by Mandy Sutter
Let the enchanting cadences of Middle English waft you off to sleep as we join Sir Gawain on the last part of his journey to reach the Green Chapel. Will the Green Knight behead him? Or will the outcome of his challenge be stranger and subtler than that? Listen and find out.
Meet your Teacher
Ilkley, UK
Transcript
Hello, Mandy here. I'm really pleased you've joined me tonight to hear the fourth and final part of the ancient story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It's one of the best known tales from the court of King Arthur and was written long, Long ago in the 14th century by a poet known only as the Gawain poet. Though please feel free to sink down gently into whatever surface you're lying or sitting on. Take a few slow breaths and make yourself really comfortable as we settle down to enjoy this ancient tale. Part four. Now the new year drew nigh and the night passed and the day chased the darkness as is God's will, But wild weather wakened therewith. The clouds cast the cold to the earth with enough of the north to slay them that lacked clothing. The snow drave smartly and the whistling wind blew from the heights and made great drifts in the valleys. The knight lying in his bed listened for though his eyes were shut he might sleep but little and he harkened every cock that crew. He arose ere the day broke by the light of a lamp that burned in his chamber and called to his chamberlain bidding him bring his armour and saddle his steed. The other got him up and fetched his garments and robed Sir Gawain. First he clad him in his clothes to keep off the cold and then in his harness which was well and fairly kept. Both hauberk and plates were well burnished, The rings of the rich burnie freed from rust and all as fresh as at first so that the knight was fain to thank them. Then he did on each piece and bade them bring his steed while he put the fairest raiment on himself, His coat with its fair cognisance adorned with precious stones upon velvet with broided seams and all furred within with costly skins. And he left not the lace, The lady's gift that Gawain forgot not for his own good. When he had girded on his sword he wrapped the gift twice about him, Swathed around his waist. The girdle of green silk set gaily and well upon the royal red cloth rich to behold but the knight wore it not for pride of the pendants polished though they were with fair gold that gleamed brightly on the ends but to save himself from sword and knife when it behold him to abide his hurt without question. With that the hero went forth and thanked that kindly folk full often. Then was Gringolet ready that was great and strong and had been well cared for and tended in every wise. In fair condition was that proud steed and fit for a journey. Then Gawain went to him and looked on his coat and said by his soothe, There is a folk in this place that thinketh on honour. Much joy may they have and the Lord who maintains them and may all good betide that lovely lady all her life long. Since they for charity cherish a guest and hold honour in their hands may he who holds the heaven on high requite them and also ye all and if I might live any while on earth I would give ye full reward readily if so I might. Then he set foot in the stirrup and bestowed his steed and his squire gave him his shield which he laid on his shoulder. Then he smote Gringolet with his golden spurs and the steed pranced on the stones and would stand no longer. By that his man was mounted who bare his spear and lance and Gawain quoth I commend this castle to Christ may he give it ever good fortune. Then the drawbridge was let down and the broad gates unbarred and opened on both sides. The knight crossed himself and passed through the gateway and praised the porter who knelt before the prince and gave him good day and commended him to God. Thus the knight went on his way with the one man who should guide him to that dread place where he should receive rueful payment. The two went by hedges where the boughs were bare and climbed the cliffs where the cold clings. Nought fell from the heavens but twas ill beneath them. Mist brooded over the moor and hung on the mountains. Each hill had a cap a great cloak of mist. The streams foamed and bubbled between their banks dashing sparkling on the shores where they shelved downwards. Rugged and dangerous was the way through the woods till it was time for the sunrise. Then were they on a high hill the snow lay white beside them and the man who rode with Gawain drew rain by his master. Sir he said I have brought ye hither and now ye are not far from the place that ye have sought so specially. But I will tell ye forsooth since I know ye well and ye are such a knight as I well love. Would ye follow my counsel ye would fare the better. The place whither ye go is accounted full perilous for he who liveth in that waste is the worst on earth. For he is strong and fierce and loveth to deal mighty blows. Taller is he than any man on earth and greater a frame than any fore in Arthur's court or in any other. And this is his custom at the Green Chapel. There may no man pass by that place however proud his arms but he does him to death by force of his hand for he is a discourteous knight and shows no mercy. Be he churl or chaplain who rides by that chapel, Monk or mass priest or any man else he thinks it as pleasant