Lythe and listenythe the lif of a lord riche,                 (see note)
	The while that he lyvid was none hym liche,                         like
	Nether in bowre ne in halle.                            private room nor
	In the tyme of Arthoure thys adventure betyd,                   occurred
5	And of the greatt adventure that he hymself dyd,  And [you will hear] of
	That Kyng curteys and royalle.
	Of alle kynges Arture berythe the flowyr,                bears the prize
	And of alle knyghtod he bare away the honour,                 knighthood
	Wheresoevere he wentt.
10	In his contrey was nothyng butt chyvalry
	And knyghtes were belovid by that doughty,   brave [warrior]; (see note)
	For cowardes were everemore shent.                             disgraced
	Nowe wylle ye lyst a whyle to my talkyng,   [if] you listen; performance
	I shalle you telle of Arthowre the Kyng,
15	Howe ones hym befelle.                                  [adventure] once
	On huntyng he was in Ingleswod,                    Inglewood; (see note)
	With alle his bold knyghtes good -
	Nowe herken to my spelle!                                  story (spiel)
	The Kyng was sett att his trestylle-tree                 hunting station
20	With hys bowe to sle the wylde veneré                         slay; game
	And hys lordes were sett hym besyde.
	As the Kyng stode, then was he ware                        waited; aware
	Where a greatt hartt was and a fayre,
	And forthe fast dyd he glyde.                                       move

25	The hartt was in a braken ferne,                            fern thicket
	And hard the houndes, and stode fulle derne:    heard; still; (see note)
	Alle that sawe the Kyng.
	"Hold you stylle, every man,                                  motionless
	And I wolle goo myself, yf I can,
30	With crafte of stalkyng."
	The Kyng in hys hand toke a bowe
	And wodmanly he stowpyd lowe                               as a woodsman
	To stalk unto that dere.                                            deer
	When that he cam the dere fulle nere,                              quite
35	The dere lept forthe into a brere,                           briar patch
	And evere the Kyng went nere and nere.                            closer

	So Kyng Arthure went a whyle                                  for a time
	After the dere, I trowe, half a myle,                            I guess
	And no man with hym went.
40	And att the last to the dere he lett flye                at; took a shot
	And smote hym sore and sewerly -                          sorely; surely
	Suche grace God hym sent.
	Doun the dere tumblyd so theron,                on that spot; (see note)
	And felle into a greatt brake of feron;                    thicket; fern
45	The Kyng folowyd fulle fast.                                very quickly
	Anon the Kyng bothe ferce and felle                        fierce; eager
	Was with the dere and dyd hym serve welle,  butcher properly; (see note)
	And after the grasse he taste. 1                              (see note)

	As the Kyng was with the dere alone,                               While
50	Streyghte ther cam to hym a quaynt grome,                    strange man
	Armyd welle and sure,
	A knyght fulle strong and of greatt myghte.
	And grymly wordes to the Kyng he sayd:                          fiercely
	"Welle imet, Kyng Arthour!                                           met
55	Thou hast me done wrong many a yere                                 year
	And wofully I shall quytte the here;                         requite you
	I hold thy lyfe days nyghe done.                         lifetime nearly
	Thou hast gevyn my landes in certayn                              indeed
	With greatt wrong unto Sir Gawen.
60	Whate sayest thou, Kyng alone?"

	"Syr Knyghte, whate is thy name with honour?"
	"Syr Kyng," he sayd, "Gromer Somer Joure,                     (see note)
	I telle the nowe with ryghte."                                 by rights
	"A, Sir Gromer Somer, bethynk the welle;                        consider
65	To sle me here honour getyst thou no delle.              slay; not a bit
	Bethynk the thou artt a knyghte:
	Yf thou sle me nowe in thys case,
	Alle knyghtes wolle refuse the in every place;
	That shame shalle nevere the froo.                             leave you
70	Lett be thy wylle and folowe wytt                   recklessness; reason
	And that is amys I shalle amend itt,                            whatever
	And thou wolt, or that I goo."                        If you wish before

	"Nay," sayd Sir Gromer Somer, "by Hevyn Kyng!
	So shalt thou nott skape, withoute lesyng;                escape, no lie
75	I have the nowe att avaylle.               at [my] advantage; (see note)
	Yf I shold lett the thus goo with mokery,            after mocking [you]
	Anoder tyme thou wolt me defye; Another; challenge in combat; (see note)
	Of that I shalle nott faylle."                      In [preventing] that
	"Now," sayd the Kyng, "so God me save,
80	Save my lyfe, and whate thou most crave,            whatever; (see note)
	I shalle now graunt itt the;
	Shame thou shalt have to sle me in veneré,                    in hunting
	Thou armyd and I clothyd butt in grene, perdé."            green, by God

	"Alle thys shalle nott help the, sekyrly.                         surely
85	For I wolle nother lond ne gold, truly,                             want
	Butt yf thou graunt me att a certeyn day                      (see note)
	Suche as I shalle sett, and in thys same araye."           specify; gear
	"Yes," sayd the Kyng; "Lo, here my hand."
	"Ye, butt abyde, Kyng, and here me a stound.                hear; moment
90	Fyrst thow shalt swere upon my sword broun                        bright
	To shewe me att thy comyng whate wemen love best in feld and town (note)
	And thou shalt mete me here withouten send                       summons
	Evyn att this day twelfe monethes end;                            twelve
	And thou shalt swere upon my swerd good
95	That of thy knyghtes shalle none com with the, by the Rood,        Cross
	Nowther fremde ne freynd.                       stranger nor; (see note)

	"And yf thou bryng nott answere withoute faylle,
	Thyne hed thou shalt lose for thy travaylle -               head; effort
	Thys shalle nowe be thyne othe.                                     oath
100	Whate sayst thou, Kyng? Lett se, have done!"              Come on, do it
	"Syr, I graunt to thys! Now lett me gone.               agree; [be] gone
	Thoughe itt be to me fulle lothe,      distasteful
	I ensure the, as I am true kyng,                                  assure
	To com agayn att thys twelfe monethes endyng                  (see note)
105	And bryng the thyne answere."
	"Now go thy way, Kyng Arthure.
	Thy lyfe is in my hand, I am fulle sure;
	Of thy sorowe thow artt nott ware.                         plight; aware

