The Green Knight
                    (1400īs version)
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NOTE:  This is not a retelling in modern English.  It is
in middle English.  Middle English can be read by a modern
person, with a little patience (and a dictionary).  It 
should be remembered that "u" and "v" are used interchange-
ably, and that vowels such as "i" and "e" are sometimes 
interchanged.  This was long before the introduction of 
standardized spelling.  In general I find it no harder to 
read middle English than the writing of some people I know 
today.
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List! wen Arthur he was King, 
He had all att his leadinge 
The broad Ile of Brittaine; 
England and Scottland one was, 
And Wales stood in the same case, 
The truth itt is not to layne.

He drive allyance out of this Ile, 
Soe Arthur lived in peace a while, 
As men of mickle maine,
Knights strong of their degree 
Strove which of them hyest shold bee;
Therof Arthur was not faine;

Hee made the Round Table for their behove,
That none of them shold sitt above, 
But all shold sitt as one, 
The King himselfe in state royall, 
Dame Guenever our Queene withall, 
Seemlye of body and bone. 

Itt fell againe the Christmase, 
Many came to that Lords place, 
To that worthye one 
With helme on head, and brand bright,
All that tooke order of knight; 
None wold linger att home. 

There was noe castle nor manour free 
That might harbour that companye, 
Their puissance was soe great. 
Their tents up they pight
For to lodge there all that night, 
Therto were sett to meate. 

Messengers there came and went 
With much victualls verament 
Both by way and streete; 
Wine and wild fowle thither was brought, 
Within they spared nought 
For gold, and they might itt gett.

Now of King Arthur noe more I mell;
But of a venterous knight I will you tell
That dwelled in the west countrye; 
Sir Bredbeddle, for sooth he hett;
He was a man of mickele might,
And lord of great bewtye.

He had a lady to his wiffe, 
He loved her deerlye as his liffe, 
Shee was both blyth and blee;
Because Sir Gawaine was stiffe in stowre,
Shee loved him privilye paramour,
And shee never him see.

Itt was Agostes that was her mother; 
Itt was witchcraft and noe other 
That shee dealt with all; 

Shee cold transpose knights and swaine
Like as in battaile they were slaine, 
Wounded both lim and lightt,
Shee taught her sonne the knight alsoe 
In transposed likenesse he shold goe 
Both by fell and frythe;

Shee said, "Thou shalt to Arthurs hall; 
For there great adventures shall befall 
That ever saw king or knight." 
All was for her daughters sake, 
That which she soe sadlye spake
To her sonne-in-law the knight, 
Because Sir Gawaine was bold and hardye, 
And 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, 
And to prove Gawaines points three;
And that be true that men tell me,
By Mary most of might." 

Earlye, soone as itt was day, 
The knight dressed him full gay, 
Umstrode a fall good steede;
Helm and hawberke both he hent, 
A long fauchion verament
To fend them in his neede.

That was a jolly sight to seene, 
When horsse and armour was all greene, 
And weapon that hee bare. 
When that burne was harnisht still,
His countenance he became right well, 
I dare itt safelye sweare. 

That time att Carleile lay our King; 
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 that fayre countrye. 

When he into that place came, 
The porter thought him a marvelous groome: 
He saith, "Sir, wither wold yee?"
Hee said, "I am a venterous knight,
And of your King wold have sight, 
And other lords that heere bee." 

Noe word to him the porter spake, 
But left him standing att the gate, 
And went forth, as I weene, 
And kneeled downe before the King; 
Saith, "In lifes dayes old or younge, 
Such a sight I have not seene! 

"For yonder, att your gates right," 
He saith, "hee is a venterous knight; 
All his vesture is greene." 
Then spake the King proudest in all, 
Saith, "Bring him into the hall; 
Let us see what hee doth mean." 

When the greene knight came before the King, 
He stood in his stirrops strechinge, 
And spoke with voice cleere, 
And saith, "King Arthur, God save thee, 
As thou sittest in thy prosperitye, 
And maintaine thine honor! 

"Why thou wold me nothing but right; 
I am come hither a venterous knight, 
And kayred thorrow countrye farr,
To prove poynts in thy pallace
That longeth to manhood in everye case 
Among thy lords deere." 

