XV.

[A] Ande sayde, "haþel, by heuen þyn askyng is nys, 324 & as þou foly hat3 frayst, fynde þe be-houes; I know no gome þat is gast of þy grete wordes. Gif me now þy geserne, vpon gode3 halue, & I schal bayþen þy bone, þat þou boden habbes." 328 Ly3tly lepe3 he hym to, & la3t at his honde; [Fol. 95b.] Þen feersly þat oþer freke vpon fote ly3tis. [B] Now hat3 Arthure his axe, & þe halme grype3, & sturnely sture3 hit aboute, þat stryke wyth hit þo3t. 332 Þe stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t, Herre þen ani in þe hous by þe hede & more; [C] Wyth sturne schere[1] þer he stod, he stroked his berde, & wyth a countenaunce dry3e he dro3 doun his cote, 336 No more mate ne dismayd for hys mayn dinte3, Þen any burne vpon bench hade bro3t hym to drynk of wyne, [D] Gawan, þat sate bi þe quene, 340 To þe kyng he can enclyne, "I be-seche now with sa3e3 sene, Þis melly mot be myne."

[Sidenote A: He assures the knight that no one is afraid of his great words.] [Sidenote B: Arthur seizes his axe.] [Sidenote C: The knight, stroking his beard, awaits the blow, and with a "dry countenance" draws down his coat.] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne beseeches the king to let him undertake the blow.] [Footnote 1: chere (?).]