	"Abyde, Kyng Arthure, a lytell whyle:
110	Loke nott today thou me begyle,                                    trick
	And kepe alle thyng in close -                               to yourself
	For and I wyst, by Mary mylde,                                 if I knew
	Thou woldyst betray me in the feld,
	Thy lyf fyrst sholdyst thou lose."
115	"Nay," sayd Kyng Arthure, "that may nott be.
	Untrewe knyght shalt thou nevere fynde me -
	To dye yett were me lever.                would even be preferable to me
	Farwelle, Sir Knyght, and evyll mett.               met through bad luck
	I wolle com, and I be on lyve att the day sett,  if I'm alive; appointed
120	Thoughe I shold scape nevere."                            escape [alive]

	The Kyng his bugle gan blowe.                                        did
	That hard every knyght and itt gan knowe;                heard; did know
	Unto hym can they rake.                                      did; hasten
	Ther they fond the Kyng and the dere,
125	With sembland sad and hevy chere,           countenance; distressed look
	That had no lust to layk.                            Who; desire to play
	"Go we home nowe to Carlylle;                                   Carlisle
	Thys huntyng lykys me nott welle,"                   pleases; (see note)
	So sayd Kyng Arthure.
130	Alle the lordes knewe by his countenaunce
	That the Kyng had mett with sume dysturbaunce.

	Unto Carlylle then the Kyng cam,
	Butt of his hevynesse knewe no man;           [the cause] of his sadness
	Hys hartt was wonder hevy.                            heart; exceedingly
135	In this hevynesse he dyd abyde
	That many of his knyghtes mervelyd that tyde,      So that; at that time
	Tylle att the last Sir Gawen
	To the Kyng he sayd than:                                           then
	"Syr, me marvaylythe ryghte sore                 [it] puzzles me greatly
140	Whate thyng that thou sorowyst fore."

	Then answeryd the Kyng as tyghte:                            immediately
	"I shall the telle, gentylle Gawen knyght.
	In the Forest as I was this daye,                                  while
	Ther I mett with a knyght in his araye,                    in full armor
145	And serteyn wordes to me he gan sayn                    certain; did say
	And chargyd me I shold hym nott bewrayne;              not give him away
	Hys councelle must I kepe therfore,                           confidence
	Or els I am forswore."                                          forsworn

	"Nay, drede you nott, Lord! By Mary flower,             fear; (see note)
150	I am nott that man that wold you dishonour
	Nother by evyn ne by moron."                            evening; morning
	"Forsothe I was on huntyng in Ingleswod;                         In fact
	Thowe knowest welle I slewe an hartt, by the Rode,                 Cross
	Alle mysylf alon.
155	Ther mett I with a knyght armyd sure;                            heavily
	His name he told me was Sir Gromer Somer Joure:
	Therfor I make my mone.                                           lament

	"Ther that knyght fast dyd me threte                pressingly; threaten
	And wold have slayn me with greatt heatt,                        passion
160	But I spak fayre agayn.                             Except that; in turn
	Wepyns with me ther had I none;                                  Weapons
	Alas! My worshypp therfor is nowe gone."                           honor
	"What therof?" sayd Gawen.                               What came of it
	"Whatt nedys more? I shalle nott lye:                          can I say
165	He wold have slayn me ther withoute mercy - 
	And that me was fulle lothe.                      to me was most hateful
	He made me to swere that att the twelfe monethes end              twelve
	That I shold mete hym ther in the same kynde;                     manner
	To that I plyghte my trowithe.             pledged my troth (good faith)

170	"And also I shold telle hym att the same day
	Whate wemen desyren moste, in good faye;                           faith
	My lyf els shold I lese.                     otherwise; lose; (see note)
	This othe I made unto that knyghte,
	And that I shold nevere telle itt to no wight;                       man
175	Of thys I myghte nott chese.                    In this [matter]; choose
	And also I shold com in none oder araye,                      other gear
	Butt evyn as I was the same daye.                              first day
	And yf I faylyd of myne answere,
	I wott I shal be slayn ryghte there.                                know
180	Blame me nott thoughe I be a wofulle man;                      Chide; if
	Alle thys is my drede and fere."                 [the cause of] my doubt

	"Ye, Sir, make good chere.
	Lett make your hors redy                                  Have; prepared
	To ryde into straunge contrey;
185	And evere wheras ye mete owther man or woman, in faye,     either; faith
	Ask of theym whate thay therto saye,                  to that [question]
	And I shalle also ryde anoder waye
	And enquere of every man and woman and gett whatt I may   inquire; learn
	Of every man and womans answere;
190	And in a boke I shalle theym wryte."                                book
	"I graunt," sayd the Kyng as tyte;                           immediately
	"Ytt is welle advysed, Gawen the good,                        considered
	Evyn by the Holy Rood."                                Cross; (see note)

	Sone were they bothe redy,
195	Gawen and the Kyng, wytterly.                                      truly
	The Kyng rode on way and Gawen anoder                                one
	And evere enquyred of man, woman, and other,                      others
	Whate wemen desyred moste dere.                                   dearly
	Somme sayd they lovyd to be welle arayd,                      accoutered
200	Somme sayd they lovyd to be fayre prayed,                      beseeched
	Somme sayd they lovyd a lusty man
	That in theyr armys can clypp them and kysse them than.              hug
	Somme sayd one, somme sayd other;                            one [thing]
	And so had Gawen getyn many an answere.
205	By that Gawen had geten whate he maye                            Finally
	And come agayn by a certeyn daye.                               returned