The King, he sayd full still 
Till he had said all his will; 
Certein thus can he say:
"As I am true knight and King, 
Thou shalt have thy askinge! 
I will not say th[ee] nay, 

"Whether thou wilt on foote fighting, 
Or on steed backe justing 
For love of ladyes gay. 
If and thine armor be not fine,
I will give thee part of mine." 
"God amercy, Lord!" can he say,

"Here I make a challenging 
Among the lords both old and younge 
That worthy beene in weede, 
Which of them will take in hand -- 
Hee that is both stiffe and stronge 
And full good att need -- 

"I shall lay my head downe, 
Strike itt of if he can,
With a stroke to garr itt bleed,
For this day twelve monthe another at his:
Let me see who wil answer this, 
A knight that is doughtye of deed; 

"For this day twelve month, the sooth to say, 
Let him come to me and seicth his praye,
Rudlye, or ever hee blin;
Whither to come, I shall him tell, 
The readie way to the greene chappell, 
That place I will be in." 

The King att ease sate full still, 
And all his lords said but litle 
Till he had said all his will. 
Upp stood Sir Kay, that crabbed knight, 
Spake mightye words that were of height,
That were both loud and shrill; 

"I shall strike his necke in tooe, 
The head away the body froe." 
They 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 have done. 
Up start Sir Gawaine soone, 
Upon his knees can kneele,
He said, "That were great villanye 
Without you put this deede to me,
My leege, as I have s[eele];

Remember I am your sisters sonne. 
The King said, "I grant thy boone; 
But mirth is best att meele; 
Cheere thy guest, and give him wine, 
And after dinner, to itt fine,
And sett the buffett well!" 

Now the greene knight is set att meate, 
Seemlye served in his seate, 
Beside the Round Table. 
To talke of his welfare, nothing he needs, 
Like a knight himselfe he feeds, 
With long time reasnable. 

When the dinner, it was done 
The King said to Sir Gawaine soone, 
Withouten any fable 
He said, "On you will doe this deede, 
I pray Jesus be your speede!
This knight is nothing unstable."

The greene knight his head downe layd; 
Sir Gawaine, to the axe he braid
To strike with eger will; 
He stroke the necke bone in twaine, 
The blood burst out in everye vaine, 
The head from the body fell. 

The greene knight his head up hent,
Into his saddle wightilye he sprent,
Spake words both lowd and shrill, 
Saith: "Gawaine! thinke on thy covenant! 
This day twelve monthes see thou ne want
To come to the greene chappell! 

All had great marvell, that they see 
That he spake so merrilye, 
And bare his head in his hand. 
Forth att the hall dore he rode right, 
And that saw both King and knight 
And lords that were in land. 

Without the hall dore, the sooth to saine,
Hee sett his head upon againe, 
Saies, "Arthur, have heere my hand! 
When-soever the knight cometh to mee, 
A better buffett sickerlye 
I dare him well warrand."

The greene knight away went. 
All this was done by enchantment 
That the old witch had wrought. 
Sore sicke fell Arthur the King, 
And for him made great mourning
That into such bale was brought. 

The Queen, shee weeped for his sake; 
Sorry was Sir Lancelott Dulake, 
And other were dreery in thought 
Because he was brought into great perill; 
His mightye manhood will not availe, 
That before hath freshlye fought.

Sir Gawaine comfort King and Queen, 
And all the doughtye there be-deene;"
He bade they shold be still; 
Said, "Of my deede I was never feard, 
Nor yett I am nothing a-dread, 
I swere by Saint Michaell; 

"For when draweth toward my day, 
I will dresse me in in mine array 
My promise to fulfill. 
Sir," he saith, "as I have blis, 
I wott not where the greene chappell is, 
Therfore seeke itt I will." 

The royall cou[r]tt verament 
All rought Sir Gawaines intent,
They thought itt was the best. 
They went forth into the feild, 
Knights that ware both speare and sheeld
They priced forth full prest;

Some chuse them to justinge, 
Some to dance, revell, and sing; 
Of mirth they wold not rest. 
All they swore together in fere,
That and Sir Gawaine over-come were,
They wold bren all the west. 

