men followed their affairs,

and trumpets thrilled and thrummed

as those two tended theirs.

They drank and danced all day and the next 1020

and danced and drank the day after that,

then St John’s Day passed with a gentler joy

as the Christmas feasting came to a close.

Guests were to go in the greyness of dawn,

so they laughed and dined as the dusk darkened,

swaying and swirling to music and song.

Then at last, in the lateness, they upped and left

towards distant parts along different paths.

Gawain offered his goodbyes, but was ushered by his host

to his host’s own chamber and the heat of its chimney, 1030

waylaid by the lord so the lord might thank him

profoundly and profusely for the favour he had shown

in honouring his house at that hallowed season

and lighting every corner of the castle with his character.

‘For as long as I live my life shall be better

that Gawain was my guest at God’s own feast.’

‘By God,’ said Gawain, ‘but the gratitude goes to you.

May the High King of Heaven repay your honour.

Your requests are now this knight’s commands.

I am bound by your bidding, no boon is too high 1040

to say.’

At length his lordship tried

to get his guest to stay.

But proud Gawain replied

he must now make his way.

Then the lord, being curious, made a courteous inquiry

of what desperate deed in the depth of winter

should coax him from Camelot, so quickly and alone,

before Christmas was over in his king’s court.

‘What you ask,’ said the knight, ‘you shall now know. 1050

A most pressing matter prised me from that place:

I myself am summoned to seek out a site

and I have not the faintest idea where to find it.

But find it I must by the first of the year, and not fail

for all the acres in England, so help me Lord.

And in speaking of my quest, I respectfully request

that you tell me, in truth, if you have heard the tale

of a green chapel, or the grounds where a green chapel stands,

or the guardian of those grounds who is coloured green.

For I am bound by a bond agreed by us both 1060

to link up with him there, should I live that long.

As dawn on New Year’s Day draws near,

if God sees fit, I shall face that freak

more happily than I would the most wondrous wealth!

With your blessing, therefore, I must follow my feet.

In three short days my destiny is due,

and I would rather drop dead than default from duty.’

Then laughing out loud the lord said, ‘Relax!

I’ll direct you to your rendezvous when the time is right,

you’ll get to the green chapel, so give up your grieving. 1070

You can bask in your bed, bide your time,

save your fond farewells till the first of the year

and still meet him by mid-morning to do as you may.