	Syr Gawen had goten answerys so many
	That had made a boke greatt, wytterly.                          for sure
	To the courte he cam agayn.
210	By that was the Kyng comyn with hys boke,     At the same time; had come
	And eyther on others pamplett dyd loke.                         pamphlet
	"Thys may nott faylle," sayd Gawen.                           (see note)
	"By God," sayd the Kyng, "I drede me sore;                  fear greatly
	I cast me to seke a lytelle more                           resolve; seek
215	In Yngleswod Forest.
	I have butt a monethe to my day sett;
	I may hapen on somme good tydynges to hitt -                  hit [upon]
	Thys thynkythe me nowe best."                                   seems to

	"Do as ye lyst," then Gawen sayd,                                 please
220	"Whatesoevere ye do I hold me payd;                            satisfied
	Hytt is good to be spyrryng.                                   enquiring
	Doute you nott, Lord, ye shalle welle spede;                  Fear; fare
	Sume of your sawes shalle help att nede,                         sayings
	Els itt were ylle lykyng."                           Otherwise; unlikely
225	Kyng Arthoure rode forthe on the other day                          next
	Into Yngleswod as hys gate laye,                                path led
	And ther he mett with a Lady.
	She was as ungoodly a creature                                   uncouth
	As evere man sawe, withoute mesure.                       beyond measure
230	Kyng Arthure mervaylyd securly.                      marveled transfixed

	Her face was red, her nose snotyd withalle,              snotted as well
	Her mowithe wyde, her tethe yalowe overe alle,       mouth; teeth yellow
	With bleryd eyen gretter then a balle.                      bleary; than
	Her mowithe was nott to lak:                                   oversmall
235	Her tethe hyng overe her lyppes,                        hung; (see note)
	Her chekys syde as wemens hippes.                            broad; hips
	A lute she bare upon her bak;                                 hump; back
	Her nek long and therto greatt;                            equally broad
	Her here cloteryd on an hepe;                         hair clotted; heap
240	In the sholders she was a yard brode.
	Hangyng pappys to be an hors lode,                breasts [large enough]
	And lyke a barelle she was made.
	And to reherse the fowlnesse of that Lady,                       recount
	Ther is no tung may telle, securly;                               surely
245	Of lothynesse inowghe she had.                           ugliness enough

	She satt on a palfray was gay begon,    palfrey [that] was richly draped
	With gold besett and many a precious stone.                      adorned
	Ther was an unsemely syghte:                                 incongruous
	So fowlle a creature withoute mesure
250	To ryde so gayly, I you ensure,                       handsomely; assure
	Ytt was no reason ne ryghte.                          neither proper nor
	She rode to Arthoure and thus she sayd:
	"God spede, Sir Kyng! I am welle payd                          satisfied
	That I have with the mett;
255	Speke with me, I rede, or thou goo,                        advise before
	For thy lyfe is in my hand, I warn the soo;      promise you; (see note)
	That shalt thou fynde, and I itt nott lett."                 if; prevent

	"Why, whatt wold ye, Lady, nowe with me?"             what do you desire
	"Syr, I wold fayn nowe speke with the                            eagerly
260	And telle the tydynges good.
	For alle the answerys that thou canst yelpe,           Despite; sing out
	None of theym alle shalle the helpe.
	That shalt thou knowe, by the Rood.                                Cross
	Thou wenyst I knowe nott thy councelle,                    think; secret
265	Butt I warn the, I knowe itt every dealle.                  promise; bit
	Yf I help the nott, thou art butt dead.              all but; (see note)
	Graunt me, Sir Kyng, butt one thyng,
	And for thy lyfe I make warrauntyng,                  stand as guarantor
	Or elles thou shalt lose thy hed."

270	"Whate mean you, Lady? Telle me tyghte,                          quickly
	For of thy wordes I have great dispyte;                      indignation
	To you I have no nede.                                                Of
	Whate is your desyre, fayre Lady?                             (see note)
	Lett me wete shortly -                                   know right away
275	Whate is your meanyng?
	And why my lyfe is in your hand?
	Telle me, and I shalle you warraunt                            guarantee
	Alle your oun askyng."                                               own

	"Forsothe," sayd the Lady, "I am no qued.                  wicked person
280	Thou must graunt me a knyght to wed:                          (see note)
	His name is Sir Gawen.
	And suche covenaunt I wolle make the,
	Butt thorowe myne answere thy lyf savyd be,          Except that through
	Elles lett my desyre be in vayne.                              Otherwise
285	And yf myne answere save thy lyf,
	Graunt me to be Gawens wyf.
	Advyse the nowe, Sir Kyng.                                      Consider
	For itt must be so, or thou artt butt dead;               are as good as
	Chose nowe, for thou mayste sone lose thyne hed.                     may
290	Telle me nowe in hying."                                           haste

	"Mary!" sayd the Kyng, "I maye nott graunt the           "Good heavens!"
	To make warraunt Sir Gawen to wed the;                         guarantee
	Alle lyethe in hym alon.                      rests with him; (see note)
	Butt and itt be so, I wolle do my labour                    if it may be
295	In savyng of my lyfe to make itt secour;           [that outcome] secure
	To Gawen wolle I make my mone."                                   lament
	"Welle," sayd she, "nowe go home agayn
	And fayre wordes speke to Sir Gawen,
	For thy lyf I may save.
300	Thoughe I be foulle, yett am I gaye;                            gracious
	Thourghe me thy lyfe save he maye
	Or sewer thy dethe to have."                          ensure; (see note)

 	"Alas!" he sayd; "Nowe woo is me 
	That I shold cause Gawen to wed the,
305	For he wol be lothe to saye naye.
	So foulle a Lady as ye ar nowe one                               you are
	Sawe I nevere in my lyfe on ground gone;                           to go
	I nott whate I do may."                                      do not know
	"No force, Sir Kyng, thoughe I be foulle;                      No matter
310	Choyse for a make hathe an owlle.              mate [is allowed even to]
	Thou getest of me no more.
	When thou comyst agayn to thyne answere                         for your
	Ryghte in this place I shalle mete the here,
	Or elles I wott thou artt lore."                  know; lost; (see note)

