Sir Gawain And The Green Knight, Part Three

Join Sir Gawain as his stay at the castle of his mysterious host unfolds. Before he can go on his way to meet the Green Knight, he is tempted by the host's beautiful wife. Will he betray his host or will he pass the test?

TRIGGER WARNING: in common with other chivalric stories from King Arthur's court, this story contains hunting scenes. Please don't listen if you think this might upset you.

Transcript

Hello there,

It's Mandy here again.

Welcome back to the world of the Gawain poet and the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Hopefully you're sitting or lying comfortably and if so,

We'll begin.

Part Three.

Until early,

Air daylight,

The folk rose up.

The guests who would depart called their grooms and they made them ready and saddled the steeds,

Tightened up the girths and trussed up their mails.

The knights,

All arrayed for riding,

Leapt up lightly and took their bridles and each rode his way as pleased him best.

The lord of the land was not the last.

Ready for the chase,

With many of his men,

He ate a sop hastily when he had heard mass and then,

With blast of the bugle,

Fared forth to the field.

He and his nobles were to horse ere their daylight glimmered upon the earth.

And then the huntsmen coupled their hounds,

Unclosed the kennel door and called them out.

They blew three blasts gaily on the bugles,

The hounds bade fiercely and they that would go hunting checked and chastised them.

A hundred hunters there were,

Of the best,

So I have heard tell.

Then the trackers gapped them to the twisting place and uncoupled the hounds and the forest rang again with their gay blasts.

At the first sound of the hunt,

The game quaked for fear and fled trembling along the vale.

They betook them to the heights but the liars in wait turned them back with loud cries.

The hearts they let pass them and the stags with their spreading antlers,

For the lord had forbidden that they should be slain.

But the hinds and the does they turned back and drove down into the valleys.

Then might she see much shooting of arrows.

As the deer fled under the boughs a broad whistling shaft smote and wounded each sorely,

So that wounded and bleeding they fell dying on the banks.

The hounds followed swiftly on their tracks and hunters blowing the horn sped after them with ringing shouts that well nigh burst the cliffs asunder.

What game escaped those that shot was run down at the outer ring.

Thus they were driven on the hills and harassed at the waters.

So well did the men know all their work and the greyhounds were so great and swift that they ran them down as fast as the hunters could slay them.

Thus the Lord passed the day in mirth and joyfulness even to nightfall.

So the Lord roamed the woods and Gawain that good night lay ever abed,

Curtained about under the costly coverlet while the daylight gleamed on the walls.

And as he lay half slumbering he heard a little sound at the door and he raised his head and caught back a corner of the curtain and waited to see what it might be.

It was the lovely lady,

The Lord's wife.

She shut the door softly behind her and turned towards the bed and Gawain laid him down softly and made as if he slept.

And she came lightly to the bedside within the curtain and sat herself down beside him to wait until he wakened.

The night lay there a while and marvelled within himself what her coming might betoken and he said to himself,

To a more seemly if I asked her what hath brought her hither.

So he made faint to waken and turned towards her and opened his eyes as one astonished and crossed himself and she looked on him laughing with her cheeks red and white lovely to behold.

Good morrow Sir Gawain said that fair lady.

Ye are but a careless sleeper since one can enter thus.

Now are ye taken unawares and lest ye escape me I shall bind you in your bed of that be ye assured.

Laughing she spake these words.

Good morrow fair lady,

Quoth Gawain blithely.

I will do your will as it likes me well.

For I yield me readily and pray your grace and that is best by my faith since I need must do so.

Thus he gested again laughing.

But only would fair lady grant me this grace that ye pray your prisoner to rise.

I would get me from bed and array me better then could I talk with ye in more comfort.

Nay forsooth fair sir,

Quoth the lady.

Ye shall not rise I will read ye.

Better I shall keep ye here since ye can do no other and talk with my knight whom I have captured.

For I know well that ye are Sir Gawain whom all the world worships where so ever ye may ride.

Your honour and your courtesy are praised by lords and ladies by all who live.

Now ye are here and we are alone.

My lord and his men are afield,

The serving men in their beds and my maidens also and the door shut upon us.

