Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Pearl Poet

the king commanded Gawain to rise from the table;

       and he right quickly stood up and made himself ready,

       kneeled down before the king and took the weapon;

       and Arthur lovingly left it to him,

       lifted up his hand and gave him God’s blessing,

       and gladly bade him be hardy both of heart and of hand.

       "Take care, cousin," quoth the king,

       "that thou give him a cut;

       and if thou handle him properly,

       I readily believe that thou shalt endure

       the blow which he shall give after."

       Gawain goes to the man with gisarm in hand;

       and he boldly awaits him,

       shrinking never a whit.

       Then speaks to Sir Gawain the knight in the green;

       "Rehearse we our agreement before we go farther.

       First, I conjure thee,

       hero, how thou art called,

       that thou tell me it truly,

       so that I may believe it."

       "In good faith," quoth the knight, "Gawain am I called,

       who give you this buffet, whatever befalls after;

       and at this time twelvemonth I am to take from thee another

       with whatever weapon thou wilt, and from no wight else alive."

       The other answers again, "Sir Gawain,

       so thrive I as I am heartily glad

       that thou shalt give this blow."

      18.

      "By Gog," quoth the green knight, "Sir Gawain,

       it delights me that I am to get at thy fist

       what I have requested here;

       and thou hast readily and truly rehearsed

       the whole of the covenant that I asked of the king,

       save that thou shalt assure me, sir, by thy troth,

       that thou wilt seek me thyself wheresoever thou thinkest

       I may be found upon the earth,

       and fetch for thyself such wages as thou dealest me today

       before this rich company."

       "Where should I seek thee?" quoth Gawain. "Where is thy place?

       I know never where thou livest,

       by him that wrought me;

       nor do I know thee, knight, thy court, nor thy name.

       But tell me truly the way and how thou art called,

       and I will use all my wit to win my way thither, —

       and that I swear thee, for a sooth, and by my sure troth."

       "New Year will suffice for that; no more is needed now,"

       quoth the man in green to Gawain the courteous.

       "To tell the truth, after I have received thy tap,

       and thou hast smitten me well, I shall promptly inform thee

       of my house and my home and mine own name.

       Then thou mayest inquire about my journey and hold promise;

       and if I speak no speech, then thou speedest the better,

       for thou mayest linger at ease in thy land and seek no further.

       Take now thy grim tool to thee and let us see how thou knockest."

       "Gladly, sir, for sooth," quoth Gawain

       as he strokes his axe.

      19.

      The green knight on the ground prepared himself properly.

       With the head a little bowed he disclosed the flesh.

       His long, lovely locks he laid over his crown,

       and let the naked nape of his neck show for the blow.

       Gawain gripped his axe and gathered it on high;

       the left foot he set before on the ground,

       and let the axe light smartly down on the naked flesh,¹⁶ so that the sharp edge severed the giant’s bones, and shrank through the clear flesh¹⁷ and sheared it in twain, till the edge of the brown steel bit into the ground. The fair head fell from the neck to the earth, and many pushed it with their feet where it rolled forth. The blood burst from the body and glistened on the green. Yet never faltered nor fell the hero for all that; but stoutly he started up with firm steps, and fiercely he rushed forth where the heroes stood, caught his lovely head, and lifted it up straightaway. Then he turned to his steed, seized the bridle, stepped into the steel bow and strode aloft, holding the head in his hand by the hair; and as soberly the man sat in his saddle as if no mishap had ailed him, though he was headless on the spot. He turned his trunk about — that ugly body that bled. Many a one of them thought that he had lost his reason.

      20.

      For he held the head straight up in his hand;

       turned the face toward the highest on the dais;

       and it lifted up the eyelids and looked straight out,

       and spoke thus much with his mouth,

       as ye may now hear: "Look Gawain,

       that thou be ready to go as thou has promised,

       and seek loyally, hero, till thou find me;

       as thou has promised in this hall in the hearing of these knights.

       To the green chapel go thou, I charge thee,

       to receive such a blow as thou has dealt.

       Thou deservest to be promptly paid on New Year’s morn.¹⁸ As the knight of the green chapel many men know me; therefore, if thou strivest to find me, thou shalt never fail. And so come, or it behooves thee to be called recreant." With a wild rush he turned the reins, and flew out at the hall door — his head in his hand — so that the fire of the flint flew from the foal’s hoofs. To what country he vanished knew none there; no more than they wist whence he was come. The king and Gawain roared with laughter at that green man; but this adventure was reckoned a marvel among men.

      21.

      Though the courteous king wondered in his heart,

       he let no semblance be seen,

       but said aloud to the comely queen with courteous speech,

       "Dear dame, today be never dismayed;

       well becoming are such tricks at Christmas,

       in lack of entertainment, to laugh and sing about

       among these pleasant carols of knights and ladies.

       Nevertheless I may well go to my meat,

       for I can not deny that I have seen a marvel."

       He glanced at Sir Gawain and said cheerfully,

       "Now, sir, hang up thine axe;

       it has hewn enough." And it was put above the dais

       to hang on the tapestry where all men might marvel at it,

       and by it avouch the wonderful happening.

       Then they turned to the board, these heroes together —

       the king and the good knight —

       and the keen men served them double of all dainties,