to slay them as to pass alive himself. Therefore I tell ye assooth as ye sit in saddle if ye come there and that night know it ye shall be slain though ye had twenty lives. Trow me that truly. He has dwelt here full long and seen many a combat. He may not defend ye against his blows. Therefore good Sir Gawain let the man be and get ye away some other road. For God's sake seek ye another land and there may Christ speed ye and I will hide me home again. And I promise ye further that I will swear by God and the saints or any other oath ye please that I will keep counsel faithfully and never let any wit the tale that he fled for fear of any man. Grimercy, Quoth Gawain, Ill pleased. Good fortune be his who wishes me good and that thou wouldst keep faith with me I well believe. But didst thou keep it never so truly and I passed here and fled for fear as thou sayest then were I a coward knight and might not be held guiltless. So I will to the chapel let chance what may and talk with that man even as I may list whether for weal or for woe as fate may have it. Fierce though he may be in fight yet God knoweth well how to save his servants. Well quoth the other now that ye have said so much that ye will take your own harm on yourself and ye be pleased to lose your life I will neither let nor keep ye. Have here your helm and the spear in your hand and ride down this same road beside the rock till ye come to the bottom of the valley and there look a little to the left hand and ye shall see in that veil the chapel and the grim man who keeps it. Now fare ye well noble Gawain for all the gold on earth I would not go with ye nor bear ye fellowship one step further. With that the man turned his bridle into the wood, Smote the horse with his spurs as hard as he could and galloped off leaving the knight alone. Quoth Gawain I will neither greet nor groan but commend myself to God and yield me to his will. Then the knight spurred Gringolet and rode adown the path close in by a bank beside a grove. So he rode through the rough thicket right into the dale and there he halted for it seemed him wild enough. No sign of a chapel could he see but high and burnt banks on either side and rough rugged crags with great stones above. An ill looking place he thought it. Then he drew in his horse and looked around to seek the chapel but he saw none and thought it strange. Then he saw as it were a mound on a level space of land by a bank beside the stream where it ran swiftly the water bubbling within as if boiling. The knight turned his steed to the mound and lighted down and tied the rein to the branch of a linden and he turned to the mound and walked round it questioning with himself what it might be. It had a hole at the end and at either side and was overgrown with clumps of grass and it was hollow within as an old cave or the crevice of a crag. He knew not what it might be. Ah Quoth Gawain can this be the green chapel? Here might the devil say his matins at midnight. Now I wish there is wizardry here. Tis an ugly oratory all overgrown with grass and would well beseem that fellow in green to say his devotions on devils wise. By my five wits tis the foul fiend himself who hath set me this tryst to destroy me here. This is a chapel of mischance. Ill luck betide it. Tis the cursedest kirk that ever I came in. Helmet on head and lance in hand he came up to the rough dwelling when he heard over the high hill beyond the brook as it were in a bank a wondrous fierce noise that rang in the cliff as if it would cleave asunder. Twas as if one ground a scythe on a grindstone it whirred and wetted like water on a mill wheel and rushed and rang terrible to hear. By God Quoth Gawain I trow that gear is preparing for the night who will meet me here. Alas nought may help me. Yet should my life be forfeit I fear not a jot. With that he called aloud who waiteth in this place to give me tryst. Now is Gawain come hither. If any man will out of him let him hasten hither now or never. Stay Quoth one on the bank above his head and ye shall speedily have that which I promised ye. Yet for a while the noise of wetting went on ere he appeared. And then he came forth from a cave in the crag with a fell weapon a Danish axe newly dyed wherewith to deal the blow. An evil head it had four feet large no less sharply ground and bound to the handle by the lace that gleamed brightly. And the knight himself was all green as before face and foot locks and beard but now he was afoot. When he came to the water he would not wade it but sprang over with the pole of his axe and strode boldly over the brent that was white with snow. Sir Gawain meant to meet him but he made no low bow. The other said now fair sir one may trust thee to keep thy tryst. Thou art welcome Gawain to my place. Thou hast timed thy coming as befits a true man. Thou knowest the covenant set between us. At this time twelve months are gone. Thou didst take that which fell to thee and I at this new year will readily requite thee. We are in this valley verily alone. Here are no knights to sever us. Do what we will. Have off thy helm from thine head and have here thy pay. Make me no more talking than I did when thou didst strike off my head with one blow. Nay quoth Gawain by God that gave me life I shall make no moan whatever before me. But make thou ready for the blow and I shall stand still and say never a