Last year, at this time, what was yielded became yours,

and with New Year come you are called to account.

We’re very much alone, beyond view in this valley,

no person to part us – we can do as we please.

Pull your helmet from your head and take what you’re owed.

Show no more struggle than I showed myself

when you severed my spine with a single smite.

‘No,’ said good Gawain, ‘by my life-giving God, 2250

I won’t gripe or begrudge the grimness to come,

so keep to one stroke and I’ll stand stock still,

won’t whisper a word of unwillingness, or one

complaint.’

He bowed to take the blade

and bared his neck and nape,

but, loath to look afraid,

he feigned a fearless state.

Suddenly the green knight summons up his strength,

hoists the axe high over Gawain’s head, 2260

lifts it aloft with every fibre of his life

and begins to bring home a bone-splitting blow.

Had he seen it through as thoroughly as threatened

the man beneath him would have met with his maker.

But glimpsing the axe at the edge of his eye

bringing death earthwards as it arced through the air,

and sensing its sharpness, Gawain shrank at the shoulders.

The swinging axe-man swerved from his stroke,

and reproached the young prince with piercing words:

‘Call yourself good Sir Gawain?’ he goaded. 2270

‘Who faced down every foe in the field of battle

but now flinches with fear at the foretaste of harm?

Never have I known such a namby-pamby knight.

Did I budge or even blink when you aimed the axe,

or carp or quibble in King Arthur’s castle,

or flap when my head went flying to my feet?

But entirely untouched, you are terror-struck.

I’ll be found the better fellow, since you were so feeble

and frail.’

Gawain confessed, ‘I flinched 2280

at first, but will not fail.

Though once my head’s unhitched

it’s off once and for all!’

‘So be brisk with the blow, bring on the blade.

Deal me my destiny and do it out of hand,

and I’ll stand the stroke without shiver or shudder

and be wasted by your weapon. You have my word.’

‘Take this, then,’ said the other, throwing up the axe,

menacing the young man with the gaze of a maniac.

Then he launches his swing but leaves him unscathed, 2290

withholds his arm before harm could be done.

And Gawain was motionless, never moved a muscle,

but stood stone-still, or as still as a tree stump

anchored in the earth by a hundred roots.

Then the warrior in green mocked Gawain again:

‘Now you’ve plucked up your courage I’ll dispatch you properly.

May the honourable knighthood heaped on you by Arthur –

if it proves to be powerful – protect your pretty neck.’

That insulting slur drew a spirited response:

‘Get hacking, then, head-banger, your threats are hollow. 2300

Such huffing and fussing – you’ll frighten your own heart.’

‘By God,’ said the green man, ‘since you speak so grandly