43
Then frayned že freke ful fayre at himseluen
Quat derue dede had hym dryuen at žat dere tyme
So kenly fro že kyngez kourt to kayre al his one,
Er že halidayez holly were halet out of toun.
"For sože, sir," quož že segge, "3e sayn bot že trawže,
A he3e ernde and a hasty me hade fro žo wonez,
For I am sumned myselfe to sech to a place,
I ne wot in worlde whederwarde to wende hit to fynde.
I nolde bot if I hit negh my3t on Nw 3eres morne
For alle že londe inwyth Logres, so me oure lorde help!
Foržy, sir, žis enquest I require yow here,
Žat 3e me telle with trawže if euer 3e tale herde
Of že grene chapel, quere hit on grounde stondez,
And of že kny3t žat hit kepes, of colour of grene.
Žer watz stabled bi statut a steuen vus bytwene
To mete žat mon at žat mere, 3if I my3t last;
And of žat ilk Nw 3ere bot neked now wontez,
And I wolde loke on žat lede, if God me let wolde,
Gladloker, bi Goddez sun, žen any god welde!
Forži, iwysse, bi 3owre wylle, wende me bihoues,
Naf I now to busy bot bare žre dayez,
And me als fayn to falle feye as fayly of myyn ernde."
Ženne la3ande quož že lorde, "Now leng že byhoues,
For I schal teche yow to žat terme bi že tymez ende,
Že grene chapayle vpon grounde greue yow no more;
Bot 3e schal be in yowre bed, burne, at žyn ese,
Quyle forth dayez, and ferk on že fyrst of že 3ere,
And cum to žat merk at mydmorn, to make quat yow likez
in spenne.
Dowellez whyle New 3eres daye,
And rys, and raykez ženne,
Mon schal yow sette in waye,
Hit is not two myle henne."
44
Ženne watz Gawan ful glad, and gomenly he la3ed:
"Now I žonk yow žryuandely žur3 alle ožer žynge,
Now acheued is my chaunce, I schal at your wylle
Dowelle, and ellez do quat 3e demen."
Ženne sesed hym že syre and set hym bysyde,
Let že ladiez be fette to lyke hem že better.
Žer watz seme solace by hemself stille;
Že lorde let for luf lotez so myry,
As wy3 žat wolde of his wyte, ne wyst quat he my3t.
Ženne he carped to že kny3t, criande loude,
"3e han demed to do že dede žat I bidde;
Wyl 3e halde žis hes here at žys onez?"
"3e, sir, for sože," sayd že segge trwe,
"Whyl I byde in yowre bor3e, be bayn to 3owre hest."
"For 3e haf trauayled," quož že tulk, "towen fro ferre,
And syžen waked me wyth, 3e arn not wel waryst
Naužer of sostnaunce ne of slepe, sožly I knowe;
3e schal lenge in your lofte, and ly3e in your ese
To-morn quyle že messequyle, and to mete wende
When 3e wyl, wyth my wyf, žat wyth yow schal sitte
And comfort yow with compayny, til I to cort torne;
3e lende,
And I schal erly ryse,
On huntyng wyl I wende.'
Gauayn grantez alle žyse,
Hym heldande, as že hende.
45
"3et firre," quož že freke, "a forwarde we make:
Quat-so-euer I wynne in že wod hit woržez to yourez,
And quat chek so 3e acheue chaunge me žerforne.
Swete, swap we so, sware with trawže,
Quežer, leude, so lymp, lere ožer better."
"Bi God," quož Gawayn že gode, "I grant žertylle,
And žat yow lyst for to layke, lef hit me žynkes."
"Who bryngez vus žis beuerage, žis bargayn is maked!"
So sayde že lorde of žat lede; žay la3ed vchone,
Žay dronken and daylyeden and dalten vnty3tel,
Žise lordez and ladyez, quyle žat hem lyked;
And syžen with Frenkysch fare and fele fayre lotez
Žay stoden and stemed and stylly speken,
Kysten ful comlyly and ka3ten her leue.
With mony leude ful ly3t and lemande torches
Vche burne to his bed watz bro3t at že laste,
ful softe.
To bed 3et er žay 3ede,
Recorded couenauntez ofte;
Že olde lorde of žat leude
Cowže wel halde layk alofte.
mauler's (non-verse) translation:
43
Then the lord politely enquired of the knight,
What fearsome task had forced him at that festive time
To ride so boldly from the king's court,
Before the holidays had even passed completely,
"In truth, sir," said the knight, "Your question has merit.
A noble and urgent errand has brought me from my home,
For I am sworn to seek a place
I have no idea in the world where to go to find.
But I would not fail to reach it by New Years morn,
For all the land in Logres, so help me Lord!
Therefore, sir, this request I must ask of you now—
That you tell me truly if ever a tale you have heard
Of the Green Chapel, or where it stands,
And of the knight who keeps it, who is green in color.
There was struck a solemn agreement between us,
To meet that man at that place, if I am still alive.
Before that New Years appointment, but little time remains,
And I would look upon that man, if God would let me,
More gladly, by God's son, than on any horde of gold!
Therefore, indeed, with your leave, it is time to go;
I have not even three days left to go,
And would rather fall dead than fail in my task.
Then, laughing the lord said, "Now you can stay,
For I shall guide you to your meeting by the appointed time.
Of the Green Chapel's location, worry no more;
Instead you shall lay in your bed at your leisure,
While away the days, and leave on the first of the year,
And be at that place by mid-morning, to do as you will
there
Dwell here until New Year's Day,
And rouse and depart then.
I shall show you the way,
For it is not two miles hence!
44
Gawain was gladdened greatly, and joyfully laughed:
"I thank you heartily for this, above all else.
Now my quest is accomplished, I shall, as you wish
Remain, and do whatever else you desire."
Then his host embraced him and sat down beside him,
And bid the ladies be fetched to increase their pleasure,
But first there was some pleasure between them in private.
The lord in his joy said some merry words,
Like a man out of his mind, knowing not what he did,
Then he said to the knight, shouting loudly,
"You have agreed to do any deed I bid you;
Will you hold to this promise, here, at once?"
"Yes, sir, for sure," said the trusty knight,
While I bide in your abode, I obey your behest."
"You have travailed," said the man, "traveling from afar,
And then stayed up late with me. You have not recovered,
Either your nourishment or your sleep, this I know.
You shall rest in your bed and lie at ease
Tomorrow until the mass, and then come to dinner,
When you wish, with my wife, who will sit with you,
And comfort you with company until I return to the castle.
You stay,
And I shall rise early,
A-hunting I will go.
Gawain agrees to everything
With a courtly bow.
45
"Yet further," said the lord, "let us make one more promise,
That whatsoever I win in the woods belongs to you,
And what reward you achieve here you give me in exchange
We will swap this way, my friend, let us swear to it,
Whatever we win whether worthless or ,wonderful."
"By God," said Gawain, "I grant your request,
And I must say I approve of your penchant for such sport."
"Bring us some beverages, a bargain is made!"
So said the lord of that company and everyone laughed.
They drank and frivoled and flirted without shame
Those lords and ladies, as long as they liked
And then with fine French manners and many lovely phrases,
They stopped and stood, and softly spoke,
Kissed each other affectionately and took their leave.
With many swift attendants carrying gleaming torches,
Each man to his bed was brought at last
quietly.
But before they went to bed
The crafty lord of that land
Made Gawain repeat the bargain,
For he knew well how such games were played.
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