Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Re-edited from Ms. Cotton Nero, A. x., in the British Museum, by Sir Israel Gollancz. With introductory essays by Mabel Day and Mary S. Serjeantson |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. | [PART III.] |
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 | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight |  |
III. [PART III.]
[I.]
Ful erly bifore þe day þe folk vp rysen,Gestes þat go wolde, hor gromeȝ þay calden,
& þay busken vp bilyue, blonkkeȝ to sadel,
Tyffen he[r] takles, trussen her males,
Richen hem þe rychest, to ryde alle arayde,
Lepen vp lyȝtly, lachen her brydeles,
Vche wyȝe on his way þer hym wel lyked.
Þe leue lorde of þe londe watȝ not þe last
A-rayed for þe rydyng, with renkkeȝ ful mony;
Ete a sop hastyly, when he hade herde masse,
With bugle to bent-felde he buskeȝ by-lyue;
By þat any day-lyȝt lemed vpon erþe,
He with his haþeles on hyȝe horsses weren.
Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe, cowpled hor houndeȝ,
Vnclosed þe kenel dore & calde hem þer-oute,
Blwe bygly in bugleȝ þre bare mote[ȝ];
Braches bayed þerfore, & breme noyse maked,
& þay chastysed & charred, on chasyng þat went;
A hundreth of hunteres, as I haf herde telle,
þe best;
To trystors vewters ȝod,
Couples huntes of kest,
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Gret rurd in þat forest.
[II.]
At þe fyrst quethe of þe quest quaked þe wylde;Der drof in þe dale, doted for drede,
Hiȝed to þe hyȝe, bot heterly þay were
Restayed with þe stablye, þat stoutly ascryed.
Þay let þe hertteȝ haf þe gate, with þe hyȝe hedes,
Þe breme bukkeȝ also with hor brode paumeȝ;
For þe fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme
Þat þer schulde no mon meue to þe male dere.
Þe hindeȝ were halden in, with hay & war,
Þe does dryuen with gret dyn to þe depe sladeȝ.
Þer myȝt mon se, as þay slypte, slentyng of arwes;
At vche wende vnder wande wapped a flone,
Þat bigly bote on þe broun, with ful brode hedeȝ.
What! þay brayen & bleden, bi bonkkeȝ þay deȝen,
& ay rachches in a res radly hem folȝes,
Huntereȝ wyth hyȝe horne hasted hem after,
Wyth such a crakkande kry as klyffes haden brusten.
What wylde so at-waped wyȝes þat schotten,
Watȝ al to-raced & rent at þe resayt,
Bi þay were tened at þe hyȝe, & taysed to þe wattreȝ;
Þe ledeȝ were so lerned at þe loȝe trysteres,
& þe gre-houndeȝ so grete, þat geten hem bylyue
& hem to-fylched as fast as frekeȝ myȝt loke,
þer ryȝt.
Þe lorde for blys abloy
Ful oft con launce & lyȝt,
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Thus to þe derk nyȝt.
[III.]
Þus laykeȝ þis lorde by lynde-wodeȝ eueȝ,& G[awayn] þe god mon in gay bed lygeȝ,
Lurkkeȝ quyl þe day-lyȝt lemed on þe wowes,
Vnder couertour ful clere, cortyned aboute;
& as in slomeryng he slode, sleȝly he herde
A littel dyn at his dor, & derfly vpon;
& he heueȝ vp his hed out of þe cloþes,
A corner of þe cortyn he caȝt vp a lyttel,
& wayteȝ warly þider-warde, quat hit be myȝt.
Hit watȝ þe ladi, loflyest to be-holde,
Þat droȝ þe dor after hir ful dernly & stylle,
& boȝed to-warde þe bed; & þe burne schamed
& layde hym doun lystyly & let as he slepte.
& ho stepped stilly & stel to his bedde,
Kest vp þe cortyn & creped with-inne
& set hir ful softly on þe bed-syde
& lenged þere selly longe, to loke quen he wakened.
Þe lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle,
Compast in his concience to quat þat cace myȝt
Meue oþer amount, to meruayle hym þoȝt;
Bot ȝet he sayde in hym-self, ‘more semly hit were
To aspye wyth my spelle [in] space quat ho wolde.’
Þen he wakenede & wroth & to-hir-warde torned
& vn-louked his yȝe-lyddeȝ & let as hym wondered,
& sayned hym, as bi his saȝe þe sauer to worthe,
with hande.
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Boþe quit & red in blande,
Ful lufly con ho lete,
Wyth lyppeȝ smal laȝande.
[IV.]
‘God moroun, sir Gawayn,’ sayde þat [gay] lady,‘Ȝe are a sleper vn-slyȝe, þat mon may slyde hider.
Now ar ȝe tan astyt, bot true vs may schape,
I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be ȝe trayst;’
Al laȝande þe lady lauced þo bourdeȝ.
‘Goud moroun, g[ay],’ quoþ Gawayn þe blyþe,
‘Me schal worþe at your wille, & þat me wel lykeȝ,
For I ȝelde me ȝederly & ȝeȝe after grace,
& þat is þe best, be my dome, for me by-houeȝ nede;’
& þus he bourded a-ȝayn with mony a blyþe laȝter;
‘Bot wolde ȝe, lady louely, þen leue me grante,
& de-prece your prysoun & pray hym to ryse,
I wolde boȝe of þis bed & busk me better,
I schulde keuer þe more comfort to karp yow wyth.’
‘Nay, for soþe, beau sir,’ sayd þat swete,
‘Ȝe schal not rise of your bedde, I rych yow better,
I schal happe yow here þat oþer half als,
& syþen karp wyth my knyȝt þat I kaȝt haue;
For I wene wel, iwysse, sir Wowen ȝe are,
Þat alle þe worlde worchipeȝ, quere-so ȝe ride;
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With lordeȝ, wyth ladyes, with alle þat lyf bere.