315	"Now farewelle," sayd the Kyng, "Lady."
	"Ye, Sir," she sayd, "ther is a byrd men calle an owlle...    (see note)
	And yett a Lady I am."
	"Whate is your name, I pray you, telle me?"
	"Syr Kyng, I highte Dame Ragnelle, truly,      am named Lady; (see note)
320	That nevere yett begylyd man."                            deceived a man
	"Dame Ragnelle, now have good daye."
	"Syr Kyng, God spede the on thy way!
	Ryghte here I shalle the mete."                                 you meet
	Thus they departyd fayre and welle.
325	The Kyng fulle sone com to Carlylle,                           soon came
	And his hartt hevy and greatt.                                   painful

	The fyrst man he mett was Sir Gawen,
	That unto the Kyng thus gan sayn,                                did say
	"Syr, howe have ye sped?"                                      you fared
330	"Forsothe," sayd the Kyng, "nevere so ylle!
	Alas, I am in poynt myself to spylle,                     ready; destroy
	For nedely I most be ded."                                  of necessity
	"Nay," sayd Gawen, "that may nott be!
	I had lever myself be dead, so mott I the.         rather; may I prosper
335	Thys is ille tydand."                                           bad news

	"Gawen, I mett today with the fowlyst Lady
	That evere I sawe, sertenly.                                   certainly
	She sayd to me my lyfe she wold save -
	Butt fyrst she wold the to husbond have.                  desires you as
340	Wherfor I am wo begon - 
	Thus in my hartt I make my mone."                                 lament
	"Ys this alle?" then sayd Gawen;                              (see note)
	"I shalle wed her and wed her agayn,
	Thowghe she were a fend;                                           fiend
345	Thowghe she were as foulle as Belsabub,                        the devil
	Her shalle I wed, by the Rood,                                     Cross
	Or elles were nott I your frende.

	"For ye ar my Kyng with honour
	And have worshypt me in many a stowre;                   honored; battle
350	Therfor shalle I nott lett.                                     hesitate
	To save your lyfe, Lorde, itt were my parte,                        role
	Or were I false and a greatt coward;
	And my worshypp is the bett."                                honor; more
	"Iwys, Gawen, I mett her in Inglyswod.                            Indeed
355	She told me her name, by the Rode:                                 Cross
	That itt was Dame Ragnelle.
	She told me butt I had of her answere,                      unless; from
	Elles alle my laboure is nevere the nere -   Otherwise; nearer [success]
	Thus she gan me telle.                                               did

360	"And butt yf her answere help me welle                            unless
	Elles let her have her desyre no dele -            Otherwise; not at all
	This was her covenaunt.
	And yf her answere help me, and none other,            no other [answer]
	Then wold she have you: here is alle togeder
365	That made she warraunt."                                    guarantee of
	"As for this," sayd Gawen, "itt shalle nott lett:             (see note)
	I wolle wed her att whate tyme ye wolle sett.             whatever; will
	I pray you, make no care.                                have no concern
	For and she were the moste fowlyst wyghte                     if; person
370	That evere men myghte se with syghte,
	For your love I wolle nott spare."                                 stint

	"Garamercy, Gawen," then sayd Kyng Arthor;                   Many thanks
	"Of alle knyghtes thou berest the flowre                  take the prize
	That evere yett I fond.                                             knew
375	My worshypp and my lyf thou savyst forevere;                       honor
	Therfore my love shalle nott frome the dyssevyr,     from you be severed
	As I am Kyng in lond."                                             While
	Then within five or six days
	The Kyng must nedys goo his ways
380	To bere his answere.                                               offer
	The Kyng and Sir Gawen rode oute of toun - 
	No man with them, butt they alone,
	Neder ferre ne nere.                                   Neither far; near

	When the Kyng was within the Forest:                           [he said]
385	"Syr Gawen, farewelle, I must go west;
	Thou shalt no furder goo."                                       further
	"My Lord, God spede you on your jorney.                            quest
	I wold I shold nowe ryde your way,                                  wish
	For to departe I am ryghte wo."                          very distressed
390	The Kyng had rydden butt a while,
	Lytelle more then the space of a myle,
	Or he mett Dame Ragnelle.                                         Before
	"A, Sir Kyng! Ye arre nowe welcum here.
	I wott ye ryde to bere your answere;                            perceive
395	That wolle avaylle you no dele."                        will; not at all

	"Nowe," sayd the Kyng, "sithe itt wolle none other be,     not otherwise
	Telle me your answere nowe, and my lyfe save me;             save for me
	Gawen shalle you wed.
	So he hathe promysed me my lyf to save,                 in order to save
400	And your desyre nowe shalle ye have,
	Bothe in bowre and in bed.                                       chamber
	Therfor telle me nowe alle in hast -                               haste
	Whate wolle help now att last?
	Have done, I may nott tary."                                    Be quick
405	"Syr," quod Dame Ragnelle, "nowe shalt thou knowe
	Whate wemen desyren moste of highe and lowe;           high and low rank
	From this I wolle nott varaye:                                   deviate

	"Summe men sayn we desyre to be fayre;
	Also we desyre to have repayre                                   traffic
410	Of diverse straunge men;                                            With
	Also we love to have lust in bed;                               pleasure
	And often we desyre to wed.
	Thus ye men nott ken                                   do not understand
	Yett we desyre anoder maner thyng:                         Also; another
415	To be holden nott old, butt fresshe and yong,                regarded as
	With flatryng and glosyng and quaynt gyn -      cajolery and special art
	So ye men may us wemen evere wyn
	Of whate ye wolle crave.                                  whatever; will

