Classic Poem

List ! wen Arthur he was K ing ,
he had all att his leadinge
 the broad Ile of Brittaine;
England & Scottland one was,
& wales stood in the same case,
 the truth itt is not to layne.

he drive allyance out of this Ile,
soe Arthur liued in peace a while,
 as men of Mickle maine,
k nigh ts strong of their degree
[strove] w hi ch of them hyest shold bee;
 therof Arthur was not faine;

hee made the round table for their behoue,
tha t none of them shold sitt aboue,
 but all shold sitt as one,
the K ing himselfe in state royall,
Dame Gueneuer our queene w i thall,
 seemlye of body and bone.

itt fell againe the christmase,
many came to tha t Lords place,
 to tha t worthye one
w i th helme on head, & brand bright,
all tha t tooke order of k nigh t;
 none wold linger att home.

there was noe castle nor mano u r free
tha t might harbour tha t companye,
 their puissance was soe great.
their tents vp thé pight
for to lodge there all tha t night,
 therto were sett to meate.

Messengers there came [&] went
w i th much victualls verament
 both by way & streete;
wine & wild fowle thither was brought,
w i thin they spared nought
 for gold, & they might itt gett.

Now of K ing Arthur noe more I mell;
but of a venterous k nigh t I will you tell
  tha t dwelled in the west countrye;
S i r Bredbeddle, for sooth he hett;
he was a man of Mickele might,
 & Lo rd of great bewtye

he had a lady to his wiffe,
he loued her deerlye as his liffe,
 shee was both blyth and blee;
because S i r Gawaine was stiffe in stowre,
shee loued him priuilye paramour,
 & shee neu er him see.

itt was Agostes tha t was her mother;
itt was witchcraft & noe other
  tha t shee dealt w i th all;

shee cold transpose k nigh ts & swaine
like as in battaile they were slaine,
 wounded both Lim & lightt,
shee taught her sonne the k nigh t alsoe
in transposed likenesse he shold goe
 both by fell and frythe;

shee said, “thou shalt to Arthurs hall;
for there great aduentures shall befall
 That eu er saw K ing or K nigh t.”
all was for her daughters sake,
tha t w hi ch she soe sadlye spake
 to her sonne-in-law the K nigh t,
because S i r Gawaine was bold and hardye,
& therto full of curtesye,
 to bring him into her sight

the knight said “soe mote I thee,
to Arthurs court will I mee hye
 for to praise thee right,
& to proue Gawaines points 3;
& tha t be true tha t men tell me,
 by Mary Most of Might.”

earlye, soone as itt was day,
the K nigh t dressed him full gay,
 vmstrode a full good steede;
helme and hawberke both he hent,
a long fauchion verament
 to fend them in his neede.

tha t was a Iolly sight to seene,
when horsse and armour was all greene,
 & weapon tha t hee bare.
when tha t burne was harnisht still,
his countenance he became right well,
 I dare itt safelye sweare.

tha t time att Carleile lay our K ing ;
att a Castle of flatting was his dwelling,
 in the fforrest of delamore.
for sooth he rode, the sooth to say,
to Carleile he came on Christmas day,
 into tha t fayre countrye.

when he into tha t place came,
the porter thought him a Maruelous groome:
 he saith, “S i r, wither wold yee?”
hee said, “I am a venterous K nigh t,
& of yo u r K ing wold haue sight,
 & other Lo rd s tha t heere bee.”

noe word to him the porter spake,
but left him standing att the gate,
 & went forth, as I weene,
& kneeled downe before the K ing ;
saith, “in lifes dayes old or younge,
 such a sight I haue not seene!

“for yonder att yo u r gates right;”
he saith, “hee is a venterous K nigh t;
 all his vesture is greene.”
then spake the K ing proudest in all,
saith, “bring him into the hall;
 let vs see what hee doth meane.”

when the greene K nigh t came before the K ing ,
he stood in his stirrops strechinge,
 & spoke with voice cleere,
& saith, “K ing Arthur, god sane thee
as thou sittest in thy p ro speritye,
 & Maintaine thine honor!