& now ȝe ar here, iwysse, & we bot oure one;
My lorde & his ledeȝ ar on lenþe faren,
Oþer burneȝ in her bedde, & my burdeȝ als,
Þe dor drawen, & dit with a derf haspe;
& syþen I haue in þis hous hym þat al lykeȝ,
I schal ware my whyle wel quyl hit lasteȝ,
with tale;
Ȝe ar welcum to my cors,
Yowre awen won to wale,
Me be-houeȝ of fyne force
Your seruaunt be, & schale.’
[V.]
‘In god fayth,’ quoþ Gawayn, ‘gayn hit me þynkkeȝ,Þaȝ I be not now he þat ȝe of speken;
To reche to such reuerence as ȝe reherce here
I am wyȝe vn-worþy, I wot wel my-seluen;
Bi God, I were glad, & yow god þoȝt
At saȝe oþer at seruyce þat I sette myȝt
To þe plesaunce of your prys,—hit were a pure ioye.’
‘In god fayth, sir Gawayn,’ quoþ þe gay lady,
‘Þe prys & þe prowes þat pleseȝ al oþer,
If I hit lakked oþer set at lyȝt, hit were littel daynte;
Bot hit ar ladyes in-noȝe þat leuer wer nowþe
Haf þe, hende, in hor holde, as I þe habbe here,
To daly with derely your daynte wordeȝ,
Keuer hem comfort & colen her careȝ,
Þen much of þe garysoun oþer golde þat þay hauen;
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I haf hit holly in my honde þat al desyres,
þurȝe grace.’
Scho made hym so gret chere,
Þat watȝ so fayr of face;
Þe knyȝt with speches skere
A[n]swared to vche a cace.
[VI.]
‘Madame,’ quoþ þe myry mon, ‘Mary yow ȝelde,For I haf founden, in god fayth, yowre fraunchis nobele;
& oþer ful much of oþer folk fongen hor dedeȝ,
Bot þe daynte þat þay delen for my disert nysen;
Hit is þe worchyp of your-self þat noȝt bot wel conneȝ.’
‘Bi Mary,’ quoþ þe menskful, ‘me þynk hit anoþer;
For were I worth al þe wone of wymmen alyue,
& al þe wele of þe worlde were in my honde,
& I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde,
For þe costes þat I haf knowen vpon þe, knyȝt, here,
Of bewte & debonerte & blyþe semblaunt,
& þat I haf er herkkened & halde hit here trwee,
Þer schulde no freke vpon folde bifore yow be chosen.’
‘I-wysse, worþy,’ quoþ þe wyȝe, ‘ȝe haf waled wel better;
Bot I am proude of þe prys þat ȝe put on me,
& soberly your seruaunt my souerayn I holde yow,
& yowre knyȝt I be-com, & Kryst yow forȝelde!’
Þus þay meled of much-quat til myd-morn paste,
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Þe freke ferde with defence & feted ful fayre.
Þaȝ [ho] were burde bryȝtest, þe bur[n]e in mynde hade
Þe lasse luf in his lode, for lur þat he soȝt
boute hone;
Þe dunte þat sc[h]ulde hym deue,
& nedeȝ hit most be done.
Þe lady þenn spek of leue,
He granted hir ful sone.
[VII.]
Þenne ho gef hym god day, & wyth a glent laȝed,& as ho stod, ho stonyed hym wyth ful stor wordeȝ:
‘Now he þat spedeȝ vche spech, þis disport ȝelde yow!
Bot þat ȝe be Gawan, hit gotȝ [not] in mynde.’
‘Quer-fore?’ quoþ þe freke, & freschly he askeȝ,
Ferde lest he hade fayled in fourme of his c[o]stes;
Bot þe burde hym blessed, & bi þis skyl sayde,
‘So god as Gawayn gaynly is halden,
& cortaysye is closed so clene in hym-seluen,
Couth not lyȝtly haf lenged so long wyth a lady,
Bot he had craued a cosse bi his courtaysye,
Bi sum towch of summe tryfle at sum taleȝ ende.’
Þen quoþ Wowen, ‘I-wysse, worþe as yow lykeȝ;
I schal kysse at your comaundement, as a knyȝt falleȝ,
[Þat] f[e]re[s] lest he displese yow, [s]o plede hit no more.’
Ho comes nerre with þat, & cacheȝ hym in armeȝ,
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Þay comly bykennen to Kryst ayþer oþer;
Ho dos hir forth at þe dore with-outen dyn more,
& he ryches hym to ryse & rapes hym sone,
Clepes to his chamberlayn, choses his wede,
Boȝeȝ forth, quen he watȝ boun, blyþely to masse,
& þenne he meued to his mete þat menskly hym keped,
& made myry al day til þe mone rysed,
with game;
W[atȝ] neuer freke fayrer fonge
Bitwene two so dyngne dame,
Þe alder & þe ȝonge,
Much solace set þay same.
[VIII.]
And ay þe lorde of þe londe is lent on his gamneȝ,To hunt in holteȝ & heþe at hyndeȝ barayne;
Such a sowme he þer slowe bi þat þe sunne heldet,
Of dos & of oþer dere, to deme were wonder.
Þenne fersly þay flokked in, folk at þe laste,
& quykly of þe quelled dere a querre þay maked;
Þe best boȝed þerto with burneȝ in-noghe;
Gedered þe grattest of gres þat þer were,
& didden hem derely vndo as þe dede askeȝ;
Serched hem at þe asay summe þat þer were,
Two fyngeres þay fonde of þe fowlest of alle;
Syþen þay slyt þe slot, sesed þe erber,
Schaued wyth a scharp knyf, & þe schyre kitten;
Syþen rytte þay þe foure lymmes & rent of þe hyde,
Þen brek þay þe bale, þe b[oue]leȝ out token,
49
Þay gryped to þe gargulun & grayþely departed
Þe wesaunt fro þe wynt-hole & walt out þe gutteȝ;
Þen scher þay out þe schuldereȝ with her scharp knyueȝ,
Haled hem by a lyttel hole, to haue hole sydes;
Siþen britned þay þe brest & brayden hit in twynne;
& eft at þe gargulun bigyneȝ on þenne,
Ryueȝ hit vp radly ryȝt to þe byȝt,
Voydeȝ out þe a-vanters, & verayly þerafter
Alle þe rymeȝ by þe rybbeȝ radly þay lauce;
[S]o ryde þay of by resoun bi þe rygge boneȝ,
Euend[ou]n to þe haunche, þat henged alle samen,
& heuen hit vp al hole & hwen hit of þere,
& þat þay neme for þe noumbles bi nome as I trowe,
bi kynde;
Bi þe byȝt al of þe þyȝes
Þe lappeȝ þay lauce bi-hynde,
To hewe hit in two þay hyȝes,
Bi þe bak-bon to vnbynde.
