Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by J. R. R. Tolkien

Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

IV

NOW New Year draws near and the night passes, day comes driving the dark, as ordained by God; but wild weathers of the world awake in the land, clouds cast keenly the cold upon earth with bitter breath from the North biting the naked. Snow comes shivering sharp to shrivel the wild things, the whistling wind whirls from the heights and drives every dale full of drifts very deep. Long the knight listens as he lies in his bed; though he lays down his eyelids, very little he sleeps: at the crow of every cock he recalls well his tryst. Briskly he rose from his bed ere the break of day, for there was light from a lamp that illumined his chamber. He called to his chamberlain, who quickly him answered, and he bade him bring his byrnie and his beast saddle. The man got him up and his gear fetched him, and garbed then Sir Gawain in great array; first he clad him in his clothes to keep out the cold, and after that in his harness that with heed had been tended, both his pauncer and his plates polished all brightly, the rings rid of the rust on his rich byrnie: all was neat as if new, and the knight him

thanked with delight.

He put on every piece

all burnished well and bright;

most gallant from here to Greece

for his courser called the knight.

81While the proudest of his apparel he put on himself:

his coat-armour, with the cognisance of the clear symbol

upon velvet environed with virtuous gems

all bound and braided about it, with broidered seams

and with fine furs lined wondrous fairly within,

yet he overlooked not the lace that the lady had given him;

that Gawain forgot not, of his own good thinking;

when he had belted his brand upon his buxom haunches,

he twined the love-token twice then about him,

and swiftly he swathed it sweetly about his waist,

that girdle of green silk, and gallant it looked

upon the royal red cloth that was rich to behold.

But he wore not for worth nor for wealth this girdle,

not for pride in the pendants, though polished they were,

not though the glittering gold there gleamed at the ends,

but so that himself he might save when suffer he must,

must abide bane without debating it with blade or with

brand of war.

When arrayed the knight so bold

came out before the door,

to all that high household

great thanks he gave once more.

82Now Gringolet was groomed, the great horse and high,

who had been lodged to his liking and loyally tended:

fain to gallop was that gallant horse for his good fettle.

His master to him came and marked well his coat,

and said: ‘Now solemnly myself I swear on my troth

there is a company in this castle that is careful of honour!

Their lord that them leads, may his lot be joyful!

Their beloved lady in life may delight befall her!

If they out of charity thus cherish a guest,

upholding their house in honour, may He them reward

that upholds heaven on high, and all of you too!

And if life a little longer I might lead upon earth,

I would give you some guerdon gladly, were I able.

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