“why thou wold me nothing but right;
I am come hither a venterous [Knight,]
 & kayred thorrow countrye farr,
to proue poynts in thy pallace
tha t longeth to manhood in eu er ye case
 among thy Lo rd s deere.”

the K ing , he sayd full still
till he had said all his will;
 certein thus can he say:
“as I am true k nigh t and K ing ,
thou shalt haue thy askinge!
 I will not say thy nay,

“whether thou wilt on foote fighting,
or on steed backe iusting
 for loue of Ladyes gay
If & thine armor be not fine,
I will giue thee p ar t of mine.”
 “god amercy, Lo rd !” can he say,

“here I make a challenging
among the Lords both old and younge
  tha t worthy beene in weede,
w hi ch of them will take in hand—
hee tha t is both stiffe and stronge
 and full good att need—

“I shall lay my head downe,
strike itt of if he can
 w i th a stroke to garr itt bleed,
for this day 12 monthe another at his:
let me see who will answer this,
 a knight tha t is doughtye of deed;

“for this day 12 month, the sooth to say,
let him come to me & seicth his praye;
 rudlye, or eu er hee blin,
whither to come, I shall him tell,
the readie way to the greene chappell,
  tha t place I will be in.”

the K ing att ease sate full still,
& all his lords said but litle
 till he had said all his will
vpp stood S i r Kay tha t crabbed k nigh t,
spake mightye words tha t were of height,
  tha t were both Loud and shrill;

“I shall strike his necke in tooe,
the head away the body froe.”
 thé bade him all be still,
saith, “Kay, of thy dints make noe rouse,
thou wottest full litle what thou does;
 noe good, but Mickle ill.”

Eche man wold this deed haue done.
vp start S i r Gawaine soone,
 vpon his knees can kneele,
he said, “ tha t were great villanye
w i thout you put this deede to me,
 my leege, as I haue sayd;

“remember, I am yo u r sisters sonne”
the K ing said, “I grant thy boone;
 but mirth is best att meele;
cheere thy guest, and giue him wine,
& after dinner, to itt fine,
 & sett the buffett well!”

now the greene K nigh t is set att meate,
seemlye serued in his seate,
 beside the round table.
to talke of his welfare, nothing he needs,
like a K nigh t himselfe he feeds,
 w i th long time reasnable.

when the dinner, it was done,
tho K ing said to S i r Gawaine soone,
 w i thouten any fable
he said, “on you will doe this deede,
I pray Iesus be yo u r speede!
 this k nigh t is nothing vnstable.”

the greene K nigh t his head downe layd;
S i r Gawaine, to the axe he braid
 to strike w i th eger will;
he stroke the necke bone in twaine,
the blood burst out in eu er ye vaine,
 the head from the body fell.

the greene K nigh t his head vp hent,
into his saddle wightilye he sprent,
 spake words both Lowd & shrill,
saith: “Gawaine! thinke on thy couenant!
this day 12 monthes see thou ne want
 to come to the greene chappell!”

All had great maruell, tha t thé see
tha t he spake so merrilye
 & bare his head in his hand
forth att the hall dore he rode right,
and tha t saw both K ing and knight
 and Lords tha t were in land.

w i thout the hall dore, the sooth to saine,
hee sett his head vpon againe,
 saies, “Arthur, haue heere my hand!
when-soeu er the K nigh t cometh to mee,
a better buffett sickerlye
 I dare him well warrand.”

the greene K nigh t away went.
all this was done by enchantment
  tha t the old witch had wrought.
sore sicke fell Arthur the K ing ,
and for him made great mourning
 that into such bale was brought.

the Q ueen , shee weeped for his sake;
sorry was S i r Lancelott dulake,
 & other were dreery in thought
because he was brought into great p er ill;
his mightye manhood will not availe,
  tha t before hath freshlye fought.

S i r Gawaine comfort K ing and Q ueen ,
& all the doughtye there be-deene;
 he bade thé shold be still;
said, “of my deede I was neu er feard,
nor yett I am nothing a-dread,
 I swere by S ain t Michaell;

“for when draweth toward my day,
I will dresse me in mine array
 my p ro mise to fulfill.
S i r,” he saith, “as I haue blis,
I wott not where the greene chappell is,
 therfore seeke itt I will.”

the royall Couett verament
all rought S i r Gawaines intent,
 they thought itt was the best.
they went forth into the feild,
k nigh ts tha t ware both speare and sheeld
 thé priced forth full prest;

some chuse them to Iustinge,
some to dance, Reuell, and sing;
 of mirth thé wold not rest.
all they swore together in fere,
tha t and S i r Gawaine ou er -come were,
 thé wold bren all the west.

Now leaue wee the K ing in his pallace.
the greene K nigh t come home is
 to his owne Castle;
this folke frend when he came home
what doughtye deeds he had done.
 nothing he wold them tell;

full well hee wist in certaine
tha t his wiffe loued S i r Gawaine
  tha t comelye was vnder kell.
listen, L ord s! & yee will sitt,
& yee shall heere the second ffitt,
 what adventures S i r Gawaine befell.

[Part II.]