[IX.]
Boþe þe hede & þe hals þay hwen of þenne,& syþen sunder þay þe sydeȝ swyft fro þe chyne,
& þe corbeles fee þay kest in a greue;
Þenn þurled þay ayþer þik side þurȝ bi þe rybbe,
& henged þenne a[y]þer bi hoȝes of þe fourcheȝ,
Vche freke for his fee as falleȝ forto haue.
Vpon a felle of þe fayre best fede þay þayr houndes
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& bred baþed in blod blende þer-amongeȝ;
Baldely þay blw prys, bayed þayr rachcheȝ,
Syþen fonge þay her flesche folden to home,
Strakande ful stoutly mony stif moteȝ.
Bi þat þe daylyȝt watȝ done, þe douthe watȝ al wonen
In-to þe comly castel, þer þe knyȝt bideȝ
ful stille;
Wyth blys & bryȝt fyr bette,
Þe lorde is comen þer-tylle;
When Gawayn wyth hym mette,
Þer watȝ bot wele at wylle.
[X.]
Thenne comaunded þe [syre] in þat sale to samen alle þe meny,Boþe þe ladyes on loghe to lyȝt with her burdes,
Bi-fore alle þe folk on þe flette, frekeȝ he beddeȝ
Verayly his venysoun to fech hym byforne;
& al godly in gomen Gaway[n] he called,
Techeȝ hym to þe tayles of ful tayt bestes,
Scheweȝ hym þe schyree grece schorne vpon rybbes.
‘How payeȝ yow þis play? haf I prys wonnen?
Haue I þryuandely þonk þurȝ my craft serued?’
‘Ȝe, i-wysse, 'quoþ þat oþer wyȝe, ‘here is wayth fayrest
Þat I seȝ þis seuen ȝere in sesoun of wynter.’
‘& al I gif yow, Gawayn,’ quoþ þe gome þenne,
‘For by a-corde of couenaunt ȝe craue hit as your awen.’
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[Þat] I haf worthyly [wonnen] þis woneȝ wyth-inne,
I-wysse with as god wylle hit worþeȝ to ȝoureȝ.’
He hasppeȝ his fayre hals his armeȝ wyth-inne,
& kysses hym as comlyly as h[e] couþe awyse:
‘Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more,
I wowche hit saf fynly, þaȝ feler hit were.’
‘Hit is god,’ quoþ þe god-mon, ‘grant mercy þerfore;
Hit may be such, hit is þe better & ȝe me breue wolde
Where ȝe wan þis ilk wele, bi wytte of [ȝ]or seluen.’
‘Þat watȝ not forward,’ quoþ he, ‘frayst me no more;
Forȝe haf tan þat yow tydeȝ, trawe ȝe non oþer
ȝe mowe.’
Þay laȝed & made hem blyþe
Wyth loteȝ þat were to lowe,
To soper þay ȝede asswyþe,
Wyth dayntes nwe in-nowe.
[XI.]
And syþen by þe chymne in chamber þay seten,Wyȝeȝ þe walle wyn weȝed to hem oft,
& efte in her bourdyng þay bayþen in þe morn
To fylle þe same forwardeȝ þat þay by-fore maden,
Þat chaunce so bytydeȝ, hor cheuysaunce to chaunge,
What nweȝ so þay nome, at naȝt quen þay metten.
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Þe beuerage watȝ broȝt forth in bourde at þat tyme;
Þenne þay louelych leȝten leue at þe last,
Vche burne to his bedde busked bylyue.
Bi þat þe coke hade crowe[n] & cakled bot þryse,
Þe lorde watȝ lopen of his bedde, þe leudeȝ vch one,
So þat þe mete & þe masse watȝ metely delyuered,
Þe douthe dressed to þe wod, er any day sprenged,
to chace;
Heȝ with hunte & horneȝ
Þurȝ playneȝ þay passe in space,
Vn-coupled among þo þorneȝ
Racheȝ þat ran on race.
[XII.]
Sone þay calle of a quest in a ker syde,Þe hunt re-hayted þe houndeȝ þat hit fyrst mynged,
Wylde wordeȝ hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;
Þe howndeȝ þat hit herde hastid þider swyþe,
& fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones;
Þenne such a glauer ande glam of gedered rachcheȝ
Ros þat þe rochereȝ rungen aboute;
Huntereȝ hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe;
Þen al in a semble sweyed to-geder
Bitwene a flosche in þat fryth & a foo cragge,
In a knot, bi a clyffe at þe kerre syde,
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Þay ferden to þe fyndyng, & frekeȝ hem after;
Þay vmbe-kesten þe knarre & þe k[erre] boþe,
Wyȝeȝ, whyl þay wysten wel wyt[h]-inne hem hit were,
Þe best þat þer breued watȝ wyth þe blod-houndeȝ.
Þenne þay beten on þe buskeȝ & bede hym vp ryse,
& he vnsoundyly out soȝt seggeȝ ouer-þwert,—
On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere,
Long sythen f[ro] þe sounder þat [synglere] for olde,
For he watȝ b[ronde] bor alþer-grattest,
Ful grymme quen he gronyed; þenne greued mony,
For þre at þe fyrst þrast he þryȝt to þe erþe,
& spede [hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more;
[Þ]ise oþer halowed hyghe! ful hyȝe, & hay! hay! cryed,
Haden horneȝ to mouþe, heterly rechated;
Mony watȝ þe [m]yry mouthe of men & of houndeȝ
Þat buskkeȝ after þis bor with bost & wyth noyse,
To quelle;
Ful oft he bydeȝ þe baye
& maymeȝ þe mute inn melle,
He hurteȝ of þe houndeȝ, & þay
Ful ȝomerly ȝaule & ȝelle.