	"Ye goo fulle nyse, I wolle nott lye;     act very foolishly; (see note)
420	Butt there is one thyng is alle oure fantasye,                     fancy
	And that nowe shalle ye knowe.
	We desyren of men above alle maner thyng
	To have the sovereynté, withoute lesyng,          mastery, no lie
	Of alle, bothe hyghe and lowe.
425	For where we have sovereynté, alle is ourys,
	Thoughe a knyght be nevere so ferys,                              fierce
	And evere the mastry wynne.                                      mastery
	Of the moste manlyest is oure desyre:
	To have the sovereynté of suche a syre,                           a lord
430	Suche is oure crafte and gynne.                               skill; art

	"Therfore wend, Sir Kyng, on thy way,                                 go
	And telle that knyght, as I the saye,                           you tell
	That itt is as we desyren moste.                                    What
	He wol be wrothe and unsoughte                             angry; bitter
435	And curse her fast that itt the taughte,                    stoutly; you
	For his laboure is lost.
	Go forthe, Sir Kyng, and hold promyse,                       keep [your]
	For thy lyfe is sure nowe in alle wyse,                     secure; ways
 	That dare I welle undertake."                   well declare; (see note)
440	The Kyng rode forthe a greatt shake,       at headlong speed; (see note)
	As fast as he myghte gate                                             go
	Thorowe myre, more, and fenne,                                 moor; bog
	Whereas the place was sygnyd and sett then.                     assigned

	Evyn there with Sir Gromer he mett,                                Right
445	And stern wordes to the Kyng he spak with that:               right away
	"Com of, Sir Kyng, nowe lett se                                  Come on
	Of thyne answere, whate itt shal be,
	For I am redy grathyd."                                     all prepared
	The Kyng pullyd oute bokes twayne:                             two books
450	"Syr, ther is myne answer, I dare sayn;                              say
	For somme wolle help att nede."         one [of these] will have to help
	Syr Gromer lokyd on theym everychon:                           every one
	"Nay, nay, Sir Kyng, thou artt butt a dead man;               as good as
	Therfor nowe shalt thou blede."                                    bleed

455	"Abyde, Sir Gromer," sayd Kyng Arthoure,
	"I have one answere shalle make alle sure."                   (see note)
	"Lett se," then sayd Sir Gromer,                                     see
	"Or els, so God me help, as I the say,                              tell
	Thy dethe thou shalt have with large paye,          to my great pleasure
460	I telle the nowe ensure."                                         surely
	"Now," sayd the Kyng, "I se, as I gesse,                           think
	In the is butt a lytelle gentilnesse,
	By God that ay is helpand.                                 ever; helping
	Here is oure answere, and that is alle
465	That wemen desyren moste specialle,                           especially
	Bothe of fre and bond:                                            unfree

	"I saye no more, butt above al thyng
	Wemen desyre sovereynté, for that is theyr lykyng.       their pleasure
	And that is ther moste desyre,
470	To have the rewlle of the manlyest men,                          control
	And then ar they welle. Thus they me dyd ken      Thus they did teach me
	To rule the, Gromer Syre."
	"And she that told the nowe, Sir Arthoure,
	I pray to God, I maye se her bren on a fyre;                        burn
475	For that was my suster, Dame Ragnelle,
	That old scott, God geve her shame.                      nag; (see note)
	Elles had I made the fulle tame;                               Otherwise
	Nowe have I lost moche travaylle.                                 effort

	"Go where thou wolt, Kyng Arthoure,                             you wish
480	For of me thou maiste be evere sure.                    may rest assured
	Alas, that I evere se this day!
	Nowe, welle I wott, myne enimé thou wolt be.                       know
	And att suche a pryk shall I nevere gett the;                     plight
	My song may be `Welle-awaye!"'                                      alas
485	"No," sayd the Kyng, "that make I warraunt:         [of] that; guarantee
	Some harnys I wolle have to make me defendaunt,  armor; ready for combat
	That make I God avowe!                                           an oath
	In suche a plyghte shalt thou nevere me fynde;
	And yf thou do, lett me bete and bynde,                   have me beaten
490	As is for thy best prouf."                               As living proof

	"Nowe have good day," sayd Sir Gromer.
	"Farewele," sayd Sir Arthoure; "so mott I the,              as I prosper
	I am glad I have so sped."                                         fared
	Kyng Arthoure turnyd hys hors into the playn,
495	And sone he mett with Dame Ragnelle agayn,
	In the same place and stede.                                        spot
	"Syr Kyng, I am glad ye have sped welle.
	I told howe itt wold be, every delle;                               part
	Nowe hold that ye have hyghte:      hold [to] what; promised; (see note)
500	Syn I have savyd your lyf, and none other,                         Since
	Gawen must me wed, Sir Arthoure,
	That is a fulle gentille knyght."                                    Who

	"No, Lady; that I you hyghte I shalle nott faylle.        what; promised
	So ye wol be rulyd by my councelle,                           As long as
505	Your wille then shalle ye have."
	"Nay, Sir Kyng, nowe wolle I nott soo;           will I not [have it] so
	Openly I wol be weddyd, or I parte the froo               Publicly; from
	Elles shame wolle ye have.                   Otherwise; will; (see note)
	Ryde before, and I wolle com after,
510	Unto thy courte, Syr Kyng Arthoure.
	Of no man I wolle shame;                               Upon; [do] I wish
	Bethynk you howe I have savyd your lyf.
	Therfor with me nowe shalle ye nott stryfe,                       strive
	For and ye do, ye be to blame."                                       if

515	The Kyng of her had greatt shame,                            was ashamed
	Butt forth she rood, thoughe he were grevyd;                     grieved
	Tylle they cam to Karlyle forth they mevyd.                 onward; rode
	Into the courte she rode hym by;                               alongside
	For no man wold she spare, securly -                    hold back surely
520	Itt likyd the Kyng fulle ylle.                                   pleased
	Alle the contraye had wonder greatt                             Everyone
	Fro whens she com, that foule unswete;                  whence; unlovely
	They sawe nevere of so fowlle a thyng.
	Into the halle she went, in certen.                               indeed
525	"Arthoure, Kyng, lett fetche me Sir Gaweyn, 2                 (see note)
	Before the knyghtes, alle in hying,                                haste

	"That I may nowe be made sekyr.                              have surety
	In welle and wo trowithe plyghte us togeder 3                 (see note)
	Before alle thy chyvalry.                                        knights
530	This is your graunt; lett se, have done.          pledge; come on, do it
	Sett forthe Sir Gawen, my love, anon,                              Bring
	For lenger tarying kepe nott I."                          longer; suffer
	Then cam forthe Sir Gawen the knyght:
	"Syr, I am redy of that I you hyghte,                 for what; promised
535	Alle forwardes to fulfylle."                                  agreements
	"God have mercy!" sayd Dame Ragnelle then;                    (see note)
	"For thy sake I wold I were a fayre woman,
	For thou art of so good wylle."

