🧚 Opening, part 5 · page 2

“Well I wot,” quoth Sir Gawain, “that ye have chosen a better; but I am proud that ye should so prize me, and as your servant do I hold ye my sovereign, and your knight am I, and may Christ reward ye.”59

So they talked of many matters till mid-morn was past, and ever the lady shewed her love to him, and the knight turned her speech aside.60 For though she were the brightest of maidens, yet had he forborne to shew her love for the danger that awaited him, and the blow that must be given without delay.61

Then the lady prayed her leave from him, and he granted it readily.62 And she gave him good-day, with laughing glance, but he must needs marvel at her words:63

“Now He that speeds fair speech reward ye this disport; but that ye be Gawain my mind misdoubts me greatly.”64

“Wherefore?” quoth the knight quickly, fearing lest he had lacked in some courtesy.65

And the lady spake: “So true a knight as Gawain is holden, and one so perfect in courtesy, would never have tarried so long with a lady but he would of his courtesy have craved a kiss at parting.”66

How the lady kissed Sir Gawain67

Then quoth Gawain, “I wot I will do even as it may please ye, and kiss at your commandment, as a true knight should who forbears to ask for fear of displeasure.”68

At that she came near and bent down and kissed the knight, and each commended the other to Christ, and she went forth from the chamber softly.69

Then Sir Gawain arose and called his chamberlain and chose his garments, and when he was ready he gat him forth to Mass, and then went to meat, and made merry all day till the rising of the moon, and never had a knight fairer lodging than had he with those two noble ladies, the elder and the younger.70

And ever the lord of the land chased the hinds through holt and heath till eventide, and then with much blowing of bugles and baying of hounds they bore the game homeward; and by the time daylight was done all the folk had returned to that fair castle.71 And when the lord and Sir Gawain met together, then were they both well pleased.72 The lord commanded them all to assemble in the great hall, and the ladies to descend with their maidens, and there, before them all, he bade the men fetch in the spoil of the day’s hunting, and he called unto Gawain, and counted the tale of the beasts, and showed them unto him, and said, “What think ye of this game, Sir Knight?73 Have I deserved of ye thanks for my woodcraft?”74

“Yea, I wis,” quoth the other, “here is the fairest spoil I have seen this seven year in the winter season.”75

How the covenant was kept76

“And all this do I give ye, Gawain,” quoth the host, “for by accord of covenant ye may claim it as your own.”77

“That is sooth,” quoth the other, “I grant you that same; and I have fairly won this within walls, and with as good will do I yield it to ye.”78 With that he clasped his hands round the lord’s neck and kissed him as courteously as he might.79 “Take ye here my spoils, no more have I won; ye should have it freely, though it were greater than this.”80

“’Tis good,” said the host, “gramercy thereof.81 Yet were I fain to know where ye won this same favour, and if it were by your own wit?”82

“Nay,” answered Gawain, “that was not in the bond.83 Ask me no more: ye have taken what was yours by right, be content with that.”84

They laughed and jested together, and sat them down to supper, where they were served with many dainties; and after supper they sat by the hearth, and wine was served out to them; and oft in their jesting they promised to observe on the morrow the same covenant that they had made before, and whatever chance might betide to exchange their spoil, be it much or little, when they met at night.85 Thus they renewed their bargain before the whole court, and then the night-drink was served, and each courteously took leave of the other and gat him to bed.86

Of the second day’s hunting87

By the time the cock had crowed thrice the lord of the castle had left his bed; Mass was sung and meat fitly served.88 The folk were forth to the wood ere the day broke, with hound and horn they rode over the plain, and uncoupled their dogs among the thorns.89 Soon they struck on the scent, and the hunt cheered on the hounds who were first to seize it, urging them with shouts.90 The others hastened to the cry, forty at once, and there rose such a clamour from the pack that the rocks rang again.91 The huntsmen followed hard after with shouting and blasts of the horn; and the hounds drew together to a thicket betwixt the water and a high crag in the cliff beneath the hillside.92 As the rough rocks were ill for riding the huntsmen sprang to earth and hastened on foot, and cast about round the hill and the thicket.93 The knights wist well what beast was within, and would drive him forth with the bloodhounds.94 And as they beat the bushes, suddenly over the beaters there rushed forth a wondrous great and fierce boar, long since had he left the herd to roam by himself.95 Grunting, he cast many to the ground, and fled forth at his best speed, without more mischief.96 The men hallooed loudly and cried, “_Hay!97 Hay!98 _” and blew the horns to urge on the hounds, and rode swiftly after the boar.99 Many a time did he turn to bay and tare the hounds, and they yelped, and howled shrilly.100 Then the men made ready their arrows and shot at him, but the points were turned on his thick hide, and the barbs would not bite upon him, for the shafts shivered in pieces, and the head but leapt again wherever it hit.101

But when the boar felt the stroke of the arrows he waxed mad with rage, and turned on the hunters and tare many, so that, affrighted, they fled before him.102 But the lord on a swift steed pursued him, blowing his bugle; as a gallant knight he rode through the woodland chasing the boar till the sun grew low.103

So did the hunters this day, while Sir Gawain lay in his bed lapped in rich gear; and the lady forgat not to salute him, for early was she at his side, to cheer his mood.104

Of the lady and Sir Gawain105

She came to the bedside and looked on the knight, and Gawain gave her fit greeting, and she greeted him again with ready words, and sat her by his side and laughed, and with a sweet look she spoke to him:106

“Sir, if ye be Gawain, I think it a wonder that ye be so stern and cold, and care not for the courtesies of friendship, but if one teach ye to know them ye cast the lesson out of your mind.107 Ye have soon forgotten what I taught ye yesterday, by all the truest tokens that I knew!”108