Now, on the subject of supper I’ll say no more 130

as it’s obvious to everyone that no one went without.

Because another sound, a new sound, suddenly drew near,

which might signal the king to sample his supper,

for barely had the horns finished blowing their breath

and with starters just spooned to the seated guests,

a fearful form appeared, framed in the door:

a mountain of a man, immeasurably high,

a hulk of a human from head to hips,

so long and thick in his loins and his limbs

I should genuinely judge him to be a half-giant, 140

or a most massive man, the mightiest of mortals.

But handsome too, like any horseman worth his horse,

for despite the bulk and brawn of his body

his stomach and waist were slender and sleek.

In fact in all features he was finely formed

it seemed.

Amazement seized their minds,

no soul had ever seen

a knight of such a kind –

entirely emerald green. 150

And his gear and garments were green as well:

a tight-fitting tunic, tailored to his torso,

and a cloak to cover him, the cloth fully lined

with smoothly shorn fur clearly showing, and faced

with all-white ermine, as was the hood,

worn shawled on his shoulders, shucked from his head.

On his lower limbs his leggings were also green,

wrapped closely round his calves, and his sparkling spurs

were green-gold, strapped with stripy silk,

and were set on his stockings, for this stranger was shoeless. 160

In all vestments he revealed himself veritably verdant!

From his belt-hooks and buckle to the baubles and gems

arrayed so richly around his costume

and adorning the saddle, stitched onto silk.

All the details of his dress are difficult to describe,

embroidered as it was with butterflies and birds,

green beads emblazoned on a background of gold.

All the horse’s tack – harness-strap, hind-strap,

the eye of the bit, each alloy and enamel

and the stirrups he stood in – were similarly tinted, 170

and the same with the cantle and the skirts of the saddle,

all glimmering and glinting with the greenest jewels.

And the horse: every hair was green, from hoof

to mane.

A steed of pure green stock.

Each snort and shudder strained

the hand-stitched bridle, but

his rider had him reined.

The fellow in green was in fine fettle.

The hair of his head was as green as his horse, 180

fine flowing locks which fanned across his back,

plus a bushy green beard growing down to his breast,

and his face-hair along with the hair of his head

was lopped in a line at elbow-length

so half his arms were gowned in green growth,

crimped at the collar, like a king’s cape.

The mane of his mount was groomed to match,

combed and knotted into curlicues

then tinselled with gold, tied and twisted

green over gold, green over gold … 190

The fetlocks were finished in the same fashion

with bright green ribbon braided with beads,