[XIII.]
Schalkeȝ to schote at hym schowen to þenne,Haled to hym of her areweȝ, hitten hym oft;
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& þe barbeȝ of his browe bite non wolde,
Þaȝ þe schauen schaft schyndered in peceȝ,
Þe hede hypped aȝayn, were-so-euer hit hitte;
Bot quen þe dynteȝ hym dered of her dryȝe strokeȝ,
Þen, brayn-wod for bate, on burneȝ he raseȝ,
Hurteȝ hem ful heterly þer he forth hyȝeȝ, u
& mony arȝed þerat & on lyte droȝen.
Bot þe lorde on a lyȝt horce launces hym after,
As burne bolde vpon bent his bugle he bloweȝ,
He rechated, & r[o]de þurȝ roneȝ ful þyk,
Suande þis wylde swyn til þe sunne schafted.
Þis day wyth þis ilk dede þay dryuen on þis wyse,
Whyle oure luflych lede lys in his bedde,
Gawayn grayþely at home, in gereȝ ful ryche
of hewe;
Þe lady noȝt forȝate,
Com to hym to salue,
Ful erly ho watȝ hym ate
His mode forto remwe.
[XIV.]
Ho commes to þe cortyn & at þe knyȝt totes,Sir Wawen her welcumed worþy on fyrst,
& ho hym ȝeldeȝ aȝayn ful ȝerne of hir wordeȝ,
Setteȝ hir sofly by his syde, & swyþely ho laȝeȝ,
& wyth a luflych loke ho layde hym þyse wordeȝ:
‘Sir, ȝif ȝe be Wawen, wonder me þynkkeȝ,
Wyȝe þat is so wel wrast alway to god,
& conneȝ not of compaynye þe costeȝ vndertake,
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Þou hatȝ for-ȝeten ȝederly þat ȝisterday I taȝtte
Bi alder-truest token of talk þat I cowþe.’
‘What is þat?’ quoþ þe wyghe, ‘I-wysse I wot neuer;
If hit be sothe þat ȝe breue, þe blame is myn awen.’
‘Ȝet I kende yow of kyssyng,’ quoþ þe clere þenne,
‘Quere-so countenaunce is couþe, quikly to clayme;
Þat bicumes vche a knyȝt þat cortaysy vses.’
‘Do way,’ quoþ þat derf mon, ‘my dere, þat speche,
For þat durst I not do, lest I deuayed were,
If I were werned, I were wrang, i-wysse, ȝif I profered.’
‘Ma fay,’ quoþ þe mere wyf, ‘ȝe may not be werned,
Ȝe ar stif in-noghe to constrayne wyth strenkþe, ȝif yow lykeȝ,
Ȝif any were so vilanous þat yow de-vaye wolde.’
‘Ȝe, be God,’ quoþ Gawayn, ‘good is your speche,
Bot þrete is vn-þryuande in þede þer I lende,
& vche gift þat is geuen not with goud wylle;
I am at your comaundement, to kysse quen yow lykeȝ,
Ȝe may lach quen yow lyst, & leue quen yow þynkkeȝ,
in space.’
Þe lady louteȝ a-doun
& comlyly kysses his face,
Much speche þay þer expoun
Of druryes greme & grace.
56
[XV.]
‘I woled wyt at yow, wyȝe,’ þat worþy þer sayde,‘& yow wrathed not þer-wyth, what were þe skylle
Þat so ȝong & so ȝepe as ȝe at þis tyme,
So cortayse, so knyȝtyly, as ȝe ar knowen oute,
& of alle cheualry to chose, þe chef þyng a-losed
Is þe lel layk of luf, þe lettrure of armes;
F[or] to telle of þis teuelyng of þis trwe knyȝteȝ,
Hit is þe tytelet token & tyxt of her werkkeȝ,
How l[edes] for her lele luf hor lyueȝ han auntered,
Endured for her drury dulful stoundeȝ,
& after wenged with her walour & voyded her care
& broȝt blysse in-to boure with bountees hor awen.
& ȝe ar knyȝt com-lokest kyd of your elde,
Your worde & your worchip walkeȝ ay-quere,
& I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,
ȝet herde I neuer of your hed helde no wordeȝ
Þat euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;
& ȝe, þat ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,
Oghe to a ȝonke þynk ȝern to schewe
& teche sum tokeneȝ of trweluf craftes.
Why! ar ȝe lewed, þat alle þe los weldeȝ,
Oþer elles ȝe demen me to dille your dalyaunce to herken?
For schame!
I com hider sengel & sitte
To lerne at yow sum game,
Dos techeȝ me of your wytte,
Whil my lorde is fro hame.”
57
[XVI.]
‘In goud fayþe,’ quoþ Gawayn, ‘God yow forȝelde!Gret is þe gode gle, & gomen to me huge,
Þat so worþy as ȝe wolde wynne hidere
& pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your knyȝt
With any-skynneȝ countenaunce,—hit keuereȝ me ese.
Bot to take þe toruayle to my-self to trwluf expoun
& towche þe temeȝ of tyxt & taleȝ of armeȝ
To yow þat, I wot wel, weldeȝ more slyȝt
Of þat art, bi þe half, or a hundreth of seche
As I am oþer euer schal, in erde þer I leue,
Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my trawþe.
I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my myȝt,
As I am hyȝly bihalden, & euer-more wylle
Be seruaunt to your-seluen, so saue me dryȝtyn!’
Þus hym frayned þat fre & fondet hym ofte,
Forto haf wonnen hym to woȝe what-so scho þoȝt elleȝ,
Bot he de-fended hym so fayr þat no faut semed,
Ne non euel on nawþer halue nawþer þay wysten,
bot blysse;
Þay laȝed & layked longe,
At þe last scho con hym kysse,
Hir leue fayre con scho fonge,
& went hir waye iwysse.