Now leave wee the King in his pallace. 
The greene knight 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 
That his wiffe loved Sir Gawaine 
That comelye was under kell.
Listen, lords! and yee will sitt, 
And yee shall heere the second ffitt, 
What adventures Sir Gawaine befell. 


Second Parte 

The day is come that Gawaine must gone; 
Knights and ladyes waxed wann
That were without in that place; 
The King himselfe siked ill,
Ther Queen a swounding almost fell
To that jorney when he shold passe. 

When he was in armour bright, 
He was one of the goodlyest knights 
That ever in Brittaine was borne. 
They brought Sir Gawaine a steed, 
Was dapple gray and good att need, 
I tell withouten scorne; 

His bridle was with stones sett, 
With gold and pearle overfrett,
And 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 over 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 and bankes soe broad. 

Many furleys there saw hee 
Of wolves and 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 evening late, 
Riding downe a greene gate,
A faire castell saw hee, 
That seemed a place of mickle pride; great 
Thitherward Sir Gawaine can ryde
To gett some harborrowe.

Thither he came in the twylight, 
He was ware of a gentle knight, 
The lord of the place was hee. 
Meekly to him Sir Gawaine can speake, 
And asked him, "For King 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 and led him to the hall. 
A poore child can hee call, 
Saith, "Dight well this palfrey."

Into a chamber they went a full great speed; 
There they found all things readye att need, 
I dare safelye swere; 
Fier in chambers burning bright,
Candles in chandlers burning light; 
To supper they went full yare.

He sent after his ladye bright 
To come to supp with that gentle knight, 
And shee came blythe with-all; 
Forth shee came then anon, 
Her maids following her eche one 
In robes of rich pall.

As shee sate att her supper, 
Ever-more the ladye clere 
Sir Gawaine shee looked upon. 
When the supper it was done, 
She tooke her maids, and to her chamber gone. 

He cheered the knight and gave him wine, 
And said " Welcome, by St. Martine! 
I pray you take itt for none ill; 
One thing, Sir, I wold you pray; 
What you make soe farr this way? 
The truth you wold me tell; 

"I am a knight, and soe are yee; 
Your councell, an you will tell mee,
Forsooth keepe itt I will; 
For if itt be poynt of any dread, 
Perchance I may helpe att need 
Either lowd or still."

For his words that were soe smooth 
Had Sir Gawaine wist the soothe, 
All he wold not have told, 
For that was the greene knight 
That hee was lodged with that night, 
And harbarrowes in his hold.

He saith, "As to the greene chappell, 
Thitherward I can you tell, 
Itt is but furlongs three. 
The master of it is a venterous knight, 
And workes by witchcraft day and night, 
With many a great furley.

"If he worke with never soe much frauce,
He is curteous as he sees cause. 
I tell you sikerlye, 
You shall abyde, and take your rest, 
And I will into yonder fforrest 
Under the greenwood tree." 

They plight their truthes to beleeve,
Either with other for to deale,
Whether it were silver or gold; 
He said, "We two both sworn wilbe,
Whatsoever God sends you and me, 
To be parted on the mold."

The greene knight went on hunting; 
Sir Gawaine in the castle beinge, 
Lay sleeping in his bed. 
Uprose the old witche with hast throwe,
And to her dauhter can shee goe, 
And said "Be not adread!" 

To her daughter can shee say, 
"The man that thou hast wisht many a day, 
Of him thou maist be sped;
For Sir Gawaine, that curteous knight, 
Is lodged in this hall all night." 
Shee brought her to his bedd. 

Shee saith, "Gentle knight, awake! 
And for this faire ladies sake 
That hath loved 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 three, 
Saith, "Without I have the love of thee,
My life standeth in dere."
Sir Gawaine blushed on the lady bright,
Saith, "Your husband is a gentle knight, 
By Him that bought mee deare! 

"To me itt were great shame 
If I shold doe him any grame,
That hath beene kind to mee; 
For I have such a deede to doe, 
That I can neyther rest nor roe,
Att an end till itt bee." 

Then spake that ladye gay, 
Saith, "Tell me some of your journey, 
Your succour I may bee; 
If itt be poynt of any warr, 
There shall noe man doe you noe darr,
And yee wilbe governed by mee;

"For heere I have a lace of silke, 
It is as white as any milke, 
And of a great value." 
Shee saith, "I dare safelye sweare 
There shall noe man doe you deere
When you have it upon you." 