And since in this hour I have him that all men love I shall use my time well with speech while it lasts.

Ye are welcome to my company for it behoves me and sooth to be your servant.

In good faith,

Quoth Gawain,

I think me that I am not he of whom ye speak for unworthy am I of such service as ye here proffer.

In sooth I were glad if I might set myself by word or service to your pleasure.

A pure joy would it be to me.

In good faith Sir Gawain,

Quoth the gay lady,

The praise and the prowess that pleases all ladies I lack them not nor hold them light.

Yet are there ladies enough who would leave and now have the knight in their hold as I have ye here to dally with your courteous words to bring them comfort and to ease their cares than much of the treasure and the gold that are theirs.

And now through the grace of him who upholds the heavens I have wholly in my power that which they all desire.

Thus the lady fair to look upon made him great cheer and Sir Gawain with modest words answered her again.

Madam,

He quoth,

May Mary requite ye for in good faith I have found in ye a noble frankness.

Much courtesy have other folk shown me but the honour they have done me is naught to the worship of yourself who knoweth but good.

By Mary,

Quoth the lady,

I think otherwise for were I worth all the women alive and had I the wealth of the world in my hand and might choose me a lord to my liking then for all that I have seen in ye Sir Knight of beauty and courtesy and blithe semblance and for all that I have hearkened and hold for true there should be no knight on earth to be chosen before ye.

Well I what,

Quoth Sir Gawain,

That ye have chosen a better.

But I'm proud that ye should so prize me and as your servant do I hold you my sovereign and your knight am I and may Christ reward ye.

And so they talked of many matters till mid-morn was past and ever the lady showed her love to him and the knight turned her speech aside for though she were the brightest of maidens yet had he forborn to show her love for the danger that awaited him and the blow that must be given without delay.

Then the lady prayed her leave from him and he granted it readily and she gave him good day with laughing glance but he must need marvel at her words.

Now he that speeds fair speech reward ye this disport but that ye be Gawain my mind misdoubts me greatly.

Wherefore,

Quoth the knight quickly fearing lest he had lacked in some courtesy and the lady spake so true a knight as Gawain is holden and one so perfect in courtesy would never have tarried so long with the lady but he would of his courtesy have craved a kiss at parting.

Then quoth Gawain I what I will do even as it may please ye and kiss at your commandment as a true knight should do who forbears to ask for fear of displeasure.

At that she came near and bent down and kissed the knight and each commended the other to Christ and she went forth from the chamber softly.

Then Sir Gawain arose and called his chamberlain and chose his garments and when he was ready he got him forth to mass and then went to meet and made merry all day till the rising of the moon and never had a night fairer lodging than he had with those two noble ladies the older and the younger.

And ever the lord of the land chased the hinds through halt and heath till even tide and then with much blowing of bugles and baying of hounds they bore the game homeward and by the time daylight was done all the folk had returned to that fair castle and when the lord and Sir Gawain met together then were they both well pleased.

The lord commanded them all to assemble in the great hall and the ladies to descend with their maidens and there before them all he bade the men fetch in the spoil of the day's hunting and he called unto Gawain and counted the tail of the beasts and showed them unto him and said what think ye of this game sir knight have I deserved of ye thanks for my woodcraft.

Yay I wiss quote the other here is the fairest spoil I have seen this seven year in the winter season and all this do I give ye Gawain quote the host for by accord of covenant ye may claim it as your own.

That is sooth quote the other I grant you that and I have fairly won this within walls and with as good will do I yield it to ye with that he clasped his hands round the lord's neck and kissed him as courteously as he might take ye here my spoils no more have I won ye should have it freely though it were greater than this tis good said the host grah mercy thereof yet were I fain to know where ye won this same favour and if it were by your own wit nay answered Gawain that was not in the bond ask me no more ye have taken what was yours by right be content with that.

