XII.

[A] Then þe gome in þe grene grayþed hym swyþe, 2260 Gedere3 yp hys grymme tole, Gawayn to smyte; [B] With alle þe bur in his body he ber hit on lofte, Munt as ma3tyly, as marre hym he wolde; Hade hit dryuen adoun, as dre3 as he atled, 2264 Þer hade ben ded of his dynt, þat do3ty wat3 euer. Bot Gawayn on þat giserne glyfte hym bysyde, [C] As hit com glydande adoun, on glode hym to schende, [D] & schranke a lytel with þe schulderes, for þe scharp yrne. 2268 Þat oþer schalk wyth a schunt þe schene wythhalde3, [E] & þenne repreued he þe prynce with mony prowde worde3: [F] "Þou art not Gawayn," quod þe gome, "þat is so goud halden, Þat neuer ar3ed for no here, by hylle ne be vale, 2272 [G] & now þou fles for ferde, er þou fele harme3; [Fol. 121b.] Such cowardise of þat kny3t cowþe I neuer here. [H] Nawþer fyked I, ne fla3e, freke, quen þou myntest, Ne kest no kauelacion, in kynge3 hous Arthor, 2276 [I] My hede fla3 to my fote, & 3et fla3 I neuer; & þou, er any harme hent, ar3e3 in hert, [J] Wherfore þe better burne me burde be called þer-fore." 2280 [K] Quod G:, "I schunt one3, & so wyl I no more, Bot pa3 my hede falle on þe stone3, I con not hit restore.

[Sidenote A: Then the man in green seizes his grim tool.] [Sidenote B: With all his force he raises it aloft.] [Sidenote C: As it came gliding down,] [Sidenote D: Sir Gawayne shrank a little with his shoulders.] [Sidenote E: The other reproved him, saying,] [Sidenote F: "Thou art not Gawayne that is so good esteemed,] [Sidenote G: for thou fleest for fear before thou feelest harm.] [Sidenote H: I never flinched when thou struckest.] [Sidenote I: My head flew to my foot, yet I never fled,] [Sidenote J: wherefore I ought to be called the better man."] [Sidenote K: "I shunted once," says Gawayne, "but will no more.]