🧚 Opening, part 6 · page 2

“As I am a true knight I swear my troth that ye shall come to the Green Chapel to achieve your task on New Year’s morn, long before prime.47 Therefore abide ye in your bed, and I will hunt in this wood, and hold ye to the covenant to exchange with me against all the spoil I may bring hither.48 For twice have I tried ye, and found ye true, and the morrow shall be the third time and the best.49 Make we merry now while we may, and think on joy, for misfortune may take a man whensoever it wills.”50

Then Gawain granted his request, and they brought them drink, and they gat them with lights to bed.51

Of the third day’s hunting52

Sir Gawain lay and slept softly, but the lord, who was keen on woodcraft, was afoot early.53 After Mass he and his men ate a morsel, and he asked for his steed; all the knights who should ride with him were already mounted before the hall gates.54

’Twas a fair frosty morning, for the sun rose red in ruddy vapour, and the welkin was clear of clouds.55 The hunters scattered them by a forest side, and the rocks rang again with the blast of their horns.56 Some came on the scent of a fox, and a hound gave tongue; the huntsmen shouted, and the pack followed in a crowd on the trail.57 The fox ran before them, and when they saw him they pursued him with noise and much shouting, and he wound and turned through many a thick grove, often cowering and hearkening in a hedge.58 At last by a little ditch he leapt out of a spinney, stole away slily by a copse path, and so out of the wood and away from the bounds.59 But he went, ere he wist, to a chosen tryst, and three started forth on him at once, so he must needs double back, and betake him to the wood again.60

Then was it joyful to hearken to the hounds; when all the pack had met together and had sight of their game they made as loud a din as if all the lofty cliffs had fallen clattering together.61 The huntsmen shouted and threatened, and followed close upon him so that he might scarce escape, but Reynard was wily, and he turned and doubled upon them, and led the lord and his men over the hills, now on the slopes, now in the vales, while the knight at home slept through the cold morning beneath his costly curtains.62

How the lady came for the third time to Sir Gawain63

But the fair lady of the castle rose betimes, and clad herself in a rich mantle that reached even to the ground, and was bordered and lined with costly furs.64 On her head she wore no golden circlet, but a network of precious stones, that gleamed and shone through her tresses in clusters of twenty together.65 Thus she came into the chamber and set open a window, and called to him gaily, “Sir Knight, how may ye sleep?66 The morning is so fair.”67

Sir Gawain was deep in slumber, and in his dream he vexed him much for the destiny that should befall him on the morrow, when he should meet the knight at the Green Chapel, and abide his blow; but when the lady spake he heard her, and came to himself, and roused from his dream and answered swiftly.68 The lady came laughing, and kissed him courteously, and he welcomed her fittingly with a cheerful countenance.69 He saw her so glorious and gaily dressed, so faultless of features and complexion, that it warmed his heart to look upon her.70

They spake to each other smiling, and all was bliss and good cheer between them.71 They exchanged fair words, and much happiness was therein, yet was there a gulf between them, and she might win no more of her knight, for that gallant prince watched well his words—he would neither take her love, nor frankly refuse it.72 He cared for his courtesy, lest he be deemed churlish, and yet more for his honour lest he be traitor to his host.73 “God forbid,” quoth he to himself, “that it should so befall.”74 Thus with courteous words did he set aside all the special speeches that came from her lips.75

Then spake the lady to the knight, “Ye deserve blame if ye hold not that lady who sits beside ye above all else in the world, if ye have not already a love whom ye hold dearer, and like better, and have sworn such firm faith to that lady that ye care not to loose it—as I scarce may believe.76 And now I pray ye straitly that ye tell me that in truth, and hide it not.”77

And the knight answered, “By S. John” (and he smiled as he spake) “no such love have I, nor do I think to have yet awhile.”78

“That is the worst word I may hear,” quoth the lady, “but in sooth I have mine answer; kiss me now courteously, and I will go hence; I can but mourn as a maiden that loves much.”79

Sighing, she stooped down and kissed him, and then she rose up and spake as she stood, “Now, dear, at our parting do me this grace: give me some gift, if it were but thy glove, that I may bethink me of my knight, and lessen my mourning.”80

The lady would fain have a parting gift from Gawain81

“Now, I wis,” quoth the knight, “I would that I had here but the least thing that I possess on earth that I might leave ye as love-token, great or small, for ye have deserved forsooth more reward than I might give ye.82 But it is not to your honour to have at this time a glove for reward as gift from Gawain, and I am here on a strange errand, and have no man with me, nor mails with goodly things—that mislikes me much, lady, at this time; but each man must fare as he is taken, if for sorrow and ill.”83

She would give him her ring84

“Nay, knight highly honoured,” quoth that lovesome lady, “though I have naught of yours, yet shall ye have somewhat of mine.”85 With that she reached him a ring of red gold with a sparkling stone therein, that shone even as the sun (wit ye well, it was worth many marks); but the knight refused it, and spake readily,86

“I will take no gift, lady, at this time.87 I have none to give, and none will I take.”88

She prayed him to take it, but he refused her prayer, and sware in sooth that he would not have it.89

Or her girdle90

The lady was sorely vexed, and said, “If ye refuse my ring as too costly, that ye will not be so highly beholden to me, I will give ye my girdle[9] as a lesser gift.”91 With that she loosened a lace that was fastened at her side, knit upon her kirtle under her mantle.92 It was wrought of green silk, and gold, only braided by the fingers, and that she offered to the knight, and besought him though it were of little worth that he would take it, and he said nay, he would touch neither gold nor gear ere God give him grace to achieve the adventure for which he had come hither.93 “And therefore, I pray ye, displease ye not, and ask me no longer, for I may not grant it.94 I am dearly beholden to ye for the favour ye have shown me, and ever, in heat and cold, will I be your true servant.”95