Lystonnyth, lordyngus, a lyttyll stonde           Listen; while; (see note)
	Of on that was sekor and sounde                          one; sure and true
	 And doughgty in his dede.                               strong; (see note)
	He was as meke as mayde in bour                             humble; chamber
5	And therto styfe in every stour;             in addition unyielding; battle
	 Was non so doughtty in dede.
	Dedus of armus wyttout lese                                      Deeds; lie
	Seche he wolde in war and pees                                  Seek; peace
	 In mony a stronge lede.                                    strange country
10	Sertaynly, wyttoutyn fabull                            Certainly; falsehood
	He was wytt Artter at the Rounde Tabull,                               with
	 In romans as we reede.                                       romance; read

	His name was Syr Gawene:
	Moche worschepe in Bretten he wan,                   honor; Britain; earned
15	 And hardy he was and wyghte.                                        strong
	The Yle of Brettayn icleppyde ys                 Isle; [the area] is called
	Betwyn Skotlond and Ynglonde iwys,                  (That takes in); indeed
	 In storry iwryte aryghte.                                  history written
	Wallys ys an angull of that yle;                              Wales; corner
20	At Cardyfe sojornde the Kynge a whylle        Cardiff sojourned; (see note)
	 Wytt mony a gentyll knyghte                               With; (see note)
	That wolde to Ynglonde to honte,                         wished to go; hunt
	As grete lordys dothe and be wonte,                          are accustomed
	 Wytt hardy lordys and wygghte.                                With; strong

25	Kinge Arttor to his lordis gan saye                                     did
	As a lorde ryall that well maye,                                      royal
	 "Do us to have a Masse.                                       Let there be
	Byschope Bawdewyn schall hit don;              Baldwin; perform; (see note)
	Then to the forrest woll we gon,                                   will; go
30	 All that evyr her ys,                                                 here
	For nowe is grece-tyme of the yeer,       [animals'] sleek time; (see note)
	That baruns bolde schulde hont the der,                        barons; deer
	 And reyse hem of her reste."                   start them from their cover
	Wondor glad was Syr Mewreke;                Exceedingly; Marrok; (see note)
35	So was the knyght Sir Key Caratocke,                Kay Caradoc; (see note)
	 And other mor and lase.                            greater (in rank); less

	Glade was Launccelet de Lacke,                         Lancelot of the Lake
	So was Syr Percivall, I undortake                       Percevall; dare say


	 And Lanfalle, I wene.                                        Lanval; think
40	So was Syr Eweyn the Uyttryan                            Ywain son of Urien
	And Syr Lot of Laudyan,                                             Lothian
	 That hardy was and kene;
	Syr Gaytefer and Syr Galerowne,              Gadiffer; Galleron; (see note)
	Syr Costantyn and Syr Raynbrown,          Constantine; Reinbrun; (see note)
45	 The Knyght of Armus Grene.                                           Green
	Syr Gawen was Stwarde of the halle;                                 Steward
	He was master of hem all                                               them
	 And buskyde hem bedenne.               readied them right away; (see note)

	The Kyngus uncull, Syr Mordrete,          King's uncle; Mordred; (see note)
50	Nobull knyghttus wytt hym gan lede,                          with; did lead
	 In romans as men rede.
	Syr Yngeles, that genttyle knyghte,                                  Engely
	Wytt hym he lede houndys wygght                                      strong
	 That well coude do her dede.                            perform their work
55	Syr Lebyus Dyskonus was thare                    Le Bel Inconnu; (see note)
	Wytt proude men les and mare
	 To make the donne der blede;                                dun deer bleed
	Syr Pettypas of Wynchylse,                 Petipace; Winchelsea; (see note)
	A nobull knyght of chevalré,                                       chivalry
60	 And stout was on a stede.                                            steed

	Syr Grandon and Syr Ferr Unkowthe,                             Fair Unknown
	Meryly they sewyde wytt mouthe,                         pursued with shouts
	 Wytt houndys that wer wyght;
	Syr Blancheles and Ironsyde,                Brandelys; Ironside; (see note)
65	Monny a doughty that day con ryde                        Many; warrior; did
	 On hors fayr and lyghte.                                             swift
	Irounsyde, as I wene,                                            understand
	Gat the Knyght of Armus Grene                                  Begot; Green
	 On a lady brygght -
70	Sertenly, as I undurstonde,                             Certainly; dare say
	That fayr may of Blanche Lonnde,                           maid; Blanchland
	 In bour that lovely wyghte.                                chamber; person

	Ironsyde, as I wene,                                             understand
	Iarmyd he wolde ryde full clene,                          Armed; completely
75	 Wer the sonn nevyr so hoot.                                 Were; sun; hot
	In wyntter he wolde armus bere;                                        bear
	Gyanttus and he wer ever at were                          Giants; were; war
	 And allway at the debate.                                   always; strife