word to thee do as thou wilt. With that he bent his head and showed his neck all bare and made as if he had no fear for he would not be thought a dread. Then the green knight made him ready and grasped his grim weapon to smite Gawain. With all his force he bore it aloft with a mighty feint of slaying him. Had it fallen as straight as he aimed he who is ever doughty of deed had been slain by the blow. But Gawain swerved aside as the axe came gliding down to slay him as he stood and shrank a little with the shoulders for the sharp iron. The other heaved up the blade and rebuked the prince with many proud words. Thou art not Gawain he said who is held so valiant that never feared he man by hill or vale but thou shrinkest for fear ere thou feelest hurt. Such cowardice did I never hear of Gawain. Neither did I flinch from thy blow or make strife in King Arthur's hall. My head fell to my feet and yet I fled not but thou didst wax faint of heart ere any harm befell. Wherefore must I be deemed the braver knight? Quoth Gawain I shrank once but so will I no more. Thou and my head fall on the stones I cannot replace it. But haste sir knight by thy faith and bring me to the point. Deal me my destiny and do it out of hand for I will stand thee a stroke and move no more till thine axe have hit me. My troth on it. Have at thee then quoth the other and heaved aloft the axe with fierce mien as if he were mad. He struck at him fiercely but wounded him not with holding his hand ere it might strike him. Gawain abode the stroke and flinched in no limb but stood still as a stone or the stump of a tree that is fast rooted in the rocky ground with a hundred roots. Then spake gaily the man in green. So now though hast thine heart whole it behoves me to smite. Hold aside thy hood that Arthur gave thee and keep thy neck thus bent lest it cover it again. Then Gawain said angrily why talk on thus thou dost threaten too long. I hope thy heart misgives thee. Forsooth quote the other so fiercely thou speakest I will no longer let thine errand wait its reward. Then he braced himself to strike frowning with lips and brow. It was no marvel that he who hoped for no rescue misliked him. He lifted the axe lightly and let it fall with the edge of the blade on the bare neck. Though he struck swiftly it hurt him no more than on the one side where it severed the skin. The sharp blade cut into the flesh so that the blood ran over his shoulder to the ground and when the knight saw the blood staining the snow he sprang forth swift foot more than a spear's length seized his helmet and set it on his head cast his shield over his shoulder drew out his bright sword and spake boldly never since he was born was he half so blithe. Stop sir knight bid me no more blows I have stood a stroke here without flinching and if thou give me another I shall requite thee and give thee as good again. By the covenant made betwixt us in Arthur's hall but one blow falls to me here halt therefore. Then the green knight drew off from him and leaned on his axe setting the shaft on the ground and looked on as he stood all armed and faced him fearlessly at heart it pleased him well. Then he spake merrily in a loud voice and said to the knight bold sir be not so fierce no man here have done thee wrong nor will do save by covenant as we made at Arthur's court. I promise thee a blow and thou hast it hold thyself well paid. I release thee of all other claims if I had been so minded I might perchance have given thee a rougher buffet. First I menace thee with a feigned one and hurt thee not for the covenant that we made in the first night and which thou didst hold truly all the gain didst thou give me as a true man should. The other feint I proffered thee for the morrow my fair wife kissed thee and thou didst give me her kisses for both those days I gave thee two blows without scathe true man true return but the third time thou didst fail and therefore hadst thou that blow. For it is my weed thou weariest that same woven girdle my own wife wrought it that that do I want for sooth. Now know I well thy kisses and thy conversation and the wooing of my wife for it was mine own doing I sent her to try thee and in sooth I think thou art the most faultless knight that ever trod earth as a pearl among white peas is of more worth than they so is Gawain in faith by other knights but thou didst lack a little sir knight and was wanting in loyalty yet that was for no evil work nor for wooing neither but because thou loves thy life therefore I blame thee the less. Then the other stood a great while still sorely angered and vexed within himself all the blood flew to his face and he shrank for shame as the green knight spake and the first words he said were cursed be ye cowardice and covetousness for in ye is the destruction of virtue then he loosed the girdle and gave it to the knight lo take there the falsity may foul befall it for fear of thy blow cowardice bad me make friends with covetousness and forsake the customs of largesse and loyalty which befit all knights now am I faulty and false and have been afeard from treachery and untruth come sorrow and care I avow to thee sir knight that I have ill done do then thy will I shall be more wary hereafter the other laughed and said gaily I what I am whole of the hurt I had and thou has made such free confession of thy misdeeds and has so borne the