Thus by the forest borders the brave lord sported, And the good man Gawain, on his gay bed lying… And as in slumber he slept on, there slipped into his mind A slight, suspicious sound, and the door stealthily opened. . . . It was the lady, loveliest to look upon, Who secretly and silently secured the door[.]
Before all the folk on the floor, he bid men Fetch the venison and place it before him. Then gaily and in good humor to Gawain he called, Told over the tally of the sturdy beasts, And showed him the fine fat flesh flayed from the ribs. ‘How does the sport please you? Do you praise me for it? Am I thoroughly thanked for thriving as a huntsman?... And I give you all, Gawain,’ said the good man then, ‘For according to our covenant you may claim it as your own.’
I would know of you, knight,’ the noble lady said, ‘If it did not anger you, what argument you use. . . . You are the gentlest and most just of your generation; Everywhere your honor and high fame are known; Yet I have sat at your side two separate times here Without hearing you utter in any way A single syllable of the saga of love. . . . You ought to be eager to lay open to a young thing Your discoveries in the craft of courtly love.
‘[T]he man that binds his body with this belt of green, As long as he laps it closely about him, No hero under heaven can hack him to pieces, For he cannot be killed by any cunning on earth.’ . . . And having got his agreement, she gave it him gladly, Beseeching him for her sake to conceal it always, And hide it from her husband with all diligence[.]
Meeting the master in the middle of the floor, Gawain went forth gladly and greeted him thus: ‘Forthwith, I shall be the first to fulfill the contract We settled so suitably without sparing the wine.’ Then he clasped the castellan and kissed him thrice As sweetly and steadily as a strong knight could.
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