[XVII.]
Then ruþes hym þe renk & ryses to þe masse,& siþen hor diner watȝ dyȝt & derely serued.
Þe lede with þe ladyeȝ layked alle day,
Bot þe lorde ouer þe londeȝ launced ful ofte,
58
& bote þe best of his bracheȝ þe bakkeȝ in sunder,
Þer he bode in his bay, tel bawe-men hit breken,
& madee hym, maw-gref his hed, forto mwe vtter,
So felle floneȝ þer flete when þe folk gedered;
Bot ȝet þe styffest to start bi stoundeȝ he made,
Til at þe last he watȝ so mat, he myȝt no more renne,
Bot in þe hast þat he myȝt, he to a hole wynneȝ
Of a rasse, bi a rokk, þer renneȝ þe boerne;
He gete þe bonk at his bak, bigyneȝ to scrape,
Þe froþe femed at his mouth vnfayre bi þe wykeȝ,
Whetteȝ his whyte tuscheȝ; with hym þen irked
Alle þe burneȝ so bolde þat hym by stoden,
To nye hym on-ferum, bot neȝe hym non durst
for woþe;
He hade hurt so mony byforne
Þat al þuȝt þenne ful loþe
Be more wyth his tuscheȝ torne,
Þat breme watȝ [&]! brayn-wod bothe.
[XVIII.]
Til þe knyȝt com hym-self, kachande his blonk,Syȝ hym byde at þe bay, his burneȝ bysyde;
He lyȝtes lu[f]lych adoun, leueȝ his corsour,
Braydeȝ out a bryȝt bront & bigly forth strydeȝ,
Foundeȝ fast þurȝ þe forth þer þe felle bydeȝ.
Þe wylde watȝ war of þe wyȝe with weppen in honde,
Hef hyȝly þe here, so hetterly he fnast,
Þat fele ferde for þe freke, lest felle hym þe worre;
Þe swyn setteȝ hym out on þe segge euen,
59
In þe wyȝt-est of þe water,—þe worre hade þat oþer;
For þe mon merkkeȝ hym wel, as þay mette fyrst,
Set sadly þe scharp in þe slot euen,
Hit hym vp to þe hult, þat þe hert schyndered,
& he ȝarrande hym ȝelde, & ȝedoun þe water
ful tyt;
A hundreth houndeȝ hym hent,
Þat bremely con hym bite,
Burneȝ him broȝt to bent
& doggeȝ to dethe endite.
[XIX.]
There watȝ blawyng of prys in mony breme horne,Heȝe halowing on hiȝe with haþeleȝ þat myȝt;
Brachetes bayed þat best, as bidden þe maystereȝ,
Of þat chargeaunt chace þat were chef huntes.
Þenne a wyȝe þat watȝ wys vpon wod-crafteȝ
To vnlace þis bor lufly bigynneȝ;
Fyrst he hewes of his hed & on hiȝe setteȝ,
& syþen rendeȝ him al roghe bi þe rygge after,
Braydeȝ out þe boweles, brenneȝ hom on glede,
With bred blent þer-with his braches rewardeȝ;
Syþen he britneȝ out þe brawen in bryȝt brode [s]cheldeȝ,
& hatȝ out þe hastletteȝ, as hiȝtly bisemeȝ;
& ȝet hem halcheȝ al hole þe halueȝ to-geder,
& syþen on a stif stange stoutly hem henges.
Now with þis ilk swyn þay swengen to home;
60
Þat him for-ferde in þe forþe þurȝ forse of his honde
so stronge;
Til he seȝ sir Gawayne
In halle hym þoȝt ful longe,
He calde, & he com gayn
His feeȝ þer for to fonge.
[XX.]
Þe lorde ful lowde with lote laȝed myryWhen he seȝe sir G[awayn]; with solace he spekeȝ.
Þe goude ladyeȝ were geten, & gedered þe meyny,
He scheweȝ hem þe scheldeȝ & schapes hem þe tale
Of þe largesse & þe lenþe, þe liþerneȝ alse,
Of þe were of þe wylde swyn, in wod þer he fled.
Þat oþer knyȝt ful comly comended his dedeȝ,
& praysed hit as gret prys þat he proued hade;
For suche a brawne of a best, þe bolde burne sayde,
Ne such sydes of a swyn segh he neuer are.
Þenne hondeled þay þe hoge hed, þe hende mon hit praysed,
& let lodly þerat þe lorde forto here.
‘Now, Gawayn,’ quoþ þe god-mon, ‘þis gomen is your awen,
Bi fyn for-warde & faste, faythely ȝe knowe.’
‘Hit is sothe,’ quoþ þe segge, ‘& as siker trwe
Alle my get I schal yow gif agayn, bi my trawþe.’
He [hent] þe haþel aboute þe halse & hendely hym kysses,
61
‘Now ar we euen,’ quoþ þe haþel, ‘in þis euen-tide,
Of alle þe couenauntes þat we knyt, syþen I com hider,
bi lawe.’
Þe lorde sayde, ‘bi saynt Gile,
Ȝe ar þe best þat I kn[a]we;
Ȝe ben ryche in a whyle,
Such chaffer & ȝe dr[a]we.’
[XXI.]
Þenne þay teldet tableȝ, trestes alofte,Kesten cloþeȝ vpon, clere lyȝt þenne
Wakned bi woȝeȝ, waxen torches
Seggeȝ sette, & serued in sale al aboute.
Much glam & gle glent vp þer-inne
Aboute þe fyre vpon flet, & on fele wyse,
At þe soper & after, mony aþel songeȝ,
As coundutes of kryst-masse & caroleȝ newe,
With alle þe manerly merþe þat mon may of telle.
