Therefore I crave in this court a Christmas gambol,

For it is Yule and New Year, and here are many young braggarts;

If any in this house holds him so hardy, If he be so bold in his blood, hot-brained of temper

That he dare stiffly strike one stroke for another,

I shall give him of my gift this gisarme splendid

This axe, that is heavy enough to handle as he pleases;

And I shall bide the first blow, as bare as I sit here.

If any man be so mad as to make such a trial Let him leap to me lightly and lay hold of this weapon

292

I quit-claim it for ever, keep it as his own And I shall stand him a stroke, stiff on this floor, If thou wilt but grant me the grace to give him another,

Where is now your arrogance and all your conquests,

Your fierceness and your fellness and your fine boasting?

Now is the revel and the renown of the Round Table

Overthrown by a word of one man's speech; For all quail for cowardice, tho' no combat threatens !"

With this he laughed so loud that the lord was grieved;

The blood shot for shame into his fair cheek
And face.

As wrathful then as wind
Grew all men in that place.
The king, as bold by kind,
Neared that stout man apace

320

Ne better bodyes on bent,19 ther 12 baret 20 is rered.

I am the wakkest,21 I wot, and of wyt feblest, And lest lur 22 of my lyf, quo laytes the sothe; 23 Bot for as much as ye ar myn em,24 I am only to prayse

No bounté 25 bot your blod I in my bodé knowe

And sythen this note 26 is so nys 27 that noght hit yow falles,28

And I have frayned 29 hit at yow fyrst, foldez 30 hit to me!

And if I carp 31 not comlyly, let alle this cort rych 32

Bout 33 blame."

Ryche 34 to-geder con roun,3 35
And sythen thay redden alle same,3
To ryd the kyng wyth croun,37
And gif Gawan the game.

361

36

25

To blame."

Nobles 'gan whispering; Their verdict was the same,

To exempt the crowned king And give Gawain the game.

30

361

re

26 affair 27 foolish goodness 29 28 becomes quested grant 31 if I speak 32 judge 33 without 34 the great ones 35 did whisper 36 and afterwards they decided unanimously 37 to set aside the crowned king

27

390

XVII

Then kindly the king commanded him to rise;

And he came forward quickly and curtsied duly,

Kneels down before the king and catches the weapon;

And he releases it lovingly and lifts up his hand

And gives him God's blessing and gladly bids him

370 That his heart and his hand should both be hardy.

"Take care, cousin," said the king, "that thou carve him once,

And if thou touchest him tidily, truly I trow That thou canst endure any dint that he will deal thee."

Gawain goes to the green man, with gisarme in hand;

And he boldly abides him, abashed was he

Gawain, I like it

390

That I shall have from thy hand what I here sought for;

11

14

axe agree18 be

me

15 further 16 ask 17 what is thy name

But direct me to thy dwelling and disclose how men call thee,

And I shall strive with my strength to steer my steps thither;

And that I swear thee surely and by my sacred honour."

"That is enough at New Year; no more is needful,"

Quoth the grim man in green to Gawain the courteous;

"If I tell thee truly, when I the tap have taken And thou hast smoothly smitten me, if smartly I teach thee

Of my house and my home and how mei, call