	 Favele Honde hyght ys stede.    "Tawnyfoot" is named his steed; (see note)
80	His armys and his odir wede                          other gear; (see note)
	 Full fayr and goode hit was:
	Of asur for sothe he bare                         [A shield] of azure truly
	A gryffyn of golde full feyr                   [Displaying] a griffin; fair
	 Iset full of golde flourrus.                    Embellished; fleurs-de-lis

85	He coude mor of venery and of wer                        knew; hunting; war
	Then all the kyngus that wer ther;                         Than; (see note)
	 Full oft asay hem he wolde.                              put them to trial
	Brennynge dragons hade he slayn,                                      Fiery
	And wylde bullus mony won                                     many overcome
90	 That gresely wer iholde.                                  grisly; regarded
	Byge barrons he hade ibonde.                               Strong; captured
	A hardyer knygght myght not be fonde;                                 found
	 Full herdy he was and bolde.                                    courageous
	Therfor ha was callyd, as I hard say,                             he; heard
95	The Kyngus fellowe by his day,                                  in his time
	 Wytt worthy knyghttus itolde.                               Among; reputed

	A lyon of golde was his creste;
	He spake reyson out of reste;                             reason beyond the
	 Lystynn and ye may her.                                   hear; (see note)
100	Wherever he went, be est or weste,                                  by east
	He nold forsake man nor best           would not forego [the chance]; beast
	 To fyght fer or ner.                                                   far

	Knyghttus kene fast they rane;                            ran [on the hunt]
	The Kynge followyd wytt mony a man, 
105	 Fife hunderd and moo, I wene.                                         more
	Folke followyd wytt fedyrt flonus,                 People; feathered arrows
	Nobull archarrus for the nons,                    archers for that occasion
	 To fell the fallow der so cleyn.                             kill; cleanly

	Barrons gan her hornnus blowe;                              did their horns
110	The der cam reykynge on a rowe,                          running in a crowd
 	 Bothe hert and eke heynde.                                 hart; also hind
	Be that tyme was pryme of the day                  By; [it] was mid-morning
	Fife hunderd der dede on a lond lay                          dead; clearing
	 Alonge undur a lynde.                                In a row; linden tree

115	Then Syr Gawen and Syr Key
	And Beschope Baudewyn, as I yow say,                                   tell
	 After a raynder they rode.                                        reindeer
	Frowe that tym was prym of the day
	Tyl myde-undur-non, as I yow saye,                           late afternoon
120	 Never styll hit abode.                                              stayed
	A myst gan ryse in a mor;                                              moor
	Barrons blowe her hornis store.                          blew their; loudly
	 Meche mon Syr Key made:                                       Great lament

	The reyneder wolde not dwelle.                                         stop
125	Herkon what aventer hem befelle;                     Listen; adventure them
	 Herbrow they wolde fayn have hade.                         Lodging; gladly

	Then sayde the gentyll knyght Syr Gawen,
	"All this labur ys in vayne,                                          labor
	 For certen, trowe hit me.                                For sure; believe
130	The dere is passyde out of our syght;
	We mete no mor wytt hym tonyght,                                       meet
	 Hende, herkon to me.                                  Gentle sirs; hearken
	I reede that we of our hors alyght                              advise; off
	And byde in this woode all nyght,                                      stay
135	 And loge undur this tree."                                           lodge
	"Ryde we hens," quod Keye anon;                             away said; then
	"We schall have harbrowe or we gon.                      before we go [far]
	 Dar no man wern hit me."                             Dare; refuse it to me

	Then sayd the Beschope: "I knowe hit well -
140	A Carle her in a castell             (i.e., non-noble warrior) [lives] here
	 A lyttyll her ner honde.                                       here nearby
	The Karl of Carllyll ys his nam:                                       name
	He may us herborow, be Sent Jame,            give us lodging by Saint James
	 As I undurstonde.                                                 dare say
145	Was ther nevyr barnn so bolde                            fellow; (see note)
	That ever myght gaystyn in his holde                  be a guest; household
	 But evyll harbrowe he fonde.                                   experienced
	He schall be bette, as I harde say,            [The guest] will be overcome
	And yefe he go wytt lyfe away                                     if; alive
150	 Hit wer but Goddus sonde.                               only through; will

