With servants assembled the Knight to receive;
They did down the drawbridge, and drew out to meet him,
And for courtesy kneel’d to the cóld eàrth
To welcome that wight as worthy them thought;
The gates they set wide to give him a passage,
And he bade them arise, and the bridge rode over.
Some seiz’d him in saddle, to set him on foot,81
And stout men busk’d them to stable his steed.
Knights with their squires escorted him then
To bring him full blithe with bliss into hall.
When he had off his helmet, there hied men enow
To receive it and serve him as seem’d to him good;
His brand and his blazon, both did they take.
Then the athel with courtesy hail’d them, each one,
And proud men there press’d that prince for to honour;
All haspèd in armour they brought him to hall,
Where a fire full fair on the floor burn’d bright,
And the master of the meiny moved from his chamber,
His guest to receive and graciously greet:
“Ye are welcome,” quoth he, “to wone as ye will,
What is here is your own, to have at your pleasure,
a space.”
“Gramercy,” said Gawain,
“Christ yield you of his grace.”
As knights that seemèd fain
Each other they embrace.
XXXVI
Gawain glanced at the goodman, that greeted him so fair,
And thought it a bold knight that the búrg òwn’d;
A huge athel he, in the prime of his eld,
His beard broad and bright, and all beaver-hued,
Grim, strong in his stance on stalwart shanks,
Fell face as the fire, and free of his speech;
And he seemèd in sooth (só Gawain thought)
Fit man for a lordship o’er loyal lieges.
He stepped to a chamber and straightway bade choose
A goodly esquire, to escort him and serve,
And there hied at his best henchmen enow
That brought him to a bower, with bedding full noble,
Gay silk hangings with golden hems,
Coverlets full comely of curious patchwork,
Broider’d and edg’d with the bright ermine,
Curtains running on ropes, red gold rings,
Rich tapestries of Tars tent82 on the walls,
And carpets as fair under foot on the floor.
Here was he despoil’d with speeches of mirth
Of his bráwden byrnie of máil and his bright armour.
Then robes full rich his servants him raught
For a change of clothing, to choose as he pleas’d.
Soon as he had drawn one and dress’d it upon him,
A fair-fitting robe with flowing skirts,
Like a picture of spring he seemèd in semblance,
With the robe around him so richly broider’d,
And his gear thereunder so glowing and gay,
That a comelier Knight Chríst never made,
they thought.
Came he from far or near,
Well seemèd that he ought
To be prince without peer
In field where brave men fought.
XXXVII
A chair by the chimney, where charcoal burn’d bright,
Was array’d all ready to rest the good Gawain,
With cushions full costly on coverings of quilt.
Then a merry mantle on the man was cast,
A bléaunt83 of brown, richly embroider’d
And lined full fair with furs of the finest,
And all edg’d with ermine; and the hood with the same.
He sat in that settle in his splendid array,
And warm’d himself well; then the wight’s cheer mended.
Soon was set up on trestles a table well tight
And a clean cloth on it that clear white shone,
A sanap84 and a saler,85 and silveren spoons.
Then he wash’d at his will and went to his meat;
Supper forthwith they seemlily served—
Sews of the daintiest, season’d with skill,
(Double fare as is fitting) and fishes full many,
Some baken in bread, some grill’d on the gledes,86
Or seeth’d, or in stew well savour’d with spice;
And ay sauces they served as that sire might like.
A feast87 he call’d it full freely and oft
In his courtly way, when the courtiers cheer’d him
as friend:
“This penance now, Sir, take
And soon it shall amend.”
Much mirth did Gawain make
For wine to his head did wend.
XXXVIII
Then tried him his host, and touch’d on his travel,
And by questions discreet enquired of his quest,
And he courteously granted he came from the court
Where Arthur the athel the sovranty held,
Ruler most royal of the Round Table,
And that ’twas Gawain himself who among them sat,
Come to that Christmas, as the case had befall’n.
But that lord when he learn’d that the leal man he was,
Loud laugh’d he thereat, he liked it so well;
And all in that household were overjoy’d
That tide to appear in the prince’s presence,
For all prowess and price,88 and all pure knighthood
To his person belong’d, and were prais’d in him ever;
Before all men on earth his honour was highest.
Then softly would each man say to his fellow:
“Now skill shall we see of seemly manners,
And the terms full clean of courteous converse,
What is speed in speech shall we learn unspeer’d,89
Since among us we find this fine father of nurture.90
God has giv’n us his grace in goodliest measure,
Such a guest as Gawain to grant at this tide
When blithe men on bench of His birth shall sit
and sing.
To know of knightly cheer
This beam now shall us bring,
Methinks all that him hear
Shall learn of love-talking.”
XXXIX
When the dinner was done, and the dais risen,
It was near to the night that the time drew nigh,
Chaplains to the chapel chose them the gate,
Rung a festal peal at that festal season,
For the high evensong of the holy tide.
Then the lord his lady led to the service,
(Into a comely closet queenly she enter’d,)
And Gawain full gay graithly them follow’d.
By the lap the lord took him, and led him to seat,
Accosted him couthly91 and call’d him by name,
And said he was the welcomest wight in the world;
From his heart he thank’d him, and they halchèd92 each other,
And full soberly sat while the service lasted.
Then list that lady to look on the knight
And she came from her closet with dames of the court;
She was the fairest of feature, and freshest of teint,93
And the finest of figure of all women on fold;
More lovely