They laughed and jested together and sat them down to supper where they were served with many dainties and after supper they sat by the hearth and wine was served out to them and often their jesting they promised to observe on the morrow the same covenant that they had made before and whatever chance might be tied to exchange their spoil be it much or little when they met at night thus they renewed their bargain before the whole court and then the night's drink was served and each courteously took leave of the other and got him to bed by the time the cock had crowed thrice the lord of the castle had left his bed mass was sung and meat fitly served the folk were forth to the wood air the daybreak with hound and horn they rode over the plain and uncoupled their dogs among the thorns soon they struck on the scent and the hunt cheered on the hounds who were first to seize it urging them with shouts the others hastened to the cry 40 at once and there rose such a clamour from the pack that the rocks rang again the huntsman followed hard after with shouting and blasts on the horn and the hounds drew together to a thicket betwixt the water and a high crag in the cliff beneath the hillside as the rough rocks were ill for riding the huntsman sprang to earth and hastened on foot and cast about round the hill and the thicket the knights whisked well what beast was within and would drive him forth with the blood hounds and as they beat the bushes suddenly over the beaters there rushed forth a wondrous great and fierce boar long since had he left the herd to roam by himself grunting he cast many to the ground and fled forth at his best speed without more mischief the men hallooed loudly and cried hey hey and blew the horns to urge on the hounds and rode swiftly after the boar many a time did he turn to bay and tear the hounds and they yelped and howled shrilly then the men made ready their arrows and shot at him but the points were turned on his thick hide and the barbs would not bite upon him for the shafts shivered in pieces and the head but leapt again wherever it hit but when the boar felt the stroke of the arrows he waxed mad with rage and turned on the hunters and tear many so that affrighted they fled before him but the lord on a swift steed pursued him blowing his bugle as a gallant knight he rode through the woodland chasing the ball till the sun grew low so did the hunters this day while sir gawain lay in his bed lapped in rich gear and the lady forgot not to salute him for early was she at his side to cheer his mood she came to the bedside and looked on the night and gawain gave her fit greeting and she greeted him again with ready words and sat by his side and laughed and with a sweet look she spoke to him sir if ye be gawain i think it a wonder that ye be so stern and cold and care not for the courtesies of friendship but if one teach ye to know them ye cast the lesson out of your mind ye have soon forgotten what i taught ye yesterday by all the truest tokens that i knew what is that growth the night i trow i know not if it be soothed that he say then is the blame mine own but i taught you of kissing quote the fair lady wherever a fair countenance is shown him it behoves a courteous knight quickly to claim a kiss nay my dear said sir gawain cease that speech that durst i not do lest i were denied for if i were forbidden i what i were wrong did i further entreat in faith quote the lady merrily ye may not be forbid ye are strong enough to constrain by strength and ye will were any so discourteous as to give you denial yea by heaven said gawain ye speak well but threats profit little in the land where i dwell and so with a gift that is given not of goodwill i am at your commandment to kiss ye when ye like to take or to leave as he list then the lady bent down and kissed him courteously and as they spake together she said i would learn somewhat from ye and ye would not be wroth for young ye are and fair and so courteous and nightly as ye are known to be the head of all chivalry and versed in all wisdom of love and war it is ever told of true knights how they adventured their lives for their true love and endured hardships for her favours and avenged her with valour and eased her sorrows and brought joy to her bower and ye are the fairest knight of your time and your fame and your honour are everywhere yet i have sat by ye here twice and never a word have heard of love ye who are so courteous and skilled in such law ought surely to teach one so young and unskilled some little craft of true love why are you so unlearned who art otherwise so famous or is it that you deem me unworthy to hearken to your teaching for shame sir knight i come hither alone and sit at your side to learn of ye some skill teach me of your wit while my lord is from house in good faith quoth goane great is my joy and my prophet that so fair a lady as ye are should deign to come hither and trouble ye with so poor a man and make sport with your knight with kindly countenance it pleaseth me much but that i in my turn should take it upon me to tell of love and such like matters to ye who know more by half or a hundredfold of such craft than i do or ever shall in all my lifetime by my troth to a folly indeed i will work your will to the best of my might as i am bounden and evermore will i be your servant so help me christ then often with guile she questioned that night that she might win him to woo her but he