  The day is come tha t Gawaine must gone;
  K nigh ts & Ladyes waxed wann
   ; tha t were w i thout in tha t place;
  the K ing himselfe siked ill,
  ther Q ueen a swounding almost fell,
   to tha t Iorney when he shold passe.

When he was in armour bright,
he was one of the goodlyest K nigh ts
  tha t eu er in brittaine was borne.
they brought S i r Gawaine a steed,
was dapple gray and good att need,
 I tell w i thouten scorne;

his bridle was w i th stones sett,
w i th gold & pearle ou er frett,
 & stones of great vertue;
he was of a furley kind;
his stirropps were of silke of ynd;
 I tell you this tale for true.

when he rode ou er the Mold,
his geere glistered as gold.
 by the way as he rode,
many furleys he there did see,
fowles by the water did flee,
 by brimes & bankes soe broad.

many furleys there saw hee
of wolues & wild beasts sikerlye;
 on hunting hee tooke most heede.
forth he rode, the sooth to tell,
for to seeke the greene chappell,
 he wist not where indeed.

As he rode in an eue[n]ing late,
riding downe a greene gate,
 a faire castell saw hee,
tha t seemed a place of Mickle pride;
thitherward S i r Gawaine can ryde
 to gett some harborrowe.

thither he came in the twylight,
he was ware of a gentle K nigh t,
 the Lo rd of the place was hee.
Meekly to him S i r Gawaine can speake,
& asked him, “for K ing Arthurs sake,
 of harborrowe I pray thee!

“I am a far Labordd Knight,
I pray you lodge me all this night”
 he sayd him not nay,
hee tooke him by the arme & led him to the hall
a poore child can hee call,
 saith, “dight well this palfrey.”

into a chamber thé went a full great speed;
there thé found all things readye att need,
 I dare safelye swere;
fier in chambers burning bright,
candles in chandlers burning light;
 to supp er thé went full yare.

he sent after his Ladye bright
to come to supp w i th tha t gentle K nigh t,
 & shee came blythe w i th-all;
forth shee came then anon,
her Maids following her eche one
 in robes of rich pall.

as shee sate att her supp er ,
eu er -more the Ladye clere
 S i r Gawaine shee looked vpon.
when the supp er it was done,
shee tooke her Maids, & to her chamber gone.

he cheered the K nigh t & gaue him wine,
& said, “welcome, by St. Martine!
 I pray you take itt for none ill;
one thing, S i r, I wold you pray;
what you make soe farr this way?
 the truth you wold me tell;

“I am a K nigh t, & soe are yee;
Yo u r concell, an you will tell mee,
 forsooth keepe itt I will;
for if itt be poynt of any dread,
p er chance I may helpe att need
 either lowd or still.”

for his words tha t were soe smooth,
had S i r Gawaine wist the soothe,
 all he wold not haue told,
for tha t was the greene K nigh t
tha t hee was lodged w i th that night,
 & harbarrowes in his hold.

he saith, “as to the greene chappell,
thitherward I can you tell,
 itt is but furlongs 3.
the M aster of it is a venterous K nigh t,
& workes by witchcraft day & night,
 w i th many a great furley.

“if he worke w i th neu er soe much frauce,
he is curteous as he sees cause.
 I tell you sikerlye,
you shall abyde, & take yo u r rest,
& I will into yonder fforrest
 vnder the greenwood tree.”

they plight their truthes to beleeue,
either w i th other for to deale,
 whether it were siluer or gold;
he said, “we 2 both [sworn] wilbe,
what soeu er god sends you & mee,
 to be p ar ted on the Mold.”

The greene K nigh t went on hunting;
S i r Gawaine in the castle beinge,
 lay sleeping in his bed.
Vprose the old witche w i th hast throwe,
& to her dauhter can shee goe,
 & said, “be not adread!”

to her daughter can shee say,
“the man tha t thou hast wisht many a day,
 of him thou maist be sped;
for S i r Gawaine tha t curteous K nigh t
is lodged in this hall all night.”
 shee brought her to his bedd.

shee saith, “gentle K nigh t, awake!
& for this faire Ladies sake
  tha t hath loued thee soe deere,
take her boldly in thine armes,
there is noe man shall doe thee harme;”
 now beene they both heere.

the ladye kissed him times 3,
saith, “w i thout I have the loue of thee,
 my life standeth in dere”
S i r Gawaine blushed on the Lady bright,
saith, “yo u r husband is a gentle K nigh t,
 by him tha t bought mee deare!