	"Nowe ryde we thedyr all thre."                                     thither
	Therto sayd Key, "I grant hit the,                        go along with you
	 Also mot I well far;                                     And may I prosper
	And as thou seyst, hit schall be holde.                it; done; (see note)
155	Be the Carle never so bolde,
	 I count hym not worthe an har.                              consider; hair
	And yeyf he be never so stoute,                                          if
	We woll hym bette all abowt                                 beat thoroughly
	 And make his beggynge bar.                                 stronghold bare
160	Suche as he brewythe, seche schall he drenke;        brews such; (see note)
	He schall be bette that he schall stynke,       beaten [so fiercely]; stink
	 And agenst his wyll be thar."       (i.e., won't wish to stay); (see note)

	Syr Gawen sayd, "So hav I blyse,                    bliss (i.e., by heaven)
	I woll not geystyn ther magre ys,                    stay; against his wish
165	 Thow I myght never so well,                                 Though; easily
	Yefe anny fayr wordus may us gayn                                 If; avail
	To make the larde of us full fayn          lord with us pleased; (see note)
	 In his oun castell.
	Key, let be thy bostfull fare;                                     behavior
170	 Thow gost about to warke care,                                make trouble
	 I say, so have I helle.                       health (i.e., may I prosper)
	I woll pray the good lorde, as I yow saye,
	Of herborow tyll tomorrow daye                                      morning
	 And of met and melle."                                     food for a meal

175	On her way fast they rode.                                            their
	At the castell yat they abode -                               gate; stopped
	 The portter call they schulde.                       needed to; (see note)
	Ther hynge a hommyr by a cheyn.                                hung; hammer
	To knocke therat Syr Key toke dayn;                 with that; felt disdain
180	 The hommyr away he wold have pold.                                  pulled
 	The portter come wytt a prevey fare                             secret step
	And hem fonde he ther;                                        them examined
	 He axid what they wolde.                                             asked
	Then sayd Gawen curttesly,
185	"We beseche the lorde of herbory,                               for lodging
	 The good lord of this holde."                                    household

	The portter answerd hem agayn,                                         back
	"Your message wold I do full fayn;                  undertake with pleasure
	 And ye have harme, thanke hyt not me.                   If; don't blame me
190	Ye be so fayr, lyme and lythe,                                limb and body
	And therto comly, glad therwytt,                                   moreover
	 That cemmely hyt ys to see.                                      agreeable
	My lorde can no corttessye;                                           knows
	Ye schappyth notte wyttout a vellony,                      escape; villainy
195	 Truly trow ye mee.                                                 believe
	Me rewyth sor ye came this waye,                            I sorely regret
	And ar ye go, so woll ye say,                                        before
	 But yefe mor grace be."                       Unless; special dispensation

	"Portter," sayde Key, "let be thy care;                           put aside
200	Thow sest we mey no forther fare -                                  say; go
	 Thow jappyst, as I wene.                                       joke; guess
	But thou wolt on our message gon,                  Unless; with; (see note)
	The kyngus keyis woll we tane                      king's; take; (see note)
	 And draw hem doun cleyn."                     them (the gates); (see note)
205	The portter sayde, "So mot I thryfe,                       As I may prosper
	Ther be not thre knyghttus alyve
	 That dorst do hit, I wene.                                 dare; it; guess
	Wyst my lorde your wordys grete,                           [If] knew; lofty
	Some your lyvys ye schold forlete                Several [of] your; give up
210	 Or ellus full fast to flen."                                    else; flee

	The portter went into the hall;
	Wytt his Lord he mett wyttall,                                   right away
	 That hardy was and bolde.
	"Carl of Carllhyll, God loke the!                            watch over you
215	At the yatt be barnnus thre,                          gate; men; (see note)
	 Semley armus to welde:                                      Capable; wield
	To knyghttus of Arterys in,                             Two; Arthur's house
	A beschope, and no mor men,                                      (see note)
	 Sertayn, as they me tolde."
220	Then sayd the Carle, "Be Sent Myghell,                     By Saint Michael
	That tythingus lykyth me ryght well.                        tidings pleases
	 Seyth thei this way wolde."                        should come; (see note)

	When they came befor that syr,
	They fond four whelpus lay about his fyer,              young animals; fire
225	 That gresly was for to see:                                         grisly
	A wyld bole and a fellon boor,                            bull; lethal boar
	A lyon that wold bytte sor -                                           bite
	 Therof they had grete ferly.                                        wonder
	A bege ber lay louse unbounde.                              big bear; loose
230	Seche four whelpus ther they founde
	 About the Carllus kne.                                                knee
 	They rose and came the knyghttus agayn,                             towards
	And soun thei wold hem have slayn;            immediately; them; (see note)
	 The Carle bade hem let bee.                            commanded; hold off