defended himself so fairly that none might in any wise blame him and naught but bliss and harmless jesting was there between them they laughed and talked together till at last she kissed him and craved her leave of him and went her way then the night arose and went forth to mass and afterward dinner was served and he sat and spake with the ladies all day but the lord of the castle rode ever over the land chasing the wild boar that fled through the thickets slaying the best of his hounds and breaking their backs in sunder till at last he was so weary he might run no longer but made for a hole in a mound by a rock he got the mound at his back and faced the hounds wetting his white tusks and foaming at the mouth the huntsman stood aloof fearing to draw nigh him so many of them had already been wounded that they were loath to be torn with his tusks so fierce he was and mad with rage at length the lord himself came up and saw the beast at bay and the men standing aloof then quickly he sprang to the ground and drew out a bright blade and waded through the stream to the ball when the beast was ware of the night with weapon in hand he set up his bristles and snorted loudly and many feared for their lord lest he should be slain then the boar leapt upon the night so that beast and man were one atop of the other in the water but the boar had the worst of it for the man had marked even as he sprang and set the point of his brand to the beast's chest and drove it up to the hilt so that the heart was split in twain and the boar fell snarling and was swept down by the water to where a hundred hounds seized on him and the men drew him to shore for the dogs to slay then was there loud blowing of horns and baying of hounds the huntsman smote off the bull's head and hung the carcass by the full feet to a stout pole and so went on their way homewards the head they bore before the lord himself who had slain the beast by force of his strong hand it seemed him or a long air he saw gawain in the hall and he blew a blast on his horn to let all men know that he was come again to take his part in the covenant and when he saw gawain the lord laughed aloud and bad them call the ladies and the household together and he showed them the game and told them the tale how they had hunted the wild bull through the woods and of his length and breadth and height and sir going commended his deeds and praised him for his valor well proven for so mighty a beast had he never seen before then they handled the huge head and the lord said aloud now going this game is your own by sure covenant as you write well no to soothe quote the knight and as truly will i give ye all i have gained he took the host round the neck and kissed him courteously twice now are we quits he said this even tide of all the covenants that we made since i came hither and the lord answered by saint giles ye are the best i know ye will be rich in a short space if you drive such bargains then they set up the tables on trestles and covered them with fair cloths and lit wax and tapers on the walls the night sat and was served in the hall and much game and glee was there around the hearth with many songs both at supper and after songs of christmas and new carols with all the mirth one may think of and ever that lovely lady sat by the night and with still stolen looks made such faint of pleasing him that goane marveled much and was wroth with himself but he could not for his courtesy return her fair glances but dealt with her cunningly however she might strive to rest the thing when they had tarried in the hall so long as it seemed them good they turned to the inner chamber and the wide hearth place and there they drank wine and the host proffered to renew the covenant for new year's eve but the knight craved leave to depart on the morrow for it was nigh to the term when he must fulfill his pledge but the lord would withhold him from so doing and prayed him to tarry and said as i am a true knight i swear my truth that he shall come to the green chapel to achieve your task on new year's morn long before prime therefore abide ye in your bed and i will hunt in this wood and hold ye to the covenant to exchange with me against all the spoil i may bring hither for twice have i tried ye and found ye true and the morrow shall be the third time and the best make we marry now while we may and think on joy for misfortune may take a man whensoever it wills goane granted his request and they brought them drink and they got them with lights to bed so going lay and slept softly but the lord who was keen on woodcraft was a foot early after mass he and his men at a morsel and he asked for his steed all the knights who should ride with him were already mounted before the hall gates it was a fair frosty morning for the sun rose red in ruddy vapour and the well kin was clear of clouds the hunters scattered them by a forest side and the rocks rang again with the blast of their horns some came on the scent of a fox and a hound gave tongue the huntsman shouted and the pack followed in a crowd on the trail the fox ran before them and when they saw him they pursued him with noise and much shouting and he wound and turned through many a thick grove often cowering and hearkening in a hedge at last by a little ditch he leapt out of a spinny stole away slyly by a cop's path and so out of the wood and away from the hounds but he went there he whisked to a chosen tryst and three