Chapter X

2212 [A] Thenne þe kny3t con calle ful hy3e,
[B] "Who sti3tle3 in þis sted, me steuen to holde?
[C] For now is gode Gawayn goande ry3t here,
If any wy3e o3t wyl wynne hider fast,
2216 Oþer now, oþer neuer, his nede3 to spede."
[D] "Abyde," quod on on þe bonke, abouen ouer his hede,
"& þou schal haf al in hast, þat I þe hy3t ones."
3et he rusched on þat rurde, rapely a þrowe,
2220 & wyth quettyng a-wharf, er he wolde ly3t;
[E] & syþen he keuere3 bi a cragge, & come3 of a hole,
Whyrlande out of a wro, wyth a felle weppen,
[F] A dene3 ax nwe dy3t, þe dynt with [t]o 3elde
2224 With a borelych bytte, bende by þe halme,
Fyled in a fylor, fowre fote large,
Hit wat3 no lasse, bi þat lace þat lemed ful bry3t.
[G] & þe gome in þe erene gered as fyrst,
2228 Boþe þe lyre & þe legge3, lokke3, & berde,
Saue þat fayre on his fote he founde3 on þe erþe,
Sette þe stele to þe stone, & stalked bysyde.
[H] When he wan to þe watter, þer he wade nolde,
2232 He hypped ouer on hys ax, & orpedly stryde3,
Bremly broþe on a bent, þat brode wat3 a-boute,
on snawe.
[I] Sir Gawayn þe kny3t con mete. [Fol. 121.]
2236 He ne lutte hym no þyng lowe,
[J] Þat oþer sayde, "now, sir swete,
Of steuen mon may þe trowe."

[Sidenote A: Then cried he aloud,] [Sidenote B: "Who dwells here discourse with me to hold?"] [Sidenote C: Now is the good Gawayne going aright] [Sidenote D: He hears a voice commanding him to abide where he is.] [Sidenote E: Soon there comes out of a hole, with a fell weapon,] [Sidenote F: a Danish axe, quite new,] [Sidenote G: the "knight in green," clothed as before.] [Sidenote H: When he reaches the stream, he hops over and strides about.] [Sidenote I: He meets Sir Gawayne without obeisance.] [Sidenote J: The other tells him that he is now ready for conversation]