Hit payed 10 hym not that I so flonc "1
Over mervelous merez,12 so mad arayed;
Of raas 13
thagh I were rasch and ronk,"
Yet rapely 15 ther-inne I wacz restayed;
For ryght as I sparred un-to the bonc,
That bratthe 16 out of my drem me brayde;
Then wakned I in that erber wlonk,18
My hede upon that hylle wacz layde

Ther as my perle to grounde strayd;
I raxled 19 and fel in gret affray,20
And sykyng to myself I sayd: -
"Now al be to that pryncez paye."

17

1171

1

In a swoghe sylence 1 thurgh the sale 2 riche; As3 al were slypped upon slepe, so slaked horgh lotez1

Thenn Arthour bifore the high dece 10 that aventure "byholdez,12 250

12

P

hyghe syttes,

24

To wone 21 any quyle 22 in this won,23 hit wacz not
myn ernde;
Bot for 25 the los 20 of the lede 27 is lyft up so hyghe,
And thy burgh and thy burnes 28 best ar holden,
Stifest under stel-gere 29 on stedes to ryde,

260

The wyghtest 30 and the worthyest of the worldes kynde,

34

Preve 31 for to play wyth in other pure laykez; " And here is kydde 33 cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, And that hacz wayned 35 me hider, iwys, at this tyme.

37

Ye may be seker 3 bi this braunch that I bere here,
That I passe as in pes, and no plyght seche;
For, had I founded 38 in fere, in feghtyng wyse,

44

I have a hauberghe 39 at home and a helme " bothe,
A schelde, and a scharp spere, schinande bryght,
Ande other weppenes to welde," I wene wel als.
Bot for 25 I wolde no were,43 my wedez " ar softer.
Bot if thou be so bold as alle burnez 28 tellen, 272
Thou wyl grant me godly 45 the gomen
46 that I ask,
Bi ryght."
Arthour con onsware,17

And sayd, "Syr cortays knyght,
If thou crave batayl bare,

Here faylez thou not to fyght."

1 in a death-like silence hall as if so slackened their actions suddenly fear but let him to whom all should bow (= Arthur)' 8 speak man 10 dais 11 happening 12 observes courteously greeted him 14 afraid 15 indeed 16 house 17 I am called graciously 19 remain 20 know dwell 23 place 24 errand 25 because 26 fame 27 people 28 knights 29 steel-gear, armor 32 fine sports 33 shown 34 declare 37 seek no danger

41 wield

38

21

while

39 stoutest 31 proven

35 has drawn 36 sure 39 hauberk come 40 helmet war 44 garments 45 graciously

43 42 also

46 pleasure

47 answered

12

8

470

He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hyghe To the comlych Quene, wyth cortays speche, "Dere dame, to-day demay' yow never; Wel bycommes 10 such craft upon Cristmasse, Laykyng" of enterludez, to laghe and to syng Among thise kynde 13 caroles of knyghtez and ladyez; Never-the-lece1 to my mete 15 I may me wel dres, 18 For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake." 18 He glent 19 upon Syr Gawen, and gaynly 20 he sayde, "Now, syr, heng up thyn ax, that hacz innogh hewen."

And hit wacz don 21 abof the dece, on doser henge,

22

16

to

Sche wolde make ayeinward1 newe.
And sche, that was toward him trewe,
Behihte him that sche wolde it do
Whan that sche time sawh3 therto.
Bot what sche dede in that matiere
It is a wonder thing to hiere,

Bot yit for the novellerie "
I thenke tellen a partie."

Thus it befell upon a nyht

Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,'
Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,
And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
The world was stille on every side;
With open 10 hed and fot al bare,
Hir her tosprad," sche gan to fare;
Upon hir clothes gert 12 sche was;
Al specheles and 13 on the gras
Sche glodforth as an addre doth -
Non otherwise sche ne goth-
Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,
And there a while sche withstod.15
Thries sche torned hire aboute,
And thries ek sche gan doun loute 18
And in the flod sche wette hir her,
And thries on the water ther
Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge 17 onde,18
And tho 19 sche tok hir speche on honde.
Ferst sche began to clepe 20 and calle
Upward unto the sterres alle,

17

24

To Wynd, to Air, to See, to Lond
Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond
To Echates,21 and gan to crie,
Which is goddesse of sorcerie.
Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede,
And as ye maden me to spede,22
Whan Jason cam the Flees 23 to seche,
So help me nou, I you beseche."
With that sche loketh and was war,2
Doun fro the sky ther cam a char,25
The which dragouns aboute drowe.
And tho 19 sche gan hir hed doun bowe,
And up sche styh,20 and faire and wel
Sche drof forth bothe char and whel
Above in thair
among the skyes.28
The lond of Crete and tho parties
Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,30
And there upon the hulles " hyhe

27

3

31

29

3950

3960

3970

3980

3991

1 again 2 promised saw 4 bat 6 novelty part 7 starlight as it pleased her 9 at the 10 uncovered 11 he hair unbound 12 girded 13 Gower often gives and a strange position in the sentence; we should place it before al. glided 15 stood still 16 bow 17 troubling 18 breath 19 then 20 cry 21 Hecate 22 succeed 23 fleece 25 chariot 26 rose 27 the air 28 clouds 29 those 30 hasten 31 hills

24

aware

parts