235	"Ly doun," he sayd, "my whelpys four."
	Then the lyon began to lour
	 And glowyd as a glede,                                        glowed; coal
	The ber to ramy, the boole to groun,                           growl; snort
	The bor he whett his toskos soun                             tusks; at once
240	 Fast and that good spede.                                      immediately
	Then sayd the Carle, "Ly style! Hard yn!" Lie still! Stay back!; (see note)
	They fell adoun for fer of hyme,                                       fear
	 So sor they gan hyme drede.                                   did fear him
	For a word the Carle gan say                              For a single word
245	Under the tabull they crepyd away;
	 Therof Syr Key toke hede.                                             heed

	The Carle the knyghttus can beholde,                                    did
	Wytt a stout vesage and a bolde.                                       look
	 He semyd a dredfull man:                                        terrifying
250	Wytt chekus longe and vesage brade;                            visage broad
	Cambur nose and all ful made;                 Turned up; foully; (see note)
	 Betwyne his browus a large spane;                                     span
	Hys moghth moche, his berd graye;                               mouth large
 	Over his brest his lockus lay                                          hair
255	 As brod as anny fane;                                     winnowing basket
	Betwen his schuldors, whos ryght can rede,              whoever; understand
	He was two tayllors yardus a brede.                  in breadth; (see note)
	 Syr Key merveld gretly than.                                          then

	Nine taylloris yerdus he was hyghtht                  in height; (see note)
260	And therto leggus longe and wyghtht,                         With; powerful
	 Or ellus wondor hit wer.                  Amazing as it sounds; (see note)
	Ther was no post in that hall,                                    tree-post
	Grettyst growand of hem all,                        grown; them; (see note)
	 But his theys wer thycker.                                          thighs
265	His armus wer gret, wyttoutyn lese,                                     lie
	His fyngeris also, iwys,                                             surely
	 As anny lege that we ber.                            leg; have; (see note)
	Whos stoud a stroke of his honde,                         Whoever withstood
	He was not wecke, I undurstond,                             weak I dare say
270	 That dar I safly swer.                                        safely swear

	Then Syr Gawen began to cnele;                              kneel(see note)
	The Carle sayd he myght be knyght wylle,                             indeed
	 And bad hyme stond upe anon.
	"Lett be thy knellynge, gentyll knyght;                               Cease
275	Thow logost wytt a carll tonyght,                              lodge; churl
	 I swer, by Sennt Johnn.
	For her no corttessy thou schalt have,
	But carllus corttessy, so God me save -                              Except
	 For serttus I can non."                                       Surely; know
280	He bad brynge wyn in gold so der;                    wine; precious vessels
	Anon hit cam in coppus cler -                                   cups bright
	 As anny sonn hit schon.                                                sun

	Four gallons held a cop and more;                                   one cup
	He bad brynge forthe a grettor -                                     larger
285	"What schall this lyttyll cope doun?                        What [good]; do
	This to lyttyll a cope for me,                                          too
	When I sytt by the fyr onn hy                                    fire; high
	 By myself aloun.
	Brynge us a gretter bolle of wynn;                                     bowl
290	Let us drenke and play syne                                then; (see note)
	 Tyll we to sopper goun."                                                go
	The butteler brought a cope of golde -
	Nine gallons hit gane holde -                                           did
	 And toke hit the Carle anon.


295	Nine gallons he hyld and mare;                                it held; more
	He was not weke that hit bare                                          weak
	 In his won honde.                                                      one
	The knyghttus dronkon fast about,                                all around
	And sethe arose and went hem out                      then; made their exit
300	 To se her hors stond.                    see how their horses were stabled
	Corne and hey thei had reydy.                                   hay; nearby
	A lyttyll folle stod hem bye                    small horse (foal); by them
	 Wytt her hors fast ettand.                                   their; eating
	The Besschope put the fole away:                                      moved
305	"Thow schalt not be fello wytt my palfray               equal; saddle-horse
	 Whyll I am beschope in londe."

	The Carll then cam wytt a gret spede
	And askyde, "Who hathe doun this dede?"
	 The Beschope seyd, "That was I."
310	"Therfor a bofett thou schalt have,                                  buffet
	I swer, so God me save,
	 And hit schall be sett, wytterly."                        made even, truly
	"I ame a clarke of ordors hyghe."                     cleric of high orders
	"Yett cannyst thou noght of corttessyghe,        know; courtesy; (see note)
315	 I swer, so mott I trye!"                  so far as I can tell; (see note)
	He gafe the Besschope a boffett tho                              gave; then
	That to the ground he gan goo;                                       did go
	 I sonynge he gann lyghe.                     In a faint (swoon) he did lie

	Syr Key came in the sam cas                                             way
320	To se his stede ther he was;                                    steed where
	 The foll fond he hym by.                                         war horse
	Out att the dor he drof hym out
	And on the backe yafe hym a clout.                                     gave
	 The Carle se that wytt hys yghe.                                  saw; eye
325	The Carll gaffe hym seche a boffett                                    gave
	That smertly onn the grond hym sett;                       swiftly; dropped
	 In sonynge gan he lyghe.                                        faint; lie
	"Evyll-taught knyghttus," the Carl gan sey;
	"I schall teche the or thou wend away                     before you go off
330	 Sum of my corttessye."

