. Page, esquire, and knight : a book of chivalry . ld upon earth. Gawain spurred his horse and rode on untilhe came into a dale. No chapel could he see,but rough, overhanging crags, and high, deso-late banks. It was an ill-looking place. Hedismounted and walked about to see if hemight find a chapel, and he found none. Buthe came to a hollow in the hill, — whether itwas a cave or a crevice he knew not. Verily, quoth Gawain, can this be theGreen Chapel? In faith it is an ugly place,and well suited to witchcraft and magic. As he roamed about he heard a frightfulnoise. It was as if some one were g
. Page, esquire, and knight : a book of chivalry . ld upon earth. Gawain spurred his horse and rode on untilhe came into a dale. No chapel could he see,but rough, overhanging crags, and high, deso-late banks. It was an ill-looking place. Hedismounted and walked about to see if hemight find a chapel, and he found none. Buthe came to a hollow in the hill, — whether itwas a cave or a crevice he knew not. Verily, quoth Gawain, can this be theGreen Chapel? In faith it is an ugly place,and well suited to witchcraft and magic. As he roamed about he heard a frightfulnoise. It was as if some one were grindingon a grindstone. I trow, quoth Gawain,M that is the knight, preparing his gear forme. And he called loudly: Who waitethhere to give me tryst. Now is Gawain any man willeth aught of him, let himcome hither quickly, now or never. THE MEETING 69 Stay, quoth the other, and ye shall havequickly what I promised you. The Green Knight leaped down from acrag, bearing in his hand a mighty ax. It wasthat he was sharpening on the Welcome, Sir Gawain, he cried. Thouhast timed thy coming as befitteth a trueknight. Have off thy helm now, and take thypay. Make no more talking over it than Idid with thee. By God, quoth Gawain, I shall make nocomplaint over what may befall. JO PAGE, ESQUIRE, AND KNIGHT So Gawain bared his neck, and the GreenKnight made ready. With all his force heraised his grim weapon aloft with a feint ofstriking the knight dead. Had the ax fallenstraight it would have slain him. But as itcame gliding down, Gawain shrank a littlewith his shoulders. The other stopped theblade in its course, and reproved him, saying: Thou art not Gawain, who is held so valiant,for thou shrinkest for fear before thou feelesthurt. Such cowardice heard I of him! Myhead fell to my feet, yet I flinched not. M I shrank once, said Gawain, M yet will Ino more, though if my head fall on the stonesI cannot replace it. Have at thee, then, said the other, andheaved aloft his sw
Size: 1813px × 1378px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1910
