then a chorus erupted from the courtiers and clerks:

‘Noel‚’ they cheered, then ‘Noel, Noel.’

‘New Year Gifts!’ the knights cried next

as they pressed forward to offer their presents,

teasing with frivolous favours and forfeits,

till those ladies who lost couldn’t help but laugh,

and the undefeated were far from forlorn. 70

Their merrymaking rolled on in this manner until mealtime,

when, washed and worthy, they went to the table,

and were seated in order of honour, as was apt,

with Guinevere in their gathering, gloriously framed

at her place on the platform, pricelessly curtained

by silk to each side, and canopied across

with French weave and fine tapestry from the far east

studded with stones and stunning gems.

Pearls beyond pocket. Pearls beyond purchase

or price. 80

But not one stone outshone

the quartz of the queen’s eyes;

with hand on heart, no one

could argue otherwise.

But Arthur would not eat until all were served.

He brimmed with ebullience, being almost boyish

in his love of life, and what he liked the least

was to sit still watching the seasons slip by.

His blood was busy and he buzzed with thoughts,

and the matter which played on his mind at that moment 90

was his pledge to take no portion from his plate

on such a special day until a story was told:

some far-fetched yarn or outrageous fable,

the tallest of tales, yet one ringing with truth,

like the action-packed epics of men-at-arms.

Or till some chancer had challenged his chosen knight,

dared him, with a lance, to lay life on the line,

to stare death face to face and accept defeat

should fortune or fate smile more favourably on his foe.

Within Camelot’s castle this was the custom, 100

at feasts and festivals when the fellowship

would meet.

With features proud and fine

he stood there tall and straight,

a king at Christmas time

amid great merriment.

And still he stands there just being himself,

chatting away charmingly, exchanging views.

Good Sir Gawain is seated by Guinevere,

and at Arthur’s other side sits Agravain the Hard Hand,110

both nephews of the king and notable knights.

At the head sat Bishop Baldwin as Arthur’s guest of honour,

with Ywain, son of Urien, to eat beside him.

And as soon as the nobles had sampled the spread

the stalwarts on the benches to both sides were served.

The first course comes in to the fanfare and clamour

of blasting trumpets hung with trembling banners,

then pounding double-drums and dinning pipes,

weird sounds and wails of such warbled wildness

that to hear and feel them made the heart float free.120

Flavoursome delicacies of flesh were fetched in

and the freshest of foods, so many in fact

there was scarcely space to present the stews

or to set the soups in the silver bowls on

the cloth.

Each guest received his share

of bread or meat or broth;

a dozen plates per pair –

plus beer or wine, or both!