	Then they arose and went to hall,
	The Beschope and Syr Key wytall,                                 in company
	 That worthy was iwroght.                               impressively; built
	Syr Gawen axyd wer they had byne;                               asked; been
335	They seyd, "Our horssys we have sene,                               seen to
	 And us sor forthoght."                               we are sorely grieved
	Then ansswerd Gawen full curttesly,                              (see note)
	"Syr, wytt your leyf then wyll I."                      leave; [take stock]
	 The Carll knewe his thought.                                     intention
340	Hett reynnyd and blewe stormus felle                      It rained; fierce
	That well was hym, be bocke and belle,                  by book; (see note)
	 That herborow hade caught.                lodging had obtained; (see note)

	Wyttout the stabull dor the foll gan stond.                         Outside
	Gawen put hyme in agayn wytt his honde;
345	 He was all wett, I wene,                                             guess
	As the foll had stond in rayne.                                       stood
	Then keveryd he hym, Sir Gawene,                                    covered
	 Wytt his manttell of grene:                                          green
	"Stond upe, fooll, and eette thy mette;         eat your fodder; (see note)
350	We spend her that thy master dothe gett,             use here what; provide
	 Whyll that we her byne."                                          are here
	The Carle stode hym fast by
	And thankyd hym full curtteslye
	 Manny sythis, I wene.                                        times I guess

355	Be that tyme her soper was redy dyght:                  By; their; prepared
	The tabullus wer havfe upe an hyght;  1                           (see note)
	 Icovert they were full tyte.                              Covered; quickly
	Forthwytt, thei wolde not blynne:                           And then; pause
	The Besschope gan the tabull begynne                   (sit in first place)
360	 Wytt a gret delytte.                                               delight
	Syr Key was sett on the tother syde                                   other
	Agenst the Carllus wyfe so full of pryde,                Opposite; grandeur
	 That was so feyr and whytte:                                           Who
	Her armus small, her mydyll gent,                            waist delicate
365	 Her yghen grey, her browus bente;                             eyes; arched
	 Of curttessy sche was perfette.                                   complete

	Her roode was reede, her chekus rounde,                    complexion; rosy
	A feyrror myght not goo on grounde,                      fairer; go (exist)
	 Ne lovelyur of syghte.                                              to see
370	Sche was so gloryis and soo gay:                                   handsome
	I can not rekon her araye,                               describe; clothing
	Sche was so gayly dyghte.                                        decked out
	"Alas," thought Key, "thou Lady fre,                                  noble
	That thou schuldyst this ipereschde be                thus lost; (see note)
375	 Wytt seche a foulle weghtht!"                                       person
	"Sytt styll," quod the Carl, "and eete thy mette;
	Thow thinkost mor then thou darst speke,                   dare; (see note)
	 Sertten, I the hyght."                                             promise

	I do yow all well to wette                     give; understand; (see note)
380	Ther was noo man bade Gawen sitte, 
	 But in the halle flor gann he stonde.                              on; did
	The Carle sayde, "Fellowe, anoun!                                     quick
	Loke my byddynge be well idoun!                                        done
	Go take a sper in thy honde                                           spear
385	And at the bottredor goo take thy passe 2                        (see note)
	And hitt me evyn in the face;                                         right
	 Do as I the commande.                                                  you
	And yeyfe thou ber me agenst the wall                             if; drive
	Thow schalt not hort me wyttalle,                            hurt me at all
390	 Whyll I am gyaunt in londe."                                     hereabout

	Syr Gawenn was a glade mann wytt that;                 good-humored at that
	At the bottredor a sper he gatte                                        got
	 And in his honde hit hente.                                        grasped
	Syr Gawen came wytt a gret ire.                               moved; fervor
395	Doun he helde his hede, that syre,
	 Tyll he hade geve his dentte.                      given; blow; (see note)
	He yafe the ston wall seche a rappe                                    gave
	That the goode sper all tobrake;                                  shattered
	 The fyer flewe out of the flente.                              fire; flint
400	The Carl sayde to hym ful soune,                                    at once
	"Gentyll knyght, thou hast well doune,"
	 And be the honde hyme hente.                               by; him grasped

