and so is any gift not given with grace. 1500

What kiss you request I will courteously supply,

have what you want or hold off, whichever

the case.’

So bending from above

the fair one kissed his face.

The two then talk of love:

its grief; also its grace.

‘I would like to learn,’ said the noble lady,

‘and please find no offence, but how can it follow

that a lord so lively and young in years, 1510

a champion in chivalry across the country –

and in chivalry, the chiefmost aspect to choose,

as all knights acknowledge, is loyalty in love,

for when tales of truthful knights are told

in both title and text the topic they describe

is how lords have laid down their lives for love,

endured for many days love’s dreadful ordeal,

then vented their feelings with avenging valour

by bringing great bliss to a lady’s bedroom –

and you the most notable of all noble knights, 1520

whose fame goes before him … yes, how can it follow

that twice I have taken this seat at your side

yet you have not spoken the smallest syllable

which belongs to love or anything like it.

A knight so courteous and considerate in his service

really ought to be eager to offer this pupil

some lessons in love, and to lead by example.

Is he actually ignorant, this man of eminence,

or does he deem me too dunce-like to hear of dalliances?

I come 1530

to learn of love and more,

a lady all alone.

Perform for me before

my husband heads for home.’

‘In faith,’ said Gawain, ‘may God grant you fortune.

It gives me great gladness and seems a good game

that a woman so worthy should want to come here

and be happy and good-hearted with a humble knight

unfit for her favours – I am flattered indeed.

But to take on the task of explaining true love 1540

or touch on the topics those love-tales tell of,

with yourself, who I sense has more insight and skill

in the art than I have, or even a hundred

of the likes of me, however long we live,

would be somewhat presumptuous, I have to say.

But to the best of my ability I’ll do your bidding,

bound as I am to honour you for ever

and to serve you as long as our Saviour preserves me!’

So the lady tempted and teased him, trying

to enmesh him in whatever mischief she had in mind. 1550

But fairly and without fault he defended himself,

no evil in either of them, only ecstasy

that day.

At length, when they had laughed,

the woman kissed Gawain.

Politely then she left

and went her own sweet way.

Roused and risen he was ready for Mass.

The meal of the morning was made and served,

then he loitered with the ladies the length of the day 1560

while the lord of the land ranged left and right

in pursuit of that pig which stampeded through the uplands,