	Ther Sir Gawen to her his trowthe plyghte                          troth
540	In welle and in woo, as he was a true knyght;
	Then was Dame Ragnelle fayn.                                        glad
	"Alas!" then sayd Dame Gaynour;                                Guenevere
	So sayd alle the ladyes in her bower,                            chamber
	And wept for Sir Gawen.
545	"Alas!" then sayd bothe Kyng and knyght,
	That evere he shold wed suche a wyghte,                           person
	She was so fowlle and horyble.
	She had two tethe on every syde                         each; (see note)
	As borys tuskes, I wolle nott hyde,                    boar's; dissemble
550	Of lengthe a large handfulle.                         In; hand's breadth

	The one tusk went up and the other doun. 
	A mowthe fulle wyde and fowlle igrown,                      foully grown
	With grey herys many on.                                      hairs; one
	Her lyppes laye lumpryd on her chyn;                             lumpish
555	Nek forsothe on her was none iseen - 
	She was a lothly on!                                                 one
	She wold nott be weddyd in no maner
	Butt there were made a krye in all the shyre,       Except; proclamation
	Bothe in town and in borowe.                                     borough
560	Alle the ladyes nowe of the lond,
	She lett kry to com to hand                         did summon; to visit
	To kepe that brydalle thorowe.                 wedding feast; (see note)

	So itt befylle after on a daye
	That maryed shold be that fowlle maye                         (see note)
565	Unto Sir Gawen.
	The daye was comyn the daye shold be;            date had arrived [when]
	Therof the ladyes had greatt pitey.
	"Alas!" then gan they sayn.
	The Queen prayd Dame Ragnelle sekerly -                      steadfastly
570	"To be maryed in the mornyng erly,
	As pryvaly as ye may."                             privately; (see note)
	"Nay!" she sayd; "By Hevyn Kyng,
	That wolle I nevere, for no thyng,
	For oughte that ye can saye.                                    anything

575	"I wol be weddyd alle openly,
	For with the Kyng suche covenaunt made I.
	I putt you oute of dowte,                                     assure you
	I wolle nott to churche tylle Highe Masse tyme
	And in the open halle I wolle dyne,
580	In myddys of alle the rowte."                             midst; company
	"I am greed," sayd Dame Gaynour;                                  agreed
	"Butt me wold thynk more honour                 Only I am thinking about
	And your worshypp moste."                                        worship
	"Ye, as for that, Lady, God you save.
585	This daye my worshypp wolle I have,                                honor
	I telle you withoute boste."                                       boast

	She made her redy to churche to fare
	And alle the states that there ware,      As did all those of noble rank
	Syrs, withoute lesing.                                            no lie
590	She was arayd in the richest maner,
	More fressher than Dame Gaynour;
 	Her arayment was worthe thre thowsand mark                    (see note)
	Of good red nobles, styff and stark,                          coin; hard
	So rychely she was begon.                                        done up
595	For alle her rayment, she bare the belle         Despite; took the prize
	Of fowlnesse, that evere I hard telle -                       For; heard
	So fowlle a sowe sawe nevere man.                                    sow

	For to make a shortt conclusion,
	When she was weddyd, they hyed theym home;          As soon as; hastened
600	To mete alle they went.                                           dinner
	This fowlle Lady bygan the highe dese;  occupied first place on the dais
	She was fulle foulle and nott curteys,                         courteous
	So sayd they alle verament.                                        truly
	When the servyce cam her before,                                platters
605	She ete as moche as six that ther wore;                       were there
	That mervaylyd many a man.                                     [At] that
	Her nayles were long ynchys thre,                           inches three
	Therwith she breke her mete ungoodly;         broke her bread unmannerly
	Therfore she ete alone.                       she didn't wait for anyone

610	She ette thre capons, and also curlues thre,                     curlews
	And greatt bake metes she ete up, perdé.                 roasts; by God
	Al men therof had mervaylle.                                  (see note)
	Ther was no mete cam her before
	Butt she ete itt up, lesse and more,                     But she did not
615	That praty, fowlle dameselle.                                     crafty
	Alle men then that evere her sawe
	Bad the deville her bonys gnawe,                             Bade; bones
	Bothe knyght and squyre.
	So she ete tylle mete was done,
620	Tylle they drewe clothes and had wasshen,                 cleared tables
	As is the gyse and maner.                                         custom

	Meny men wold speke of diverse service;                  various courses
	I trowe ye may wete inowghe ther was,                 trust; know enough
	Bothe of tame and wylde.                                         [meats]
625	In Kyng Arthours courte ther was no wontt                           lack
	That myghte be gotten with mannys hond,                        [Of] what
	Noder in Forest ne in feld.                                      Neither
	Ther were mynstralles of diverse contrey.

[The manuscript is here missing one leaf, containing about seventy lines; the
 narrative continues at the moment of Ragnelle's and Gawain's wedding night.]

