Here bigyns Ywain and Gawain
5                    10                    15                    20                    25                    30                    35                    40                    45                    50                    55                    60                    65                    70                    75                    80                    85                    90                    95                    100                    105                    110                    115                    120                    125                    130                    135                    140                    145                    150                    155                    160                    165                    170                    175                    180                    185                    190                    195                    200                    205                    210                    215                    220                    225                    230                    235                    240                    245                    250                    255                    260                    265                    270                    275                    280                    285                    290                    295                    300                    305                    310                    315                    320                    325                    330                    335                    340                    345                    350                    355                    360                    365                    370                    375                    380                385                    390                    395                    400                    405                    410                    415                    420                    425                    430                    435                    440                    445                    450                    455                    460                    465                    470                    475                    480                    485                    490                    495                    500                    505                    510                    515                    520                    525                    530                    535                    540                    545                    550                    555                    560                    565                    570                    575                    580                    585                    590                    595                    600                    605                    610                    615                    620                    625                    630                    635                    640                    645                    650                    655                    660                    665                    670                    675                    680                    685                    690                    695                    700                    705                    710                    715                    720                    725                    730                    735                    740                    745                    750                    755                    760                    765                    770                    775                    780                    785                    790                    795                    800                    805                    810                    815                    820                    825                    830                    835                    840            nbsp;       845                    850                    855                    860                    865                    870                    875                    880                    885                    890                    895                    900                    905                    910                    915                    920                    925                    930                    935                    940                    945                    950                    955                    960                    965                    970                    975                    980                    985                    990                    995                    1000                    1005                    1010                    1015                    1020                    1025                    1030                    1035                    1040                    1045                    1050                    1055                    1060                    1065                    1070                    1075                    1080                    1085                    1090                    1095                    1100                    1105                    1110                    1115                    1120                    1125                    1130                    1135                    1140                    1145                    1150                    1155                    1160                    1165                    1170                    1175                    1180                    1185                    1190                    1195                    1200                    1205                    1210                    1215                    1220                    1225                    1230                    1235                    1240                    1245                    1250                    1255                    1260                    1265                    1270                    1275                    1280                    1285                    1290                    1295                    1300                    1305                    1310                    1315                    1320                    1325                    1330                    1335                    1340                    1345                    1350                    1355                    1360                    1365                    1370                    1375                    1380                    1385                    1390                    1395                    1400                    1405                    1410                    1415                    1420                    1425                    1430                    1435                    1440                    1445                    1450                    1455                    1460                    1465                    1470                    1475                    1480                    1485                    1490                    1495                    1500                 1505                    1510                    1515                    1520                    1525                    1530                    1535                    1540                    1545                    1550                    1555                    1560                    1565                    1570                    1575                    1580                    1585                    1590                    1595                    1600                    1605                    1610                    1615                    1620                    1625                    1630                    1635                    1640                    1645                    1650                    1655                    1660                    1665                    1670                    1675                    1680                    1685                    1690                    1695                    1700                    1705                    1710                    1715                    1720                    1725                    1730                    1735                    1740                    1745                    1750                    1755                    1760                    1765                    1770                    1775                    1780                    1785                    1790                    1795                    1800                    1805                    1810                    1815                    1820                    1825                    1830                    1835                    1840                    1845                    1850                    1855                    1860                    1865                    1870                    1875                    1880                    1885                    1890                    1895                    1900                    1905                    1910                    1915                    1920                    1925                    1930                    1935                    1940                    1945                    1950                    1955                    1960                    1965                    1970                    1975                    1980                    1985                    1990                    1995                    2000                    2005                    2010                    2015                    2020                    2025                    2030                    2035                    2040                    2045                    2050                    2055                    2060                    2065                    2070                    2075                    2080                    2085                    2090                    2095                    2100                    2105                    2110                    2115                    2120                    2125                    2130                    2135                    2140                    2145                    2150                    2155                    2160                    2165                    2170                    2175                    2180                    2185                    2190                    2195                    2200                    2205                    2210                    2215                    2220                    2225                    2230                    2235                    2240                    2245                    2250                    2255                    2260                    2265                    2270                    2275                    2280                    2285                    2290                    2295                    2300                    2305                    2310                    2315                    2320                    2325                    2330                    2335                    2340                    2345                    2350                    2355                    2360                    2365                    2370                    2375                    2380                    2385                    2390                    2395                    2400                    2405                    2410                    2415                    2420                    2425                    2430                    2435                    2440                    2445                    2450                    2455                    2460                    2465                    2470                    2475                    2480                    2485                    2490                    2495                    2500                    2505                    2510                    2515                    2520                    2525                    2530                    2535                    2540                    2545                    2550                    2555                    2560                    2565                    2570                    2575                   2580                    2585                    2590                    2595                    2600                    2605                    2610                    2615                    2620                    2625                    2630                    2635                    2640                    2645                    2650                    2655                    2660                    2665                    2670                    2675                    2680                    2685                    2690                    2695                    2700                    2705                    2710                    2715                    2720                    2725                    2730                    2735                    2740                    2745                    2750                    2755                    2760                    2765                    2770                    2775                    2780                    2785                    2790                    2795                    2800                    2805                    2810                    2815                    2820                    2825                    2830                    2835                    2840                    2845                    2850                    2855                    2860                    2865                    2870                    2875                    2880                    2885                    2890                    2895                    2900                    2905                    2910                    2915                    2920                    2925                    2930                    2935                    2940                    2945                    2950                    2955                    2960                    2965                    2970                    2975                    2980                    2985                    2990                    2995                    3000                    3005                    3010                    3015                    3020                    3025                    3030                    3035                    3040                    3045                    3050                    3055                    3060                    3065                    3070                    3075                    3080                    3085                    3090                    3095                    3100                    3105                    3110                    3115                    3120                    3125                    3130                    3135                    3140                    3145                    3150                    3155                    3160                    3165                    3170                    3175                    3180                    3185                    3190                    3195                    3200                    3205                    3210                    3215                    3220                    3225                    3230                    3235                    3240                    3245                    3250                    3255                    3260                    3265                    3270                    3275                    3280                    3285                    3290                    3295                    3300                    3305                    3310                    3315                    3320                    3325                    3330                    3335                    3340                    3345                    3350                    3355                    3360                    3365                    3370                    3375                    3380                    3385                    3390                    3395                    3400                    3405                    3410                    3415                    3420                    3425                    3430                    3435                    3440                    3445                    3450                    3455                    3460                    3465                    3470                    3475                    3480                    3485                    3490                    3495                    3500                    3505                    3510                    3515                    3520                    3525                    3530                    3535                    3540                    3545                    3550                    3555                    3560                    3565                    3570                    3575                    3580                    3585                    3590                    3595                    3600                    3605                    3610                    3615                    3620                    3625                    3630                    3635                    3640                    3645                    3650                    3655                    3660                    3665                    3670                    3675                    3680                    3685                    3690                    3695                    3700                    3705                    3710                    3715                    3720                    3725                    3730                    3735                    3740                    3745                    3750                    3755                    3760                    3765                    3770                    3775                    3780                    3785                    3790                    3795                    3800                    3805                    3810                    3815                    3820                    3825                    3830                    3835                    3840                    3845                    3850                    3855                    3860                    3865                    3870                    3875                    3880                    3885                    3890                    3895                    3900                    3905                    3910                    3915                    3920                    3925                    3930                    3935                    3940                    3945                    3950                    3955                    3960                    3965                    3970                    3975                    3980                    3985                    3990                    3995                    4000                    4005                    4010                    4015                    4020                    4025                    4030	Almyghti God that made mankyn, He schilde His servandes out of syn And mayntene tham with myght and mayne That herkens Ywayne and Gawayne; Thai war knightes of the Tabyl Rownde, Tharfore listens a lytel stownde.    Arthure, the Kyng of Yngland, That wan al Wales with his hand And al Scotland, als sayes the buke, And mani mo, if men wil luke, Of al knightes he bare the pryse. In werld was none so war ne wise. Trew he was in alkyn thing. Als it byfel to swilk a kyng, He made a feste, the soth to say, Opon the Witsononday At Kerdyf that es in Wales. And efter mete thare in the hales Ful grete and gay was the assemblé Of lordes and ladies of that cuntré, And als of kynghtes war and wyse And damisels of mykel pryse. Ilkane with other made grete gamin And grete solace als thai war samin. Fast thai carped and curtaysly Of dedes of armes and of veneri And of gude knightes that lyfed then, And how men might tham kyndeli ken By doghtines of thaire gude dede On ilka syde, wharesum thai yede - For thai war stif in ilka stowre. And tharfore gat thai grete honowre. Thai tald of more trewth tham bitwene Than now omang men here es sene, For trowth and luf es al bylaft; Men uses now another craft. With worde men makes it trew and stabil, Bot in thaire faith es noght bot fabil; With the mowth men makes it hale, Bot trew trowth es nane in the tale. Tharfore hereof now wil I blyn, Of the Kyng Arthure I wil bygin And of his curtayse cumpany; Thare was the flowre of chevallry. Swilk lose thai wan with speres-horde Over al the werld went the worde.    After mete went the Kyng Into chamber to slepeing, And also went with him the Quene. That byheld thai al bydene, For thai saw tham never so On high dayes to chamber go. Bot sone, when thai war went to slepe, Knyghtes sat the dor to kepe: Sir Dedyne and Sir Segramore, Sir Gawayn and Sir Kay sat thore, And also sat thare Sir Ywaine And Colgrevance of mekyl mayn. This knight that hight Colgrevance, Tald his felows of a chance And of a stowre he had in bene, And al his tale herd the Quene. The chamber dore sho has unshet, And down omang tham scho hir set; Sodainli sho sat down right, Or ani of tham of hir had sight Bot Colgrevance rase up in hy, And thareof had Syr Kay envy, For he was of his tong a skalde, And forto boste was he ful balde. "Ow, Colgrevance," said Sir Kay, "Ful light of lepes has thou bene ay. Thou wenes now that the sal fall Forto be hendest of us all. And the Quene sal understand, That here es none so unkunand Al if thou rase and we sat styll. We ne dyd it for none yll, Ne for no manere of fayntise, Ne us denyd noght forto rise, That we ne had resen had we hyr sene." "Sir Kay, I wote wele," sayd the Quene, "And it war gude thou left swilk sawes And noght despise so thi felawes." "Madame," he said, "by Goddes dome, We ne wist no thing of thi come And if we did noght curtaysly, Takes to no velany. Bot pray ye now this gentil man To tel the tale that he bygan." Colgrevance said to Sir Kay: "Bi grete God that aw this day, Na mare manes me thi flyt Than it war a flies byt. Ful oft wele better men than I Has thou desspised desspytusely. It es ful semeli, als me think, A brok omang men forto stynk. So it fars by the, Syr Kay: Of weked wordes has thou bene ay. And, sen thi wordes er wikked and fell, This time tharto na more I tell, Bot of the thing that I bygan." And sone Sir Kay him answerd than And said ful tite unto the Quene: "Madame, if ye had noght here bene, We sold have herd a selly case; Now let ye us of oure solace. Tharfore, madame, we wald yow pray, That ye cumand him to say And tel forth, als he had tyght." Than answerd that hende knight: "Mi lady es so avyse, That scho wil noght cumand me To tel that towches me to ill; Scho es noght of so weked will." Sir Kai said than ful smertli: "Madame, al hale this cumpani Praies yow hertly now omell, That he his tale forth might tell. If ye wil noght for oure praying, For faith ye aw unto the kyng, Cumandes him his tale to tell, That we mai here how it byfell." Than said the Quene, "Sir Colgrevance, I prai the tak to no grevance This kene karping of Syr Kay; Of weked wordes has he bene ay, So that none may him chastise. Tharfore I prai the, on al wise, That thou let noght for his sawes, At tel to me and thi felawes Al thi tale, how it bytid. For my luf I the pray and byd."    "Sertes, madame, that es me lath Bot for I wil noght mak yow wrath, Yowre cumandment I sal fulfill, If ye wil listen me untill, With hertes and eres understandes; And I sal tel yow swilk tithandes, That ye herd never none slike Reherced in no kynges ryke. Bot word fares als dose the wind, Bot if men it in hert bynd; And, wordes wo so trewly tase, By the eres into the hert it gase, And in the hert thare es the horde And knawing of ilk mans worde.    "Herkens, hende unto my spell. Trofels sal I yow nane tell, Ne lesinges forto ger yow lagh, Bot I sal say right als I sagh. Now als this time sex yere I rade allane, als ye sal here, Obout forto seke aventurs, Wele armid in gude armurs. In a frith I fand a strete; Ful thik and hard, I you bihete, With thornes, breres, and moni a quyn. Nerehand al day I rade thareyn, And thurgh I past with mekyl payn. Than come I sone into a playn, Whare I gan se a bretise brade, And thederward ful fast I rade. I saw the walles and the dyke, And hertly wele it gan me lyke; And on the drawbrig saw I stand A knight with fawkon on his hand. This ilk knight, that be ye balde, Was lord and keper of that halde. I hailsed him kindly als I kowth; He answerd me mildeli with mowth. Mi sterap toke that hende knight And kindly cumanded me to lyght; His cumandment I did onane, And into hall sone war we tane. He thanked God, that gude man, Sevyn sithes or ever he blan, And the way that me theder broght, And als the aventurs that I soght.    "Thus went we in, God do him mede, And in his hand he led my stede. When we are in that fayre palays - It was ful worthly wroght always - I saw no man of moder born. Bot a burde hang us biforn, Was nowther of yren ne of tre, Ne I ne wist whareof it might be. And by that bord hang a mall. The knyght smate on tharwithal Thrise, and by then might men se Bifore him come a faire menye, Curtayse men in worde and dede. To stabil sone thai led mi stede.    "A damisel come unto me, The semeliest that ever I se, Lufsumer lifed never in land. Hendly scho toke me by the hand, And sone that gentyl creature Al unlaced myne armure. Into a chamber sho me led, And with a mantil scho me cled: It was of purpure faire and fine And the pane of riche ermyne. Al the folk war went us fra, And thare was none than bot we twa. Scho served me hendely to hend: Hir maners might no man amend. Of tong sho was trew and renable And of hir semblant soft and stabile. Ful fain I wald, if that I might, Have woned with that swete wight. And, when we sold go to sopere, That lady with a lufsom chere Led me down into the hall. Thare war we served wele at all; It nedes noght to tel the mese, For wonder wele war we at esse. Byfor me sat the lady bright Curtaisly my mete to dyght; Us wanted nowther baken ne roste. And efter soper sayd myne oste That he cowth noght tel the day That ani knight are with him lay, Or that ani aventures soght. Tharfore he prayed me, if I moght, On al wise, when I come ogayne, That I sold cum to him sertayne. I said, "Sir, gladly, yf I may." It had bene shame have said him nay.    "That night had I ful gude rest And mi stede esed of the best. Alsone als it was dayes lyght, Forth to fare sone was I dyght. Mi leve of mine ost toke I thare And went mi way withowten mare, Aventures forto layt in land. A faire forest sone I fand. Me thoght mi hap thare fel ful hard, For thare was mani a wilde lebard, Lions, beres, bath bul and bare, That rewfully gan rope and rare. Oway I drogh me, and with that I saw sone whare a man sat On a lawnd, the fowlest wight That ever yit man saw in syght. He was a lathly creature, For fowl he was out of mesure; A wonder mace in hand he hade, And sone mi way to him I made. His hevyd, me thoght, was als grete Als of a rowncy or a nete; Unto his belt hang his hare, And efter that byheld I mare. To his forhede byheld I than, Was bradder than twa large span; He had eres als ane olyfant And was wele more than geant. His face was ful brade and flat; His nese was cutted als a cat; His browes war like litel buskes; And his tethe like bare tuskes. A ful grete bulge opon his bak - Thare was noght made withowten lac. His chin was fast until his brest; On his mace he gan him rest. Also it was a wonder wede, That the cherle yn gede; Nowther of wol ne of line Was the wede that he went yn.    "When he me sagh, he stode upright. I frayned him if he wolde fight, For tharto was I in gude will, Bot als a beste than stode he still. I hopid that he no wittes kowth, No reson forto speke with mowth. To him I spak ful hardily And said, 'What ertow, belamy?' He said ogain, 'I am a man.' I said, 'Swilk saw I never nane. What ertow?' alsone said he. I said, 'Swilk als thou here may se.' I said, 'What does thou here allane?' He said, 'I kepe thir bestes ilkane.' I said, 'That es mervaile, think me, For I herd never of man bot the In wildernes ne in forestes, That kepeing had of wilde bestes, Bot thai war bunden fast in halde.' He sayd, 'Of thire es none so balde Nowther by day ne bi night Anes to pas out of mi sight.' I sayd, 'How so? Tel me thi scill.' 'Parfay,' he said, 'gladly I will.' He said, 'In al this faire foreste Es thare none so wilde beste, That remu dar, bot stil stand, When I am to him cumand. Any ay, when that I wil him fang With mi fingers that er strang, I ger him cri on swilk manere, That al the bestes when thai him here, Obout me than cum thai all, And to mi fete fast thai fall, On thaire manere merci to cry. Bot understand now redyli, Olyve es thare lifand no ma Bot I that durst omang tham ga, That he ne sold sone be al torent. Bot thai er at my comandment; To me thai cum when I tham call, And I am maister of tham all.'    "Than he asked onone right, What man I was. I said, 'A knyght That soght aventurs in that land, My body to asai and fande. And I the pray of thi kownsayle, Thou teche me to sum mervayle.' He sayd, 'I can no wonders tell, Bot here bisyde es a well. Wend theder and do als I say; Thou passes noght al quite oway. Folow forth this ilk strete, And sone sum mervayles sal thou mete. The well es under the fairest tre That ever was in this cuntré; By that well hinges a bacyne That es of gold gude and fyne, With a cheyne, trewly to tell, That wil reche into the well. Thare es a chapel nere tharby, That nobil es and ful lufely. By the well standes a stane; Tak the bacyn sone onane And cast on water with thi hand, And sone thou sal se new tithand. A storme sal rise and a tempest Al obout, by est and west; Thou sal here mani thonor-blast Al obout the blawand fast. And thare sal cum slik slete and rayne That unnese sal thou stand ogayne; Of lightnes sal thou se a lowe, Unnethes thou sal thi selven knowe. And if thou pas withowten grevance, Than has thou the fairest chance, That ever yit had any knyght, That theder come to kyth his myght.'    "Than toke I leve and went my way And rade unto the midday. By than I come whare I sold be, I saw the chapel and the tre. Thare I fand the fayrest thorne That ever groued sen God was born. So thik it was with leves grene, Might no rayn cum tharbytwene; And that grenes lastes ay, For no winter dere yt may. I fand the bacyn als he talde, And the wel with water kalde. An amerawd was the stane - Richer saw I never nane - On fowre rubyes on heght standand. Thaire light lasted over al the land, And when I saw that semely syght, It made me bath joyful and lyght. I toke the bacyn sone onane And helt water opon the stane. The weder wex than wonder-blak, And the thoner fast gan crak. Thare come slike stormes of hayl and rayn, Unnethes I might stand thare ogayn; The store windes blew ful lowd, So kene come never are of clowd. I was drevyn with snaw and slete, Unnethes I might stand on my fete. In my face the levening smate, I wend have brent, so was it hate, That weder made me so will of rede, I hopid sone to have my dede; And sertes, if it lang had last, I hope I had never thethin past. Bot thorgh His might that tholed wownd, The storme sesed within a stownde. Than wex the weder fayre ogayne, And thareof was I wonder-fayne; For best comforth of al thing Es solace efter myslikeing.    "Than saw I sone a mery syght: Of al the fowles that er in flyght, Lighted so thik opon that tre, That bogh ne lefe none might I se. So merily than gon thai sing, That al the wode bigan to ring; Ful mery was the melody Of thaire sang and of thaire cry. Thare herd never man none swilk, Bot if ani had herd that ilk. And when that mery dyn was done, Another noyse than herd I sone, Als it war of horsmen Mo than owther nyen or ten.    "Sone than saw I cum a knyght; In riche armurs was he dight, And sone, when I gan on him loke, Mi shelde and spere to me I toke. That knight to me hied ful fast, And kene wordes out gan he cast. He bad that I sold tel him tite, Whi I did him swilk despite, With weders wakened him of rest And done him wrang in his forest. 'Tharfore,' he said, 'thou sal aby!' And with that come he egerly And said I had ogayn resowne Done him grete destrucciowne, And might it never more amend. Tharfore he bad I sold me fend. And sone I smate him on the shelde, Mi schaft brac out in the felde, And than he bare me sone bi strenkith Out of my sadel my speres lenkith. I wate that he was largely By the shuldres mare than I; And bi the ded that I sal thole, Mi stede by his was bot a fole. For mate I lay down on the grownde, So was I stonayd in that stownde. A worde to me wald he noght say, Bot toke my stede and went his way. Ful sarily than thare I sat, For wa I wist noght what was what. With my stede he went in hy The same way that he come by. And I durst folow him no ferr For dout me solde bitide werr. And also yit, by Goddes dome, I ne wist whare he bycome.    "Than I thoght how I had hight Unto myne ost, the hende knyght, And also til his lady bryght, To com ogayn if that I myght. Mine armurs left I thare ilkane, For els myght I noght have gane. Unto myne in I come by day. The hende knight and the fayre may Of my come war thai ful glade, And nobil semblant thai me made. In al thinges thai have tham born Als thai did the night biforn. Sone thai wist whare I had bene, And said that thai had never sene Knyght that ever theder come, Take the way ogayn home. On this wise that tyme I wroght; I fand the folies that I soght."    "Now sekerly," said Sir Ywayne, "Thou ert my cosyn jermayne; Trew luf suld be us bytwene, Als sold bytwyx brether bene. Thou ert a fole at thou ne had are Tald me of this ferly fare, For sertes I sold onone ryght Have venged the of that ilk knyght. So sal I yit, if that I may."    And than als smertly sayed Syr Kay - He karpet to tham wordes grete: "It es sene, now es efter mete, Mare boste es in a pot of wyne Than in a karcas of Saynt Martyne. Arme the smertly, Syr Ywayne, And sone that thou war cumen ogayne; Luke thou fil wele thi panele, And in thi sadel set the wele. And when thou wendes, I the pray, Thi baner wele that thou desplay; And, rede I, or thou wende, Thou tak thi leve at ilka frende. And if it so bytide this nyght, That the in slepe dreche ani wight Or any dremis mak the rad, Turn ogayn and say I bad."    The quene answerd with milde mode And said, "Sir Kay, ertow wode? What the devyl es the withyn, At thi tong may never blyn Thi felows so fowly to shende? Sertes, Sir Kay, thou ert unhende. By Him that for us sufferd pine, Syr, and thi tong war myne I sold bical it tyte of treson, And so might thou do, by gude reson. Thi tong dose the grete dishonowre, And tharefore es it thi traytowre." And than alsone Syr Ywayne Ful hendly answerd ogayne, Al if men sayd hym velany, He karped ay ful curtaysly: "Madame," he said unto the quene, "Thare sold na stryf be us bytwene. Unkowth men wele may he shende That to his felows es so unhende. And als, madame, men says sertayne That, wo so flites or turnes ogayne, He bygins al the melle: So wil I noght it far by me. Lates him say haley his thoght; His wordes greves me right noght."    Als thai war in this spekeing Out of the chamber come the kyng. The barons that war thare, sertayn, Smertly rase thai him ogayne. He bad tham sit down al bydene, And down he set him by the quene. The quene talde him fayre and wele, Als sho kowth, everilka dele Ful apertly al the chance Als it bifel Syr Colgrevance. When sho had talde him how it ferd, And the king hyr tale had herd, He sware by his owyn crowne And his fader sowl Uter Pendragowne, That he sold se that ilk syght By that day thethin a fowretenight, On Saint Johns evyn, the Baptist, That best barn was under Crist. "Swith," he sayd, "wendes with me, Who so wil that wonder se."    The kynges word might noght be hid, Over al the cowrt sone was it kyd; And thare was none so litel page That he ne was fayn of that vayage; And knyghtes and swiers war ful fayne; Mysliked none bot Syr Ywayne. To himself he made grete mane, For he wald have went allane. In hert he had grete myslykyng For the wending of the kyng, Al for he hopid, withowten fayle, That Sir Kay sold ask the batayle, Or els Sir Gawayn, knyght vailant; And owther wald the king grant. Who so it wald first crave Of tham two, sone might it have.    The kynges wil wald he noght bide, Worth of him, what may bityde; Bi him allane he thoght to wend And tak the grace that God wald send. He thoght to be wele on hys way, Or it war passed the thryd day, And to asay if he myght mete With that ilk narow strete With thornes and with breres set, That mens way might lightli let, And also forto fynd the halde, That Sir Colgrevance of talde. The knyght and the mayden meke, The forest fast than wald he seke, And als the karl of Kaymes kyn And the wilde bestes with him, The tre with briddes thare opon, The chapel, the bacyn, and the stone. His thoght wald he tel to no frende, Until he wyst how it wald ende. Than went Ywaine to his yn; His men he fand redy thareyn. Unto a swier gan he say, "Go swith and sadel my palfray, And so thou do my strang stede, And tak with the my best wede. At yone gate I wil outryde; Withowten town I sal the bide. And hy the smertly unto me, For I most make a jorné. Ogain sal thou bring my palfra, And forbede the oght to say. If thou wil any more me se, Lat none wit of my preveté; And if ani man the oght frayn, Luke now lely that thou layn." "Sir," he said, "with ful gude will, Als ye byd, I sal fulfyll. At yowre awyn wil may ye ride, For me ye sal noght be ascryed."    Forth than went Sir Ywayne; He thinkes, or he cum ogayne, To wreke his kosyn at his myght. The squier has his hernays dyght; He did right als his mayster red; His stede, his armurs he him led. When Ywayn was withowten town, Of his palfray lighted he down And dight him right wele in his wede And lepe up on his gude stede. Furth he rade onone right, Until it neghed nere the nyght. He passed many high mowntayne In wildernes and mony a playne, Til he come to that lethir sty, That him byhoved pass by. Than was he seker for to se The wel and the fayre tre. The chapel saw he at the last, And theder hyed he ful fast. More curtaysi and more honowre Fand he with tham in that toure, And mare conforth by monyfalde, Than Colgrevance had him of talde. That night was he herberd thare: So wele was he never are.    At morn he went forth by the strete, And with the cherel sone gan he mete That sold tel to him the way. He sayned him, the soth to say, Twenty sith or ever he blan; Swilk mervayle had he of that man; For he had wonder that nature Myght mak so fowl a creature. Than to the well he rade gude pase, And doun he lighted in that place; And sone the bacyn has he tane And kest water opon the stane; And sone thare wex withowten fayle, Wind and thonor and rayn and haile. When it was sesed, than saw he The fowles light opon the tre; Thai sang ful fayre opon that thorn, Right als thai had done byforn.    And sone he saw cumand a knight Als fast so the fowl in flyght With rude sembland and sterne chere, And hastily he neghed nere. To speke of lufe na time was thare, For aither hated uther ful sare. Togeder smertly gan thai drive, Thaire sheldes sone bigan to ryve, Thaire shaftes cheverd to thaire hand, Bot thai war bath ful wele syttand. Out thai drogh thaire swerdes kene And delt strakes tham bytwene; Al to peces thai hewed thaire sheldes, The culpons flegh out in the feldes. On helmes strake thay so with yre, At ilka strake outbrast the fyre. Aither of tham gude buffettes bede, And nowther wald styr of the stede. Ful kenely thai kyd thaire myght And feyned tham noght forto fight. On thaire hauberkes that men myght ken, The blode out of thaire bodyes ren; Aither on other laid so fast, The batayl might noght lang last. Hauberkes er broken and helmes reven, Stif strakes war thare gyfen; Thai faght on hors stifly always; The batel was wele more to prays. Bot at the last Syr Ywayne On his felow kyd his mayne: So egerly he smate him than, He clefe the helme and the hernpan. The knyght wist he was nere ded; To fle than was his best rede, And fast he fled with al hys mayne, And fast folowd Syr Ywayne. Bot he ne might him overtake, Tharfore grete murning gan he make. He folowd him ful stowtlyk And wald have tane him ded or quik. He folowd him to the ceté; Na man lyfand met he. When thai come to the kastel gate, In he folowd fast thareate. At aither entré was, iwys, Straytly wroght a portculis Shod wele with yren and stele And also grunden wonder wele. Under that than was a swyke, That made Syr Ywain to myslike. His hors fote toched thareon Than fel the portculis onone Bytwyx him and his hinder arsown. Thorgh sadel and stede it smate al down, His spores of his heles it schare; Than had Ywaine murnyng mare. Bot so he wend have passed quite, Than fel the tother bifore als tyte. A faire grace yit fel him swa, Al if it smate his hors in twa And his spors of aither hele, That himself passed so wele.    Bytwene tha gates now es he tane; Tharfore he mase ful mukel mane, And mikel murnyng gan he ma, For the knyght was went him fra. Als he was stoken in that stall, He herd byhind him in a wall A dore opend faire and wele, And thareout come a damysel. Efter hir the dore sho stak, Ful hinde wordes to him sho spak. "Syr," sho said, "by Saint Myghell, Here thou has a febil ostell. Thou mon be ded, es noght at laine, For my lord that thou has slayne. Seker it es that thou him slogh; My lady makes sorow ynogh And al his menye everilkane. Here has thou famen many ane To be thi bane er thai ful balde. Thou brekes noght out of this halde. And, for thai wate thai may noght fayl, Thai wil the sla in playn batayl." He sayd, "Thai ne sal, so God me rede. For al thaire might do me to dede, Ne no handes opon me lay." Sho said, "Na, sertes, if that I may! Al if thou be here straytly stad, Me think thou ert noght ful adrad. And sir," sho said, "on al wise I aw the honore and servyse. I was in message at the king Bifore this time, whils I was ying; I was noght than savese, Als a damysel aght to be. Fro the tyme that I was lyght In cowrt was none so hend knyght, That unto me than walde take hede, Bot thou allane, God do the mede. Grete honore thou did to me, And that sal I now quite the. I wate, if thou be seldom sene, Thou ert the Kyng son Uriene, And thi name es Sir Ywayne. Of me may thou be sertayne. If thou wil my kownsail leve, Thou sal find na man the to greve; I sal lene the here mi ring, Bot yelde it me at myne askyng. When thou ert broght of al thi payn, Yelde it than to me ogayne. Als the bark hilles the tre, Right so sal my ring do the; When thou in hand has the stane, Dere sal thai do the nane; For the stane es of swilk myght, Of the sal men have na syght."    Wit ye wele that Sir Ywayne Of thir wordes was ful fayne. In at the dore sho him led And did him sit opon hir bed. A quylt ful nobil lay thareon, Richer saw he never none. Sho said if he wald any thing, He sold be served at his liking. He said that ete wald he fayn. Sho went and come ful sone ogain; A capon rosted broght sho sone, A clene klath and brede tharone And a pot with riche wine And a pece to fil it yne. He ete and drank with ful gude chere, For tharof had he grete mystere. When he had eten and dronken wele, Grete noyse he herd in the kastele. Thai soght overal him to have slayn, To venge thaire lorde war thai ful bayn Or that the cors in erth was layd. The damysel sone to him sayd, "Now seke thai the fast forto sla, Bot whosoever com or ga, Be thou never the more adred, Ne styr thou noght out of this stede; In this here seke thai wyll, Bot on this bed luke thou be styll, Of tham al mak thou na force. Bot when that thai sal bere the cors Unto the kyrk for to bery, Than sal thou here a sary cry; So sal thai mak a doleful dyn. Than wil thay seke the eft herein; Bot loke thou be of hert lyght, For of the sal thai have no syght. Here sal thou be, mawgré thaire berd, And tharfore be thou noght aferd. Thi famen sal be als the blynd, Both byfor the and byhind, On ilka side sal thou be soght. Now most I ga, bot drede the noght, For I sal do that the es lefe, If al it turn me to mischefe."    