& euer oure luflych knyȝt þe lady bi-syde;
Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made,
Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese,
Þat al for-wondered watȝ þe wyȝe, & wroth with hym-seluen,
Bot he nolde not for his nurture nurne hir a-ȝayneȝ,
Bot dalt with hir al in daynte, how-se-euer þe dede turned
to wrast;
Quen þay hade played in halle
As longe as hor wylle hom last,
62
& to þe chem-ne þay past.
[XXII.]
Ande þer þay dronken & dalten, & demed eft nweTo norne on þe same note on nweȝereȝ euen;
Bot þe knyȝt craued leue to kayre on þe morn,
For hit watȝ neȝ at þe terme þat he to schulde.
Þe lorde hym letted of þat, to lenge hym resteyed,
& sayde, ‘as I am trwe segge, I siker my trawþe
Þou schal cheue to þe grene chapel, þy charres to make,
Leude, on nwȝereȝ lyȝt, longe bifore pryme,
For-þy þow lye in þy loft & lach þyn ese,
& I schal hunt in þis holt & halde þe towcheȝ,
Chaunge wyth þe cheuisaunce, bi þat I charre hider;
For I haf fraysted þe twys & faythful I fynde þe,
Now þrid tyme, þrowe best, þenk on þe morne,
Make we mery quyl we may, & mynne vpon joye,
For þe lur may mon lach when-so mon lykeȝ.’
Þis watȝ grayþely graunted & Gawayn is lenged,
Bliþe broȝt watȝ hym drynk & þay to bedde ȝeden
with liȝt;
Sir G[awayn] lis & slepes
Ful stille & softe al niȝt;
Þe lorde þat his crafteȝ kepes,
Ful erly he watȝ diȝt.
[XXIII.]
After messe a [m]orsel he & his men token,Miry watȝ þe mornyng, his mounture he askes;
63
Were boun busked on hor blonkkeȝ, bi-fore þe halle ȝateȝ;
Ferly fayre watȝ þe folde, for þe forst clenged,
In rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne,
& ful clere c[a]steȝ þe clowdes of þe welkyn.
Hunteres vnhardeled bi a holt syde,
Rocheres roungen bi rys, for rurde of her hornes;
Summe fel in þe fute þer þe fox bade,
Trayleȝ ofte a tra[u]eres, bi traunt of her wyles;
A kenet kryes þerof, þe hunt on hym calles,
His felaȝes fallen hym to, þat fnasted ful þike,
Runnen forth in a rabel in his ryȝt fare;
& he fyskeȝ hem by-fore, þay founden hym sone,
& quen þay seghe hym with syȝt, þay sued hym fast,
Wreȝande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse;
& he trantes & tornayeeȝ þurȝ mony tene greue,
Hauilouneȝ & herkeneȝ bi heggeȝ ful ofte;
At þe last bi a littel dich he lepeȝ ouer a spenne,
Steleȝ out ful stilly bi a strothe rande,
Went haf wylt of þe wode with wyleȝ fro þe houndes,
Þenne watȝ he went, er he wyst, to a wale tryster,
Þer þre þro at a þrich þrat hym at ones,
al graye;
He blenched aȝayn bilyue
& stifly start onstray,
With alle þe wo on lyue
To þe wod he went away.
64
[XXIV.]
Thenne watȝ hit li[st] vpon li[f] to lyþen þe houndeȝ,When alle þe mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,
Suche a sorȝe at þat syȝt þay sette on his hede
As alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;
Here he watȝ halawed when haþeleȝ hym metten,
[Ȝ]onde he watȝ ȝayned with ȝarande speche,
Þer he watȝ þreted & ofte þef called,
& ay þe titleres at his tayl, þat tary he ne myȝt;
Ofte he watȝ runnen at when he out rayked,
& ofte reled in aȝayn, so Reniarde watȝ wyle.
& ȝe he lad hem bi lag-mon, þe lorde & his meyny,
On þis maner bi þe mountes, quyle myd-ouer-vnder,
Whyle þe hende knyȝt at home holsumly slepeȝ
With-inne þe comly cortynes, on þe colde morne.
Bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe,
Ne þe purpose to payre, þat pyȝt in hir hert,
Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir þeder,
In a mery mantyle, mete to þe erþe,
Þat watȝ furred ful fyne with felleȝ wel pured,
No hwe goud on hir hede, bot þe haȝer stones
Trased aboute hir tressour be twenty in clusteres;
Hir þryuen face & hir þrote þrowen al naked,
Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.
Ho comeȝ with-inne þe chambre dore & closes hit hir after,
Wayueȝ vp a wyndow & on þe wyȝe calleȝ,
65
with chere:
‘A! mon, how may þou slepe?
Þis morning is so clere.’
He watȝ in drowping depe,
Bot þenne he con hir here.
[XXV.]
In dreȝ droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble,As mon þat watȝ in mornyng of mony þro þoȝtes,
How þat destine schulde þat day [dele hym] his wyrde
At þe grene chapel, when he þe gome metes
& bi-houes his buffet abide with-oute debate more;
Bot quen þat comly he keuered his wyttes,
Swenges out of þe sweuenes & swareȝ with hast,
Þe lady luflych com laȝande swete,
Felle ouer his fayre face & fetly hym kyssed;
He welcumeȝ hir worþily with a wale chere;
He seȝ hir so glorious & gayly atyred,
So fautles of hir fetures & of so fyne hewes,
Wiȝt wallande joye warmed his hert;
With smoþe smylyng & smolt þay smeten in-to merþe,
Þat al watȝ blis & bonchef þat breke hem bi-twene,
& wynne.
Þay lauced wordes gode,
Much wele þen watȝ þer-inne;
Gret perile bi-twene hem stod,
Nif Mar[y]e of hir knyȝt [con] mynne.
66
[XXVI.]
For þat prynce[s] of pris de-presed hym so þikke,Nurned hym so neȝe þe þred, þat nede hym bihoued
Oþer lach þer hir luf oþer lodly re-fuse;
He cared for his cortaysye, lest craþayn he were,
& more for his meschef, ȝif he schulde make synne
& be traytor to þat tolke þat þat telde aȝt.