started forth on him at once so he must needs double back and betake him to the wood again then was it joyful to hearken to the hounds when all the pack had met together and had sight of their game they made as loud a din as if all the lofty cliffs had fallen clattering together the huntsman shouted and threatened and followed close upon him so that he might scarce escape the drainard was wily and he turned and doubled upon them and led the lord and his men over the hills now on the slopes now in the vales while the knight at home slept through the cold morning beneath his costly curtains but the fair lady of the castle rose betimes and clad herself in a rich mantle that reached even to the ground and was bordered and lined with costly furs on her head she wore no golden circlet but a network of precious stones that gleamed and shone through her tresses in clusters of 20 together thus she came into the chamber and set open a window and called to him gaily sir knight how may ye sleep the morning is so fair sir gawain was deep in slumber and is in his dream he vexed him much for the destiny that should befall him on the morrow when he should meet the knight at the green chapel and abide his blow but when the lady spake he heard her and came to himself and roused from his dream and answered swiftly the lady came laughing and kissed him courteously and he welcomed her fittingly with the cheerful countenance he saw her so glorious and gaily dressed so faultless of features and complexion that it warmed his heart to look upon her they spake to each other smiling and all was bliss and good cheer between them they exchanged fair words and much happiness was therein yet was there a gulf between them and she might win no more of her night for that gallant prince watched well his words he would neither take her love nor frankly refuse it he cared for his courtesy lest he be deemed churlish but yet more for his honour lest he be traitor to his host god forbid quoth he to himself that it should so befall thus with courteous words did he set aside all the special speeches that came from her lips then spake the lady to the knight ye deserve blame if ye hold not that lady who sits beside ye above all else in the world if ye have not already a love whom ye hold dearer and like better and have sworn such firm faith to that lady that ye care not to lose it as i scarce may believe and now i pray ye straightly that ye tell me that in truth and hide it not and the knight answered by saint john and he smiled as he spake no such love have i nor do i think to have yet a while that is the worst word i may hear quote the lady but in sooth i have mine answer kiss me now courteously and i will go hence i can but mourn as a maiden that loves much sighing she stooped down and kissed him and then she rose up and spake as she stood now dear at our parting do me this grace give me some gift if it were but thy glove that i may bethink me of my night and lessen my mourning now i wish quote the knight i would that i had here but the least thing that i possess on earth that i might leave you as a love token great or small for you have deserved for sooth more reward than i might give you but it is not your honor to have at this time a glove for reward as gift from gawain and i am here on a strange errand and have no man with me nor males with goodly things that mislikes me much lady at this time but each man must fare as he is taken if for sorrow and ill nay knight highly honored quote that lovesome lady though i have not of yours yet shall ye have somewhat of mine with that she reached him a ring of red gold with the sparkling stone therein that shone even as the sun which he well it was worth many marks but the knight refused it and spake readily i will take no gift lady at this time i have none to give and none will i take she prayed him to take it but he refused her prayer and swear in sooth that he would not have it the lady was sorely vexed and said if he refused my ring as too costly that he will not be so highly beholden to me i will give you my girdle as a lesser gift with that she loosened a lace that was fastened at her side knit upon her kirtle under her mantle it was wrought of green silk and gold only braided by the fingers and that she offered to the knight and besought him though it were little worth that he would take it and he said nay he would neither touch gold nor gear ere god give him grace to achieve the adventure for which he had come hither and therefore i pray displease he not and ask me no longer for i may not grant it i am dearly beholden to ye for the favor ye have shown me and ever in heat and cold will i be your true servant now said the lady ye refuse this silk for it is simple in itself and so it seems indeed low it is small to look upon and less in cost but who so knew the virtue that is knit therein he would peradventure value it more highly for whatever knight is girded with this green lace while he bears it knotted about him there is no man under heaven who can overcome him for he may not be slain for any magic on earth then goane bethought him and it came into his heart that this were a jewel for the jeopardy that awaited him when he came to the green chapel to seek the return blow could he so order it that he should escape unslain to a craft worth trying then he bare with her chiding and let her say her say and she pressed the girdle on him and prayed him to take it and he