When sho come unto the gate, Ful many men fand sho tharate Wele armed, and wald ful fayn Have taken and slane Sir Ywaine. Half his stede thare fand thai That within the gates lay; Bot the knight thare fand thai noght: Than was thare mekil sorow unsoght. Dore ne window was thare nane, Whare he myght oway gane. Thai said he sold thare be laft, Or els he cowth of wechecraft, Or he cowth of nygromancy, Or he had wenges forto fly. Hastily than went thai all And soght him in the maydens hall, In chambers high (es noght at hide), And in solers on ilka side. Sir Ywaine saw ful wele al that, And still opon the bed he sat. Thare was nane that anes mynt Unto the bed at smyte a dynt; Al obout thai smate so fast, That mani of thaire wapins brast. Mekyl sorow thai made ilkane, For thai ne myght wreke thaire lord bane. Thai went oway with dreri chere, And sone thare efter come the bere. A lady folowd white so mylk, In al that land was none swilk; Sho wrang hir fingers, outbrast the blode. For mekyl wa sho was nere wode. Hir fayre hare scho al todrogh, And ful oft fel sho down in swogh; Sho wepe with a ful dreri voice. The hali water and the Croyce Was born bifore the procession; Thare folowd mani a moder son; Bifore the cors rade a knyght On his stede that was ful wight, In his armurs wele arayd, With spere and target gudely grayd. Than Sir Ywayn herd the cry And the dole of that fayre lady; For more sorow myght nane have, Than sho had when he went to grave. Prestes and monkes on thaire wyse Ful solempnly did the servyse. Als Lunet thare stode in the thrang, Until Sir Ywaine thoght hir lang. Out of the thrang the wai sho tase, Unto Sir Ywaine fast sho gase. Sho said, "Sir, how ertow stad? I hope ful wele thou has bene rad." "Sertes," he said, "thou sais wele thare; So abayst was I never are." He said, "Leman, I pray the, If it any wise may be, That I might luke a litel throw Out at sum hole or sum window, For wonder fayn," he sayd, "wald I Have a sight of the lady." The maiden than ful sone unshet In a place a prevé weket. Thare of the lady he had a syght. Lowd sho cried to God almyght, "Of his sins do hym pardowne, For sertanly in no regyowne Was never knight of his bewté, Ne efter him sal never nane be; In al the werld fro end to ende Es none so curtayse ne so hende. God grant the grace thou mai won In hevyn with His owyn son; For so large lifes none in lede Ne none so doghty of gude dede." When sho had thus made hir spell, In swownyng ful oft sithes sho fell.    Now lat we the lady be, And of Sir Ywaine speke we. Luf, that es so mekil of mayne, Sare had wownded Sir Ywayne, That whareso he sal ride or ga, His hert sho has that es his fa. 1 His hert he has set al bydene, Whare himself dar noght be sene. Bot thus in langing bides he And hopes that it sal better be. Al that war at the enterement, Toke thaire leve at the lady gent, And hame now er thai halely gane; And the lady left allane Dweland with hir chamberere And other mo that war hir dere. Than bigan hir noyes al new, For sorow failed hir hide and hew. Unto his sawl was sho ful hulde; Opon a sawter al of gulde To say the salmes fast sho bigan And toke no tent unto no man.    Than had Sir Ywain mekyl drede, For he hoped noght to spede; He said, "I am mekil to blame, That I luf tham that wald me shame. Bot yit I wite hir al with wogh, Sen that I hir lord slogh. I can noght se by nakyn gyn, How that I hir luf sold wyn. That lady es ful gent and small, Hir yghen clere als es cristall; Sertes thare es no man olive, That kowth hir bewtese wele descrive."    Thus was Syr Ywayne sted that sesowne; He wroght ful mekyl ogayns resowne To set his luf in swilk a stede, Whare thai hated him to the dede. He sayd he sold have hir to wive, Or els he sold lose his lyve. Thus als he in stody sat, The mayden come to him with that. Sho sayd, "How hasto farn this day, Sen that I went fro the oway?" Sone sho saw him pale and wan, Sho wist wele what him ayled than. Sho said, "I wote thi hert es set, And sertes I ne sal noght it let; Bot I sal help the fra presowne And bring the to thi warisowne." He said, "Sertes, damysele, Out of this place wil I noght stele; Bot I wil wende by dayes lyght, That men may of me have sight Opinly on ilka syde. Worth of me what so bityde, Manly wil I hethin wende." Than answerd tha mayden hende, "Sir, thow sal wend with honowre, For thou sal have ful gude socowre. Bot, sir, thou sal be here sertayne A while unto I cum ogayne."    Sho kend al trewly his entent, And tharfore es sho wightly went Unto the lady faire and bright, For unto hir right wele sho myght Say whatsom hyr willes es. For sho was al hir maystres, Her keper, and hir cownsaylere. To hir sho said, als ye sal here, Bytwix tham twa in gude cownsayl, "Madame," sho sayd, "I have mervayl That ye sorow thus ever on ane. For Goddes luf, lat be yowre mane. Ye sold think over alkyn thyng Of the Kinges Arthurgh cumyng. Menes yow noght of the message Of the Damysel Savage, That in hir lettre to yow send? Allas, who sal yow now defend Yowre land and al that es thareyn, Sen ye wil never of wepeing blyn? A, madame, takes tent to me. Ye ne have na knyght in this cuntré, That durst right now his body bede Forto do a doghty dede, Ne forto bide the mekil boste Of King Arthurgh and of his oste; And if he find none hym ogayn, Yowre landes er lorn, this es sertayn."    The lady understode ful wele, How sho hyr cownsaild ilka dele; Sho bad hyr go hir way smertly, And that sho war na more hardy Swilk wordes to hyr at speke; For wa hir hert wold al tobreke. Sho bad, "Go wightly hethin oway." Than the maiden thus gan say, "Madame, it es oft wemens will Tham forto blame that sais tham scill." Sho went oway, als sho noght roght, And than the lady hyr bythoght, That the maiden said no wrang, And so sho sat in stody lang. In stody thus allane sho sat; The mayden come ogayn with that. "Madame," sho said, "ye er a barn; Thus may ye sone yowre self forfarn." Sho sayd, "Chastise thi hert, madame; To swilk a lady it es grete shame Thus to wepe and make slike cry; Think opon thi grete gentri. Trowes thou the flowre of chevalry Sold al with thi lord dy And with him be put in molde? God forbede that it so solde! Als gude als he and better bene." "Thou lyes," sho sayd, "by hevyn-quene! Lat se if thoue me tel kan, Whar es any so doghty man, Als he was that wedded me." "Yis, and ye kun me na mawgré, And that ye mak me sekernes, That ye sal luf me never the les." Sho said, "Thou may be ful sertayn, That for na thing that thou mai sayn, Wil I me wreth on nane manere." "Madame," sho said, "than sal ye here; I sal yow tel a preveté, And na ma sal it wit bot we. Yf twa knyghtes be in the felde On twa stedes with spere and shelde And the tane the tother may sla, Whether es the better of tha?" Sho said, "He that has the bataile." "Ya," said the mayden, "sawnfayle, The knyght that lifes es mare of maine Than yowre lord that was slayne. Yowre lord fled out of the place, And the tother gan hym chace Heder into his awyn halde; Thare may ye wit, he was ful balde." The lady said, "This es grete scorne, That thou nevyns him me biforne; Thou sais nowther soth ne right. Swith, out of myne eghen syght!" The mayden said, "So mot I the, Thus ne hight ye noght me, That ye sold so me myssay," With that sho turned hir oway, And hastily sho went ogayn Unto the chameber to Sir Ywayne.    The lady thoght than al the nyght, How that sho had na knyght Forto seke hir land thorghout To kepe Arthurgh and hys rowt. Than bigan hir forto shame And hirself fast forto blame. Unto hirself fast gan sho flyte And said, "With wrang now I hir wite. Now hopes sho I wil never mare Luf hir als I have done are. I wil hir luf with main and mode; For that sho said was for my gode."    On the morn the mayden rase, And unto chamber sone sho gase. Thare sho fyndes the faire lady Hingand hir hevyd ful drerily In the place whare sho hir left; And ilka dele sho talde hir eft, Als sho had said to hir bifore. Than said the lady, "Me rewes sore, That I missayd the yisterday. I wil amend, if that I may. Of that knyght now wald I here, What he war and whethen he were. I wate that I have sayd omys; Now wil I do als thou me wys. Tel me baldely, or thou blin, If he be cumen of gentil kyn." "Madame," sho said, "I dar warand, A genteler lord es none lifand; The hendest man ye sal him fynde, That ever come of Adams kynde." "How hat he? Sai me for sertayne." "Madame," sho said, "Sir Ywayne; So gentil knight have ye noght sene; He es the King son Uryene." Sho held hir paid of that tithyng, For that his fader was a kyng; "Do me have him here in my sight Bitwene this and the thrid night And are, if that it are myght be. Me langes sare him forto se; Bring him, if thou mai, this night."    "Madame," sho sayd, "that I ne might, For his wonyng es hethin oway More than the jorné of a day. Bot I have a wele rinand page, Wil stirt thider right in a stage And bring him by to-morn at nyght." The lady saide, "Loke yf he myght To-morn by evyn be here ogayn." Sho said, "Madame, with al his mayn." "Bid him hy on alkyn wyse. He sal be quit wele his servyse; Avancement sal be hys bone, If he wil do this erand sone." "Madame," sho said, "I dar yow hight To have him here or the thrid nyght. Towhils, efter yowre kownsayl send And ask tham wha sal yow defend Yowre well, yowre land, kastel, and towre Ogayns the nobil King Arthure. For thare es nane of tham ilkane, That dar the batel undertane. Than sal ye say, "Nedes bus me take A lorde to do that ye forsake." Nedes bus yow have sum nobil knyght, That wil and may defend yowre right; And sais also, to suffer ded Ye wil noght do out of thaire rede. Of that worde sal thai be blyth And thank yow ful many sithe." The lady said, "By God of myght, I sal areson tham this night. Me think thou dwelles ful lang here; Send forth swith the messangere."    Than was the lady blith and glad. Sho did al als hir mayden bad. Efter hir cownsail sho sent onane. And bad thai sold cum sone ilkane. The maiden redies hyr ful rath. Bilive sho gert Syr Ywaine bath And cled him sethin in gude scarlet Forord wele and with gold fret, A girdel ful riche for the nanes Of perry and of preciows stanes. Sho talde him al how he sold do, When that he come the lady to. And thus when he was al redy, Sho went and talde to hyr lady, That cumen was hir messagere. Sho said smertly, "Do lat me here, Cumes he sone, als have thou wyn?" "Medame," sho said, "I sal noght blin, Or that he be byfor yow here." Than said the lady with light chere, "Go bring him heder prevely, That none wit bot thou and I." Than the maiden went ogayn Hastily to Sir Ywayn. "Sir," sho sayd, "als have I wyn, My lady wate thou ert hereyn. To cum bifore hir luke thou be balde, And tak gode tent what I have talde." By the hand sho toke the knyght And led him unto chamber right Byfor hir lady (es noght at layne), And of that come was sho ful fayne. Bot yit Sir Ywayne had grete drede, When he unto chamber yede. The chamber flore and als the bed With klothes of gold was al overspred. Hir thoght he was withowten lac, Bot no word to him sho spak. And he for dred oway he drogh. Than the mayden stode and logh. Sho sayd, "Mawgré have that knyght That haves of swilk a lady syght And can noght shew to hir his nede. Cum furth, sir; the thar noght drede, That mi lady wil the smyte; Sho loves the wele withouten lite. Pray to hir of hir mercy, And for thi sake right so sal I, That sho forgif the in this stede Of Salados the Rouse ded, That was hir lord, that thou has slayne."    On knese him set than Syr Ywaine. "Madame, I yelde me yow untill Ever to be at yowre wyll; Yf that I might, I ne wald noght fle." Sho said, "Nay, whi sold so be? To ded yf I gert do the now, To me it war ful litel prow. Bot for I find the so bowsum, That thou wald thus to me cum, And for thou dose the in my grace, I forgif the thi trispase. Syt down," sho said, "and lat me here, Why thou ert thus debonere." "Madame," he said, "anis with a luke, Al my hert with the thou toke. Sen I first of the had syght, Have I the lufed with al my might. To mo than the, mi lady hende, Sal never more my luf wende. For thi luf ever I am redy Lely forto lif or dy." Sho said, "Dar thou wele undertake In my land pese forto make And forto maintene al mi rightes Ogayns King Arthure and his knyghtes?" He said, "That dar I undertane Ogaynes ilka lyfand man." Swilk kownsail byfore had sho tane. Sho said, "Sir, than er we at ane." Hir barons hir ful rathly red To tak a lord hir forto wed.    Than hastily sho went to hall; Thare abade hir barons all Forto hald thaire parlement And mari hir by thaire asent. Sho sayd, "Sirs, with an acorde, Sen me bus nedely have a lord My landes forto lede and yeme, Sais me sone howe ye wil deme." "Madame," thai said, "how so ye will, Al we sal assent thartyll."    Than the lady went ogayne Unto chameber to Sir Ywaine. "Sir," sho said, "so God me save, Other lorde wil I nane have. If I the left, I did noght right, A king son and a noble knyght." Now has the maiden done hir thoght: Sir Ywayne out of anger broght. The lady led him unto hall; Ogains him rase the barons all. And al thai said ful sekerly: "This knight sal wed the lady." And ilkane said thamself bitwene (So faire a man had thai noght sene), "For his bewté in hal and bowre Him semes to be an emperowre. We wald that thai war trowth-plight And weded sone this ilk nyght." The lady set hir on the dese And cumand al to hald thaire pese, And bad hir steward sumwhat say, Or men went fra cowrt oway. The steward said, "Sirs, understandes, Were es waxen in thir landes: The king Arthure es redy dight To be here byn this fowretenyght. He and his menye ha thoght To win this land if thai moght. Thai wate ful wele that he es ded, That was lord here in this stede. None es so wight wapins to welde Ne that so boldly mai us belde. And wemen may maintene no stowre - Thai most nedes have a governowre. Tharfor mi lady most nede Be weded hastily for drede; And to na lord wil sho tak tent, Bot if it be by yowre assent."    Than the lordes al on raw Held tham wele payd of this saw; Al assented hyr untill To tak a lord at hyr owyn wyll. Than said the lady onone right, "How hald ye yow paid of this knight? He profers hym on al wyse To myne honore and my servyse. And sertes, sirs, the soth to say, I saw him never or this day; Bot talde unto me has it bene, He es the kyng son Uriene. He es cumen of hegh parage And wonder doghty of vasselage. War and wise and ful curtayse, He yernes me to wife alwayse. And nere the lese, I wate, he might Have wele better, and so war right." With a voice halely thai sayd, "Madame, ful wele we hald us payd. Bot hastes fast, al that ye may, That ye war wedded this ilk day." And grete prayer gan thai make On al wise, that sho suld hym take. Sone unto the kirk thai went And war wedded in thaire present. Thare wedded Ywaine in plevyne The riche lady Alundyne, The dukes doghter of Landuit; Els had hyr lande bene destruyt. Thus thai made the maryage Omang al the riche barnage. Thai made ful mekyl mirth that day, Ful grete festes on gude aray. Grete mirthes made thai in that stede, And al forgetyn es now the ded Of him that was thaire lord fre. Thai say that this es worth swilk thre, And that thai lufed him mekil more Than him that lord was thare byfore.    The bridal sat, for soth to tell, Til Kyng Arthure come to the well With al his knyghtes everilkane; Byhind leved thare noght ane. Than sayd Sir Kay, "Now, whare es he That made slike bost here forto be Forto venge his cosyn germayne? I wist his wordes war al in vayne. He made grete boste bifor the quene, And here now dar he noght be sene. His prowd wordes er now al purst, For, in fayth, ful ill he durst Anes luke opon that knyght That he made bost with to fyght." Than sayd Gawayn hastily: "Syr, for Goddes luf, mercy! For I dar hete the for sertayne, That we sal here of Sir Ywayne This ilk day, that be thou balde, Bot he be ded or done in halde; And never in no cumpany Herd I him speke the velany." Than sayd Sir Kay, "Lo, at thi will Fra this time forth I sal be still."    The king kest water on the stane; The storme rase ful sone onane With wikked weders, kene and calde, Als it was byforehand talde. The king and his men ilkane Wend tharwith to have bene slane, So blew it store with slete and rayn; And hastily than Syr Ywayne Dight him graythly in his gere With nobil shelde and strong spere. When he was dight in seker wede, Than he umstrade a nobil stede. Him thoght that he was als lyght Als a fowl es to the flyght. Unto the well fast wendes he, And sone, when thai myght him se, Syr Kay (for he wald noght fayle) Smertly askes the batayl. And alsone than said the kyng, "Sir Kay, I grante the thine askyng." Than Sir Ywayn neghed tham nere Thaire cowntenance to se and here. Sir Kay than on his stede gan spring; "Bere the wele now," sayd the kyng. Ful glad and blith was Syr Ywayne, When Sir Kay come him ogayn. Bot Kay wist noght wha it was; He findes his fere now or he pas. Syr Ywaine thinkes now to be wroken On the grete wordes that Kay has spoken.    Thai rade togeder with speres kene; Thare was no reverence tham bitwene. Sir Ywayn gan Sir Kay bere Out of his sadel lenkith of his spere; His helm unto the erth smate; A fote depe tharein yt bate. He wald do him na more despite, Bot down he lighted als tyte. Syr Kay stede he toke in hy And presand the king ful curtaysly. Wonder glad than war thai all That Kay so fowl a shame gan fall; And ilkone sayd til other then, "This es he that scornes al men"; Of his wa war thai wele paid. Syr Ywain than to the kyng said, "Sir Kyng, I gif to the this stede, For he may help the in thi nede; And to me war it grete trispas Forto withhald that yowres was." "What man ertow?" quod the kyng; "Of the have I ne knawyng, Bot if thou unarmed were Or els thi name that I might here." "Lord," he sayd, "I am Ywayne." Than was the king ferly fayne; A sari man than was Sir Kay, That said that he was stollen oway; Al descumfite he lay on grownde, To him that was a sary stownde. The king and his men war ful glad, That they so Sir Ywayne had, And ful glad was Sir Gawayne Of the welefare of Sir Ywayne. For nane was to him half so dere Of al that in the court were. The king Sir Ywayn sone bisoght To tel him al how he had wroght; And sone Sir Ywaine gan him tell Of al his fare how it byfell: With the knight how that he sped, And how he had the lady wed, And how the mayden hym helped wele. Thus tald he to him ilka dele.    "Sir King," he sayd, "I yow byseke And al yowre menye milde and meke, That ye wald grante to me that grace At wend with me to my purchace, And se my kastel and my towre; Than myght ye do me grete honowre." The kyng granted him ful right To dwel with him a fowretenyght. Sir Ywayne thanked him oft sith; The knyghtes war al glad and blyth With Sir Ywaine forto wend. And sone a squier has he send; Unto the kastel the way he nome And warned the lady of thaire come, And that his lord come with the kyng. And when the lady herd this thing, It es no lifand man with mowth, That half hir cumforth tel kowth. Hastily that lady hende Cumand al hir men to wende And dight tham in thaire best aray To kepe the king that ilk day. Thai keped him in riche wede Rydeand on many a nobil stede; Thai hailsed him ful curtaysly And also al his cumpany. Thai said he was worthy to dowt, That so fele folk led obowt. Thare was grete joy, I yow bihete, With clothes spred in ilka strete And damysels danceand ful wele With trompes, pipes, and with fristele. The castel and the ceté rang With mynstralsi and nobil sang. Thai ordand tham ilkane infere To kepe the king on faire manere. The lady went withowten towne And with hir many bald barowne Cled in purpure and ermyne With girdels al of gold ful fyne, The lady made ful meri chere; Sho was al dight with drewries dere. Abowt hir was ful mekyl thrang; The puple cried and sayd omang, "Welkum ertou, Kyng Arthoure - Of al this werld thou beres the flowre. Lord Kyng of all kynges, And blissed be he that the brynges."    When the lady the kyng saw, Unto him fast gan sho draw To hald his sterap whils he lyght. Bot sone, when he of hir had syght, With mekyl myrth thai samen met. With hende wordes sho him gret, "A thowsand sithes welkum," sho says, "And so es Sir Gawayne the curtayse." The king said, "Lady white so flowre, God gif the joy and mekil honowre, For thou ert fayre with body gent." With that he hir in armes hent, And ful faire he gan hir falde. Thare was many to bihalde. It es no man with tong may tell The mirth that was tham omell. Of maidens was thare so gude wane, That ilka knight myght tak ane. Ful mekil joy Syr Ywayn made That he the king til his hows hade; The lady omang tham al samen Made ful mekyl joy and gamen. In the kastel thus thai dwell, Ful mekyl myrth wase tham omell; The king was thare with his knyghtes Aght dayes and aght nyghtes; And Ywayn tham ful mery made With alkyn gamyn tham forto glade. He prayed the kyng to thank the may, That hym had helpid in his jornay; And ilk day had thai solace sere Of huntyng and als of revere; For thare was a ful fayre cuntré With wodes and parkes grete plenté, And castels wroght with lyme and stane, That Ywayne with his wife had tane.    Now wil the king no langer lende, Bot til his cuntré wil he wende. Aywhils thai war thare, for sertayne, Syr Gawayn did al his mayne To pray Sir Ywaine on al manere Forto wende with tham infere. He said, "Sir, if thou ly at hame, Wonderly men wil the blame. That knight es no thing to set by That leves al his chevalry And ligges bekeand in his bed, When he haves a lady wed. For when that he has grete endose, Than war tyme to win his lose; For when a knyght es chevalrouse, His lady es the more jelows. Also sho lufes him wele the bet. Tharfore, sir, thou sal noght let To haunt armes in ilk cuntré; Than wil men wele more prayse the. Thou hase inogh to thi despens; Now may thow wele hante turnamentes. Thou and I sal wende infere, And I will be at thi banere. I dar noght say, so God me glad, If I so fayre a leman had, That I ne most leve al chevalry At hame ydel with hir to ly. Bot yit a fole that litel kan, May wele cownsail another man."    So lang Sir Gawayn prayed so, Syr Ywayne grantes him forto go Unto the lady and tak his leve; Loth him was hir forto greve. Til hyr onane the way he nome, Bot sho ne wist noght whi he come. In his arms he gan hir mete, And thus he said, "My leman swete, My life, my hele, and al my hert, My joy, my comforth, and my quert, A thing prai I the unto For thine honore and myne also." The lady said, "Sir, verrayment, I wil do al yowre cumandment." "Dame," he said, "I wil the pray, That I might the king cumvay And also with my feres founde Armes forto haunte a stownde. For in bourding men wald me blame, If I sold now dwel at hame."    The lady was loth him to greve. "Sir," sho said, "I gif yow leve Until a terme that I sal sayn, Bot that ye cum than ogayn! Al this yere hale I yow grante Dedes of armes forto hante; Bot, syr, als ye luf me dere, On al wise that ye be here This day twelmoth how som it be, For the luf ye aw to me. And if ye com noght by that day, My luf sal ye lose for ay. Avise yow wele now or ye gone. This day es the evyn of Saint Jon; That warn I yow now or ye wende, Luke ye cum by the twelmoth ende." "Dame," he sayd, "I sal noght let To hald the day that thou has set; And if I might be at my wyll, Ful oft are sold I cum the till. Bot, madame, this understandes: A man that passes divers landes, May sum tyme cum in grete destres, In preson or els in sekenes; Tharfore I pray yow, or I ga, That ye wil out-tak thir twa." The lady sayd, "This grant I wele, Als ye ask, everilka dele; And I sal lene to yow my ring, That es to me a ful dere thing. In nane anger sal ye be, Whils ye it have and thinkes on me. I sal tel to yow onane The vertu that es in the stane: It es na preson thow sal halde, Al if yowre fase be manyfalde; With sekenes sal ye noght be tane, Ne of yowre blode ye sal lese nane; In batel tane sal ye noght be, Whils ye it have and thinkes on me; And ay, whils ye er trew of love, Over al sal ye be obove. I wald never for nakyn wight Lene it are unto na knyght. For grete luf I it yow take; Yemes it wele now for my sake." Sir Ywayne said, "Dame, gramercy!" Than he gert ordain in hy Armurs and al other gere, Stalworth stedes, both sheld and spere, And also squyere, knave, and swayne. Ful glad and blith was Sir Gawayne.    