Sir Gawaine spake mildlye in the place, 
He thanked the lady and tooke the lace, 
And promised her to come againe. 
The knight in the fforrest slew many a hind, 
Other venison he cold none find
But wild bores on the plaine. 

Plentye of does and wild swine, 
Foxes and other ravine, 
As I hard true men tell. 
Sir Gawaine swore sickerlye 
"Home, to your owne, welcome you bee, 
By Him that harrowes hell!" 

The greene knight his venison downe layd;
Then to Sir Gawaine thus hee said, 
"Tell me anon in heght,
What novelties that you have won, 
For heers plenty of venison." 
Sir Gawaine said full right, 

Sir Gawaine sware by St. Leonard, 
Such as God sends, you shall have part: 
In his armes he hent the knight,
And there he kissed him times three, 
Saith, "Heere is such as God sends mee, 
By Mary most of might." 

Ever privilye he held the lace: 
That was all the villanye that ever was 
Prooved by Sir Gawaine the gay.
Then to bed soone they went, 
And sleeped there verament 
Till morrow itt was day. 

Then Sir Gawaine soe curteous and free, 
His leave soone taketh hee 
Att the lady soe gaye; 
Hee thanked her, and tooke the lace, 
And rode towards the Chappell apace;
He knew noe whitt the way. 

Ever more in his thought he had 
Whether he shold worke as the ladye bade, 
That was soe curteous and sheene. 
The greene knight rode another way; 
He transposed him in another array, 
Before as it was greene. 

As Sir Gawaine rode over the plaine, 
He hard one high upon a mountaine
A horne blowne full lowde. 
He looked after the greene chappell, 
He saw itt stand under a hill 
Covered with euyes about;

He looked after the greene knight, 
He hard him whett a fauchion bright,
That the hills rang about. 
The knight spake with strong cheere, 
Said, "Yee be welcome, Sir Gawaine heere, 
It behooveth thee to lowte."
He stroke, and litle perced the skin,
Unneth the flesh within.
Then Sir Gawaine had noe doubt;

He saith, "Thou shontest! why dost thou soe?"
Then Sir Gawaine in hart waxed throe;
Upon his ffeete can stand, 
And soone he drew out his sword,
And saith, "Traitor! if thou speake a word,
Thy liffe is in my hand; 
I had but one stroke att thee,
And thou hast had another att mee, 
Noe falshood in me thou found!" 

The knight said withouten laine,
"I wend I had Sir Gawaine slaine
The gentlest knight in this land; 
Men told me of great renowne, 
Of curtesie thou might have woon the crowne 
Above both free and bound, 

"And alsoe of great gentrye 
And now three points be put fro thee, 
It is the moe pittye: 
Sir Gawaine! thou wast not leele 
When thou didst the lace conceale 
That my wiffe gave to thee! 

"ffor wee were both, thou wist fall well, 
For thou hadst the halfe dale 
Of my venerye; 
If the lace had never beene wrought, 
To have slaine thee was never my thought, 
I swere by God verelye! 

I wist it well my wiffe loved thee; 
Thou wold doe me noe villanye, 
But nicked her with nay;
But wilt thou doe as I bidd thee, 
Take me to Arthurs court with thee, 
Then were all to my pay."

Now are the knights accorded thore; 
To the castle of Hutton can they fare, 
To lodge there all that night. 
Earlye on the other day
To Arthurs court they tooke the way 
With harts blyth and light.

All the court was full faine,
Alive when they saw Sir Gawaine; 
They thanked God abone.
That is the matter and the case 
Why Knights of the Bathe weare the lace 
Untill they have wonen their shoen,

Or else a ladye of hye estate 
From about his necke shall it take, 
For the doughtye deeds that hee hath done. 
It was confirmed by Arthur the King; 
Thorrow Sir Gawaines desiringe 
The King granted him his boone. request 

Thus endeth the tale of the greene knight. 
God, that is soe full of might, 
To heaven their soules bring 
That have hard this litle storye 
That fell some times in the west countrye 
In Arthurs days our King!