🧚 Opening, part 4

The bridge was drawn up and the gates close shut; the walls were strong and thick, so that they might fear no tempest.1 The knight on his charger abode on the bank of the deep double ditch that surrounded the castle.2 The walls were set deep in the water, and rose aloft to a wondrous height; they were of hard hewn stone up to the corbels, which were adorned beneath the battlements with fair carvings, and turrets set in between with many a loophole; a better barbican Sir Gawain had never looked upon.3 And within he beheld the high hall, with its tower and many windows with carven cornices, and chalk-white chimneys on the turreted roofs that shone fair in the sun. And everywhere, thickly scattered on the castle battlements, were pinnacles, so many that it seemed as if it were all wrought out of paper, so white was it.4

The knight on his steed deemed it fair enough, if he might come to be sheltered within it to lodge there while that the Holy-day lasted.5 He called aloud, and soon there came a porter of kindly countenance, who stood on the wall and greeted this knight and asked his errand.6

“Good sir,” quoth Gawain, “wilt thou go mine errand to the high lord of the castle, and crave for me lodging?”7

“Yea, by S. Peter,” quoth the porter.8 “In sooth I trow that ye be welcome to dwell here so long as it may like ye.”9

How Sir Gawain was welcomed10

Then he went, and came again swiftly, and many folk with him to receive the knight.11 They let down the great drawbridge, and came forth and knelt on their knees on the cold earth to give him worthy welcome.12 They held wide open the great gates, and he greeted them courteously, and rode over the bridge.13 Then men came to him and held his stirrup while he dismounted, and took and stabled his steed.14 There came down knights and squires to bring the guest with joy to the hall.15 When he raised his helmet there were many to take it from his hand, fain to serve him, and they took from him sword and shield.16

Sir Gawain gave good greeting to the nobles and the mighty men who came to do him honour.17 Clad in his shining armour they led him to the hall, where a great fire burnt brightly on the floor; and the lord of the household came forth from his chamber to meet the hero fitly.18 He spake to the knight, and said: “Ye are welcome to do here as it likes ye.19 All that is here is your own to have at your will and disposal.”20

“Gramercy!” quote Gawain, “may Christ requite ye.”21

As friends that were fain each embraced the other; and Gawain looked on the knight who greeted him so kindly, and thought ’twas a bold warrior that owned that burg.22

Of mighty stature he was, and of high age; broad and flowing was his beard, and of a bright hue.23 He was stalwart of limb, and strong in his stride, his face fiery red, and his speech free: in sooth he seemed one well fitted to be a leader of valiant men.24

Then the lord led Sir Gawain to a chamber, and commanded folk to wait upon him, and at his bidding there came men enough who brought the guest to a fair bower.25 The bedding was noble, with curtains of pure silk wrought with gold, and wondrous coverings of fair cloth all embroidered.26 The curtains ran on ropes with rings of red gold, and the walls were hung with carpets of Orient, and the same spread on the floor.27 There with mirthful speeches they took from the guest his byrny and all his shining armour, and brought him rich robes of the choicest in its stead.28 They were long and flowing, and became him well, and when he was clad in them all who looked on the hero thought that surely God had never made a fairer knight: he seemed as if he might be a prince without peer in the field where men strive in battle.29

Then before the hearth-place, whereon the fire burned, they made ready a chair for Gawain, hung about with cloth and fair cushions; and there they cast around him a mantle of brown samite, richly embroidered and furred within with costly skins of ermine, with a hood of the same, and he seated himself in that rich seat, and warmed himself at the fire and was cheered at heart.30 And while he sat thus the serving men set up a table on trestles, and covered it with a fair white cloth, and set thereon salt-cellar, and napkin, and silver spoons; and the knight washed at his will, and set him down to meat.31

The folk served him courteously with many dishes seasoned of the best, a double portion.32 All kinds of fish were there, some baked in bread, some broiled on the embers, some sodden, some stewed and savoured with spices, with all sorts of cunning devices to his taste.33 And often he called it a feast, when they spake gaily to him all together, and said, “Now take ye this penance, and it shall be for your amendment.”34 Much mirth thereof did Sir Gawain make.35

Sir Gawain tells his name36

Then they questioned that prince courteously of whence he came; and he told them that he was of the court of Arthur, who is the rich royal King of the Round Table, and that it was Gawain himself who was within their walls, and would keep Christmas with them, as the chance had fallen out.37 And when the lord of the castle heard those tidings he laughed aloud for gladness, and all men in that keep were joyful that they should be in the company of him to whom belonged all fame, and valour, and courtesy, and whose honour was praised above that of all men on earth.38 Each said softly to his fellow, “Now shall we see courteous bearing, and the manner of speech befitting courts.39 What charm lieth in gentle speech shall we learn without asking, since here we have welcomed the fine father of courtesy.40 God has surely shewn us His grace since He sends us such a guest as Gawain!41 When men shall sit and sing, blithe for Christ’s birth, this knight shall bring us to the knowledge of fair manners, and it may be that hearing him we may learn the cunning speech of love.”42

By the time the knight had risen from dinner it was near nightfall.43 Then chaplains took their way to the chapel, and rang loudly, even as they should, for the solemn evensong of the high feast.44 Thither went the lord, and the lady also, and entered with her maidens into a comely closet, and thither also went Gawain.45 Then the lord took him by the sleeve and led him to a seat, and called him by his name, and told him he was of all men in the world the most welcome.46 And Sir Gawain thanked him truly, and each kissed the other, and they sat gravely together throughout the service.47

The lady of the castle48

Then was the lady fain to look upon that knight; and she came forth from her closet with many fair maidens.49 The fairest of ladies was she in face, and figure, and colouring, fairer even than Guinevere, so the knight thought.50 She came through the chancel to greet the hero, another lady held her by the left hand, older than she, and seemingly of high estate, with many nobles about her.51 But unlike to look upon were those ladies, for if the younger were fair, the elder was yellow.52 Rich red were the cheeks of the one, rough and wrinkled those of the other; the kerchiefs of the one were broidered with many glistening pearls, her throat and neck bare, and whiter than the snow that lies on the hills; the neck of the other was swathed in a gorget, with a white wimple over her black chin.53 Her forehead was wrapped in silk with many folds, worked with knots, so that naught of her was seen save her black brows, her eyes, her nose, and her lips, and those were bleared, and ill to look upon.54 A worshipful lady in sooth one might call her!55 In figure was she short and broad, and thickly made—far fairer to behold was she whom she led by the hand.56