Chapter XVII

Þen comaunded þe kyng þe kny3t for to ryse; [Fol. 96.]
& he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,
368 [A] Kneled doun bifore þe kyng, & cache3 þat weppen;
& he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,
& gef hym godde3 blessyng, & gladly hym biddes
[B] Þat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boþe.
372 "Kepe þe cosyn," quod þe kyng, "þat þou on kyrf sette,
& if þou rede3 hym ry3t, redly I trowe,
Þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after.
Gawan got3 to þe gome, with giserne in honde,
376 & he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neuer þe helder
[C] Þen carppe3 to sir Gawan þe kny3t in þe grene,
"Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe.
Fyrst I eþe þe, haþel, how þat þou hattes,
380 Þat þou me telle truly, as I tryst may?"
[D] "In god fayth," quod þe goode kny3t, "Gawan I hatte,
Þat bede þe þis buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 after,
& at þis tyme twelmonyth take at þe anoþer,
384 Wyth what weppen so[1] þou wylt, & wyth no wy3 elle3,
on lyue."
Þat oþer on-sware3 agayn,
"Sir Gawan, so mot I þryue,
388 [E] As I am ferly fayn.
Þis dint þat þou schal dryue."

[Sidenote A: The king gives his nephew his weapon,] [Sidenote B: and tells him to keep heart and hand steady.] [Sidenote C: The Green Knight enquires the name of his opponent.] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne tells him his name, and declares that he is willing to give and receive a blow.] [Sidenote E: The other thereof is glad.] [Footnote 1: MS. fo.]