‘God schylde,’ quoþ þe schalk, ‘þat schal not befalle!’
With luf-laȝyng a lyt he layd hym by-syde
Alle þe specheȝ of specialte þat sprange of her mouthe.
Quoþ þat burde to þe burne, ‘blame ȝe disserue,
Ȝif ȝe luf not þat lyf þat ȝe lye nexte,
Bifore alle þe wyȝeȝ in þe worlde wounded in hert,
Bot if ȝe haf a lemman, a leuer, þat yow lykeȝ better,
& folden fayth to þat fre, festned so harde
Þat yow lausen ne lyst, & þat I leue nouþe.
And þat ȝe telle me þat, now trwly I pray yow,
For alle þe lufeȝ vpon lyue layne not þe soþe
for gile.’
Þe knyȝt sayde, ‘be sayn Jon,’
& smeþely con he smyle,
‘In fayth I welde riȝt non,
Ne non wil welde þe quile.’
[XXVII.]
‘Þat is a worde,’ quoþ þat wyȝt, ‘þat worst is of alle;Bot I am swared forsoþe, þat sore me þinkkeȝ;
Kysse me now comly, & I schal cach heþen;
67
Sykande ho sweȝe doun & semly hym kyssed,
& siþen ho seueres hym fro, & says as ho stondes,
‘Now, dere, at þis de-partyng, do me þis ese,
Gif me sumquat of þy gifte, þi gloue [i]f hit were,
Þat I may mynne on þe, mon, my mournyng to lassen.’
‘Now iwysse,’ quoþ þat wyȝe, ‘I wolde I hade here
Þe leuest þing for þy luf þat I in londe welde;
For ȝe haf deserued, forsoþe, sellyly ofte
More rewarde bi resoun þen I reche myȝt;
Bot to dele yow for drurye, þat dawed bot neked,
Hit is not your honour to haf at þis tyme
A gloue for a garysoun of Gawayneȝ gifteȝ,
& I am here [on] an erande in erdeȝ vncouþe,
& haue no men wyth no maleȝ with menskful þingeȝ;
Þat mislykeȝ me, lade, for [your] luf at þis ty[m]e,
Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille
ne pine.’
‘Nay, hende of hyȝe honours,’
Quoþ þat lufsum vnder lyne,
‘Þaȝ I [n]ade oȝt of youreȝ,
Ȝet schulde ȝe haue of myne.’
[XXVIII.]
Ho raȝt hym a riche rynk of red golde werkeȝ,Wyth a starande ston stondande alofte,
Þat bere blusschande bemeȝ as þe bryȝt sunne;
Wyt ȝe wel, hit watȝ worth wele ful hoge.
68
‘I wil no gifteȝ for Gode, my gay, at þis tyme;
I haf none yow to norne, ne noȝt wyl I take.’
Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,
& swere swyfte [by] his sothe þat he hit sese nolde;
& ho sore þat he forsoke, & sayde þer-after,
If ȝe renay my rynk, to ryche for hit semeȝ,
Ȝe wolde not so hyȝly halden be to me,
I schal gif yow my girdel, þat gaynes yow lasse.’
Ho laȝt a lace lyȝtly þat leke vmbe hir sydeȝ,
Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder þe clere mantyle,
Gered hit watȝ with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,
Noȝt bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngreȝ;
& þat ho bede to þe burne, & blyþely bi-soȝt,
Þaȝ hit vn-worþi were, þat he hit take wolde.
& he nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse
Nauþer golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende
To acheue to þe chaunce þat he hade chosen þere.
‘& þerfore, I pray yow, displese yow noȝt,
& letteȝ be your bisinesse, for I bayþe hit yow neuer
to graunte.
I am derely to yow biholde
Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,
& euer in hot & colde
To be your trwe seruaunt.’
[XXIX.]
‘Now forsake ȝe þis silke,’ sayde þe burde þenne,‘For hit is symple in hit-self,—& so hit wel semeȝ?
69
Bot who-so knew þe costes þat knit ar þer-inne,
He wolde hit prayse at more prys, parauenture;
For quat gome so is gorde with þis grene lace,
While he hit hade hemely halched aboute,
Þer is no haþel vnder heuen to-hewe hym þat myȝt;
For he myȝt not be slayn for slyȝt vpon erþe.’
Þen kest þe knyȝt, & hit come to his hert,
Hit were a juel for þe joparde þat hym iugged were,
When he acheued to þe chapel, his chek forto fech;
Myȝ[t] he haf slypped to be vn-slayn, þe sleȝt were noble.
Þenne he þulged with hir þrepe, & þoled hir to speke,
& ho bere on hym þe belt, & bede hit hym swyþe,
& he granted, & [ho] hym gafe with a goud wylle,
& bisoȝt hym, for hir sake, disceuer hit neuer,
Bot to lelly layne f[ro] hir lorde; þe leude hym acordeȝ
Þat neuer wyȝe schulde hit wyt, iwysse, bot þay twayne,
for noȝte.
He þonkked hir oft ful swyþe,
Ful þro with hert & þoȝt.
Bi þat on þrynne syþe
Ho hatȝ kyst þe knyȝt so toȝt.
[XXX.]
Thenne lachcheȝ ho hir leue & leueȝ hym þere,For more myrþe of þat mon moȝt ho not gete;
When h[o] watȝ gon, sir G[awayn] gereȝ hym sone,
70
Lays vp þe luf-lace þe lady hym raȝt,
Hid hit ful holdely, þer he hit eft fonde.
Syþen cheuely to þe chapel choses he þe waye,
Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym þere
Þat he wolde lyfte his lyf & lern hym better
How his sawle schulde be saued when he schuld seye heþen.
Þere he schrof hym schyrly & schewed his mysdedeȝ
Of þe more & þe mynne, & merci besecheȝ,
& of absolucioun he on þe segge calles;
& he asoyled hym surely & sette hym so clene
As domeȝ-day schulde haf ben diȝt on þe morn.