penance of my knack's edge that I hold thee absolved from that sin and purged as clean as if thou hadst never sinned since thou was born and this girdle that is wrought with gold and green like my raiment do I give these Sir Gawain that thou mayest think upon this chance when thou goest forth among princes of renown and keep this for a token of the adventure of the green chapel as it chanced between chivalrous nights and thou shall come again with me to my dwelling and pass the rest of this feast in gladness then the lord laid hold of him and said I what we shall soon make peace with my wife who was thy bitter enemy nay forsooth said Sir Gawain and seized his helmet and took it off swiftly and thanked the knight I have fared ill may bliss betide thee and may he who rules all things reward thee swiftly commend me to that courteous lady thy fair wife and to the other my honored ladies who have beguiled their knight with skillful craft but is no marvel if one be made a fool and brought to sorrow by women's wiles for so was Adam beguiled and many a mighty man of old Samson and David and Solomon if one might love a woman and believe her not to a great gain and since all they were beguiled by women methinks it is less the blame to me that I was misled but as for thy girdle that will I take with goodwill not for gain of the gold nor for samite nor silk nor the costly pendants neither for wheel nor for worship but in sign of my frailty I shall look upon it when I ride in renown and remind myself of the fault and faintness of the flesh and so when pride uplifts me for prowess of arms the sight of this lace shall humble my heart but one thing would I pray if it displeased thee not since thou art lord of yonder land wherein I have dwelt tell me what thy rightful name may be and I will ask no more that will I truly quote the other burn lack to haute desert am I called in this land Morgan Le Fay dwelleth in mine house and through knowledge of clerkly craft hath she taken many for long time she was the mistress of Merlin who knew well all you knights of the court Morgan the goddess is she called therefore and there is none so haughty but she can bring him low she sent me in this guise to yon fair hall to test the truth of the renown that is spread abroad of the valour of the round table she taught me this marvel to betray your wits to vex guinevere and fright her to death by the man who spake with his head in his hand at the high table that is she who is at home that ancient lady she is even thine aunt Arthur's half-sister the daughter of the duchess of Tintagel who afterwards married king Uther therefore I bid thee knight come to thine aunt and make merry in thine house my folk love thee and I wish thee as well as any man on earth by my faith for thy true dealing but Sir Gawain said nay he would in no wise do so so they embraced and kissed and commended each other to the prince of paradise and parted right there on the cold ground Gawain on his steed rose swiftly to the king's hall and the green knight got him whithersoever he would Sir Gawain who had thus won grace of his life rode through wild ways on Gringolet oft he lodged in a house and oft without and many adventures did he have and came off victor full often as at this time I cannot relate in tale the hurt that he had in his neck was healed he bare the shining girdle as a bold wreck bound by his side and made fast with a knot neath his left arm in token that he was taken in a fault and thus he came in safety again to the court then joy awakened in that dwelling when the king knew that the good Sir Gawain was come for he deemed it gain King Arthur kissed the knight and the queen also and many valiant knights sought to embrace him they asked him how he had fared and he told them of all that a chance to him the adventure of the chapel the fashion of the night the love of the lady at last of the lace he showed them the wound in the neck which he won for his disloyalty at the hand of the knight the blood flew to his face for shame as he told the tale no lady he quoth and handled the lace this is the bond of the blame that I bear in my neck this is the harm and the loss I have suffered the cowardice and covetousness in which I was caught the token of my covenant in which I was taken and I must needs wear it so long as I live for none may hide his harm but undone it may not be for if it had clung to thee once it may never be severed then the king comforted the knight and the court laughed loudly at the tale and all made a cord that the lords and the ladies who belonged to the round table each hero among them should wear bound about him a baldrick of bright green for the sake of Sir Gawain and to this was agreed all the honor of the round table and he who wear it was honored the more thereafter as it is testified in the best book of romance that in Arthur's days this adventure befell the book of Brutus bears witness for since that bold night came hither first and the siege and the assault were ceased at Troy I wish many a venture here before hath fallen such as this may he that bear the crown of thorn bring us unto his bliss the end
4.9 (45)
Rachael
January 25, 2025
Mandy, thank you for introducing me to another wonderful story. I enjoy your narration! 😀😀😀
Teresa
August 28, 2023
Thank you dear Mandy, for this vibrant, ancient tale. I am grateful and send good wishes. 🌹
