🧚 Opening, part 8

Then he drew in his horse and looked around to seek the chapel, but he saw none and thought it strange.1 Then he saw as it were a mound on a level space of land by a bank beside the stream where it ran swiftly, the water bubbled within as if boiling.2 The knight turned his steed to the mound, and lighted down and tied the rein to the branch of a linden; and he turned to the mound and walked round it, questioning with himself what it might be.3 It had a hole at the end and at either side, and was overgrown with clumps of grass, and it was hollow within as an old cave or the crevice of a crag; he knew not what it might be.4

The finding of the chapel5

“Ah,” quoth Gawain, “can this be the Green Chapel?6 Here might the devil say his mattins at midnight!7 Now I wis there is wizardry here. ’8 Tis an ugly oratory, all overgrown with grass, and ’twould well beseem that fellow in green to say his devotions on devil’s wise.9 By my five wits, ’tis the foul fiend himself who hath set me this tryst, to destroy me here!10 This is a chapel of mischance: ill-luck betide it, ’tis the cursedest kirk that ever I came in!”11

Helmet on head and lance in hand, he came up to the rough dwelling, when he heard over the high hill beyond the brook, as it were in a bank, a wondrous fierce noise, that rang in the cliff as if it would cleave asunder. ’12 Twas as if one ground a scythe on a grindstone, it whirred and whetted like water on a mill-wheel and rushed and rang, terrible to hear.13

“By God,” quoth Gawain, “I trow that gear is preparing for the knight who will meet me here.14 Alas! naught may help me, yet should my life be forfeit, I fear not a jot!”15 With that he called aloud.16 “Who waiteth in this place to give me tryst?17 Now is Gawain come hither: if any man will aught of him let him hasten hither now or never.”18

The coming of the Green Knight19

“Stay,” quoth one on the bank above his head, “and ye shall speedily have that which I promised ye.”20 Yet for a while the noise of whetting went on ere he appeared, and then he came forth from a cave in the crag with a fell weapon, a Danish axe newly dight, wherewith to deal the blow.21 An evil head it had, four feet large, no less, sharply ground, and bound to the handle by the lace that gleamed brightly.22 And the knight himself was all green as before, face and foot, locks and beard, but now he was afoot.23 When he came to the water he would not wade it, but sprang over with the pole of his axe, and strode boldly over the brent that was white with snow.24

Sir Gawain went to meet him, but he made no low bow.25 The other said, “Now, fair sir, one may trust thee to keep tryst.26 Thou art welcome, Gawain, to my place.27 Thou hast timed thy coming as befits a true man.28 Thou knowest the covenant set between us: at this time twelve months agone thou didst take that which fell to thee, and I at this New Year will readily requite thee.29 We are in this valley, verily alone, here are no knights to sever us, do what we will.30 Have off thy helm from thine head, and have here thy pay; make me no more talking than I did then when thou didst strike off my head with one blow.”31

“Nay,” quoth Gawain, “by God that gave me life, I shall make no moan whatever befall me, but make thou ready for the blow and I shall stand still and say never a word to thee, do as thou wilt.”32

With that he bent his head and shewed his neck all bare, and made as if he had no fear, for he would not be thought a-dread.33

How Sir Gawain failed to stand the blow34

Then the Green Knight made him ready, and grasped his grim weapon to smite Gawain.35 With all his force he bore it aloft with a mighty feint of slaying him: had it fallen as straight as he aimed he who was ever doughty of deed had been slain by the blow.36 But Gawain swerved aside as the axe came gliding down to slay him as he stood, and shrank a little with the shoulders, for the sharp iron.37 The other heaved up the blade and rebuked the prince with many proud words:38

Of the Green Knight’s reproaches39

“Thou art not Gawain,” he said, “who is held so valiant, that never feared he man by hill or vale, but _thou_ shrinkest for fear ere thou feelest hurt.40 Such cowardice did I never hear of Gawain!41 Neither did _I_ flinch from thy blow, or make strife in King Arthur’s hall.42 My head fell to my feet, and yet I fled not, but thou didst wax faint of heart ere any harm befell.43 Wherefore must I be deemed the braver knight.”44

Quoth Gawain, “I shrank once, but so will I no more, though an _my_ head fall on the stones I cannot replace it.45 But haste, Sir Knight, by thy faith, and bring me to the point, deal me my destiny, and do it out of hand, for I will stand thee a stroke and move no more till thine axe have hit me—my troth on it.”46

“Have at thee, then,” quoth the other, and heaved aloft the axe with fierce mien, as if he were mad.47 He struck at him fiercely but wounded him not, withholding his hand ere it might strike him.48

Gawain abode the stroke, and flinched in no limb, but stood still as a stone or the stump of a tree that is fast rooted in the rocky ground with a hundred roots.49

Then spake gaily the man in green, “So now thou hast thine heart whole it behoves me to smite.50 Hold aside thy hood that Arthur gave thee, and keep thy neck thus bent lest it cover it again.”51

Then Gawain said angrily, “Why talk on thus?52 Thou dost threaten too long.53 I hope thy heart misgives thee.”54

How the Green Knight dealt the blow55

“For sooth,” quoth the other, “so fiercely thou speakest I will no longer let thine errand wait its reward.”56 Then he braced himself to strike, frowning with lips and brow, ’twas no marvel that he who hoped for no rescue misliked him.57 He lifted the axe lightly and let it fall with the edge of the blade on the bare neck.58 Though he struck swiftly it hurt him no more than on the one side where it severed the skin.59 The sharp blade cut into the flesh so that the blood ran over his shoulder to the ground.60 And when the knight saw the blood staining the snow, he sprang forth, swift-foot, more than a spear’s length, seized his helmet and set it on his head, cast his shield over his shoulder, drew out his bright sword, and spake boldly (never since he was born was he half so blithe), “Stop, Sir Knight, bid me no more blows.61 I have stood a stroke here without flinching, and if thou give me another, I shall requite thee, and give thee as good again.62 By the covenant made betwixt us in Arthur’s hall but one blow falls to me here.63 Halt, therefore.”64

Of the three covenants65

Then the Green Knight drew off from him, and leaned on his axe, setting the shaft on the ground, and looked on Gawain as he stood all armed and faced him fearlessly—at heart it pleased him well.66 Then he spake merrily in a loud voice, and said to the knight, “Bold sir, be not so fierce, no man here hath done thee wrong, nor will do, save by covenant, as we made at Arthur’s court.67 I promised thee a blow and thou hast it—hold thyself well paid!68 I release thee of all other claims.69 If I had been so minded I might perchance have given thee a rougher buffet.70 First I menaced thee with a feigned one, and hurt thee not for the covenant that we made in the first night, and which thou didst hold truly.71 All the gain didst thou give me as a true man should.72 The other feint I proffered thee for the morrow: my fair wife kissed thee, and thou didst give me her kisses—for both those days I gave thee two blows without scathe—true man, true return.73 But the third time thou didst fail, and therefore hadst thou that blow.74 For ’tis my weed thou wearest, that same woven girdle, my own wife wrought it, that do I wot for sooth.75 Now know I well thy kisses, and thy conversation, and the wooing of my wife, for ’twas mine own doing.76 I sent her to try thee, and in sooth I think thou art the most faultless knight that ever trode earth.77 As a pearl among white peas is of more worth than they, so is Gawain, i’ faith, by other knights.78 But thou didst lack a little, Sir Knight, and wast wanting in loyalty, yet that was for no evil work, nor for wooing neither, but because thou lovedst thy life—therefore I blame thee the less.”79