XII.

Arthur salutes the Green Knight. Þenn Arþour bifore þe hiȝ dece þat auenture byholdeȝ, & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer, 252 & sayde, "wyȝe, welcum iwys to þis place, [Fol. 94b.] bids him welcome, and invites him to stay awhile. Þe hede of þis ostel Arthour I hat, Liȝt luflych adoun, & lenge, I þe praye, & quat so þy wylle is, we schal wyt after." The knight says that he will not tarry. 256 "Nay, as help me," quod þe haþel, "he þat on hyȝe syttes, To wone any quyle in þis won, hit watȝ not myn ernde; Bot for þe los of þe lede is lyft vp so hyȝe, & þy burȝ & þy burnes best ar holden, 260 Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde, He seeks the most valiant that he may prove him. Þe wyȝtest & þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde, Preue for to play wyth in oþer pure laykeȝ; & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, 264 & þat hatȝ wayned me hider, I-wyis, at þis tyme. Ȝe may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here, He comes in peace. Þat I passe as in pes, & no plyȝt seche; For had I founded in fere, in feȝtyng wyse, At home, however, he has both shield and spear. 268 I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme boþe, A schelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bryȝt, Ande oþer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als, Bot for I wolde no were, my wedeȝ ar softer. 272 Bot if þou be so bold as alle burneȝ tellen, Þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask, bi ryȝt." Arthur assures him that he shall not fail to find an opponent worthy of him. Arthour con onsware, 276 & sayd, "sir cortays knyȝt, If þou craue batayl bare, Here fayleȝ þou not to fyȝt."