No lenger wald Syr Ywayne byde, On his stede sone gan he stride And thus he has his leve tane. For him murned many ane. The lady took leve of the kyng And of his menye, ald and ying; Hir lord, Sir Ywayne, sho bisekes With teris trikland on hir chekes, On al wise that he noght let To halde the day that he had set. The knightes thus thaire ways er went To justing and to turnament. Ful dughtily did Sir Ywayne, And also did Sir Gawayne; Thai war ful doghty both infere, Thai wan the prise both fer and nere. The kyng that time at Cester lay; The knightes went tham forto play. Ful really thai rade obout Al that twelmoth out and out To justing and to turnament; Thai wan grete wirships, als thai went; Sir Ywayne oft had al the lose, Of him the word ful wide gose; Of thaire dedes was grete renown To and fra in towre and towne. On this wise in this life they last, Unto Saint Johns day was past. Then hastily they hied home And sone unto the kyng thai come; And thare thai held grete mangeri, The kyng with al his cumpany.    Sir Ywaine umbithoght him than, He had forgeten his leman. "Broken I have hir cumandment. Sertes," he said, "now be I shent; The terme es past that sho me set. How ever sal this bale be bet? Unnethes he might him hald fra wepe. And right in this than toke he kepe, Into court come a damysele On a palfray ambland wele; And egerly down gan sho lyght Withouten help of knave or knyght. And sone sho lete hyr mantel fall And hasted hir fast into hall. "Syr Kyng," sho sayde, "God mot the se, My lady gretes the wele by me, And also Sir gude Gawayne And al thi knyghtes bot Sir Ywayne. He es ateyned for trayture, A fals and lither losenjoure; He has bytrayed my lady, But sho es war with his gilry. Sho hopid noght, the soth to say, That he wald so have stollen oway. He made to hir ful mekyl boste And said, of al he lufed hir moste. Al was treson and trechery, And that he sal ful dere haby. It es ful mekyl ogains the right To cal so fals a man a knight. My lady wend he had hir hert Ay forto kepe and hald in quert, Bot now with grefe he has hir gret And broken the term that sho him set, That was the evyn of Saynt John; Now es that tyme for ever gone. So lang gaf sho him respite, And thus he haves hir led with lite. Sertainly, so fals a fode Was never cumen of kynges blode, That so sone forgat his wyfe, That lofed him better than hyr life." Til Ywayne sais sho thus, "Thou es Traytur untrew and trowthles And also an unkind cumlyng. Deliver me my lady ring! Sho stirt to him with sterne loke, The ring fro his finger sho toke; And alsone als sho had the ring, Hir leve toke sho of the king And stirted up on hir palfray. Withowten more sho went hir way; With hir was nowther knave ne grome, Ne no man wist where sho bycome.    Sir Ywayn, when he this gan here, Murned and made simpil chere; In sorrow than so was he stad, That nere for murning wex he mad. It was no mirth that him myght mend; At worth to noght ful wele he wend, For wa he es ful wil of wane. "Allas, I am myne owin bane; Allas," he sayd, "that I was born, Have I my leman thus forlorn, And al es for myne owen foly. Allas, this dole wil mak me dy." An evyl toke him als he stode; For wa he wex al wilde and wode. Unto the wod the way he nome; No man wist whore he bycome. Obout he welk in the forest, Als it wore a wilde beste; His men on ilka syde has soght Fer and nere and findes him noght.    On a day als Ywayne ran In the wod, he met a man; Arowes brade and bow had he, And when Sir Ywayne gan him se, To him he stirt with bir ful grim, His bow and arwes reft he him. Ilka day than at the leste Shot he him a wilde beste; Fless he wan him ful gude wane, And of his arows lost he nane. Thare he lifed a grete sesowne; With rotes amd raw venysowne; He drank of the warm blode, And that did him mekil gode.    Als he went in that boskage, He fand a litil ermytage. The ermyte saw and sone was war, A naked man a bow bare. He hoped he was wode that tide; Tharfore no lenger durst he bide. He sperd his gate and in he ran Forfered of that wode man; And for him thoght it charité, Out at his window set he Brede and water for the wode man; And tharto ful sone he ran. Swilk als he had, swilk he him gaf, Barly-brede with al the chaf; Tharof ete he ful gude wane, And are swilk ete he never nane. Of the water he drank tharwith; Than ran he forth into the frith, For if a man be never so wode, He wil kum whare man dose him gode, And, sertanly, so did Ywayne. Everilka day he come ogayne, And with him broght he redy boun Ilka day new venisowne; He laid it at the ermite gate And ete and drank and went his gate. Ever alsone als he was gane, The ermyt toke the flesh onane; He flogh it and seth it fayre and wele; Than had Ywayne at ilka mele Brede and sothen venysowne. Than went the ermyte to the towne And salde the skinnes that he broght, And better brede tharwith he boght; Than fand Sir Ywayne in that stede Venyson and better brede. This life led he ful fele yere, And sethen he wroght als ye sal here.    Als Ywaine sleped under a tre, By him come thare rideand thre: A lady, twa bourewemen alswa. Than spak ane of the maidens twa, "A naked man me think I se; Wit I wil what it may be." Sho lighted doun and to him yede, And unto him sho toke gude hede; Hir thoght wele sho had him sene In many stedes whare sho had bene. Sho was astonyd in that stownde, For in hys face sho saw a wonde, Bot it was heled and hale of hew; Tharby, hir thoght, that sho him knew. Sho sayd, "By God that me has made, Swilk a wound Sir Ywayne hade. Sertaynly, this ilk es he. Allas," sho sayd, "how may this be? Allas, that him es thus bityd, So nobil a knyght als he was kyd. It es grete sorow that he sold be So ugly now opon to se." So tenderly for him sho gret, That hir teres al hir chekes wet. "Madame," sho said, "for sertayn, Here have we funden Sir Ywayne, The best knyght that on grund mai ga. Allas, him es bytid so wa; In sum sorow was he stad, And tharfore es he waxen mad. Sorow wil meng a mans blode And make him forto wax wode. Madame, and he war now in quert And al hale of will and hert, Ogayns yowre fa he wald yow were, That has yow done so mekyl dere. And he ware hale, so God me mend, Yowre sorow war sone broght to end." The lady said, "And this ilk be he And than he wil noght hethin fle, Thorgh Goddes help than, hope I yit We sal him win ynto his wyt. Swith at hame I wald we were, For thare I have an unement dere; Morgan the Wise gaf it to me And said als I sal tel to the. He sayd, "This unement es so gode, That if a man be braynwode And he war anes anoynt with yt, Smertly sold he have his wit."    Fro hame thai wer bot half a myle; Theder come thai in a whyle. The lady sone the boyst has soght, And the unement has sho broght. "Have," sho said, "this unement here, Unto me it es ful dere; And smertly that thou wend ogayne. Bot luke thou spend it noght in vaine; And fra the knight anoynted be, That thou leves, bring it to me." Hastily that maiden meke Tok hose and shose and serk and breke. A riche robe als gan sho ta And a saint of silk alswa And also a gude palfray, And smertly come sho whare he lay. On slepe fast yit sho him fande. Hir hors until a tre sho band, And hastily to him sho yede, And that was ful hardy dede. Sho enoynt hys heved wele And his body ilka dele. Sho despended al the unement Over hir ladies cumandment. For hir lady wald sho noght let; Hir thoght that it was ful wele set. Al his atyre sho left hym by At his rising to be redy That he might him cleth and dyght, Or he sold of hyr have syght.    Than he wakend of his slepe; The maiden to him toke gude kepe; He luked up ful sarily And said, "Lady Saynt Mary, What hard grace to me es maked, That I am here now thus naked? Allas, wher any have here bene? I trow, sum has my sorow sene." Lang he sat so in a thoght, How that gere was theder broght. Than had he noght so mekyl myght On his fote to stand upright; Him failed might of fote and hand, That he myght nowther ga ne stand. Bot yit his clathes on he wan; Tharfore ful wery was he than. Than had he mister forto mete Sum man that myght his bales bete. Than lepe the maiden on hir palfray And nere byside him made hir way. Sho lete als sho him noght had sene Ne wetyn that he thare had bene. Sone when he of hir had syght, He cried unto hyr on hight. Than wald sho no ferrer ride, Bot fast sho luked on ilka syde And waited obout fer and nere. He cried and sayd, "I am here." Than sone sho rade him till And sayd, "Sir, what es thi will?" "Lady, thi help war me ful lefe, For I am here in grete meschefe. I ne wate never by what chance That I have al this grevance. Thar charité I walde the pray Forto lene me that palfray, That in thi hand es redy bowne And wis me sone unto som towne. I wate noght how I had this wa, Ne how that I sal hethin ga." Sho answered him with wordes hende, "Syr, if thou wil with me wende, Ful gladly wil I ese the, Until that thou amended be."    Sho helped him up on his hors ryg, And sone thai come until a bryg; Into the water the boist sho cast, And sethin hame sho hied fast. When thai come to the castel gate, Thai lighted and went in tharate. The maiden to the chameber went; The lady asked the unement. "Madame," sho said, "the boyst es lorn, And so was I nerehand tharforn." "How so," sho said, "for Goddes Tre?" "Madame," she said, "I sal tel the Al the soth how that it was. Als I over the brig sold pas, Evyn in myddes, the soth to say, Thare stombild my palfray; On the brig he fell al flat, And the boyst right with that Fel fra me in the water down; And had I noght bene titter boun To tak my palfray by the mane, The water sone had bene my bane." The lady said, "Now am I shent, That I have lorn my gude unement; It was to me, so God me glade, The best tresure that ever I hade. To me it es ful mekil skath, Bot better es lose it than yow bath. "Wend," sho said, "unto the knight And luke thou ese him at thi myght." "Lady," sho said, "els war me lathe." Than sho gert him washe and bathe And gaf him mete and drink of main, Til he had geten his might ogayn. Thai ordand armurs ful wele dight, And so thai did stedes ful wight.    So it fell sone on a day, Whils he in the castel lay, The ryche eryl, Syr Alers, With knightes, serjantes and swiers, And with swith grete vetale Come that kastel to asayle. Sir Ywain than his armurs tase With other socure that he hase. The erel he kepes in the felde, And sone he hit ane on the shelde, That the knyght and als the stede Stark ded to the erth thai yede. Sone another, the thrid, the ferth Feld he doun ded on the erth; He stird him so omang tham than, At ilka dint he slogh a man. Sum he losed of hys men, Bot the eril lost swilk ten. Al thai fled fast fra that syde, Whare thai saw Sir Ywayn ride. He herted so his cumpany, The moste coward was ful hardy To fel al that thai fand in felde.    The lady lay ever and bihelde; Sho sais, "Yon es a nobil knyght, Ful eger and of ful grete myght; He es wele worthy forto prayse, That es so doghty and curtayse." The mayden said, "Withowten let, Yowre oynement may ye think wele set; Sese, madame, how he prikes, And sese also how fele he stikes Lo, how he fars omang his fase; Al that he hittes sone he slase. War thare swilk other twa als he, Than, hope I, sone thaire fase sold fle. Sertes, than sold we se ful tyte, The eril sold be descumfite. Madame, God gif, his wil were To wed yow and be loverd here." The erils folk went fast to ded; To fle than was his best rede. The eril sone bigan to fle, And than might men bourd se, How Sir Ywayne and his feres Folowd tham on fel maners; And fast thai slogh the erils men, Olive thai left noght over ten. The eril fled ful fast for drede, And than Sir Ywaine strake his stede And overtoke him in that tide At a kastel thar bysyde. Sir Ywayne sone withset the gate, That the eril myght noght in tharate. The eril saw al might noght gain; He yalde him sone to Sir Ywayn. And sone he has his trowth plyght To wend with him that ilk night Unto the lady of grete renowne And profer him to hir presowne, And to do him in hir grace And also to mend his trispase.    The eril than unarmed his hevid, And none armure on him he levid. Helm, shelde, and als his brand, That he bare naked in his hand, Al he gaf to Sir Ywayne, And hame with him he went ogaine. In the kastel made thai joy ilkane, When thai wist the eril was tane. And, when thai saw tham cumand nere, Ogayns him went thai al infere; And when the lady gan tham mete, Sir Ywaine gudely gan hir grete. He said, "Madame, have thi presoun And hald him here in thi baundoun." Bot he gert hir grante him grace To mak amendes yn that space. On a buke the erl sware Forto restore bath les and mare, And big ogayn bath toure and toune, That by him war casten doune, And evermare to be hir frende. Umage made he to that hende; To this forward he borows fand, The best lordes of al that land.    Sir Ywaine wald no lenger lend, Bot redies him fast forto wend. At the lady his leve he takes, Grete murnyng tharfore sho makes. Sho said, "Sir, if it be yowre will, I pray yow forto dwel here still; And I wil yelde into yowre handes Myne awyn body and al my landes." Hereof fast sho hym bysoght, Bot al hir speche avayles noght. He said, "I wil no thing to mede Bot myne armurs and my stede." Sho said, "Bath stede and other thing Es yowres at yowre owyn likyng; And if ye walde here with us dwell, Mekyl mirth war us omell." It was na bote to bid him bide, He toke his stede and on gan stride; The lady and hyr maydens gent Wepid sare when that he went.    Now rides Ywayn als ye sal here, With hevy herte and dreri chere Thurgh a forest by a sty; And thare he herd a hydose cry. The gaynest way ful sone he tase, Til he come whare the noys was. Than was he war of a dragoun, Had asayled a wilde lyown; With his tayl he drogh him fast, And fire ever on him he cast. The lyoun had over litel myght Ogaynes the dragon forto fyght. Than Sir Ywayn made him bown Forto sucore the lyown; His shelde bifore his face he fest For the fyre that the dragon kest; He strake the dragon in at the chavyl, That it come out at the navyl. Sunder strake he the throte-boll, That fra the body went the choll. By the lioun tail the hevid hang yit, For tharby had he tane his bit; The tail Sir Ywayne strake in twa, The dragon hevid than fel tharfra. He thoght, "If the lyoun me asayle, Redy sal he have batayle." Bot the lyoun wald noght fyght. Grete fawnyng made he to the knyght. Down on the grund he set him oft, His fortherfete he held oloft, And thanked the knyght als he kowth, Al if he myght noght speke with mowth; So wele the lyon of him lete, Ful law he lay and likked his fete. When Syr Ywayne that sight gan se, Of the beste him thoght peté, And on his wai forth gan he ride; The lyown folowd by hys syde. In the forest al that day The lyoun mekely foloud ay, And never for wele ne for wa Wald he part Sir Ywayn fra.    Thus in the forest als thai ware, The lyoun hungerd swith sare. Of a beste savore he hade; Until hys lord sembland he made, That he wald go to get his pray; His kind it wald, the soth to say. For his lorde sold him noght greve, He wald noght go withowten leve. Fra his lord the way he laght The mountance of ane arow-draght; Sone he met a barayn da, And ful sone he gan hir sla; Hir throte in twa ful sone he bate And drank the blode whils it was hate. That da he kest than in his nek, Als it war a mele sek. Unto his lorde than he it bare; And Sir Ywayn parsayved thare, That it was so nere the nyght, That no ferrer ride he might.    A loge of bowes sone he made, And flynt and fire-yren bath he hade, And fire ful sone thare he slogh Of dry mos and many a bogh. The lion has the da undone; Sire Ywayne made a spit ful sone, And rosted sum to thaire sopere. The lyon lay als ye sal here: Unto na mete he him drogh Until his maister had eten ynogh. Him failed thare bath salt and brede, And so him did whyte wine and rede; Bot of swilk thing als thai had, He and his lyon made tham glad. The lyon hungerd for the nanes, Ful fast he ete raw fless and banes. Sir Ywayn in that ilk telde Laid his hevid opon his shelde; Al nyght the lyon about gede To kepe his mayster and his stede. Thus the lyon and the knyght Lended thare a fouretenyght.    On a day so it byfell, Syr Ywayne come unto the well. He saw the chapel and the thorne And said allas that he was born; And when he loked on the stane, He fel in swowing sone onane. Als he fel his swerde outshoke; The pomel into the erth toke, The poynt toke until his throte - Wel nere he made a sari note! Thorgh his armurs sone it smate, A litel intil hys hals it bate; And wen the lyon saw his blude, He brayded als he had bene wode. Than kest he up so lathly rerde, Ful mani fok myght he have ferde. He wend wele, so God me rede, That his mayster had bene ded. It was ful grete peté to here What sorow he made on his manere. He stirt ful hertly, I yow hete, And toke the swerde bytwix his fete; Up he set it by a stane, And thare he wald himself have slane; And so he had sone, for sertayne, Bot right in that rase Syr Ywayne; And alsone als he saw hym stand, For fayn he liked fote and hand. Sir Ywayn said oft sithes, "Allas, Of alkins men hard es my grace. Mi leman set me sertayn day, And I it brak, so wayloway. Allas, for dole how may I dwell To se this chapel and this well, Hir faire thorn, hir riche stane? My gude dayes er now al gane, My joy es done now al bidene, I am noght worthi to be sene. I saw this wild beste was ful bayn For my luf himself have slayne. Than sold I, sertes, by more right Sla my self for swilk a wyght That I have for my foly lorn. Allas the while that I was born!"    Als Sir Ywayn made his mane In the chapel ay was ane And herd his murnyng haly all Thorgh a crevice of the wall, And sone it said with simepel chere, "What ertou, that murnes here?" "A man," he sayd, "sum tyme I was. What ertow? Tel me or I pas." "I am," it sayd, "the sariest wight, That ever lifed by day or nyght." "Nay," he said, "by Saynt Martyne, Thare es na sorow mete to myne, Ne no wight so wil of wane. I was a man, now am I nane; Whilom I was a nobil knyght And a man of mekyl myght; I had knyghtes of my menye And of reches grete plenté; I had a ful fayre seignory, And al I lost for my foly. Mi maste sorow als sal thou here: I lost a lady that was me dere." The tother sayd, "Allas, allas, Myne es a wele sarier case: To-morn I mun bere my jewyse, Als my famen wil devise." "Allas," he said, "what es the skill?" "That sal thou here, sir, if thou will. I was a mayden mekil of pride With a lady here nere biside; Men me bikalles of tresown And has me put here in presown. I have no man to defend me, Tharfore to-morn brent mun I be." He sayd, "What if thou get a knyght, That for the with thi fase wil fight?" "Sir," sho sayd, "als mot I ga, In this land er bot knyghtes twa, That me wald help to cover of care: The tane es went, I wate noght whare; The tother es dweland with the king And wate noght of my myslykyng. The tane of tham hat Syr Gawayn. And the tother hat Syr Ywayn. For hym sal I be done to dede To-morn right in this same stede; He es the Kinges son Uriene." "Parfay," he sayd, "I have hym sene; I am he, and for my gilt Sal thou never more be spilt. Thou ert Lunet, if I can rede, That helpyd me yn mekyl drede; I had bene ded had thou noght bene. Tharfore tel me us bytwene, How bical thai the of treson Thus forto sla and for what reson?" "Sir, thai say that my lady Lufed me moste specially, And wroght al efter my rede; Tharefore thai hate me to the ded. The steward says that done have I Grete tresone unto my lady. His twa brether sayd it als, And I wist that thai said fals; And sone I answerd als a sot - For fole bolt es sone shot - I said that I sold find a knyght, That sold me mayntene in my right And feght with tham al thre; Thus the batayl wajed we. Than thai granted me als tyte Fourty dayes unto respite; And at the kynges court I was; I fand na cumfort ne na solase Nowther of knyght, knave, ne swayn." Than said he, "Whare was Syr Gawayn? He has bene ever trew and lele, He fayled never no damysele." Scho said, "In court he was noght sene, For a knyght led oway the quene. The king tharfore es swith grym; Syr Gawayn folowd efter him, He coms noght hame, for sertayne, Until he bryng the quene ogayne. Now has thou herd, so God me rede, Why I sal be done to ded." He said, "Als I am trew knyght, I sal be redy forto fyght To-morn with tham al thre, Leman, for the luf of the. At my might I sal noght fayl. Bot how so bese of the batayle, If ani man my name the frayne, On al manere luke thou yt layne; Unto na man my name thou say." "Syr," sho sayd, "for soth, nay. I prai to grete God alweldand, That thai have noght the hegher hand; Sen that ye wil my murnyng mend, I tak the grace that God wil send." Syr Ywayn sayd, "I sal the hyght To mend thi murnyng at my myght: Thorgh grace of God in Trenyté I sal the wreke of tham al thre."    Than rade he forth into frith, And hys lyoun went hym with. Had he redyn bot a stownde, A ful fayre castell he fownde; And Syr Ywaine, the soth to say, Unto the castel toke the way. When he come at the castel gate, Foure porters he fand tharate. The drawbryg sone lete thai doun, Bot al thai fled for the lyown. Thai said, "Syr, withowten dowt, That beste byhoves the leve tharout." He sayd, "Sirs, so have I wyn, Mi lyoun and I sal noght twyn; I luf him als wele, I yow hete, Als my self at ane mete; Owther sal we samyn lende, Or els wil we hethin wende. Bot right with that the lord he met, And ful gladly he him gret, With knyghtes and swiers grete plenté And faire ladies and maydens fre; Ful mekyl joy of him thai made, Bot sorow in thaire hertes thai hade. Unto a chameber was he led And unharmed and sethin cled In clothes that war gay and dere. Bot ofttymes changed thaire chere; Sum tyme, he saw, thai weped all Als ai wald to water fall; Thai made slike murnyng and slik mane That gretter saw he never nane; Thai feynyd tham oft for hys sake Fayre semblant forto make. Ful grete wonder Sir Ywayn hade For thai swilk joy and sorow made. "Sir," he said, "if yowre wil ware, I wald wyt why ye make slike kare." "This joy," he said, "that we mak now, Sir, es al for we have yow; And, sir, also we mak this sorow For dedys that sal be done to-morow. A geant wons here nere bysyde, That es a devil of mekil pryde; His name hat Harpyns of Mowntain. For him we lyf in mekil payn; My landes haves he robbed and reft, Noght bot this kastel es me left. And, by God that in hevyn wons, Syr, I had sex knyghtis to sons; I saw my self the twa slogh he, To-morn the foure als slane mun be - He has al in hys presowne. And, sir, for nane other enchesowne, Bot for I warned hym to wyve My doghter, fayrest fode olyve. Tharfore es he wonder wrath, And depely has he sworn hys ath, With maystry that he sal hir wyn, And that the laddes of his kychyn And also that his werst fote-knave His wil of that woman sal have, Bot I to-morn might find a knight, That durst with hym selven fyght; And I have none to him at ga. What wonder es if me be wa?"    