]
[Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,]
[Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,']
[Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;]
[Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return]
[Sidenote H: within a
twelvemonth
and a day.
Gawaine and the Green Knight
is ax, ?at is heue in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,
& I schal bide ?e fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. [Fol. 95.]
If any freke be so felle to fonde ?at I telle,
292 Lepe ly3tly me to, & lach ?is weppen,
I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,
[G] & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on ?is flet,
Elle3 ?ou wyl di3t me ?e dom to dele hym an o?er,
296 barlay;
& 3et gif hym respite,
[H] A twelmonyth & a day;--
Now hy3e, & let se tite
300 Dar any her-inne o3t say."
[Sidenote A: "I seek no fight," says the knight.]
[Sidenote B: "'Here are only beardless children.']
[Sidenote C: Here is no man to match me.
]
[Sidenote D: Here are brave ones many,]
[Sidenote E: if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,']
[Sidenote F: this axe shall be his;]
[Sidenote G: but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return]
[Sidenote H: within a
twelvemonth
and a day.
"]
[Footnote 1: MS. fo.]
XIV.
[A] If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were ?anne
Alle ?e hered-men in halle, ?e hy3 & ?e lo3e;
[B] ?e renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel,
304 & runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute,
[C] Bende his bresed bro3e3, bly-cande grene,
[D] Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse.
When non wolde kepe hym with carp he co3ed ful hy3e,
308 Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ry3t hym to speke:
[E] "What, is ?is Ar?ures hous," quod ?e ha?el ?enne,
"?
