a brawn of a beast,” Sir Gawayne says he never has seen. To Gawayne then the wild boar is given, according to the covenant; and in return he kisses his host, who declares his guest to be the best he knows.

Tables are raised aloft, cloths laid upon them, and waxen torches are lighted. With much mirth and glee, supper is served in the hall. When they had long played in the hall, they went to the upper chamber, where they drank and discoursed. Sir Gawayne at length begs leave of his host to depart on the morrow; but his host swears to him that he must stay, and come to the Green Chapel on New Year’s morn long before prime. So Gawayne consents to remain for another night; and full still and softly he sleeps throughout it.

Early in the morning the lord of the castle is up; after mass, a morsel he takes with his men to break his fast. Then were they all mounted on their horses before the hall-gates, and ready for the hunt. It was a clear, frosty morning when they rode off, and the hunters, dispersed by a wood’s side, came upon the track of a fox, which was followed up by the hounds. And now they get sight of the game, and pursue him through many a rough grove. The fox at last leaps over a spinney, and by a rugged path seeks to get clear from the hounds; he comes upon one of the hunting-stations, where he is attacked by the dogs. However, he slips them, and makes again for the woods. Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds, and the hallooing of the hunters; there the fox was threatened, and called a thief. But Reynard was wily, and led them far astray over brake and spinney.

Meanwhile, Sir Gawayne, left at home, soundly sleeps within his comely curtains. At length the lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle, comes to his chamber, opens a window, and reproaches him:

“Ah! man, how canst thou sleep; this morning is so clear?”

Sir Gawayne was, when she aroused him dreaming of his forthcoming adventure at the Green Chapel, but he started up, and greeted his fair visitor. Again, as she had done before, she desired some gift by which to remember him when he was gone.

“Now, sir,” she entreats him, “now before thy departing, do me this courtesy!”

Sir Gawayne tells her that she is worthy of a far better gift than he can bestow. He has no men laden with trunks containing precious things.

Thereupon again the lady of the castle offers him a gold ring, but he refuses to accept it, as he has none that he is free to give in return. Very sorrowful was she on account of his refusal; she takes off her green girdle, and beseeches him to take it. Gawayne again refuses to accept anything, but promises, “ever in hot and in cold, to be her true servant.”

“Do you refuse it,” says the lady, “because it is simple? Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses would highly prize it. For he who is girded with this green girdle cannot be wounded or slain.”

Thereupon Sir Gawayne thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel, and when she again earnestly presses him to take the girdle, he consents not only to take it, but to keep the possession of it a secret. Then she takes her leave; Gawayne hides the girdle, and then hies to the chapel, and asks pardon for any misdeeds he has ever done. When he returns to the hall, he makes himself so merry among the ladies with comely songs and carols, that they said: “This knight was so merry never before, since hither he came to the castle!”

Meanwhile the lord of the castle was still in the field; he had already slain the fox. He had spied Reynard coming through a “rough grove” and tried to strike him with his sword; but the fox was seized by one of the hounds. The rest of the hunters hastened thither, with horns full many, for it was the merriest meet that ever was heard; and carrying the fox’s skin and brush they all ride home. The lord at last alights at his dear home, where he finds Sir Gawayne amusing the ladies; the knight comes forward and welcomes his host, and according to covenant kisses him thrice.