XII.

Then the man in green seizes his grim tool. Then þe gome in þe grene grayþed hym swyþe, 2260 Gedere3 yp hys grymme tole, Gawayn to smyte; With all his force he raises it aloft. With alle þe bur in his body he ber hit on lofte, Munt as ma3tyly, as marre hym he wolde; Hade hit dryuen adoun, as dre3 as he atled, 2264 Þer hade ben ded of his dynt, þat do3ty wat3 euer. Bot Gawayn on þat giserne glyfte hym bysyde, As it came gliding down, As hit com glydande adoun, on glode hym to schende, Sir Gawayne shrank a little with his shoulders. & schranke a lytel with þe schulderes, for þe scharp yrne. 2268 Þat oþer schalk wyth a schunt þe schene wythhalde3, The other reproved him, saying, & þenne repreued he þe prynce with mony prowde worde3: "Thou art not Gawayne that is so good esteemed, "Þou art not Gawayn," quod þe gome, "þat is so goud halden, Þat neuer ar3ed for no here, by hylle ne be vale, [Fol. 121b.] for thou fleest for fear before thou feelest harm. 2272 & now þou fles for ferde, er þou fele harme3; Such cowardise of þat kny3t cowþe I neuer here. I never flinched when thou struckest. Nawþer fyked I, ne fla3e, freke, quen þou myntest, Ne kest no kauelacion, in kynge3 hous Arthor, My head flew to my foot, yet I never fled, 2276 My hede fla3 to my fote, & 3et fla3 I neuer; & þou, er any harme hent, ar3e3 in hert, wherefore I ought to be called the better man." Wherfore þe better burne me burde be called þer-fore." "I shunted once," says Gawayne, "but will no more. 2280 Quod G:, "I schunt one3, & so wyl I no more, Bot pa3 my hede falle on þe stone3, I con not hit restore.