	A cher was fette for Syr Gawene,                             chair; fetched
	That worthy knyght of Bryttayne;
405	 Befor the Carllus wyfe was he sett.
	So moche his love was on her lyght,                                   fixed
	Of all the soper he ne myght
	 Nodyr drynke nor ette.                                        Neither; eat
	The Carle sayde, "Gawen, comfort the,                      console yourself
410	For synn ys swete, and that I se.                                    sin is
	 Serten, I the hete,                                             assure you
	Sche ys myn thou woldyst wer thynn.                  [whom] you wish; yours
	Leve seche thoghttus and drenke the wynne,                       Leave such
	 For her thou schalt nott geytt."                                      have

415	Syr Gawen was aschemmyde in his thowght.                            ashamed
	The Carllus doughtter forthe was brought,
	 That was so feyr and bryght.
	As gold wyre schynyde her here.                         wire shone her hair
	Hit cost a thousand pound and mar,                                     more
420	 Her aparrell pertly pyghte.                            beautifully adorned
	Wytt ryche stonnus her clothus wer sett,                             jewels
	Wytt ryche perllus about her frete,                        all over adorned
	 So semly was that syghte.
	Ovyr all the hall gann sche leme                                    radiate
425	As hit were a sonbeme -                                             sunbeam
	 That stonnus schone so bryght.

	Then seyde the Carle to that bryght of ble,                   [woman]; face
	"Wher ys thi harpe thou schuldist have broght wytt the?
	 Why hast thou hit forgette?"
430	Anon hit was fett into the hall,                              Soon; fetched
	And a feyr cher wyttall                                       chair as well
	 Befor her fador was sett.                                           father
	The harpe was of maser fyne;                                     maple wood
	The pynnys wer of golde, I wene;                                tuning pins
435	 Serten, wyttout lett                                     pause; (see note)
	Furst sche harpyd, and sethe songe                                     then
	Of love and of Artorrus armus amonge,                         all the while
	 How they togeydor mett.                                                fit

	When they hade soupyde and mad hem glade                         themselves
440	The Beschope into his chambur was lade,                                 led
	 Wytt hym Syr Key the kene.                                     [And]; bold
	They toke Syr Gawen, wyttout lessynge;                                  lie
	To the Carlus chamber thei gan hym brynge,
	 That was so bryght and schene.                                    splendid

445	They bade Syr Gawen go to bede,
	Wytt clothe of golde so feyr sprede,
	 That was so feyr and bryght.                                          fair
	When the bede was made wytt wynn,                                       joy
	The Carle bade his oun Lady go in,                                 own; get
450	 That lovfesom was of syghte.                                lovely; to see
	A squyer came wytt a prevey far                                 secret step
	And he unarmyde Gawen ther;                                        disarmed
	 Schaply he was undyght.                                     Duly; disrobed
	The Carle seyde, "Syr Gawene,
455	Go take my wyfe in thi armus tweyne                                     two
	 And kys her in my syghte."                                            kiss

	Syr Gawen ansswerde hyme anon,
	"Syr, thi byddynge schall be doune,
	 Sertaynly in dede,                                                  indeed
460	Kyll or sley, or laye adoune."                      strike [me]; knock [me]
	To the bede he went full sone,
	 Fast and that good spede,
	For softnis of that Ladys syde
	Made Gawen do his wyll that tyde;                   [the Carl's] will; time
465	 Therof Gawen toke the Carle goode hede.             Then; heed; (see note)
	When Gawen wolde have doun the prevey far, 3                     (see note)
	Then seyd the Carle, "Whoo ther!                                 Whoa there
	 That game I the forbede.                                engagement; forbid

	"But, Gawen, sethe thou hast do my byddynge,                          since
470	 Som kyndnis I most schewe the in anny thinge,        kindness; in some way
	 As ferforthe as I maye.                                            Insofar
	Thow schalt have wonn to so bryght                      one [woman] just as
	Schall play wytt the all this nyghte                                  [Who]
	 Tyll tomorrowe daye."                                          at daylight
475	To his doughtter chambur he went full ryght,                    immediately
	And bade her aryse and go to the knyght,
	 And wern hyme nott to playe.                  not hinder him from [sexual]
	Sche dorst not agenst his byddynge doun,                        command act
	But to Gawen sche cam full sone                                  right away
480	 And style doun be hyme laye.                                    softly; by

	"Now, Gawen," quod the Carle, "holst the well payde?" 4
	"Ye, for Gode, lorde," he sayde,                                     before
	 "Ryght well as I myghte!"                                    as completely
	"Nowe," quod the Carle, "I woll to chambur go;
485	My blessynge I geyfe yow bouthe to,                          give; both two
	 And play togeydor all this nyght."
	A glad man was Syr Gawen
	Sertenly, as I yowe sayne,
	 Of this Lady bryght.                                            Because of
490	Serten, sothely for to say,
	So, I hope, was that feyr maye                              dare say; woman
	 Of that genttyll knyght.