Syr Ywayn lystend hym ful wele, And when he had talde ilka dele, "Syr," he sayd, "me think mervayl That ye soght never no kounsayl At the kynges hous here bysyde; For, sertes, in al this werld so wyde Es no man of so mekil myght, Geant, champioun, ne knight, That he ne has knyghtes of his menye That ful glad and blyth wald be Forto mete with swilk a man That thai myght kyth thaire myghtes on." He said, "Syr, so God me mend, Unto the kynges kourt I send To seke my mayster Syr Gawayn; For he wald socore me ful fain. He wald noght leve for luf ne drede, Had he wist now of my nede; For his sister es my wyfe, And he lufes hyr als his lyfe. Bot a knyght this other day, Thai talde, has led the quene oway. Forto seke hyr went Sir Gawayn, And yit ne come he noght ogayn." Than Syr Ywayne sighed sare And said unto the knyght right thare; "Syr," he sayd, "for Gawayn sake This batayl wil I undertake Forto fyght with the geant; And that opon swilk a covenant, Yif he cum at swilk a time, So that we may fight by prime. No langer may I tent tharto, For other thing I have to do; I have a dede that most be done To-morn nedes byfor the none." The knyght sare sighand sayd him till, "Sir, God yelde the thi gode wyll." And al that ware thare in the hall, On knese byfor hym gan thai fall. Forth thare come a byrd ful bryght, The fairest man might se in sight; Hir moder come with hir infere, And both thai morned and made yll chere. The knight said, "Lo, verraiment, God has us gude socure sent, This knight that of his grace wil grant Forto fyght with the geant." On knese thai fel doun to his fete And thanked him with wordes swete. "A, God forbede," said Sir Ywain, "That the sister of Sir Gawayn Or any other of his blode born Sold on this wise knel me byforn." He toke tham up tyte both infere And prayd tham to amend thaire chere. "And praies fast to God alswa, That I may venge yow on yowre fa, And that he cum swilk tyme of day, That I by tyme may wend my way Forto do another dede; For, sertes, theder most I nede. Sertes, I wald noght tham byswike Forto win this kinges rike." His thoght was on that damysel, That he left in the chapel. Thai said, "He es of grete renowne, For with hym dwels the lyoun." Ful wele confort war thai all Bath in boure and als in hall. Ful glad war thai of thaire gest, And when tyme was at go to rest, The lady broght him to his bed; And for the lyoun sho was adred. Na man durst negh his chamber nere, Fro thai war broght thareyn infere. Sone at morn, when it was day, The lady and the fayre may Til Ywayn chamber went thai sone, And the dore thai have undone.    Sir Ywayn to the kyrk gede Or he did any other dede; He herd the servise of the day And sethin to the knyght gan say, "Sir," he said, "now most I wend, Lenger here dar I noght lende; Til other place byhoves me fare." Than had the knyght ful mekel care; He said, "Syr, dwells a litel thraw For luf of Gawayn that ye knaw; Socore us now or ye wende. I sal yow gif withowten ende Half my land with toun and toure, And ye wil help us in this stoure." Sir Ywayn said, "Nai, God forbede That I sold tak any mede." Than was grete dole, so God me glade, To se the sorow that thai made. Of tham Sir Ywayn had grete peté; Him thoght his hert myght breke in thre, For in grete drede ay gan he dwell For the mayden in the chapell. For, sertes, if sho war done to ded, Of him war than none other rede Bot oither he sold hymselven sla Or wode ogain to the wod ga.    Ryght with that thare come a grome And said tham that geant come: "Yowre sons bringes he him byforn, Wel nere naked als thai war born." With wreched ragges war thai kled And fast bunden; thus er thai led. The geant was bath large and lang And bare a levore of yren ful strang; Tharwith he bet tham bitterly. Grete rewth it was to here tham cry; Thai had no thing tham forto hyde. A dwergh gode on the tother syde, He bare a scowrge with cordes ten; Tharewith he bet tha gentil men Ever on ane als he war wode. Efter ilka band brast out the blode; And when thai at the walles were, He cried loud that men myght here, "If thou wil have thi sons in hele, Deliver me that damysele. I sal hir gif to warisowne Ane of the foulest quisteroun, That ever yit ete any brede. He sal have hir maydenhede. Thar sal none other lig hir by Bot naked herlotes and lowsy." When the lord thir wordes herd, Als he war wode for wa he ferd. Sir Ywayn than that was curtays, Unto the knyght ful sone he sais: "This geant es ful fers and fell And of his wordes ful kruell; I sal deliver hir of his aw Or els be ded within a thraw. For, sertes, it war a misaventure That so gentil a creature Sold ever so foul hap byfall To be defouled with a thrall." Sone was he armed, Sir Ywayn; Tharfore the ladies war ful fayn. Thai helpid to lace him in his wede, And sone he lepe up on his stede. Thai prai to God that grace him grant Forto sla that foul geant. The drawbrigges war laten doun, And forth he rides with his lioun. Ful mani sari murnand man Left he in the kastel than, That on thaire knese to God of might Praied ful hertly for the knyght.    Syr Ywayn rade into the playne, And the geant come hym ogayne. His levore was ful grete and lang And himself ful mekyl and strang; He said, "What devil made the so balde Forto cum heder out of thi halde? Whosoever the heder send, Lufed the litel, so God me mend. Of the he wald be wroken fayn." "Do forth thi best," said Sir Ywayn. Al the armure he was yn, Was noght bot of a bul-skyn. Sir Ywayn was to him ful prest, He strake to him in middes the brest. The spere was both stif and gode - Whare it toke bit, outbrast the blode. So fast Sir Ywayn on yt soght, The bul-scyn availed noght. The geant stombild with the dynt, And unto Sir Ywayn he mynt, And on the shelde he hit ful fast, It was mervayl that it myght last. The levore bended tharwithall, With grete force he lete it fall, The geant was so strong and wight, That never for no dint of knyght Ne for batayl that he sold make, Wald he none other wapyn take. Sir Ywain left his spere of hand And strake obout him with his brand, And the geant mekil of mayn Strake ful fast to him ogayn, Til at the last within a throw He rest him on his sadelbow; And that parcayved his lioun, That his hevid so hanged doun, He hopid that hys lord was hyrt, And to the geant sone he styrt. The scyn and fless bath rafe he down Fro his hals to hys cropoun; His ribbes myght men se onane, For al was bare unto bane. At the lyown oft he mynt, Bot ever he lepis fro his dynt, So that no strake on him lyght. By than was Ywain cumen to myght, Than wil he wreke him if he may. The geant gaf he ful gude pay; He smate oway al his left cheke, His sholder als of gan he kleke, That both his levore and his hand Fel doun law opon the land. Sethin with a stoke to him he stert And smate the geant unto the hert: Than was nane other tale to tell, Bot fast unto the erth he fell, Als it had bene a hevy tre. Than myght men in the kastel se Ful mekil mirth on ilka side. The gates kest thai opyn wyde; The lord unto Syr Ywaine ran, Him foloud many a joyful man; Also the lady ran ful fast, And hir doghter was noght the last. I may noght tel the joy thai had; And the foure brether war ful glad, For thai war out of bales broght. The lord wist it helpid noght At pray Sir Ywayn for to dwell, For tales that he byfore gan tell. Bot hertly with his myght and mayn He praied him forto cum ogayn And dwel with him a litel stage, When he had done hys vassage. He said, "Sir, that may I noght do; Bileves wele, for me bus go." Tham was ful wo - he wald noght dwell - Bot fain thai war that it so fell.    The neghest way than gan he wele, Until he come to the chapele. Thare he fand a mekil fire And the mayden with lely lire In hyr smok was bunden fast Into the fire forto be kast. Unto himself he sayd in hy And prayed to God almyghty, That he sold for his mekil myght Save fro shame that swete wight. "Yf thai be many and mekil of pryse, I sal let for no kouwardise; For with me es bath God and right, And thai sal help me forto fight. And my lyon sal help me - Than er we foure ogayns tham thre." Sir Ywayn rides and cries then, "Habides, I bid yow, fals men! It semes wele that ye er wode, That wil spill this sakles blode. Ye sal noght so, yf that I may." His lyown made hym redy way. Naked he saw the mayden stand Bihind hir bunden aither hand: Than sighed Ywain wonder-oft, Unnethes might he syt oloft. Thare was no sembland tham bitwene, That ever owther had other sene. Al obout hyr myght men se Ful mykel sorow and grete peté Of other ladies that thare were, Wepeand with ful sory chere. "Lord," thai sayd, "what es oure gylt? Oure joy, oure confort sal be spilt. Who sal now oure erandes say? Allas, who sal now for us pray?" Whils thai thus karped, was Lunet On knese byfore the prest set, Of hir syns hir forto schrive. And unto hir he went bylive, Hir hand he toke, and up sho rase; "Leman," he sayd, "whore er thi fase?" "Sir, lo tham yonder in yone stede Bideand until I be ded; Thai have demed me with wrang. Wel nere had ye dwelt over lang! I pray to God He do yow mede That ye wald help me in this nede." Thir wordes herd than the steward; He hies him unto hir ful hard. He said, "Thou lies, fals woman! For thi treson ertow tane. Sho has bitraied hir lady, And, sir, so wil sho the in hy. And tharfore, syr, by Goddes dome, I rede thou wend right als thou com; Thou takes a ful febil rede, If thou for hir will suffer ded." Unto the steward than said he, "Who so es ferd, I rede he fle; And, sertes, I have bene this day, Whare I had ful large pay; And yit," he sayd, "I sal noght fail." To tham he waged the batayl. "Do oway thi lioun," said the steward, "For that es noght oure forward. Allane sal thou fight with us thre." And unto him thus answerd he, "Of my lioun no help I crave; I ne have none other fote-knave; If he wil do yow any dere, I rede wele that ye yow were." The steward said, "On alkins wise Thi lyoun, sir, thou most chastise, That he do here no harm this day, Or els wend forth on thi way; For hir warand mai thou noght be, Bot thou allane fight with us thre. Al thir men wote, and so wote I, That sho bitrayed hir lady. Als traytures sal sho have hyre, Sho be brent here in this fire." Sir Ywayn sad, "Nai, God forbede!" (He wist wele how the soth gede.) "I trow to wreke hir with the best.' He bad his lyoun go to rest; And he laid him sone onane Doun byfore tham everilkane; Bitwene his legges he layd his tail And so biheld to the batayl.    Al thre thai ride to Sir Ywayn, And smertly rides he tham ogayn; In that time nothing tint he, For his an strake was worth thaires thre. He strake the steward on the shelde, That he fel doun flat in the felde; Bot up he rase yit at the last And to Sir Ywayn strake ful fast. Tharat the lyoun greved sare; No lenger wald he than lig thare. To help his mayster he went onane; And the ladies everilkane, That war thare forto se that sight, Praied ful fast ay for the knight.    The lyoun hasted him ful hard, And sone he come to the steward. A ful fel mynt to him he made: He bigan at the shulder-blade, And with his pawm al rafe he downe Bath hauberk and his actoune And al the fless doun til his kne, So that men myght his guttes se; To ground he fell so al torent Was thare no man that him ment. The lioun gan hym sla. Than war thai bot twa and twa, And, sertanly, thare Sir Ywayn Als with wordes did his main Forto chastis hys lyowne; Bot he ne wald na more lig doun. The liown thoght, how so he sayd, That with his help he was wele payd. Thai smate the lyoun on ilka syde And gaf him many woundes wide. When that he saw hys lyoun blede, He ferd for wa als he wald wede, And fast he strake than in that stoure, Might thare none his dintes doure. So grevosly than he bygan That doun he bare bath hors and man. Thai yald tham sone to Sir Ywayn, And tharof war the folk ful fayne; And sone quit to tham thaire hire, For both he kest tham in the fire And said, "Wha juges men with wrang, The same jugement sal thai fang." Thus he helpid the maiden ying, And sethin he made the saghtelyng Bitwene hyr and the riche lady.    Than al the folk ful hastily Proferd tham to his servise To wirship him ever on al wise. Nane of tham al wist bot Lunet That thai with thaire lord war met. The lady prayed him als the hend That he hame with tham wald wende Forto sojorn thare a stownd, Til he wer warist of his wound. By his sare set he noght a stra, Bot for his lioun was him wa. "Madame," he said, "sertes, nay, I mai noght dwel, the soth to say." Sho said, "Sir, sen thou wyl wend, Sai us thi name, so God the mend." "Madame," he said, "bi Saint Symoun, I hat the Knight with the Lyoun." Sho said, "We saw yow never or now, Ne never herd we speke of yow." "Tharby," he sayd, "ye understand, I am noght knawen wide in land." Sho said, "I prai the forto dwell, If that thou may, here us omell." If sho had wist wele wha it was, She wald wele lever have laten him pas; And tharfore wald he noght be knawen Both for hir ese and for his awyn. He said, "No lenger dwel I ne may; Beleves wele and haves goday. I prai to Crist, hevyn kyng, Lady, len yow gude lifing, And len grace, that al yowre anoy May turn yow unto mykel joy." Sho said, "God grant that it so be." Unto himself than thus said he, "Thou ert the lok and kay also Of al my wele and al my wo."    Now wendes he forth and morning mase, And nane of tham wist what he was, Bot Lunet that he bad sold layn, And so sho did with al hir mayne. Sho cunvayd him forth on his way; He said, "Gude leman, I the pray, That thou tel to no moder son, Who has bene thi champion; And als I pray the, swete wight, Late and arly thou do thi might With speche unto my lady fre Forto make hir frende with me. Sen ye er now togeder glade, Help thou that we war frendes made." "Sertes, sir," sho sayd, "ful fayn Thareobout wil I be bayn; And that ye have done me this day, God do yow mede, als he wele may."    Of Lunet thus his leve he tase, Bot in hert grete sorow he hase; His lioun feled so mekill wa, That he ne myght no ferrer ga. Sir Ywayn puld gres in the felde And made a kouche opon his shelde; Thareon his lyoun laid he thare, And forth he rides and sighes sare; On his shelde so he him led. Than was he ful evyl sted. Forth he rides by frith and fell, Til he come to a fayre castell. Thare he cald and swith sone The porter has the gates undone, And to him made he ful gude chere. He said, "Sir, ye er welcum here." Syr Ywain said, "God do the mede, For tharof have I mekil nede." Yn he rade right at the gate; Faire folk kepid hym tharate. Thai toke his shelde and his lyoun, And ful softly thai laid it doun; Sum to stabil led his stede, And sum also unlaced his wede.    Thai talde the lord than of that knyght; And sone he and his lady bryght And thaire sons and doghters all Come ful faire him forto kall; Thai war ful fayn he thore was sted. To chaumber sone thai have him led; His bed was ordand richely, And his lioun thai laid him by. Him was no mister forto crave, Redy he had what he wald have. Twa maydens with him thai laft That wele war lered of lechecraft; The lordes doghters both thai wore That war left to kepe hym thore. Thai heled hym everilka wound, And hys lyoun sone made thai sownd. I can noght tel how lang he lay; When he was helyd he went his way.    Bot whils he sojorned in that place, In that land byfel this case. A litil thethin in a stede A grete lord of the land was ded. Lifand he had none other ayre Bot two doghters that war ful fayre. Als sone als he was laid in molde, The elder sister sayd sho wolde Wend to court sone als sho myght Forto get hir som doghty knyght Forto win hir al the land And hald it haley in hir hand. The yonger sister saw sho ne myght Have that fell until hir right, Bot if that it war by batail; To court sho wil at ask cownsayl. The elder sister sone was gare, Unto the court fast gan sho fare. To Sir Gawayn sho made hir mane, And he has granted hyr onane, "Bot yt bus be so prevely, That nane wit bot thou and I. If thou of me makes any yelp, Lorn has thou al my help." Than efter on the tother day Unto kourt come the tother may, And to Sir Gawayn sone sho went And talde unto him hir entent; Of his help sho him bysoght. "Sertes," he sayd, "that may I noght." Than sho wepe and wrang hir handes; And right with that come new tithandes, How a knyght with a lyoun Had slane a geant ful feloun. The same knight thare talde this tale That Syr Ywayn broght fra bale That had wedded Gawayn sister dere. Sho and hir sons war thare infere; Thai broght the dwergh, that be ye balde, And to Sir Gawayn have thai talde How the knyght with the lyowne Delivred tham out of presowne, And how he for Syr Gawayn sake Gan that batayl undertake, And als how nobilly that he wroght. Sir Gawayn said, "I knaw him noght." The yonger mayden than alsone Of the king askes this bone To have respite of fourti dais, Als it fel to landes lays. Sho wist thare was no man of main That wald fyght with Sir Gawayn; Sho thoght to seke by frith and fell The knyght that sho herd tham of tell. Respite was granted of this thing; The mayden toke leve at the king And sethen at al the baronage, And forth sho went on hir vayage.    Day ne nyght wald sho noght spare; Thurgh al the land fast gan sho fare, Thurgh castel and thurgh ilka toun To seke the knight with the lyown: He helpes al in word and dede, That unto him has any nede. Sho soght hym thurgh al that land, Bot of hym herd sho na tythand. Na man kouth tel hir whare he was. Ful grete sorow in hert sho has. So mikel murning gan sho make That a grete sekenes gan sho take. Bot in hir way right wele sho sped. At that kastell was sho sted Whare Sir Ywayn are had bene Helid of his sekenes clene. Thare sho was ful wele knawen And als welcum als til hyr awyn; With alkyn gamyn thai gan hir glade, And mikel joy of hir thai made. Unto the lord sho tald hyr case, And helping hastily sho hase.    Stil in lecheing thare sho lay; A maiden for hir toke the way For to seke yf that sho myght In any land here of that knyght; And that same kastel come sho by, Whare Ywayn wedded the lavedy; And fast sho spird in ylk sesown Efter the knight with the lioun. Thai tald hir how he went tham fra, And also how thay saw him sla Thre nobil knyghtes for the nanes That faght with him al at anes. Sho said, "Par charité, I yow pray, If that ye wate, wil ye me say, Whederward that he es went?" Thai said, for soth, thai toke na tent; "Ne here es nane that the can tell, Bot if it be a damysell, For whas sake he heder come, And for hir the batayl he name. We trow wele that sho can the wis; Yonder in yone kyrk sho ys; Tharfore we rede to hyr thou ga." And hastily than did sho swa. Aither other ful gudeli gret, And sone she frayned at Lunet If sho kouth ani sertan sayne. And hendly answerd sho ogayne, "I sal sadel my palfray And wend with the forth on thi way And wis the als wele als I can." Ful oft sithes thanked sho hir than.    Lunet was ful smertly gare, And with the mayden forth gan sho fare. Als thai went, al sho hyr talde, How sho was taken and done in halde, How wikkedly that sho was wreghed, And how that trayturs on hir leghed, And how that sho sold have bene brent, Had noght God hir socore sent Of that knight with the lyoun: "He lesed me out of presoun." Sho broght hir sone into a playn, Whare sho parted fra Sir Ywayn; Sho said, "Na mare can I tel the, Bot here parted he fra me. How that he went wate I no mare; Bot wounded was he wonder-sare. God that for us sufferd wounde. Len us to se him hale and sownde. No lenger with the may I dwell; Bot cumly Crist that heried hell, Len the grace that thou may spede Of thine erand als thou has nede." Lunet hastily hies hir home, And the mayden sone to the kastel come Whare he was helid byforehand. The lord sone at the gate sho fand With knyghtes and ladies grete cumpani; Sho haylsed tham al ful hendely, And ful fayre praied sho to tham then If thai couth thai sold hyr ken Whare sho myght fynd in toure or toun A kumly knyght with a lyoun. Than said the lord, "By swete Jhesus, Right now parted he fra us; Lo here the steppes of his stede, Evyn unto him thai wil the lede."    Than toke sho leve and went hir way, With sporrs sho sparid noght hir palfray; Fast sho hyed with al hyr myght, Until sho of him had a syght And of hys lyoun that by him ran. Wonder joyful was sho than, And with hir force sho hasted so fast That sho overtoke him at the last. Sho hailsed him with hert ful fayn, And he hir hailsed fayre ogayn. Sho said, "Sir, wide have I yow soght, And for my self ne es it noght, Bot for a damysel of pryse That halden es both war and wise. Men dose to hir ful grete outrage, Thai wald hir reve hyr heritage; And in this land now lifes none That sho traystes hyr opone Bot anly opon God and the, For thou ert of so grete bounté; Thorgh help of the sho hopes wele To win hyr right everilka dele. Scho sais no knyght that lifes now Mai help hir half so wele als thou; Gret word sal gang of thi vassage, If that thou win hir heritage. For thoght sho toke slike sekenes sare, So that sho might travail no mare, I have yow soght on sydes sere. Tharfore yowre answer wald I here, Whether ye wil with me wend, Or elswhare yow likes to lend." He said, "That knyght that idil lies Oft sithes winnes ful litel pries. Forthi mi rede sal sone be tane: Gladly with the wil I gane, Wheder so thou wil me lede, And hertly help the in thi nede. Sen thou haves me so wide soght, Sertes, fail the sal I noght."    