“to me itt were great shame
if I shold doe him any grame,
  tha t hath beene kind to mee;
for I haue such a deede to doe,
tha t I can neyther rest nor roe,
 att an end till itt bee.”

then spake tha t Ladye gay,
saith, “tell me some of yo u r Iourney,
 yo u r succour I may bee;
if itt he poynt of any warr,
there shall noe man doe you noe darr
 & yee wilbe gou er ned by mee;

“for heere I haue a lace of silke,
it is as white as any milke,
 & of a great value.”
shee saith, “I dare safelye sweare
there shall noe man doe you deere
 when you haue it vpon you.”

S i r Gawaine spake mildlye in the place,
he thanked the Lady & tooke the lace,
 & p ro mised her to come againe.
the K nigh t in the fforrest slew many a hind,
other venison he cold none find
 but wild bores on the plaine.

plentye of does & wild swine,
foxes & other ravine,
 as I hard true men tell.
S i r Gawaine swore sickerlye
“home to yo u r owne, welcome you bee,
 by him tha t harrowes hell!”

the greene K nigh t his venison downe Layd;
then to S i r Gawaine thus hee said,
 “tell me anon in heght,
what noueltyes tha t you haue won,
for heers plenty of venison.”
 S i r Gawaine said full right,

S i r Gawaine sware by St. Leonard,
“such as god sends, you shall haue p art :”
 in his armes he hent the K nigh t,
& there he kissed him times 3,
saith, “heere is such as god sends mee,
 by Mary most of Might.”

eu er priuilye he held the Lace:
tha t was all the villanye tha t eu er was
 prooued by S i r Gawaine the gay.
then to bed soone thé went,
& sleeped there verament
 till morrow itt was day.

then S i r Gawaine soe curteous & free,
his leaue soone taketh hee
 att the Lady soe gaye;
Hee thanked her, & tooke the lace,
& rode towards the chappell apace;
 he knew noe whitt the way.

eu er more in his thought he had
whether he shold worke as the Ladye bade,
  tha t was soe curteous & sheene.
the greene k nigh t rode another way;
he transposed him in another array,
 before as it was greene.

as S i r Gawaine rode ou er the plaine,
he hard one high vpon a Mountaine
 a horne blowne full lowde.
he looked after the greene chappell,
he saw itt stand vnder a hill
 couered w i th euyes about;

he looked after the greene K nigh t,
he hard him wehett a fauchion bright,
  tha t the hills rang about.
the K nigh t spake w i th strong cheere,
said, “yee be welcome, S[ir] Gawaine heere,
 it behooveth thee to Lowte.”
he stroke, & litle perced the skin,
vnneth the flesh w i thin.
 then S i r Gawaine had noe doubt;

he saith, “thou shontest! why dost thou soe?”
then S i r Gawaine in hart waxed throe;
 vpon his ffeete can stand,
& soone he drew out his sword,
& saith, “traitor! if thou speake a word,
 thy liffe is in my hand;
I had but one stroke att thee,
& thou hast had another att mee,
 noe falshood in me thou found!”

the K nigh t said withouten laine,
“I wend I had S i r Gawaine slaine,
 the gentlest K nigh t in this land;
men told me of great renowne,
of curtesie thou might haue woon the crowne
 aboue both free & bound,

“& alsoe of great gentrye;
& now 3 points be put fro thee,
 it is the Moe pittye:
S i r Gawaine! thou wast not Leele
when thou didst the lace conceale
  tha t my wiffe gaue to thee!

“ffor wee were both, thou wist full well,
for thou hadst the halfe dale
 of my venerye;
if the lace had neu er beene wrought,
to haue slaine thee was neu er my thought,
 I swere by god verelye!

“I wist it well my wiffe loued thee;
thou wold doe me noe villanye,
 but nicked her w i th nay;
but wilt thou doe as I bidd thee,
take me to Arthurs court w i th thee,
 then were all to my pay.”

now are the K nigh ts accorded thore;
to the castle of hutton can thé fare,
 to lodge there all tha t night.
earlye on the other day
to Arthurs court thé tooke the way
 w i th harts blyth & light.

all the Court was full faine,
aliue when they saw S i r Gawaine;
 they thanked god abone.
tha t is the matter & the case
why K nigh ts of the bathe weare the lace
 vntill they haue wonen their shoen,

or else a ladye of hye estate
from about his necke shall it take,
 for the doughtye deeds tha t hee hath done.
it was confirmed by Arthur the K[ing;]
thorrow S i r Gawaines desiringe
 The K ing granted him his boone.

Thus endeth the tale of the greene K nigh t.
god, tha t is soe full of might,
 to heauen their soules bring
tha t haue hard this litle storye
tha t fell some times in the west countrye
 in Arthurs days our King!