XII.

Arthur salutes the Green Knight. Þenn Arþour bifore þe hi3 dece þat auenture byholde3, & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer, 252 & sayde, "wy3e, welcum iwys to þis place, [Fol. 94b.] bids him welcome, and invites him to stay awhile. Þe hede of þis ostel Arthour I hat, Li3t 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 hy3e syttes, To wone any quyle in þis won, hit wat3 not myn ernde; Bot for þe los of þe lede is lyft vp so hy3e, & þy bur3 & 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 wy3test & þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde, Preue for to play wyth in oþer pure layke3; & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, 264 & þat hat3 wayned me hider, I-wyis, at þis tyme. 3e may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here, He comes in peace. Þat I passe as in pes, & no ply3t seche; For had I founded in fere, in fe3tyng 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 bry3t, Ande oþer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als, Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer. 272 Bot if þou be so bold as alle burne3 tellen, Þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask, bi ry3t." Arthur assures him that he shall not fail to find an opponent worthy of him. Arthour con onsware, 276 & sayd, "sir cortays kny3t, If þou craue batayl bare, Here fayle3 þou not to fy3t."