granted her prayer and she gave it him with goodwill and besought him for her sake never to reveal it but to hide it loyally from her lord and the knight agreed that never should any man know it save they too alone he thanked her often and heartily and she kissed him for the third time then she took her leave of him and when she was gone sir goane arose and clad him in rich attire and took the girdle and knotted it around him and hid it beneath his robes then he took his way to the chapel and sought out a priest privily and prayed him to teach him better how his soul might be saved when he should go hence and there he shrived him and showed his misdeeds both great and small and besought mercy and craved absolution and the priest assoiled him and set him as clean as if doomsday had been on the morrow and afterwards sir goane made him merry with the ladies with carols and all kinds of joy as never he did but that one day even to nightfall and all the men marveled at him and said that never since he came thither had he been so merry meanwhile the lord of the castle was abroad chasing the fox a while he lost him and as he rode through a spinny he heard the hounds near at hand and reynard came creeping through a thick grove with all the pack at his heels then the lord drew out his shining brand and cast it at the beast and the fox swerved aside for the sharp edge and would have doubled back but a hound was on him ere he might turn and right before the horse's feet they all fell on him and worried him fiercely snarling the while then the lord leapt from his saddle and caught the fox from their jaws and held it aloft over his head and hallooed loudly and the hunters hide them hither blowing their horns all that bear bugles blew them at once and all the others shouted towards the merriest meeting that ever men heard the clamour that was raised at the death of the fox they rewarded the hounds stroking them and rubbing their heads and took reynard and stripped him of his coat then blowing their horns they turned them homewards for it was nigh nightfall the lord was glad to meet his return and found a bright fire on the hearth and the night beside it the good sir gawain who was in joyous mood for the pleasure he had had with the ladies he wore a robe of blue that reached even to the ground and a surcoat richly furred that became him well a hood like to the surcoat fell on his shoulders and all alike were done about with fur he met the host in the midst of the floor and jesting he greeted him and said now shall i be first to fulfill our covenant which we made together when there was no lack of wine then he embraced the knight and kissed him thrice as solemnly as he might of a soothe quote the other ye have good luck in the matter of this covenant if he made a good exchange yay it matters not of the exchange growth going since what i owe is swiftly paid mary said the other mine is behind for i have hunted all this day and not have i got but this foul fox skin and that is but poor payment for three such kisses as ye have here given me enough quotes are going i thank you by the rude then the lord told them of his hunting and how the fox had been slain with mirth and minstrelsy and dainties at their will they made them as merry as a folk well might tilt was time for them to sever for at last they must need but take them both to their beds then the knight took his leave of the lord and thanked him fairly for the fair sojourn that i have had here at this high feast may the high king give ye honor i give you myself as one of your servants if he so like for i must needs as you know go hence with the morn and he will give me as he promised a guide to show me the way to the green chapel and god will suffer me on new year's day to deal the doom of my weird by my faith quote the host all that i ever promised that shall i keep with goodwill then he gave him a servant to set him in the way and lead him by the downs that he should have no need to ford the stream and should fare by the shortest road through the groves and goane thanked the lord for the honor done him then he would take leave of the ladies and courteously he kissed them and spake praying them to receive his thanks and they made like reply then with many sighs they commended him to christ and he departed courteously from that folk each man that he met he thanked him for his service and his solace and the pains he had been at to do his will and each found it as hard to part from the night as if he had ever dwelt with him then they led him with torches to his chamber and brought him to his bed to rest that he slept soundly i may not say for the morrow gave him much to think on let him rest a while for he was near that which he sought and if he will but listen to me i will tell you how it fared with him thereafter to be continued

Reviews

This was a difficult chapter for me to get through, for reasons that Mandy will understand. I do, however, bestow great worship upon the hound at the end ❤️ for baying up for all the others. ❤️🐾 Thanks Mandy!

I finally had to listen to this all the way through this morning because I kept falling asleep during the night and I really wanted to hear all about the hunt. It's hard to imagine that at, one time, there could have been so much game roving the land that they could set 100 hunters loose with all their hounds slaughtering boar and other game.
And, now I see there was even a seduction at the end. 💕