Thus thaire wai forth gan thai hald Until a kastel that was cald The Castel of the Hevy Sorow. Thare wald he bide until the morow; Thare to habide him thoght it best, For the son drogh fast to rest. Bot al the men that thai with met, Grete wonder sone on tham thai set And said, "Thou wreche, unsely man, Whi wil thou here thi herber tane? Thou passes noght without despite." Sir Ywain answerd tham als tyte And said, "For soth, ye er unhende An unkouth man so forto shende; Ye sold noght say hym velany, Bot if ye wist encheson why." Thai answerd than and said ful sone, "Thou sal wit or to-morn at none." Syr Ywaine said, "For al yowre saw Unto yon castel wil I draw." He and his lyoun and the may Unto the castel toke the way. When the porter of tham had sight, Sone he said unto the knight, "Cumes forth," he said, "ye al togeder! Ful ille hail er ye cumen heder." Thus war thai welkumd at the gate, And yit thai went al in tharate; Unto the porter no word thai said. A hal thai fand ful gudeli graid, And als Sir Ywaine made entré, Fast bisyde him than saw he A proper place and faire, iwis, Enclosed obout with a palis. He loked in bitwix the trese, And many maidens thare he sese Wirkand silk and gold-wire; Bot thai war al in pover atire. Thaire clothes war reven on evil arai; Ful tenderly al weped thai. Thaire face war lene and als unclene, And blak smokkes had thai on bidene; Thai had mischefs ful manifalde Of hunger, of threst, and of calde; And ever onane thai weped all, Als thai wald to water fall. When Ywaine al this understode, Ogayn unto the gates he gode; Bot thai war sperred ferli fast With lokkes that ful wele wald last. The porter kepid tham with his main And said, "Sir, thou most wend ogain; I wate thou wald out at the gate, Bot thou mai noght by na gate. Thi herber es tane til to-morow, And tharfore getes thou mekill sorow. Omang thi fase here sted ertow." He said, "So have I bene or now And past ful wele; so sal I here. Bot, leve frend, wiltou me lere Of thise maidens what thai are, That wirkes al this riche ware?" He said, "If thou wil wit trewly, Forthermare thou most aspy." "Tharfore," he said, "I sal noght lett." He soght and fand a dern weket, He opind it and in he gede. "Maidens," he said, "God mot yow spede, And als He sufferd woundes sare, He send yow covering of yowre care, So that ye might mak merier chere." "Sir," thai said, "God gif so were." "Yowre sorow," he said, "unto me say, And I sal mend it, yf I may." Ane of tham answerd ogayne And said, "The soth we sal noght layne; We sal yow tel or ye ga ferr, Why we er here and what we err. Sir, ye sal understand That we er al of Maydenland. Oure kyng opon his jolité Passed thurgh many cuntré Aventures to spir and spy Forto asay his owen body. His herber here anes gan he ta; That was biginyng of oure wa. For heryn er twa champions; Men sais thai er the devil sons, Geten of a woman with a ram; Ful many man have thai done gram. What knight so herbers here a nyght, With both at ones bihoves him fight. So bus the do, by bel and boke; Allas, that thou thine thus here toke. Oure king was wight himself to welde And of fourtene yeres of elde, When he was tane with tham to fyght; Bot unto tham had he no myght, And when he saw him bud be ded, Than he kouth no better rede, Bot did him haly in thaire grace And made tham sureté in that place, Forto yeld tham ilka yere, So that he sold be hale and fere, Threty maidens to trowage, And al sold be of hegh parage And the fairest of his land; Herto held he up his hand. This ilk rent byhoves hym gyf, Als lang als the fendes lyf, Or til thai be in batayl tane, Or els unto thai be al slane. Than sal we pas al hethin quite, That here suffers al this despite. Bot herof es noght for speke; Es none in werld that us mai wreke. We wirk here silver, silk, and golde, Es none richer on this molde, And never the better er we kled, And in grete hunger er we sted; For al that we wirk in this stede, We have noght half oure fil of brede; For the best that sewes here any styk, Takes bot foure penys in a wik, And that es litel wha som tase hede, Any of us to kleth and fede. Ilkone of us withouten lesyng Might win ilk wike fourty shilling; And yit, bot if we travail mare, Oft thai bete us wonder sare. It helpes noght to tel this tale, For thare bese never bote of oure bale. Oure maste sorow, sen we bigan, That es that we se mani a man, Doghty dukes, yrels, and barouns, Oft sithes slane with thir champiowns; With tham to-morn bihoves the fight." Sir Ywayn said, "God, maste of myght, Sal strenkith me in ilka dede Ogains tha devils and al thaire drede; That lord deliver yow of yowre fase." Thus takes he leve and forth he gase.    He passed forth into the hall, Thare fand he no man him to call; No bewtese wald thai to him bede, Bot hastily thai toke his stede And also the maydens palfray, War served wele with corn and hay. For wele thai hoped that Sir Ywayn Sold never have had his stede ogayn. Thurgh the hal Sir Ywain gase Intil ane orcherd playn pase; His maiden with him ledes he. He fand a knyght under a tre; Opon a clath of gold he lay. Byfor him sat a ful fayre may; A lady sat with tham infere. The mayden red at thai myght here, A real romance in that place, Bot I ne wote of wham it was. Sho was bot fiftene yeres alde; The knyght was lord of al that halde, And that mayden was his ayre; Sho was both gracious, gode, and fare. Sone, when thai saw Sir Ywaine, Smertly rase thai hym ogayne, And by the hand the lord him tase, And unto him grete myrth he mase. He said, "Sir, by swete Jhesus, Thou ert ful welcum until us." The mayden was bowsom and bayne Forto unarme Syr Ywayne; Serk and breke bath sho hym broght, That ful craftily war wroght Of riche cloth soft als the sylk And tharto white als any mylk. Sho broght hym ful riche wedes to were, Hose and shose and alkins gere. Sho payned hir with al hir myght To serve him and his mayden bright. Sone thai went unto sopere, Ful really served thai were With metes and drinkes of the best, And sethin war thai broght to rest. In his chaumber by hym lay His owin lyoun and his may.    At morn, when it was dayes lyght, Up thai rase and sone tham dyght. Sir Ywayn and hys damysele Went ful sone til a chapele, And thare thai herd a mes in haste That was sayd of the Haly Gaste. Efter Mes ordand he has Forth on his way fast forto pas; At the lord hys leve he tase, And grete thanking to him he mase. The lord said, "Tak it to na greve, To gang hethin yit getes thou na leve. Herein es ane unsely law, That has bene used of ald daw And bus be done for frend or fa. I sal do com byfor the twa Grete serjantes of mekil myght; And, whether it be wrang or right, Thou most tak the shelde and spere Ogaynes tham the forto were. If thou overcum tham in this stoure, Than sal thou have al this honoure And my doghter in mariage, And also al myne heritage." Than said Sir Ywayn, "Als mot I the, Thi doghter sal thou have for me; For a king or ane emparoure May hir wed with grete honoure." The lord said, "Here sal cum na knyght, That he ne sal with twa champions fight; So sal thou do on al wise, For it es knawen custum assise." Sir Ywaine said, "Sen I sal so, Than es the best that I may do To put me baldly in thaire hend And tak the grace that God wil send." The champions sone war forth broght. Sir Ywain sais, "By Him me boght, Ye seme wele the devils sons, For I saw never swilk champions." Aither broght unto the place A mikel rownd talvace And a klub ful grete and lang, Thik fret with mani a thwang; On bodies armyd wele thai ware, Bot thare hedes bath war bare. The lioun bremly on tham blist; When he tham saw ful wele he wist That thai sold with his mayster fight. He thoght to help him at his myght; With his tayl the erth he dang, For to fyght him thoght ful lang. Of him a party had thai drede; Thai said, "Syr knight, thou most nede Do thi lioun out of this place For to us makes he grete manace, Or yelde the til us als creant." He said, "That war noght mine avenant." Thai said, "Than do thi beste oway, And als sone sal we samyn play." He said, "Sirs, if ye be agast, Takes the beste and bindes him fast." Thai said, "He sal be bun or slane, For help of him sal thou have nane. Thi self allane sal with us fight, For that es custume and the right." Than said Sir Ywain to tham sone: "Whare wil ye that the best be done?" "In a chamber he sal be loken With gude lokkes ful stifly stoken." Sir Ywain led than his lioun Intil a chamber to presoun; Than war bath tha devils ful balde, When the lioun was in halde. Sir Ywayn toke his nobil wede And dight him yn, for he had nede; And on his nobil stede he strade, And baldely to tham bath he rade. His mayden was ful sare adred, That he was so straitly sted, And unto God fast gan sho pray Forto wyn him wele oway. Than strake thai on him wonder sare With thaire clubbes that ful strang ware; Opon his shelde so fast thai feld That never a pece with other held; Wonder it es that any man Might bere the strakes that he toke than. Mister haved he of socoure, For he come never in swilk a stoure; Bot manly evyr with al his mayn And graithly hit he tham ogayn; And als it telles in the boke, He gaf the dubbil of that he toke.    Ful grete sorow the lioun has In the chameber whare he was; And ever he thoght opon that dede, How he was helpid in his nede, And he might now do na socowre To him that helpid him in that stoure; Might he out of the chamber breke, Sone he walde his maister wreke. He herd thaire strakes that war ful sterin, And yern he waytes in ilka heryn, And al was made ful fast to hald. At the last he come to the thriswald; The erth thare kest he up ful sone, Als fast als foure men sold have done If thai had broght bath bill and spade; A mekil hole ful sone he made. Yn al this was Sir Ywayn Ful straitly parred with mekil payn, And drede he had, als him wele aght, For nowther of tham na woundes laght. Kepe tham cowth thai wonder wele That dintes derid tham never a dele; It was na wapen that man might welde, Might get a shever out of thaire shelde. Tharof cowth Ywayn no rede, Sare he douted to be ded; And also his damysel Ful mekil murnyng made omell, And wele sho wend he sold be slane, And, sertes, than war hir socore gane. Bot fast he stighteld in that stowre, And hastily him come socowre.    Now es the lioun outbroken, His maister sal ful sone be wroken. He rynnes fast with ful fell rese, Than helpid it noght to prai for pese! He stirt unto that a glotowne, And to the erth he brayd him downe. Than was thare nane obout that place, That thai ne war fayn of that faire chace. The maiden had grete joy in hert; Thai said, "He sal never rise in quert." His felow fraisted with al his mayn To raise him smertly up ogayn; And right so als he stowped doun, Sir Ywain with his brand was boun, And strake his nek-bane right insonder, Thareof the folk had mekil wonder. His hevid trindeld on the sand: Thus had Ywain the hegher hand. When he had feld that fowl feloun, Of his stede he lighted down. His lioun on that other lay: Now wil he help him, if he may. The lioun saw his maister cum, And to hys part he wald have som. The right sholder oway he rase, Both arm and klob with him he tase, And so his maister gan he wreke. And, als he might, yit gan he speke And said, "Sir knight, for thi gentry, I pray the have of me mercy; And by scill sal he mercy have, What man so mekely wil it crave; And tharfore grantes mercy to me." Sir Ywain said, "I grant it the, If that thou wil thi selven say, That thou ert overcumen this day." He said, "I grant, withowten fail, I am overcumen in this batail For pure ataynt and recreant." Sir Ywayn said, "Now I the grant Forto do the na mare dere, And fro my liown I sal the were; I grant the pese at my powere."    Than come the folk ful faire infere; The lord and the lady als Thai toke him faire obout the hals; Thai saide, "Sir, now saltou be Lord and syre in this cuntré, And wed oure doghter, for sertayn." Sir Ywain answerd than ogayn; He said, "Sen ye gif me hir now, I gif hir evyn ogayn to yow; Of me forever I grant hir quite. Bot, sir, takes it til no despite; For, sertes, whif may I none wed, Until my nedes be better sped. Bot this thing, sir, I ask of the, That al thir prisons may pas fre. God has granted me this chance, I have made thaire delyverance." The lord answerd than ful tyte And said, "I grant the tham al quite. My doghter als, I rede, thou take; Sho es noght worthi to forsake." Unto the knyght Sir Ywain sais, "Sir, I sal noght hir mysprays; For sho es so curtays and hende, That fra hethin to the werldes ende Es no king ne emparoure Ne no man of so grete honowre, That he ne might wed that bird bright; And so wald I, if that I myght. I wald hir wed with ful gude chere, Bot, lo, I have a mayden here; To folow hir now most I nede, Wheder so sho wil me lede. Tharfore at this time haves goday." He said, "Thou passes noght so oway, Sen thou wil noght do als I tell, In my prison sal thou dwell." He said, "If I lay thare al my live, I sal hir never wed to wive; For with this maiden most I wend Until we cum whare sho wil lend." The lord saw it was no bote Obout that mater more to mote. He gaf him leve oway to fare, Bot he had lever he had bene thare.    Sir Ywayn takes than forth infere Al the prisons that thare were; Bifore hym sone thai come ilkane, Nerehand naked and wo-bigane; Stil he hoved at the gate, Til thai war went al forth thareate. Twa and twa ay went thai samyn And made omang tham mikel gamyn. If God had cumen fra hevyn on hight And on this mold omang tham light, Thai had noght made mare joy, sertain, Than thai made to Syr Ywayne. Folk of the toun com him biforn And blissed the time that he was born; Of his prowes war thai wele payd: "In this werld es none slike," thai said. Thai cunvayd him out of the toun With ful faire processiowne. The maidens than thaire leve has tane, Ful mekil myrth thai made ilkane; At thaire departing prayed thai thus: "Oure lord God, mighty Jhesus, He help yow, sir, to have yowre will And shilde yow ever fra alkyns ill.' "Maidens," he said, "God mot yow se And bring yow wele whare ye wald be." Thus thaire way forth er thai went: Na more unto tham wil we tent.    Sir Ywayn and his faire may Al the sevenight traveld thai. The maiden knew the way ful wele Hame until that ilk castele Whare sho left the seke may; And theder hastily come thai. When thai come to the castel gate, Sho led Sir Ywain yn thareate. The mayden was yit seke lyand; Bot, when thai talde hir this tithand, That cumen was hir messagere And the knyght with hyr infere, Swilk joy thareof sho had in hert, Hir thoght that sho was al in quert. Sho said, "I wate my sister will Gif me now that falles me till." In hir hert sho was ful light; Ful hendly hailsed sho the knight: "A, sir," sho said, "God do the mede, That thou wald cum in swilk a nede." And al that in that kastel were Welkumd him with meri chere. I can noght say, so God me glade, Half the myrth that thai him made. That night he had ful nobil rest With alkins esment of the best. Als sone als the day was sent, Thai ordaind tham and forth thai went.    Until that town fast gan thai ride Whare the kyng sojorned that tide; And thare the elder sister lay, Redy forto kepe hyr day. Sho traisted wele on Sir Gawayn, That no knyght sold cum him ogayn; Sho hopid thare was no knyght lifand, In batail that might with him stand. Al a sevenight dayes bidene Wald noght Sir Gawayn be sene, Bot in ane other toun he lay; For he wald cum at the day Als aventerous into the place, So that no man sold se his face; The armes he bare war noght his awyn, For he wald noght in court be knawyn. Syr Ywayn and his damysell In the town toke thaire hostell; And thare he held him prevely, So that none sold him ascry. Had thai dwelt langer by a day, Than had sho lorn hir land for ay. Sir Ywain rested thare that nyght, And on the morn he gan hym dyght; On slepe left thai his lyowne And wan tham wightly out of toun. It was hir wil and als hys awyn At cum to court als knyght unknawyn.    Sone obout the prime of day Sir Gawayn fra thethin thare he lay, Hies him fast into the felde Wele armyd with spere and shelde; No man knew him, les ne more, Bot sho that he sold fight fore. The elder sister to court come Unto the king at ask hir dome. Sho said, "I am cumen with my knyght Al redy to defend my right. This day was us set sesowne, And I am here al redy bowne; And sen this es the last day, Gifes dome and lates us wend oure way. My sister has al sydes soght, Bot, wele I wate, here cums sho noght; For, sertainly, sho findes nane, That dar the batail undertane This day for hir forto fyght Forto reve fra me my right. Now have I wele wonnen my land Withowten dint of knightes hand. What so my sister ever has mynt, Al hir part now tel I tynt: Al es myne to sell and gyf, Als a wreche ay sal sho lyf. Tharfore, Sir King, sen it es swa, Gifes yowre dome and lat us ga."    The king said, "Maiden, think noght lang." (Wele he wist sho had the wrang.) "Damysel, it es the assyse, Whils sityng es of the justise, The dome nedes thou most habide; For par aventure it may bityde, Thi sister sal cum al bi tyme, For it es litil passed prime." When the king had tald this scill, Thai saw cum rideand over a hyll The yonger sister and hir knyght; The way to town thai toke ful right. (On Ywains bed his liown lay, And thai had stollen fra him oway.) The elder maiden made il chere, When thai to court cumen were. The king withdrogh his jugement, For wele he trowed in his entent That the yonger sister had the right, And that sho sold cum with sum knyght; Himself knew hyr wele inogh. When he hir saw, ful fast he logh; Him liked it wele in his hert, That he saw hir so in quert. Into the court sho toke the way, And to the king thus gan sho say, "God that governs alkin thing, The save and se, Syr Arthure the Kyng, And al the knyghtes that langes to the, And also al thi mery menye. Unto yowre court, sir, have I broght An unkouth knyght that ye knaw noght; He sais that sothly for my sake This batayl wil he undertake; And he haves yit in other land Ful felle dedes under hand; Bot al he leves, God do him mede, Forto help me in my nede." Hir elder sister stode hyr by, And tyl hyr sayd sho hastily: "For Hys luf that lens us life, Gif me my right withouten strife, And lat no men tharfore be slayn." The elder sister sayd ogayn: "Thi right es noght, for al es myne, And I wil have yt mawgré thine. Tharfore, if thou preche al day, Here sal thou no thing bere oway." The yonger mayden to hir says, "Sister, thou ert ful curtays, And gret dole es it forto se, Slike two knightes als thai be, For us sal put thamself to spill. Tharefore now, if it be thi will, Of thi gude wil to me thou gif Sumthing that I may on lif." The elder said, "So mot I the, Who so es ferd, I rede thai fle Thou getes right noght, withowten fail, Bot if thou win yt thurgh batail." The yonger said, "Sen thou wil swa, To the grace of God here I me ta; And Lord als He es maste of myght, He send his socore to that knyght That thus in dede of charité This day antres hys lif for me."    The twa knightes come bifor the king And thare was sone ful grete gedering; For ilka man that walk might, Hasted sone to se that syght. Of tham this was a selly case, That nowther wist what other wase; Ful grete luf was bitwix tham twa, And now er aither other fa; Ne the king kowth tham noght knaw, For thai wald noght thaire faces shew. If owther of tham had other sene, Grete luf had bene tham bitwene; Now was this a grete selly That trew luf and so grete envy, Als bitwix tham twa was than, Might bath at anes be in a man. The knightes for thase maidens love Aither til other kast a glove, And wele armed with spere and shelde Thai riden both forth to the felde; Thai stroke thaire stedes that war kene; Litel luf was tham bitwene. Ful grevosly bigan that gamyn, With stalworth speres strake thai samen. And thai had anes togeder spoken, Had thare bene no speres broken. Bot in that time bitid it swa, That aither of tham wald other sla. Thai drow swerdes and swang obout, To dele dyntes had thai no dout. Thaire sheldes war shiferd and helms rifen, Ful stalworth strakes war thare gifen. Bath on bak and brestes thare War bath wounded wonder sare; In many stedes might men ken The blode out of thaire bodies ren. On helmes thai gaf slike strakes kene That the riche stanes al bidene And other gere that was ful gude, Was overcoverd al in blode. Thaire helmes war evel brusten bath, And thai also war wonder wrath. Thaire hauberkes als war al totorn Both bihind and also byforn; Thaire sheldes lay sheverd on the ground. Thai rested than a litil stound Forto tak thaire ande tham till, And that was with thaire bother will. Bot ful lang rested thai noght, Til aither of tham on other soght; A stronge stowre was tham bitwene, Harder had men never sene. The king and other that thare ware, Said that thai saw never are So nobil knightes in no place So lang fight bot by Goddes grace. Barons, knightes, squiers, and knaves Said, "It es no man that haves So mekil tresore ne nobillay, That might tham quite thaire dede this day." Thir wordes herd the knyghtes twa; It made tham forto be more thra.    Knightes went obout gude wane To mak the two sisters at ane: Bot the elder was so unkinde, In hir thai might no mercy finde; And the right that the yonger hase, Puttes sho in the kinges grace. The king himself and als the quene And other knightes al bidene And al that saw that dede that day, Held al with the yonger may; And to the king al thai bisoght, Whether the elder wald or noght, That he sold evin the landes dele And gif the yonger damysele The half or els sum porciowne, That sho mai have to warisowne, And part the two knightes intwyn. "For, sertis," thai said, "it war grete syn, That owther of tham sold other sla, For in the werld es noght swilk twa. When other knightes," said thai, "sold sese, Thamself wald noght asent to pese." Al that ever saw that batayl, Of thaire might had grete mervayl. Thai saw never under the hevyn Twa knightes that war copled so evyn. Of al the folk was none so wise, That wist whether sold have the prise; For thai saw never so stalworth stoure, Ful dere boght thai that honowre. Grete wonder had Sir Gawayn, What he was that faght him ogain; And Sir Ywain had grete ferly, Wha stode ogayns him so stifly. On this wise lasted that fight Fra midmorn unto mirk night; And by that tyme, I trow, thai twa War ful weri and sare alswa. Thai had bled so mekil blode, It was grete ferly that thai stode; So sare thai bet on bak and brest, Until the sun was gone to rest; For nowther of tham wald other spare. For mirk might thai than na mare, Tharfore to rest thai both tham yelde.    