XI.

[A] "Gawayn," quod þat grene gome, "God þe mot loke! 2240 I-wysse þou art welcom,[1] wy3e, to my place, [B] & þou hat3 tymed þi trauayl as true[2] mon schulde; [C] & þou knowe3 þe couenaunte3 kest vus by-twene, At þis tyme twelmonyth þou toke þat þe falled, 2244 [D] & I schulde at þis nwe 3ere 3eply þe quyte. [E] & we ar in þis valay, verayly oure one, Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vus like3; [F] Haf þy[3] helme of þy hede, & haf here þy pay; 2248 Busk no more debate þen I þe bede þenne, "When þou wypped of my hede at a wap one." [G] "Nay, bi God," quod Gawayn, "þat me gost lante, I schal gruch þe no grwe, for grem þat falle3; 2252 Botsty3tel þe vpon on strok, & I schal stonde stylle, & warp þe no wernyng, to worch as þe lyke3, no whare." [H] He lened with þe nek, & lutte, 2256 & schewed þat schyre al bare, & lette as he no3t dutte, [I] For drede he wolde not dare.

[Sidenote A: "God preserve thee!" says the Green Knight,] [Sidenote B: "as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel'] [Sidenote C: Thou knowest the covenant between us,] [Sidenote D: that on New Year's day I should return thy blow] [Sidenote E: Here we are alone,] [Sidenote F: Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once."] [Sidenote G: "By God," quoth Sir Gawayne, "I shall not begrudge thee thy will."] [Sidenote H: Then he shows his bare neck,] [Sidenote I: and appears undaunted.] [Footnote 1: welcon, in MS.] [Footnote 2: truee in MS.] [Footnote 3: MS. þy þy.]