	"Mary, mercy," thought that Lady bryghte,
	"Her come never suche a knyght                                    Here came
495	 Of all that her hathe benne."
	Syr Key arose uppon the morrown
	And toke his hors and wolde a goune                               have gone
	 Homwarde, as I wenne.                                                guess
	"Nay, Syr Key," the Beschope gann seye,
500	 "We woll not so wende our waye                                  (see note)
	 Tyll we Syr Gawen have sene."
	The Carll arose on morrow anon
	And fond his byddynge reddy doune:                     command already done
	 His dyner idyght full cleyne.                          prepared completely

505	To a Mas they lett knelle;                  For a Mass; commanded the knell
	Syr Gawen arose and went thertyll
	 And kyst that Lady bryght and cler.
	"Maré, marcé," seyde that Lady bryght,                     Mary; (see note)
	"Wher I schall se enny mor this knyght                        Wherever; any
510	 That hathe ley my body so ner?"
	When the Mese was doune to ende,                                       Mass
	Syr Gawen toke his leve to wende                                         go
	 And thonkyde hym of his cher.                                  hospitality
	"Furst," sayde the Carle, "ye schall dynn                  dine; (see note)
515	And on my blessynge wende home syne,             upon receiving; afterwards
	 Homward al yn fere.                                               together

	"Hit is twenti wynter gon," sayde the Karle, "nowe    years ago; (see note)
	That God I maked a vowe,                                   [to]; (see note)
	 Therfore I was fulle sad:                                        For which
520	Ther schulde never man logge in my wonys                    lodge; dwelling
	But he scholde be slayne, iwys,                         Except that; surely
	 But he did as I hym bad.                                      Unless; bade
	But he wolde do my byddynge bowne,                          Unless; quickly
	He schulde be slayne and layde adowne,                      low; (see note)
525	 Whedir he were lorde or lad.                                       servant
	Fonde I never, Gawen, none but the.                   Found [true]; but you
	Nowe Gode of hevyn yelde hit the;                         reward you for it
	 Therfore I am fulle glade.

	"He yelde the," sayde the Carle, "that the dere boughte, 5
530	For al my bale to blysse is broughte                                 misery
	 Throughe helpe of Mary quene."                                   the queen
	He lade Gawen ynto a wilsome wonys,                  led; desolate dwelling
	There as lay ten fodir of dede menn bonys.                 cartloads; bones
	 Al yn blode, as I wene,                                             bloody
535	Ther hynge many a blody serke,                      hung; shirt; (see note)
	And eche of heme a dyvers marke.              them [bore] a heraldic design
	 Grete doole hit was to sene.                            sorrow; (see note)

	"This slowe I, Gawen, and my helpis,                    These slew; helpers
	I, and also my foure whelpis.
540	 For sothe, as I the say,
	Nowe wulle I forsake my wyckyd lawys;                               customs
	Ther schall no mo men her be slawe, iwys,                       more; slain
	As ferthforthe as I may.                                            Insofar
 	Gawen, for the love of the
545	Al schal be welcome to me                                          everyone
	 That comythe here by this way.                                       along
	And for alle these sowlys, I undirtake,                 souls; make promise
	A chauntery here wul I lete make,                         church; have made
	 Ten prestis syngynge til domysday."                                 [With]

550	Be that tyme her dyner was redy dyghte:             By; their; all prepared
	Tables wer hovyn up an hyghte;                                    raised up
	 Ikeverid thei were fulle clene.                        Covered; (see note)
	Syr Gawen and this Lady clere,           [the Carle's daughter]; (see note)
	They were iservyd bothe ifere.                             served; together
555	 Myche myrthe was theme bytwene;                                       Much
	Therfore the Carle was full glade.
	The Byschop and Syr Kay he bad                                         bade
	 Mery that thei scholde bene.
	He yafe the Bischop to his blessynge                              gave; for
560	 A cros, a myter, and a rynge,                                        mitre
	 A clothe of golde, I wene.                                           guess
	He yaf Syr Kay, the angery knyght,                          gave; irascible
	A blode rede stede and a whight;                        blood red; powerful
	 Suche on had he never sene.                                          a one

565	 He gaf Syr Gawen, sothe to say,
	His doughter, and a whighte palfray,                     white riding horse
	 A somer ichargid wyth golde.                      [And] a pack horse laden
	Sche was so gloryous and so gay
	I kowde not rekyn here aray,                          describe her clothing
570	 So bryghte was non on molde.                             earth; (see note)
	"Nowe ryde forthe, Gawen, on my blessynge,
	And grete wel Artyr, that is your Kynge,                              greet
	 And pray hym that he wolde,
	For His love that yn Bedlem was borne,               love of Him; Bethlehem
575	That he wulle dyne wyth me tomorne."                                   will
	 Gawen seyde he scholde.

