To be yarely yielded on New Year's morning. As the Knight of the Green Chapel, I am known to many;

Thou shalt not fail to find me if faithfully thou triest;

Therefore come or coward to be called shall behoove thee."

With reckless roughness the reins he twitches, Hurls out of the hall-door, his head in his hand, So that fire from the flint flew from his steed's hoofs.

To what region he rode none could say rightly, 460 Any more than they wist by what way he had come.

What then?

17

or

dismay

therefore 16 18 sudden noise 19 rushed 20 flew 21 from the horse's hoofs 22 to

35 suitable

vel 40

deny

36

playing

nevertheless

34

now and then address 39

38 37 food

mar

He glanced at Sir Gawain and graciously said he,

"Now, sir, hang up thine axe, it has had enough hewing."

And it was hung on high behind the dais, Where all men for a marvel might look upon it

And take it as true witness when they told of the wonder. 480 Then they turned to the table, these two lords together,

The king and the good knight; and gentle squires served them

Of all dainties double that were to them dearest

With all manner of meat and minstrelsy alse; With all delights did they deal until that day ended

In land.

Now think well, Sir Gawain, That thou hast taken in hand The adventure to maintain, Whatever may withstand.

490

A radiant pearl for royal array
Clean to enclose in gold so clear;
Out of the Orient, I boldly say,
Found have I never her precious peer,
So pure, so perfect at each assay,
So small, so smooth that blissful sphere;
Wherever I judged of jewels gay,

I set her apart as the prize most dear.
Alas! in an arbor I lost her here,
Slipping through grass to earth, I wot;
I pine, cut off from the loving cheer
Of my own pearl without a spot.

12

22 an ar

20 alone in uniqueness respect bor departed I pine away, deprived of the 26 5 since love-dominion wishing weal was formerly to remove

29

27

28

12

50

Bifore that spot my honde I spennd,"
For care ful colde that to me caght; 13
A denely dele in my herte denned,14
Thagh resoun sette my selven saght.15
I playned 16 my perle that ther wacz spenned,17
Wyth fyrte skyllez 18 that faste faght; 19
Thagh kynde of Kryst me comfort kenned,20
My wreched wylle in wo ay wraghte."
I felle upon that floury flaght;
Suche odour to my hernez 23 schot,
I slode upon a slepyng-slaghte
On that precios perle withouten spot.

22

24

25

160

More mervayle con my dom adaunt;
I segh 26 by-yonde that myry mere
A crystal clyffe ful relusaunt,28
Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere;
At the fote thereof ther sete a faunt,30
A mayden of menske, ful debonere,
Blysnande whyte wacz hyr bleaunt;
I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere.
As glysnande golde that man con
schere 3+

33

32

And brought me comfort, my spirit to heal, That now is oppressed with passions strong Till all my senses whirl and reel.

Yet me-thought was never so sweet a song As the quiet hour to me let steal;

20

Many strange fancies did it reveal To think that her fairness earth should clot!

O grave, the rarest of gems thou dost seal, My own dear pearl without a spot.

V

50

Before that spot my hands I spread,
For care full cold that me had caught;
In my heart dark sorrow made its bed,
Though reason reconciled my thought.
I prayed for my pearl that thence had sped,
With timid pleas, and fast they fought;
Though the godhead of Christ me comforted,
My wretched will in woe still wrought.

A bed among the flowers I sought;
Such fragrance pierced my brain, I wot,
Me into a sleep of dreams it brought
Of that precious pearl without a spot.

XXI

"O Pearl," quoth I, "with pearls bedight, 241
Art thou my pearl that I still mourn,
Regretted by me alone at night?
With longing for thee am I outworn;
Since in the grass thou wert lost to sight,
Pensive and pining am I forlorn,
And thou, in a life of glad delight,
Strife-free, dost Paradise adorn.

What Weird hath hither my jewel
borne,

Me here in sorrow and stress to find?
I have been, since we apart were
torn,

A joyless jeweler 'mid my kind." 252