So stay.

A guide will get you there

at dawn on New Year’s Day.

The place you need is near,

two miles at most away.’

Then Gawain was giddy with gladness, and declared,

‘For this more than anything I thank you thoroughly. 1080

Now my sight is set, and I’ll stay in your service

until that time, attending every task.’

The lord squeezed Gawain’s arm and seated him at his side,

and called for the ladies to keep them company.

There was pleasure aplenty in their private talk:

the lips of the lord ran wild with words,

like the mouth of a madman, not knowing his own mind.

Then speaking to Gawain, he suddenly shouted:

‘You have sworn to serve me, whatever I instruct.

Will you hold to that oath right here and now?’ 1090

‘You may trust my tongue,’ said Gawain, in truth,

‘for within these walls I am servant to your will.’

The lord said warmly, ‘You were weary and worn,

hollow with hunger, harrowed by tiredness,

yet you joined in my revelling right royally every night.

You relax as you like, lie in your bed

until Mass tomorrow, then go to your meal

where my wife will be waiting; she will sit at your side

to accompany and comfort you in my absence from court.

So lounge: 1100

at dawn I’ll rise and ride

to hunt with horse and hound.’

The gracious knight agreed

and, bending low, he bowed.

‘Furthermore,’ said the master, ‘let’s make a pact.

Here’s a wager: what I win in the woods will be yours,

and what you gain while I’m gone you will give to me.

Young sir, let’s swap, and strike a bond,

let a bargain be a bargain, for worse or for better.’

‘By God,’ said Gawain, ‘I agree to the terms 1110

and I find it pleasing that you favour such fun.’

‘Let drink be served and we’ll seal the deal,’

the lord cried loudly, and everyone laughed.

So they revelled and caroused uproariously,

those lords and ladies, for as long as they liked,

then they tired and they slowed and they stood and they spoke

with immaculate exchanges of manners and remarks.

And with parting kisses the party dispersed,

footmen going forward with flaring torches,

and every lord was led at last towards bed, 1120

to dream.

The houseguest and his host

repeat their pact again.

That lord knew more than most

which tricks would entertain!

FITT III

Well before sunrise the servants were stirring;

the guests who were going had called for their grooms

and they scurried to the stables to ready the steeds,

trussing and tying all the trammel and tack.

The highest-ranking nobles got ready to ride, 1130

jumped stylishly to their saddles and seized the reins,

then cantered away on their chosen courses.

The lord of that land was by no means last

to be rigged out for riding with the rest of his men.

After mass he wolfed down a meal, then made