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your fierceness and fell mood, and your fine boasting?

       Now are the revels and the royalty of the Round Table

       overwhelmed by a word by one man spoken,

       for all blench now abashed ere a blow is offered!’

       With that he laughed so loud that their lord was angered,

       the blood shot for shame into his shining cheeks

       and face;

       as wroth as wind he grew,

       so all did in that place.

       Then near to the stout man drew

       the king of fearless race,

       15 And said: ‘Marry! Good man, ’tis madness thou askest,

       and since folly thou hast sought, thou deservest to find it.

       I know no lord that is alarmed by thy loud words here.

       Give me now thy guisarm, in God’s name, sir,

       and I will bring thee the blessing thou hast begged to receive.’

       Quick then he came to him and caught it from his hand.

       Then the lordly man loftily alighted on foot.

       Now Arthur holds his axe, and the haft grasping

       sternly he stirs it about, his stroke considering.

       The stout man before him there stood his full height,

       higher than any in that house by a head and yet more.

       With stern face as he stood he stroked at his beard,

       and with expression impassive he pulled down his coat,

       no more disturbed or distressed at the strength of his blows

       than if someone as he sat had served him a drink

       of wine.

       From beside the queen Gawain

       to the king did then incline:

       ‘I implore with prayer plain

       that this match should now be mine.’

       16 ‘Would you, my worthy lord,’ said Wawain to the king,

       ‘bid me abandon this bench and stand by you there,

       so that I without discourtesy might be excused from the table,

       and my liege lady were not loth to permit me,

       I would come to your counsel before your courtiers fair.

       For I find it unfitting, as in fact it is held,

       when a challenge in your chamber makes choice so exalted,

       though you yourself be desirous to accept it in person,

       while many bold men about you on bench are seated:

       on earth there are, I hold, none more honest of purpose,

       no figures fairer on field where fighting is waged.

       I am the weakest, I am aware, and in wit feeblest,

       and the least loss, if I live not, if one would learn the truth.

       Only because you are my uncle is honour given me:

       save your blood in my body I boast of no virtue;

       and since this affair is so foolish that it nowise befits you,

       and I have requested it first, accord it then to me!

       If my claim is uncalled-for without cavil shall judge

       this court.’

       To consult the knights draw near,

       and this plan they all support;

       the king with crown to clear,

       and give Gawain the sport.

       17 The king then commanded that he quickly should rise,

       and he readily uprose and directly approached,

       kneeling humbly before his highness, and laying hand on the weapon;

       and he lovingly relinquished it, and lifting his hand

       gave him God’s blessing, and graciously enjoined him

       that his hand and his heart should be hardy alike.

       ‘Take care, cousin,’ quoth the king, ‘one cut to address,

       and if thou learnest him his lesson, I believe very well

       that thou wilt bear any blow that he gives back later.’

       Gawain goes to the great man with guisarm in hand,

       and he boldly abides there – he blenched not at all.

       Then next said to Gawain the knight all in green:

       ‘Let’s tell again our agreement, ere we go any further.

       I’d know first, sir knight, thy name; I entreat thee

       to tell it me truly, that I may trust in thy word.’

       ‘In good faith,’ quoth the good knight, ‘I Gawain am called

       who bring thee this buffet, let be what may follow;

       and at this time a twelvemonth in thy turn have another

       with whatever weapon thou wilt, and in the world with

       none else but me.’

       The other man answered again:

       ‘I am passing pleased,’ said he,

       ‘upon my life, Sir Gawain,

       that this stroke should be struck by thee.’

       18 ‘Begad,’ said the green knight, ‘Sir Gawain, I am pleased

       to find from thy fist the favour I asked for!

       And thou hast promptly repeated and plainly hast stated

       without abatement the bargain I begged of the king here;

       save that thou must assure me, sir, on thy honour

       that thou’lt seek me thyself, search where thou thinkest

       I may be found near or far, and fetch thee such payment

       as thou deliverest me today before these lordly people.’

       ‘Where should I light on thee,’ quoth Gawain, ‘where look for thy place?

       I have never learned where thou livest, by the Lord that made me,

       and I know thee not, knight, thy name nor thy court.

       But teach me the true way, and tell what men call thee,

       and I will apply all my purpose the path to discover:

       and that I swear thee for certain and solemnly promise.’

       ‘That is enough in New Year, there is need of no more!’

       said the great man in green to Gawain the courtly.

       ‘If I tell thee the truth of it, when I have taken the knock,

       and thou handily hast hit me, if in haste I announce then

       my house and my home and mine own title,

       then thou canst call and enquire and keep the agreement;

       and if I waste not a word, thou’lt win better fortune,

       for thou mayst linger in thy land and look no further –

       but stay!

       To thy grim tool now take heed, sir!

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