Bot or thai past out of the felde, Bitwix tham two might men se Both mekil joy and grete peté. By speche might no man Gawain knaw, So was he hase and spak ful law; And mekil was he out of maght For the strakes that he had laght. And Sir Ywain was ful wery. Bot thus he spekes and sais in hy: He said, "Syr, sen us failes light, I hope it be no lifand wight, That wil us blame if that we twin. For of al stedes I have bene yn, With no man yit never I met That so wele kowth his strakes set; So nobil strakes has thou gifen That my sheld es al toreven." Sir Gawayn said, "Sir, sertanly, Thou ert noght so weri als I; For if we langer fightand were, I trow I might do the no dere. Thou ert no thing in my det Of strakes that I on the set." Sir Ywain said, "In Cristes name, Sai me what thou hat at hame." He said, "Sen thou my name wil here And covaites to wit what it were, My name in this land mani wote; I hat Gawayn, the King son Lote." Than was Sir Ywayn sore agast; His swerde fra him he kast. He ferd right als he wald wede, And sone he stirt down of his stede. He said, "Here es a fowl mischance For defaut of conisance. A, sir," he said, "had I the sene, Than had here no batel bene; I had me yolden to the als tite, Als worthi war for descumfite." "What man ertou?" said Sir Gawain. "Syr," he said, "I hat Ywayne, That lufes the more by se and sand Than any man that es lifand, For mani dedes that thou me did, And curtaysi ye have me kyd. Tharfore, sir, now in this stoure I sal do the this honowre: I grant that thou has me overcumen And by strenkyth in batayl nomen." Sir Gawayn answerd als curtays: "Thau sal noght do, sir, als thou sais; This honowre sal noght be myne, Bot, sertes, it aw wele at be thine; I gif it the here withowten hone And grantes that I am undone." Sone thai light, so sais the boke, And aither other in armes toke And kissed so ful fele sithe; Than war thai both glad and blithe. In armes so thai stode togeder, Unto the king com ridand theder; And fast he covait forto here Of thir knightes what thai were, And whi thai made so mekil gamyn, Sen thai had so foghten samyn.    Ful hendli than asked the king, Wha had so sone made saghteling Bitwix tham that had bene so wrath And aither haved done other scath. He said, "I wend ye wald ful fain Aither of thow have other slayn, And now ye er so frendes dere." "Sir King," said Gawain, "Ye sal here. For unknawing and hard grace Thus have we foghten in this place; I am Gawayn, yowre awin nevow, And Sir Ywayn faght with me now. When we war nere weri, iwys, Mi name he frayned and I his; When we war knawin, sone gan we sese. Bot, sertes, sir, this es no lese, Had we foghten forth a stownde, I wote wele I had gone to grounde; By his prowes and his mayne, I wate, for soth, I had bene slayne." Thir wordes menged al the mode Of Sir Ywain als he stode; "Sir," he said, "so mot I go, Ye knaw yowreself it es noght so. Sir King," he said, "withowten fail, I am overcumen in this batayl." "Nai, sertes," said Gawain, "bot am I." Thus nowther wald have the maistri, Bifore the king gan aither grant, That himself was recreant. Than the king and hys menye Had bath joy and grete peté; He was ful fayn thai frendes were, And that thai ware so funden infere. The kyng said, "Now es wele sene That mekil luf was yow bitwene." He said, "Sir Ywain, welkum home!" For it was lang sen he thare come. He said, "I rede ye both assent To do yow in my jujement; And I sal mak so gude ane ende That ye sal both be halden hende." Thai both assented sone thartill To do tham in the kynges will, If the maydens wald do so. Than the king bad knyghtes two Wend efter the maydens bath, And so thai did ful swith rath.    Bifore the kyng when thai war broght He tald unto tham als him thoght, "Lystens me now, maydens hende, Yowre grete debate es broght til ende; So fer forth now es it dreven That the dome most nedes be gifen, And I sal deme yow als I can." The elder sister answerd than: "Sen ye er king that us sold were, I pray yow do to me na dere." He said, "I wil let for na saw Forto do the landes law. Thi yong sister sal have hir right, For I se wele that thi knyght Es overcumen in this were." Thus said he anely hir to fere, And for he wist hir wil ful wele, That sho wald part with never a dele. "Sir," sho said, "sen thus es gane, Now most I, whether I wil or nane, Al yowre cumandment fufill, And tharfore dose right als ye will." The king said, "Thus sal it fall, Al yowre landes depart I sall. Thi wil es wrang, that have I knawin. Now sal thou have noght bot thin awin, That es the half of al bydene." Than answerd sho ful tite in tene And said, "Me think ful grete outrage To gif hir half myne heritage." The king said, "For yowre bother esse In hir land I sal hir sese, And sho sal hald hir land of the And to the tharfore mak fewté; Sho sal the luf als hir lady, And thou sal kith thi curtaysi, Luf hir efter thine avenant, And sho sal be to the tenant." This land was first, I understand, That ever was parted in Ingland. Than said the king, "Withowten fail, For tha luf of that batayl Al sisters that sold efter bene Sold part the landes tham bitwene."    Than said the king to Sir Gawain, And als he prayed Sir Ywain Forto unlace thaire riche wede; And tharto had thai bath grete nede. Als thai thusgate stod and spak, The lyown out of the chamber brak. Als thai thaire armurs sold unlace, Come he rinand to that place. Bot he had, or he come thare, Soght his mayster whideware; And ful mekil joy he made When he his mayster funden hade. On ilka side than might men se, The folk fast to toun gan fle; So war thai ferd for the liowne Whan thai saw him theder bown. Syr Ywain bad tham cum ogayn And said, "Lordinges, for sertayn, Fra this beste I sal yow were, So that he sal do yow no dere. And, sirs, ye sal wele trow mi sawes; We er frendes and gude felaws. He es mine and I am his; For na tresore I wald him mys."    When thai saw this was sertain, Than spak thai al of Sir Ywaine: "This es the Knight with the Liown, That es halden of so grete renown. This ilk knight the geant slogh; Of dedis he es doghty inogh." Than said Sir Gawayn sone in hi, "Me es bitid grete velani; I cri the mercy, Sir Ywayne, That I have trispast the ogayn. Thou helped mi syster in hir nede; Evil have I quit the now thi mede. Thou anterd thi life for luf of me; And als mi sister tald of the, Thou said that we ful fele dawes Had bene frendes and gude felawes. Bot wha it was ne wist I noght. Sethen have I had ful mekil thoght, And yit for al that I do can, I cowth never here of na man, That me coth tell toure ne town Of the Knight with the Liown." When thai had unlaced thaire wede, Al the folk toke ful gode hede, How that beste his bales to bete Likked his maister both hend and fete. Al the men grete mervail hade Of the mirth the lyown made. When the knightes war broght to rest, The king gert cum sone of the best Surgiens that ever war sene Forto hele tham both bidene.    Sone so thai war hale and sownd, Sir Ywayn hies him fast to found. Luf was so in his hert fest, Night ne day haved he no rest, Bot he get grace of his lady, He most go wode or for luf dy. Ful preveli forth gan he wende Out of the court fra ilka frende. He rides right unto the well, And thare he thinkes forto dwell. His gode lyon went with him ay, He wald noght part fro him oway. He kest water opon the stane: The storm rase ful sone onane, The thoner grisely gan outbrest; Him thoght als al the grete forest And al that was obout the well Sold have sonken into hell.    The lady was in mekyl dout, For al the kastel walles obout Quoke so fast that men might think That al into the erth sold synk. Thai trembled fast, both boure and hall, Als thai unto the grund sold fall. Was never in this mydlerde In no kastell folk so ferde. Bot wha it was wele wist Lunet; Sho said, "Now er we hard byset; Madame, I ne wate what us es best, For here now may we have no rest. Ful wele I wate ye have no knight, That dar wende to yowre wel and fight With him that cumes yow to asaile; And, if he have here no batayle Ne findes none yow to defend, Yowre lose bese lorn withouten end." The lady said sho wald be dede; "Dere Lunet, what es thi rede? Wirk I wil by thi kounsail, For I ne wate noght what mai avail." "Madame," sho said, "I wald ful fayn Kownsail yow if it might gayn. Bot in this case it war mystere To have a wiser kownsaylere." And by desait than gan sho say, "Madame, par chance this ilk day Sum of yowre knightes mai cum hame And yow defend of al this shame." "A," sho said, "Lunet, lat be; Speke namore of my menye; For wele I wate, so God me mend, I have na knight me mai defend. Tharfore my kownsail bus the be, And I wil wirk al efter the, And tharfore help at al thi myght." "Madame," sho said, "had we that knyght, That es so curtais and avenant And has slane the grete geant, And als that the thre knightes slogh, Of him ye myght be trist inogh. Bot forthermar, madame, I wate, He and his lady er at debate And has bene so ful many day; And als I herd hym selvyn say, He wald bileve with no lady Bot on this kownand utterly, That thai wald mak sertayn ath To do thaire might and kunyng bath Trewly both by day and naght To mak him and hys lady saght."    The lady answerd sone hir tyll, "That wil I do with ful gode will; Unto the here mi trowth I plight That I sal tharto do mi might." Sho said, "Madame, be ye noght wrath, I most nedes have of yow an ath, So that I mai be sertayn." The lady said, "That will I fayn." Lunet than riche relikes toke, The chalis and the mes-boke; On knese the lady down hir set (Wit ye wele, than liked Lunet), Hir hand opon the boke sho laid, And Lunet althus to hir said, "Madame," sho said, "Thou salt swere here That thou sal do thi powere Both dai and night opon al wise Withouten anikyns fayntise To saghtel the Knyght with the Liown And his lady of grete renowne, So that no faut be funden in the." Sho said, "I grant, it sal so be." Than was Lunet wele paid of this; The boke sho gert hir lady kys.    Sone a palfray sho bistrade, And on hir way fast forth sho rade. The next way ful sone sho nome, Until sho to the well come. Sir Ywain sat under the thorn, And his lyoun lay him byforn. Sho knew him wele by his lioun, And hastily sho lighted downe; And als sone als he Lunet sagh, In his hert than list him lagh. Mekil mirth was when thai met, Aither other ful faire has gret. Sho said, "I love grete God in trone That I have yow fun so sone, And tithandes tel I yow biforn; Other sal my lady be manesworn On relikes and bi bokes brade, Or els ye twa er frendes made." Sir Ywain than was wonder glad For the tithandes that he had; He thanked hir ful fele sith That sho wald him slike gudenes kith, And sho him thanked mekill mare For the dedes that war done are. So ather was in other det, That both thaire travail was wele set. He sais, "Talde thou hir oght my name?" Sho said, "Nay, than war I to blame. Thi name sho sal noght wit for me, Til ye have kyssed and saghteld be."    Than rade thai forth toward the town, And with tham ran the gude lyoun. When thai come to the castel gate, Al went thai in thareat. Thai spak na word to na man born Of al the folk thai fand byforn. Als sone so the lady herd sayn, Hir damisel was cumen ogayn And als the liown and the knight, Than in hert sho was ful lyght; Scho covait ever of al thing Of him to have knawlageing. Sir Ywain sone on knese him set, When he with the lady met. Lunet said to the lady sone, "Take up the knight, madame, have done! And, als covenand bituix us was, Makes his pese fast or he pas." Than did the ladi him up rise; "Sir," sho said, "opon al wise, I wil me pain in al thing Forto mak thi saghtelyng Bitwix the and thi lady bryght." "Medame," said Lunet, "That es right, For nane bot ye has that powere. Al the soth now sal ye here. Madame," sho said, "es noght at layn, This es my lord Sir Ywaine. Swilk luf God bitwix yow send, That may last to yowre lives end."    Than went the lady fer obak, And lang sho stode or that sho spak. Sho said, "How es this, damysele? I wend thou sold be to me lele, That makes me, whether I wil or noght, Luf tham that me wa has wroght, So that me bus be forsworn Or luf tham that wald I war lorn. Bot, whether it torn to wele or ill, That I have said, I sal fulfill." Wit ye wele, than Sir Ywaine Of the wordes was ful fayne. "Madame," he said, "I have miswroght, And that I have ful dere boght. Grete foly I did, the soth to say, When that I past my terme-day; And, sertes, wha so had so bityd, Thai sold have done right als I dyd. Bot I sal never thorgh Goddes grace At mi might do more trispase; And what man so wil mercy crave, By Goddes law he sal it have." Than sho asented saghteling to mak; And sone in arms he gan hir tak And kissed hir ful oft sith: Was he never are so blith.    Now has Sir Ywain ending made Of al the sorows that he hade. Ful lely lufed he ever hys whyfe And sho him als hyr owin life; That lasted to thaire lives ende. And trew Lunet, the maiden hende, Was honord ever with ald and ying And lifed at hir owin likyng. Of alkins thing sho has maystri, Next the lord and the lady. Al honord hir in toure and toun. Thus the Knyght with the Liown Es turned now to Syr Ywayn And has his lordship al ogayn; And so Sir Ywain and his wive In joy and blis thai led thaire live. So did Lunet and the liown Until that ded haves dreven tham down.    Of tham na mare have I herd tell Nowther in rumance ne in spell. Bot Jhesu Criste for his grete grace In hevyn-blis grante us a place To bide in, if his wills be. Amen, amen, par charité.     Ywain and Gawayn thus makes endyng God grant us all hys dere blyssing.     Amen.	mankind; (see note) protects; from     Who listens to     little while; (see note)     conquered as; (see note) more was most worthy prudent every such feast; truth (see note) Cardiff; (see note) after dinner; pavilions             great excellence Each one; great pleasure as; were assembled boasted feats; hunting lived truly know valor every; wherever; went strong; every fight got accounted for; between; (see note) among; is love; abandoned; (see note)     words (i.e., writing) nothing but lies mouth; sweet     stop             Such praise; spearpoint     (see note)         one and all         (see note) guard (see note) there     much strength; (see note) was called situation battle; been in     opened     Suddenly Before rose; haste (see note) tongue a scold boast; bold Oh quick to rise; ever been think; you shall be accounted To be most courteous shall ignorant arose     sluggishness; (see note) deigned (refused); (see note) arisen; seen know quit such speech (see note) judgment knew; coming [behave] courteously Account it no discourtesy             made bothers; reproach; (see note) bite; (see note)     contemptuously as it seems to me badger; (see note) fares evil words; ever been; (see note) since; are; fierce             quickly     should; marvelous incident you deprive us; entertainment     command; speak as; intended courteous wise     what redounds to my discredit wicked     whole heartily; meanwhile         owe                 bitter nagging always     wholeheartedly cease But happened     reluctant; (see note) angry     to     such tidings like 'em Recounted; realm         who; takes goes treasury each good sirs, gracious lady; story; (see note) Trivial tales shall lies; make you laugh saw six years ago rode; hear seek     wood; path; (see note) assure prickly branches; quince tree Nearly great pain clearing parapet broad     moat heartily     falcon same; assured castle hailed; could courteous speech stirrup dismount straight away taken     times before; ceased thither     give him recompense                 rectangular board; (see note) neither of iron nor wood; (see note)     hammer     Thrice group of followers                 Lovelier lived Courteously             clothed purple cloth lining         courteously close by     tongue; eloquent demeanor gladly lived; person should gracious manner         food ease     prepare lacked; meat pie; roast meat host could not [more happily] recall previously     might                     provided comfort         host     seek came upon by chance leopard boar sorrowfully; cry out; roar drew (see note) clearing; ugliest creature     loathsome ugly wonderful club     head saddle-horse; ox Down to; hair; (see note) more     two; handbreadths like an elephant bigger than a giant broad snubbed bushes boar's tusks     fault firmly fixed club wondrous garment was dressed in wool; linen clothing     asked         thought; had no ability to understand         are you, fair friend     Such instantly     alone each one                 bound; confinement fearless     Alone skill By my faith         dare to move coming seize     make; such hear             readily Alive; more     should soon be torn to pieces; (see note) Unless; are         straight away         test; try     direct         Go You won't get away so easily same path             hangs; basin                         quickly     shall see; tidings         hear; thunderblasts; (see note) you blowing fiercely such sleet with difficulty brightness; flame Hardly harm         proclaim     rode By [the time] when; should         grew since; (see note)         always may harm it basin cold emerald; stone     standing aloft shone pleasing both; light-hearted at once poured     thunder such With difficulty violent bitter; before from driven Scarcely lightning smote expected to have [been] burned; hot at a loss death     I expect I'd never have left that place suffered wounds (i.e., Christ) moment     wondrously joyous comfort unhappiness             bough; leaf                 heard; such Unless; same [song]         As if More; either (see note) dressed         hastened bold commanded; immediately such injury storms; from wrong shall pay for it     against reason         defend myself as soon as broke strength the length of my spear knew; larger     death; suffer foal Defeated (check-mated) stunned; time     horse then woe; knew not quickly     farther fear I should suffer worse; (see note) heaven didn't know; went promised; (see note) host; gracious to     armor; also     lodging maiden coming were; glad reception         learned             In this manner found (see note) close kinsman     brother not to have [told me] earlier weird event at once avenged you; same     sharply spoke; insolent is     (see note)     again saddlepad place yourself well goes     ere you go of every friend; (see note)     vex you frightened predicted [it]; (see note) mood; (see note) are you crazy (see note) That; tongue; cease shame discourteous (i.e., Christ); torment if should accuse it quickly             instantly courteously Always spoke         Stupid; shamed discourteous also whosoever reproaches; against fight     Let; wholly not at all (see note)         rose themselves for him one and all himself     understood every bit plainly; occurrence     happened         father's soul; (see note) same from thence; fortnight (see note) man; next to; (see note) Quickly; go         made known     eager for; journey squires None was displeased         displeasure going     should                 would he (i.e., Ywain) not await Become; happen By himself alone         Ere     path briars hinder fortress told         also; churl of Cain's; (see note)                     household found squire quickly also; powerful armor     Outside; await you hasten quickly journey (see note)         know; secrecy should ask you loyally; lie         own because of; informed upon (see note)     avenge his cousin with all armor prepared advised equipment; [to] him outside Off dressed; armor     straight away             treacherous crossing; (see note) of necessity [had to] sure         hastened         many times over     lodged before (see note) churl should crossed himself times; ceased             at a good pace (i.e., rapidly)             soon; blew up thunder; (see note)     birds             as rough appearance; fierce manner approached     either; sorely     split splintered in [in the saddle]             pieces flew ire     Either; blows offered budge from bravely; made known     coats of mail; see; (see note)             Coats of mail are; split     stoutly         made known; strength then skull knew plan strength (see note) (Ywain); (the knight)     resolutely dead or alive city living         truly; (see note) Finely; (see note) steel sharpened treacherous snare         iron gate instantly cantle (rear part of saddle)     spurs off; heels; cut mourning more as he thought to; free quickly; (see note) so     from         makes; much moan great; make from trapped (stoked)             shut courteous; she Michael poor hostelry shall; certainly     Certain; killed     attendants everyone foes; (see note) cause your death are; eager     since they know; (see note) (see note) shall not; counsel slay me         sore beset         owe you on a mission to young [as] discreet     alighted courteous     alone; reward you     repay know even though you are the son of King Uriene         counsel believe     lend you; (see note)             protects         Harm such     Know these; joyful         quilt     wanted pleasure eat; gladly         cloth; bread     cup; in     need         everywhere eager Ere; corpse             afraid Nor move; place [place]         body church; bury hear; grievous     seek you afterwards         despite their best efforts     foes     every go what is agreeable [to] you Even if                 horse     (see note) unrelieved             knew knew             to upper rooms; each (see note)     who once made a movement Toward; to     broke each one avenge; lord's death     bier as such out burst gone mad hair; pulled out in a swoon     Cross Were     corpse rode (the dead knight's) steed; strong (the dead knight's) armor shield; equipped     sorrow         in every way     Also long away takes goes how are you doing?; (see note) expect; frightened     upset; before Sweetheart     look; while     would     then; opened up secret window             region             gracious dwell     generous; on earth worthy speech times; (see note) (see note)     mighty of power Sore     foe altogether dare longing     burial of; gracious wholly; (see note)     lady-in-waiting were close to her weeping permeated; skin loyal psalter; gold psalms heed of any     (i.e., he did not expect success)         blame; wrongfully Since any scheme     gracious eyes alive could; beauty situated; time (see note) place death         reverie; (see note)     have you fared         ailed him then (see note) allow from prison reward                     Become Nobly; hence depart         assistance         knew; (see note) busily gone         whatsoever (Lunette); (Alundyne's) governess manager of her affairs             so persistently (all the time) grief every King Arthur's Don't you recall (see note)             