" says the Green Knight,]
[Sidenote B: "as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel']
[Sidenote C: Thou knowest the
covenant
between us,]
[Sidenote D: that on New Year's day I should return thy blow]
[Sidenote E: Here we are alone,]
[Sidenote F: Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once.
Gawaine and the Green Knight
en I ?e bede ?enne,
"When ?ou wypped of my hede at a wap one."
[G] "Nay, bi God," quod Gawayn, "?at me gost lante,
I schal gruch ?e no grwe, for grem ?at falle3;
2252 Botsty3tel ?e vpon on strok, & I schal stonde stylle,
& warp ?e no wernyng, to worch as ?e lyke3,
no whare."
[H] He lened with ?e nek, & lutte,
2256 & schewed ?at schyre al bare,
& lette as he no3t dutte,
[I] For drede he wolde not dare.
[Sidenote A: "God preserve thee!
" says the Green Knight,]
[Sidenote B: "as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel']
[Sidenote C: Thou knowest the
covenant
between us,]
[Sidenote D: that on New Year's day I should return thy blow]
[Sidenote E: Here we are alone,]
[Sidenote F: Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once.
"]
[Sidenote G: "By God," quoth Sir Gawayne, "I shall not begrudge thee thy
will."]
[Sidenote H: Then he shows his bare neck,]
[Sidenote I: and appears undaunted.]
[Footnote 1: welcon, in MS.]
[Footnote 2: truee in MS.]
[Footnote 3: MS. ?y ?y.]
XII.
[A] Then ?e gome in ?e grene gray?ed hym swy?e,
2260 Gedere3 yp hys grymme tole, Gawayn to smyte;
[B] With alle ?e bur in his body he ber hit on lofte,
Munt as ma3tyly, as marre hym he wolde;
Hade hit dryuen adoun, as dre3 as he atled,
2264 ?