& syþen he mace hym as mery among þe fre ladyes,
With comlych caroles & alle kynnes ioye,
As neuer he did bot þat daye, to þe derk nyȝt,
with blys;
Vche mon hade daynte þare
Of hym, & sayde, ‘iwysse,
Þus myry he watȝ neuer are,
Syn he com hider, er þis.’
[XXXI.]
Now hym lenge in þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde!Ȝet is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes.
He hatȝ forfaren þis fox þat he folȝed longe;
As he sprent ouer a spenne, to spye þe schrewe,
Þer as he herd þe howndes þat hasted hym swyþe,
Renaud com richchande þurȝ a roȝe greue,
& alle þe rabel in a res, ryȝt at his heleȝ.
Þe wyȝe watȝ war of þe wylde & warly abides
71
& he schunt for þe scharp & schulde haf arered,
A rach rapes hym to, ryȝt er he myȝt,
& ryȝt bifore þe hors fete þay fel on hym alle
& woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse.
Þe lorde lyȝteȝ bilyue & [l]acheȝ [h]y[m] sone,
Rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes,
Haldeȝ heȝe ouer his hede, haloweȝ faste,
& þer bayen hym mony bra[þ] houndeȝ;
Huntes hyȝed hem þeder, with horneȝ ful mony,
Ay re-chatande aryȝt til þay þe renk seȝen;
Bi þat watȝ comen his compeyny noble,
Alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones,
& alle þise oþer halowed, þat hade no hornes;
Hit watȝ þe myriest mute þat euer men herde,
Þe rich rurd þat þer watȝ raysed for Renaude saule
with lote;
Hor houndeȝ þay þer rewarde,
Her hedeȝ þay fawne & frote,
& syþen þay tan Reynarde
& tyruen of his cote.
[XXXII.]
& þenne þay helden to home, for hit watȝ nieȝ nyȝt,Strakande ful stoutly in hor store horneȝ;
Þe lorde is lyȝt at þe laste at hys lef home,
Fyndeȝ fire vpon flet, þe freke þer-by-side,
Sir Gawayn þe gode þat glad watȝ with-alle,
Among þe ladies for luf he ladde much ioye;
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His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe watȝ forred,
& his hode of þat ilke henged on his schulder,
Blande al of blaunner were boþe al aboute.
He meteȝ me þis god-mon in-myddeȝ þe flore,
& al with gomen he hym gret, & goudly he sayde,
‘I schal fylle vpon fyrst oure forwardeȝ nouþe,
Þat we spedly han spoken þer spared watȝ no drynk;’
Þen acoles he [þe] knyȝt, & kysses hym þryes
As sauerly & sadly as he hem sette couþe.
‘Bi Kryst,” quoþ þat oþer knyȝt, ‘ȝe cach much sele
In cheuisaunce of þis chaffer, ȝif ȝe hade goud chepeȝ.’
‘Ȝe, of þe chepe no charg,’ quoþ chefly þat oþer,
‘As is pertly payed þe [pray] þat I aȝte.’
‘Mary,’ quoþ þat oþer mon, ‘myn is bi-hynde,
For I haf hunted al þis day, & noȝt haf I geten
Bot þis foule fox felle, þe fende haf þe godeȝ,
& þat is ful pore for to pay for suche prys þinges
As ȝe haf þryȝt me here þro, suche þre cosses
so gode.’
‘I-noȝ,’ quoþ sir Gawayn,
‘I þonk yow, bi þe rode;’
& how þe fox watȝ slayn
He tolde hym as þay stode.
[XXXIII.]
With merþe & mynstralsye, wyth meteȝ at hor wylle,Þay maden as mery as any men moȝten;
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Gawayn & þe gode-mon so glad were þay boþe,
Bot if þe douthe had doted oþer dronken ben oþer.
Boþe þe mon & þe meyny maden mony iapeȝ,
Til þe sesoun watȝ seȝen þat þay seuer moste;
Burneȝ to hor bedde be-houed at þe laste.
Þenne loȝly his leue at þe lorde fyrst
Fochcheȝ þis fre mon, & fayre he hym þonkkeȝ:
‘Of such a selly soiorne as I haf hade here,
Your honour at þis hyȝe fest, þe hyȝe kyng yow ȝelde!
I ȝef yow me for on of youreȝ, if yowre-self lykeȝ,
For I mot nedes, as ȝe wot, meue to-morne,
& ȝe me take sum tolke, to teche, as ȝe hyȝt,
Þe gate to þe grene chapel, as God wyl me suffer
To dele on nwȝereȝ day þe dome of my wyrdes.’
‘In god fayþe,’ quoþ þe god-mon, ‘wyth a goud wylle;
Al þat euer I yow hyȝt, halde schal I rede.’
Þer asyngnes he a seruaunt to sett hym in þe waye
& coundue hym by þe downeȝ, þat he no drechch had,
For to f[e]rk þurȝ þe fryth & fare at þe gaynest
bi greue.
Þe lorde Gawayn con þonk,
Such worchip he wolde hym weue;
Þen at þo ladyeȝ wlonk
Þe knyȝt hatȝ tan his leue.
[XXXIV.]
With care & wyth kyssyng he carppeȝ hem tille,& fele þryuande þonkkeȝ he þrat hom to haue,
74
Þay bikende hym to Kryst, with ful colde sykyngeȝ.
Syþen fro þe meyny he menskly de-partes;
Vche mon þat he mette, he made hem a þonke
For his seruyse & his solace & his sere pyne
Þat þay wyth busynes had ben aboute hym to serue;
& vche segge as sore to seuer with hym þere
As þay hade wonde worþyly with þat wlonk euer.
Þen with ledes & lyȝt he watȝ ladde to his chambre
& blyþely broȝt to his bedde to be at his rest;
Ȝif he ne slepe soundyly, say ne dar I,
For he hade muche on þe morn to mynne, ȝif he wolde,
in þoȝt.
Let hym lyȝe þere stille,
He hatȝ nere þat he soȝt;
& ȝe wyl a whyle be stylle,
I schal telle yow how þay wroȝt.
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