	"A, Sir Gawen, syn I have you wed,                                 since
630	Shewe me your cortesy in bed;
	With ryghte itt may nott be denyed.                                   By

	"Iwyse, Sir Gawen," that Lady sayd,                               Surely
	"And I were fayre ye wold do anoder brayd,         If; take another tack
	Butt of wedlok ye take no hed.                            Unless; regard
635 	Yett for Arthours sake kysse me att the leste;         least; (see note)
	I pray you do this att my request.
	Lett se howe ye can spede."                                         fare
	Sir Gawen sayd, "I wolle do more                  will [undertake to] do
	Then for to kysse, and God before!"
640	He turnyd hym her untille.                                       towards
	He sawe her the fayrest creature
	That evere he sawe, withoute mesure.                             compare
	She sayd, "Whatt is your wylle?"

	"A, Jhesu!" he sayd; "Whate ar ye?"                           (see note)
645	"Sir, I am your wyf, securly.                              without doubt
	Why ar ye so unkynde?"                                 aloof (unnatural)
	"A, Lady, I am to blame.
	I cry you mercy, my fayre madame - 
	Itt was nott in my mynde.                           (I was not thinking)
650	A Lady ye ar fayre in my syghte,                              (see note)
	And today ye were the foulyst wyghte                              person
	That evere I sawe with mine ie.                          eye; (see note)
	Wele is me, my Lady, I have you thus" - 
	And brasyd her in his armys and gan her kysse              embraced; did
655	And made greatt joye, sycurly.                                    surely

	"Syr," she sayd, "thus shalle ye me have:                     (see note)
	Chese of the one, so God me save,                                 Choose
	My beawty wolle nott hold - 
	Wheder ye wolle have me fayre on nyghtes             Whether; (see note)
660	And as foulle on days to alle men sightes,
	Or els to have me fayre on days
	And on nyghtes on the fowlyst wyfe -                       wife [of all]
	The one ye must nedes have.                                 of necessity
	Chese the one or the oder.
665	Chese on, Sir Knyght, whiche you is levere,              one; preferable
	Your worshypp for to save."                                        honor

	"Alas!" sayd Gawen; "The choyse is hard.
	To chese the best, itt is froward,                           confounding
	Wheder choyse that I chese:                                       Either
670	To have you fayre on nyghtes and no more,
	That wold greve my hartt ryghte sore,
	And my worshypp shold I lese.                           lose; (see note)
	And yf I desyre on days to have you fayre,
	Then on nyghtes I shold have a symple repayre.          dismal relations
675	Now fayn wold I chose the best:                                  happily
	I ne wott in this world whatt I shalle saye,                  don't know
	Butt do as ye lyst nowe, my Lady gaye.      [it] pleases you; (see note)
	The choyse I putt in your fyst:                                     hand

	"Evyn as ye wolle, I putt itt in your hand.                         Just
680	Lose me when ye lyst, for I am bond;                      Release; bound
	I putt the choyse in you.
	Bothe body and goodes, hartt, and every dele,                       part
	Ys alle your oun, for to by and selle -                              buy
	That make I God avowe!"
685	"Garamercy, corteys Knyght," sayd the Lady;        Many thanks courteous
	"Of alle erthly knyghtes blyssyd mott thou be,                       may
	For now am I worshyppyd.                                honored properly
	Thou shalle have me fayre bothe day and nyghte
	And evere whyle I lyve as fayre and bryghte;
690	Therfore be nott grevyd.                                         grieved

	"For I was shapen by nygramancy,     transformed; necromancy; (see note)
	With my stepdame, God have on her mercy,                              By
	And by enchauntement;
	And shold have bene oderwyse understond   otherwise [as a hag] perceived
695	Evyn tylle the best of Englond                      Until; best [knight]
	Had wedyd me verament,                                             truly
	And also he shold geve me the sovereynté                  mastery
	Of alle his body and goodes, sycurly.                             surely
	Thus was I disformyd;                                 On such conditions
700	And thou, Sir Knyght, curteys Gawen,
	Has gevyn me the sovereynté serteyn,
	That woll nott wrothe the erly ne late.                        Who; hurt

	"Kysse me, Sir Knyght, evyn now here; 
	I pray the, be glad and make good chere,
705	For well is me begon."                                     I am well-off
	Ther they made joye oute of mynde,                      beyond imagining
	So was itt reason and cours of kynde, 4
	They two theymself alone.
	She thankyd God and Mary mylde
710	She was recovered of that that she was defoylyd;   which had defiled her
	So dyd Sir Gawen.
	He made myrthe alle in her boure                                 chamber
	And thankyd of alle Oure Savyoure,                        for everything
	I telle you, in certeyn.

715	With joye and myrthe they wakyd tylle daye            stayed awake; dawn
	And than wold ryse that fayre maye.             arise; woman; (see note)
	"Ye shalle nott," Sir Gawen sayd;
	"We wolle lye and slepe tylle pryme                          mid-morning
	And then lett the Kyng calle us to dyne."
720	"I am greed," then sayd the mayd.                                 agreed
	Thus itt passyd forth tylle middaye.
	"Syrs," quod the Kyng, "lett us go and asaye        find out; (see note)
	Yf Sir Gawen be on lyve.                                           alive
	I am fulle ferd of Sir Gawen,                                fearful for
725	Nowe lest the fende have hym slayn;                                fiend
	Nowe wold I fayn preve.                                 gladly make sure

	"Go we nowe," sayd Arthoure the Kyng.
	"We wolle go se theyr uprysyng,
	Howe welle that he hathe sped."
730	They cam to the chambre, alle incerteyn.              unsure; (see note)
	"Aryse," sayd the Kyng to Sir Gawen;
	"Why slepyst thou so long in bed?"
	"Mary," quod Gawen, "Sir Kyng, sicurly,                           surely
	I wold be glad, and ye wold lett me be,                     if you would
735	For I am fulle welle att eas.                                       ease
	Abyde, ye shalle se the dore undone!
	I trowe that ye wolle say I am welle goon;   trust; well-off; (see note)
	I am fulle lothe to ryse."                             completely averse

