his blasoun boþe þay token.

Þen haylsed he ful hendly þo haþeleȝ vch one,

& mony proud mon þer presed, þat prynce to honour;

Alle hasped in his heȝ wede to halle þay hym wonnen,

Þer fayre fyre vpon flet fersly brenned.

Þenne þe lorde of þe lede louteȝ fro his chambre,

For to mete wyth menske þe mon on þe flor;

He sayde, "ȝe ar welcum to welde as yow lykeȝ,

Þat here is, al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle

& welde."

"Graunt mercy," quod Gawayn,

"Þer Kryst hit yow for-ȝelde,"

As frekeȝ þat semed fayn,

Ayþer oþer in armeȝ con felde.

Gawayn glyȝt on þe gome þat godly hym gret,

& þuȝt hit a bolde burne þat þe burȝ aȝte,

A hoge haþel for þe noneȝ, & of hyghe elde;¹

Brode bryȝt watȝ his berde, & al beuer hwed,

Sturne stif on þe stryþþe on stal-worth schonkeȝ,

Felle face as þe fyre, & fre of hys speche;

& wel hym semed for soþe, as þe segge þuȝt,

To lede a lortschyp in lee of leudeȝ ful gode.

Þe lorde hym charred to a chambre, & chefly cumaundeȝ²

To delyuer hym a leude, hym loȝly to serue;

& þere were boun at his bode burneȝ in-noȝe,

Þat broȝt hym to a bryȝt boure, þer beddyng watȝ noble,

Of cortynes of clene sylk, wyth cler golde hemmeȝ,

& couertoreȝ ful curious, with comlych paneȝ,

Of bryȝt blaunnier a-boue enbrawded bisydeȝ,

Rudeleȝ rennande on ropeȝ, red golde ryngeȝ,

Tapyteȝ tyȝt to þe woȝe, of tuly & tars,

& vnder fete, on þe flet, of folȝande sute.

Þer he watȝ dispoyled, wyth specheȝ of myerþe,

Þe burn of his bruny, & of his bryȝt wedeȝ;

Ryche robes ful rad renkkeȝ hem³ broȝten,

For to charge, & to chaunge, & chose of þe best.

Sone as he on hent, & happed þer-inne,

Þat sete on hym⁴ semly, wyth saylande skyrteȝ,

Þe ver by his uisage verayly hit semed

Wel neȝ to vche haþel alle on hwes,

Lowande & lufly, alle his lymmeȝ vnder,

Þat a comloker knyȝt neuer Kryst made,

hem þoȝt;

Wheþen in worlde he were,

Hit semed as he myȝt

Be prynce with-outen pere,

In felde þer felle men fyȝt.