XI.
Reading edition
"God preserve thee!" says the Green Knight, "Gawayn," quod þat grene gome, "God þe mot loke! 2240 I-wysse þou art welcom,1 wy3e, to my place, "as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel' & þou hat3 tymed þi trauayl as true2 mon schulde; Thou knowest the covenant between us, & þou knowe3 þe couenaunte3 kest vus by-twene, At þis tyme twelmonyth þou toke þat þe falled, that on New Year's day I should return thy blow 2244 & I schulde at þis nwe 3ere 3eply þe quyte. Here we are alone, & we ar in þis valay, verayly oure one, Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vus like3; Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once." Haf þy3 helme of þy hede, & haf here þy pay; 2248 Busk no more debate þen I þe bede þenne, "When þou wypped of my hede at a wap one." "By God," quoth Sir Gawayne, "I shall not begrudge thee thy will." "Nay, bi God," quod Gawayn, "þat me gost lante, I schal gruch þe no grwe, for grem þat falle3; 2252 Botsty3tel þe vpon on strok, & I schal stonde stylle, & warp þe no wernyng, to worch as þe lyke3, no whare." Then he shows his bare neck, He lened with þe nek, & lutte, 2256 & schewed þat schyre al bare, & lette as he no3t dutte, and appears undaunted. For drede he wolde not dare. 1 welcon, in MS. 2 truee in MS. 3 MS. þy þy.