stop pay attention     offer                 lost (see note) every part     bold to woe; break into pieces swiftly hence         reasons with them as if she didn't care     wrong             child destroy (Lunete)     such gentility Believe     earth should be         (see note)         if you will bear me no spite; (see note) give me reassurance             grow angry     secret more; know except the two of us; (see note) two     one; other; slay those won without fail powerful         the other Hither; own fortress know; brave     speaks of; before me truth Instantly get out; eye As I hope to prosper promised abuse     (Lunette)     (Alundyne)     defend defend against; army         reproach (Lunette) blame thinks Love strength of mind and will     arose         Hanging; head     Every bit; then     I sorely regret spoke gruffly to you     would; hear whence know; amiss direct fearlessly; cease     dare guarantee living most gracious     What is his name             pleased; news; (see note)     Bring him here; (see note)     sooner; sooner longs sorely         dwelling; hence     fast-running pretty quick tomorrow (see note)     (see note) hasten in every way repaid reward     promise before Meanwhile             each one undertake It is necessary that     It is necessary that     say; death counsel     times     question     at once                 quickly Quickly she drew; bath clothed; afterwards Trimmed with fur; fastened occasion jewelry; [other]                         as you hope to have joy cease         hither secretly knows         joy knows fearless pay close attention         (it can't be hidden) arrival; joyful     went         It seemed to her he was without fault; (see note)     drew laughed Ill luck befall such     you need not     fault         situation Salados the Rouse's death; (see note)                     (see note) death; caused to advantage gracious     since you place yourself         meek once; look             more; gracious         Loyally                         Such; taken are quickly advised                 marry     Since I needs must oversee Tell; judge     thereto (see note)                     accomplished her intention         Before him arose         each one             wish; engaged wedded immediately; very     all came to her     Before; court     Danger increases is already prepared within; fortnight followers have are able know     courageous protect women; withstand no battle             take heed     in turn contented; speech to         (i.e., Are you contented with)             before         high lineage bold in knightly deeds         know     sweetly contented                     presence pledge (see note)             nobility             death gracious this [lord] (i.e., Ywain)         wedding festivities lasted     everyone         such kinsman             shut up     Once look             promise hear same; assured Unless; put in confinement     of you         (see note) at once             Thought violently     Prepared himself readily     safe armor mounted                     Arrogantly requests instantly     approached                     who companion; goes forth avenged     (see note)         the length     stuck injury quickly Kay's horse; haste presented [it to]         to the     woe; pleased                 what rightly belongs to you                     wondrous joyful             grevious moment                             what he had done                     all the details (see note) company     To dwell; newly acquired property         (i.e., Ywain)     many times             went arrival         There's not a living soul; mouth delight could tell gracious Ordered; attend dressed receive received; decor             of fear (reverence) many     banners; every dancing flute         all together         brave purple clothing         decked out with precious lovetokens     people; among [themselves]                         dismounted     together                         embraced enfold bihold     among a number have one         together         among     Eight; eight     every pleasure; move; (see note) maiden     diverse hawking             taken dwell; (see note) to; go As long as (see note)     together     Greatly         lies warming himself     support renown             delay follow; every     use frequent travel together                                             took     embrace beloved     health         truly         accompany companions seek To follow arms for a while (i.e., men would think me a joke)                 Only if entire follow             owe         before you leave             fail         to                     exclude these two [possibilities]     every bit     precious trouble             hold foes; manifold taken     taken     (see note)     any kind of circumstance Give; ever give it to you Care for     made ready in haste                 (see note)                 followers; young         fail hold         worthily performed     together     Chester; (see note)                     praise goes                 hurried     feasts     remembered beloved     ruined     grief be remedied Barely; from weeping just as he was remembering all this                         "May God favor you"         except condemned wicked rascal     aware of; deceit expected                 dearly pay for             health harmed                 treated her viciously creature         loved         upstart             as soon as     lept         went (see note) dismal countenance     became; (see note)         totally confused destroyer (evil, poison)     lost utterly         evil spirit possessed him woe; crazy forest; took knew where he went lurked As if he were                         assault robbed Every     Flesh; abundance     lived roots         woods hermitage hermit; cognizant of     thought; gone mad; time     fastened Terrified by; crazy                 such; such     in abundance previously such ate (see note) forest                 prepared         way         flayed; boiled every; (see note) boiled             place     for several years afterwards; toiled (see note)     ladies-in-waiting     (see note) know went heed     places moment wound                 person     come to pass known to be     to look upon wept                 on him some woe has happened With; afflicted     stir up go crazy if; good health     foe; protect great harm If; (see note)         hence             ointment (see note)     ointment gone mad                 box ointment                             shirt; undergarment take girdle             bound went         everywhere     Against fail             clothe; prepare     from; (see note)     wretchedly                     Long                 walk put     desire grief abate         let [on] as knew     he cried to her by name                         would be to me most desirable     don't know by what circumstance     (see note)     prepared guide don't know; woe go hence gracious     attend you     horse's back bridge box afterwards; hastened             inquired about; ointment box; lost nearly as a result; (see note) by the Cross     Exactly (All the truth) bridge should pass middle     sprawling box     quickly prepared     doom ruined     make glad     injury     Betake thyself     loathsome caused him to be for strengthening     requisitioned; wrought powerful (see note)     powerful squires an abundance of provisions     dons     encounters landed such a blow also went             each blow; slew     ten times as many         inspired greatest                         Doubtless ointment; well applied See; spurs; (see note) see; many foes slays     foes quickly     may God grant lord death plan     entertainment companions fierce     Alive         time     blocked         yielded himself (the earl); pledged         himself; prison put himself     head left                     taken                 prisoner power made             build; both tower; fortress         Homage; gracious woman promise; inscribed pledges     stay                             earnestly     will [take]; as reward                 with all of us use; stay     gracious     (see note)     narrow pathway hideous straightest; takes         attacked; lion (the dragon)     lion     ready help the lion held     jowl     Asunder; larynx jowl head still hung bites             Ready         placed himself forefeet could Even though paid homage low; licked     beast; pity             followed always             very sorely smell Unto; signs     nature demanded it     permission took distance; arrow's flight barren doe     bit hot doe; cast; across sack of meal     observed         lodging; boughs     struck bough doe     for     drew near enough lacked also he lacked         you can be certain     same lodging place     paced; (see note) protect     Stayed (see note)                 swooning once again     stuck stuck Very nearly; sorry piece of work pierced neck; bit when roared; gone insane hideous a roar frightened thought; advise             leaped up; promise                 that [instant] arose [the lion] saw [Ywain] Eagerly he licked repeatedly             grief             entirely     eager         person lost     lament even so was one all his mourning     manner; (see note)         go forth sorriest         equal homeless                 wealth domain                     must; judgment (doom) foes reason             accuse         burned; (see note)     enemies     are recover from one is gone; know other; dwelling misfortune is called     Because of him; put to death                 killed discern             accuse             counsel sentenced; death                 foolishly fool's             waged immediately                     fair     (see note) (see note) very angry                                         it shall be ask conceal         almighty victory         promise         avenge you against woods     ridden; while                         because of     you're obliged to leave outside bliss; (see note) part assure equally together remain go away                             unarmed; afterwards dressed costly manner     ever would; turn such; (see note)                     if it be your will mourning     is all because you're here         dwells; (see note)             pillaged; stolen     dwells         must     reason refused his marrying creature alive     oath; (see note)                 Unless                 every bit                     Giant company         make known; prowess         assist         known                                                     If attend         noon                 lady     together     truly                                                                     betray realm                         guest             approach                     went; (see note) Before; deed                 I'm obliged to go     while longer     Help         If; battle     reward grief; make me glad                         plan either; slay become insane again in the wilderness At that instant; lad told them         dressed securely     bar; iron beat pity to hide themselves with dwarf went     beat those as if he were mad After each stroke burst         health     give as a prize scullions ate     lie down contemptible persons     As if; woe; became (fared) then who     ferocious; bold     power short while             slave     joyous armor                             knees (see note) (see note)     steel pole             sent you here     avenged gladly     (i.e., the giant)     at him quickly; (see note) the middle of     pierced         blow aimed a blow         pole             should         sword giant great of strength     for a while (i.e., rested himself)         thought     skin; flesh; tore neck; buttocks     bone aimed a blow (i.e., the lion dodges his blows)             It cost the giant dearly     off did he snatch     low; (see note) thrust                                                     evil fate     To; stay             time knightly obligations (Ywain) I must go     joyous; came about closest; take         flesh white as a lily smock     in haste             great in excellence desist; cowardice             (see note) (see note) Stay     innocent person's blood                     barely; set up on [his horse] semblance                             messages     spoke priest confess (Ywain) went quickly     where are     Waiting judged me falsely Nearly grant you reward     These hastens; cruelly             haste heaven advise counsel         Whoever's afraid I suggest     satisfaction             agreement                 harm advise; you protect yourself every way restrain         guarantee     these; know; know     reward         stood plan to avenge her                             wasted one         yet         lie there                 (see note)     fierce blow     paws; tore mail; jerkin (leather vest) flesh     torn to pieces mourned             best             satisfied (The remaining two assailants)     (i.e., Ywain) would go mad battle endure         yielded     paid; reward         receive young afterwards; peace (see note)                     courteously     awhile healed wound; straw                 Tell     am called; (see note) before                 among     rather     ease     remain     grant; (see note)                 lock; key     makes [his] lament; (see note)     bade; conceal                                     happily Help us to become friends     eager         takes         farther go                 (i.e., the lion) unhappily situated forest; hill     immediately             reward thee                         armor                 there; situated     prepared     did not need anything         learned in medicine were         healthy     healthy (see note)     distance away (see note) heir (see note) buried in the earth                 wholly                 prepared             must; secretly     boast Lost                             tidings     fierce     grief         dwarf; assured                         (see note) instantly boon     laws strength     woodland; hill         (see note)     journey                             tidings             sickness     did she find herself earlier completely     own (people) every kind of pleasure         hath undergoing medical treatment                 lady inquired             occasion all at once             paid no attention             undertook believe; direct you         so Either; greeted quickly she inquired of knew any definite news             guide you as well as     ready             accused against her alleged             released (Lunette)                         Grant     holy; harried         (see note)     (i.e., Ywain) (see note)             knew; make known     noble                                         strength     greeted                 is held to be     rob her of lives trusts; upon only         every bit         prowess     such     various         remain     prize     go                 (see note)             (see note) sun drew         unhappy lodging taken injury quickly ungracious unknown; scorn     reason         talk     maiden                 With much misfortune             prepared             palisade     (see note)         torn         smocks; one and all troubles thirst     As if they would turn to water     went fastened locks defended; strength         any path lodging     foes; you are placed         dear; will you explain to me     goods know find out delay; (see note) concealed gate went                 God grant it!             hide further             pleasure     seek out test once     herein         harm         must     capable of looking after himself; (see note)             that he would be killed plan put himself entirely     each year sound tribute rank         revenue fiends         hence free         avenge         are we clothed are we always         stitch week to whoever takes heed clothe; feed Each one; lying each week unless         relief; suffering greatest         slain by you're obliged to fight     strengthen     foes             kindness; offer             thought         walking quickly leads         maiden in company read so that; hear courtly (royal) romance don't know about whom         heir         they rose to meet him     makes         gracious; willing     Shirt; undergarment                 shoes; all sorts of other clothing tried conscientiously         royally     then             dressed         mass     Mass         makes grievance go hence yet you have no permission unhappy since olden days must be adhered to by shall make [you] come before             fight struggle             prosper on behalf of                 on this occasion established Since     hands         [who] redeemed me         Each great; shield     fastened; thong         fiercely; stared             struck     somewhat [the fiends] were afraid     Remove     defeated honorable for me Then put your beast away together frightened     bound                 put locked firmly closed         fearless     armor                 sore beset                                 Greatly was he in need         readily     double                 assistance         avenge injurious (fierce) eagerly searches in every corner     threshold         pickaxe large     hemmed in ought took; (see note) Protect themselves blows harmed; bit             feared; dead     (see note)         fought; battle help (see note) avenged runs; fierce rush     jumped; vile fellow (glutton) pushed     chase (pursuit) (see note) good health (alive) tried         sword; ready asunder     rolled upper; (see note)                     (i.e., eat) tore club avenge             reason                             To the utmost extent; admitting defeat     injury protect             neck (see note)                             wife         these prisoners (the women in the sweatshops)             released             disparage lovely hence         noble lady                     good day                         dwell avail argue     rather; stayed (see note) prisoners     Nearly lingered     together pleasure     earth; dwelt                 pleased                 each one                     prosperity onwards; (see note) attend                 sick maiden             sick lying news             good health             greeted                                     prepared themselves To at that time         trusted against thought     taken together (i.e., a week)             adventurous                     kept himself secretly inform upon             prepare Asleep         To     thence                     judgment         appointed time         Give judgment                     rob         claimed I proclaim lost     beggar forever shall she live     judgment (i.e., don't presume); (see note) wrong custom     await         dawn reasoned with them                             withheld believed in his heart             laughed     in good spirits                 belong         unknown             many         (see note)                         in spite of                     (see note) in jeopardy         exist on     If you're so afraid, I advise you to flee     Except that you     entrust             hazards (see note) assembly         For; strange knew who; was     each other's foe                 marvel                 (see note)                     together If; once                 fear splintered; helmets split             places; see run     gems everywhere (on their armor)         wretchedly broken             broken     breath the will of them both                     before                 princely wealth; (see note)     These reluctant to stop in great numbers; (see note) at one                             maiden         evenly; divide give     as reward in two                                 matched     which of the two should battle                 (see note)     dark             wonder beat         dark     before             hoarse might taken     quickly we lack     part places     could     split open             injury             are called         know am called         become mad leaps     recognition         yielded myself; quickly         am called             shown me contest         taken             ought well to be yours give it to you here; delay     dismounted     many times             desired to hear     they were so happy     (see note) Who; peace     injury                 bad fortune     nephew     nearly exhausted, truly asked     lie a minute longer             disturbed; heart         (see note)                     defeated             found                             held [to be] courteous thereto             Fetch; both                         judgment must judge     protect injury neglect; speech             conflict only; frighten                                             quickly in anger         the ease of you both (put in legal possession of a feudal holding)     fealty     show honor     (see note)     (see note)             (see note)             thusly         running     far and wide     found                         protect     believe my words                                     quickly come to     trespassed against you         risked     days                                     beast; suffering to abate Licked             brought immediately (see note)     As soon as; healthy hastens quickly to set out Love; steadfast in his heart     Unless     secretly                 away         thunder                                     earth afraid knew                                 renoun will be lost forever     advice                 necessary counselor wile                             it is necessary for you to be             honorable         In; have confidence enough             heard him say himself remain with agreement oath         reconciled                 (see note) oath                             thusly (see note)         any kind of; (see note) reconcile             well pleased made                                     laugh             found     forsworn         (see note)         show     formerly                     reconciled (see note)                                                                 before he goes forth                                 nothing to conceal             aback         loyal         I must be them who wished                     dearly paid for                                 peace             (see note)     wife                                                                 tale                     (see note)