Chapter XVI

"Wolde 3e, worþilych lorde," quod Gawan to þe kyng,
344 [A] "Bid me bo3e fro þis benche, & stonde by yow þere,
Þat I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde þis table,
& þat my legge lady lyked not ille,
I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche.
348 [B] For me þink hit not semly, as hit is soþ knawen,
Þer such an askyng is heuened so hy3e in your sale,
Þa33e 3our-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen,
[C] Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten,
352 Þat vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle,
Ne better bodyes on bent, þer baret is rered;
[D] I am þe wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest,
& lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes þe soþe,
356 Bot for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse,
No bounté bot your blod I in my bodé knowe;
& syþen þis note is so nys, þat no3t hit yow falles,
& I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde3 hit to me,
360 & if I carp not comlyly, let alle þis cort rych,
bout blame."
[E] Ryche to-geder con roun,
& syþen þay redden alle same,
364 To ryd þe kyng wyth croun,
& gif Gawan þe game.

[Sidenote A: He asks permission to leave the table; he says,] [Sidenote B: it is not meet that Arthur should be active in the matter,] [Sidenote C: while so many bold ones sit upon bench.] [Sidenote D: Although the weakest, he is quite ready to meet the Green Knight.] [Sidenote E: The nobles entreat Arthur to "give Gawayne the game."]