	Syr Gawen rose, and in his hand he toke
740	His fayr Lady, and to the dore he shoke,                        hastened
	And opynyd the dore fulle fayre.                                  widely
	She stod in her smok alle by that fyre;             night dress right by
	Her here was to her knees as red as gold wyre.          hair; (see note)
	"Lo, this is my repayre!                               source of comfort
745	Lo!" sayd Gawen Arthoure untille -                                  unto
	"Syr, this is my wyfe, Dame Ragnelle,
	That savyd onys your lyfe."                                         once
	He told the Kyng and the Queen hem beforn              in their presence
	Howe sodenly from her shap she dyd torne -         monstrousness; revert
750	"My Lord, nowe be your leve" -                                        by

	And whate was the cause she forshapen was                    transformed
	Syr Gawen told the Kyng both more and lesse.              in all details
	"I thank God," sayd the Queen;
	"I wenyd, Sir Gawen, she wold the have myscaryed;        thought; harmed
755	Therfore in my hartt I was sore agrevyd.
	Butt the contrary is here seen!"
	Ther was game, revelle, and playe,
	And every man to other gan saye,                                     did
	"She is a fayre wyghte."                              person; (see note)
760	Than the Kyng them alle gan telle
	How did help hym att nede Dame Ragnelle,                      (see note)
	"Or my dethe had bene dyghte."                                   assured

	Ther the Kyng told the Queen, by the Rood,                         Cross
	Howe he was bestad in Ingleswod                                    beset
765	With Sir Gromer Somer Joure,
	And whate othe the knyght made hym swere,                           oath
	"Or elles he had slayn me ryghte there
	Withoute mercy or mesure.
	This same Lady, Dame Ragnelle,
770	From my dethe she dyd help me ryght welle,
	Alle for the love of Gawen."
	Then Gawen told the Kyng alle togeder                              fully
	Howe forshapen she was with her stepmoder    transformed; by; (see note)
	Tylle a knyght had holpen her agayn.                              helped

775	Ther she told the Kyng fayre and welle
	Howe Gawen gave her the sovereynté every delle,                     part
	And whate choyse she gave to hym.
	"God thank hym of his curtesye;
	He savid me from chaunce and vilony                      mischance; evil
780	That was fulle foulle and grym.
	Therfore, curteys Knyght and hend Gawen,                        gracious
	Shalle I nevere wrathe the serteyn,                      hurt you surely
	That promyse nowe here I make.
	Whilles that I lyve I shal be obaysaunt;
	And that I trust to fynde."                        will ever be the case
790	He sayd, "My love shalle she have.
	Therafter nede she nevere more crave,                        Beyond that
	For she hathe bene to me so kynde."
	The Queen sayd, and the ladyes alle,
	"She is the fayrest nowe in this halle,
795	I swere by Seynt John!
	My love, Lady, ye shalle have evere
	For that ye savid my Lord Arthoure,
	As I am a gentilwoman."

	Syr Gawen gatt on her Gyngolyn              begot; Guinglain; (see note)
800	That was a good knyght of strengthe and kynn                    ancestry
	And of the Table Round.
	Att every greatt fest that Lady shold be.
	Of fayrnesse she bare away the bewtye,            the [prize for] beauty
	Wher she yed on the ground.                                         went
805	Gawen lovyd that Lady, Dame Ragnelle;                         (see note)
	In alle his lyfe he lovyd none so welle,
	I telle you withoute lesyng.                                      no lie
	As a coward he lay by her bothe day and nyghte.     Submissively; stayed
	Nevere wold he haunt justyng aryghte;           pursue jousting as usual
810	Theratt mervaylyd Arthoure the Kyng.                          (see note)

	She prayd the Kyng for his gentilnes,
	"To be good lord to Sir Gromer, iwysse,                           indeed
	Of that to you he hathe offendyd."                            Insofar as
	"Yes, Lady, that shalle I nowe for your sake,
815	For I wott welle he may nott amendes make;       know; offer restitution
	He dyd to me fulle unhend."                 acted towards; uncourteously
	Nowe for to make you a short conclusyon,
	I cast me for to make an end fulle sone                        undertake
	Of this gentylle Lady.
820	She lyvyd with Sir Gawen butt yerys five;                     five years
	That grevid Gawen alle his lyfe,
	I telle you securly.

	In her lyfe she grevyd hym nevere;                              offended
	Therfor was nevere woman to hym lever.                            dearer
825	Thus leves my talkyng.                                 ends; performance
	She was the fayrest Lady of alle Englond,
	When she was on lyve, I understand;                             dare say
	So sayd Arthoure the Kyng.
	Thus endythe the adventure of Kyng Arthoure,
830	That oft in his days was grevyd sore,                    sorely harassed
	And of the weddyng of Gawen.
	Gawen was weddyd oft in his days;                             (see note)
	Butt so welle he nevere lovyd woman always,                   constantly
	As I have hard men sayn.                                           heard

835	This adventure befelle in Ingleswod,
	As good Kyng Arthoure on huntyng yod;                               went
	Thus have I hard men telle.
	Nowe God, as thou were in Bethleme born,                      (see note)
	Suffer nevere her soules be forlorne                         their; lost
840	In the brynnyng fyre of helle!                                   burning

	And, Jhesu, as thou were borne of a virgyn,
	Help hym oute of sorowe that this tale dyd devyne,               make up
	And that nowe in alle hast,                                    [do] that
	For he is besett with gaylours many                  jailors; (see note)
845	That kepen hym fulle sewerly,                            guard; securely
	With wyles wrong and wraste.                            tricks; powerful
	Nowe God, as thou art veray Kyng Royalle,               true; (see note)
	Help hym oute of daunger that made this tale
	For therin he hathe bene long.
850	And of greatt pety help thy servaunt,                       out of; pity
	For body and soull I yeld into thyne hand,
	For paynes he hathe strong.

		Here endythe the weddyng of 
		Syr Gawen and Dame Ragnelle
		For helpyng of Kyng Arthoure.