	Then thei rode syngynge away
	Wyth this yonge Lady on her palfray,
	 That was so fayre and bryghte.
580	They tolde Kynge Artir wher thei had bene,
	And what wondirs thei had sene
	 Serteynly, in here syght.                                            their
	"Nowe thonkyd be God, cosyn Gawyn,                                  kinsman
	That thou scapist alyve unslayne,                                   escaped
585	 Serteyne wyth alle my myght."
	"And I, Syr Kynge," sayd Syr Kay agayne,                        in response
	"That ever I scapid away unslayne
	 My hert was never so lyght.

	"The Carle prayde you, for His love that yn Bedlem was borne,     Bethlehem
590	That ye wolde dyne wyth hym tomorne." 
	 Kynge Artur sone hym hyght.                          immediately; promised
	In the dawnynge forthe they rade;                                      rode
	A ryalle metynge ther was imade                           royal; took place
	 Of many a jentylle knyght.                                          gentle
595	Trompettis mette hem at the gate,                  greeted them; (see note)
	Clarions of silver redy therate,                                right there
	 Serteyne wythoutyn lette -                                         ceasing
	Harpe, fedylle, and sawtry,                                fiddle; psaltery
	Lute, geteron, and menstrelcy.              gittern; minstrelsy; (see note)
600	 Into the halle knyghtis hem fett.                 fetched them; (see note)

	The Carle knelyd downe on his kne
	And welcomyd the Kynge wurthyly
	 Wyth wordis ware and wyse.                                         prudent
	When the Kynge to the halle was brought,
605	Nothynge ther ne wantyd nought                                  was lacking
	 That any man kowde devyse.                                         mention
	The wallys glemyd as any glasse;
	Wyth dyapir colour wroughte hit was -                         varied [rich]

	Of golde, asure, and byse;                                      azure; gray
610	Wyth tabernacles was the halle aboughte,      canopies; [trimmed all] about
	Wyth pynnacles of golde sterne and stoute;                   spires; sturdy
	 Ther cowde no man hem preyse.                        praise [sufficiently]
	Trompettys trompid up in grete hete;                         with vehemence
 	The Kynge lete sey grace and wente to mete,        had grace said; the meal
615	 And was iservyde wythoute lette.                                    a snag
	Swannys, fesauntys, and cranys,                           pheasants; cranes
	Partrigis, plovers, and curlewys                                 Partridges
	 Before the Kynge was sette.

	The Carle seyde to the Kynge, "Dothe gladly!              Enjoy; (see note)
620	Here get ye no nothir curtesy,                            other; (see note)
	 As I undirstonde."                                                dare say
	Wyth that come yn bollys of golde, so grete                           bowls
	Ther was no knyght sat at the mete                                     meal
	 Myght lyfte hem wyth his on honde.                                     one
625	The Kynge swore, "By Seynte Myghelle,                               Michael
	This dyner lykythe me as welle                                      pleases
	 As any that evyr Y fonde."                                     experienced
	A dubbyd hym knyght on the morne;                                        He
	The contré of Carelyle he gafe hym sone           gave; at once; (see note)
630	 To be lorde of that londe.

	"Here I make the yn this stownde                                you; moment
	A knyght of the Table Rownde:
 	 Karlyle thi name schalle be."
	On the morne when hit was daylyght
635	Syr Gawen weddyid that Lady bryght,
	 That semely was to se.

	Than the Carle was glade and blythe
	And thonkyd the Kynge fele sythe,                               many a time
	 For sothe, as I you say.
640	A ryche fest had he idyght                      feast; prepared; (see note)
	That lastyd holy a fortenyght                      an entire (i.e., wholly)
	 Wyth game, myrthe, and playe.
	The mynstrellis had geftys fre                    gifts liberal; (see note)
	That they myght the better be                                    [disposed]
645	 To spende many a day.
	And when the feste was broughte to ende,
	Lordis toke here leve to wende                            their leave to go
	 Homwarde on here way.

	A ryche abbey the Carle gan make                                  did build
650	To synge and rede for Goddis sake                                (see note)
	 In wurschip of Oure Lady.
	In the towne of mery Carelyle
	He lete hit bylde stronge and wele;                     caused; to be built
	 Hit is a byschoppis see.                               (i.e., a cathedral)
655	And theryn monkys gray           [he enjoined] Cistercian monks; (see note)
	To rede and synge tille domysday,
	 As men tolde hit me,
	For the men that he had slayne, iwis.                  On behalf of; indeed
	Jesu Cryste, brynge us to Thy blis                               (see note)
660	 Above in hevyn, yn Thy see.                                 on Your throne

			 Amen.