He clasps him tight and kisses him three times

with as much emotion as a man could muster.

‘By the Almighty,’ said the master, ‘you must have had luck

to profit such a prize – if the price was right.’

‘Oh fiddlesticks to the fee,’ said the other fellow. 1940

‘As long as I have given the goods which I gained.’

‘By Mary,’ said the master, ‘mine’s a miserable match.

I’ve hunted for hours with nothing to my name

but this foul-stinking fox – fling its fur to the devil –

so poor in comparison with your priceless prizes,

these presents you impart, three kisses perfect

and true.’

‘Enough,’ the knight entreats.

‘I thank you through and through.’

The standing lord then speaks 1950

of how the fox-fur flew!

And with meals and mirth and minstrelsy

they made as much amusement as any mortal could,

and among those merry men and laughing ladies

Gawain and his host got giddy together;

only lunatics and drunkards could have looked more delirious.

Every person present performed party pieces

till the hour arrived when revellers must rest,

and the company in that court heard the call of their beds.

And lastly, in the hall, humbly to his host, 1960

our knight says goodnight and renews his gratitude.

‘Your uncountable courtesies have kept me here

this Christmas – be honoured by the High King’s kindness.

If it suits, I submit myself as your servant.

But tomorrow morning I must make a move;

if you will, as you promised, please appoint some person

to guide me, God willing, towards the green chapel,

where my destiny will dawn on New Year’s Day.

‘On my honour,’ he replied. ‘With hand on heart,

every promise I made shall be put into practice.’ 1970

He assigns him a servant to steer his course,

to lead him through the land without losing time,

to ride the fastest route between forest

and fell.

Gawain will warmly thank

his host in terms that tell;

towards the womenfolk

the knight then waves farewell.

It’s with a heavy heart that guests in the hall

are kissed and thanked for their care and kindness, 1980

and they respond with speeches of the same sort,

commending him to our Saviour with sorrowful sighs.

Then politely he leaves the lord and his household,

and to each person he passes he imparts his thanks

for taking such trouble in their service and assistance

and such attention to detail in attendance of duty.

And every guest is grieved at the prospect of his going,

as if honourable Gawain were one of their own.

By tapering torchlight he was taken to his room

and brought to his bed to be at his rest. 1990

But if our knight sleeps soundly I couldn’t say,

for the matter in the morning might be muddying

his thoughts.

So let him lie and think,

in sight of what he sought.

In time I’ll tell if tricks

work out they way they ought.

FITT IV

Now night passes and New Year draws near,