XIII.

Bring me to the point; deal me my destiny at once." 2284

Bot busk, burne, bi þi fayth, & bryng me to þe poynt,

Dele to me my destiné, & do hit out of honde,

For I schal stonde þe a strok, & start no more,

Til þyn ax haue me hitte, haf here my trawþe."

"Haf at þe þenne," quod þat oþer, & heueȝ hit alofte,

& wayteȝ as wroþely, as he wode were;

He mynteȝ at hym maȝtyly, bot not þe mon ryueȝ,¹

With-helde heterly hs honde, er hit hurt myȝt.

Gawayn grayþely hit bydeȝ, & glent with no membre,

Bot stode stylle as þe ston, oþer a stubbe auþer,

Þat raþeled is in roche grounde, with roteȝ a hundreth.

Þen muryly efte con he mele, þe mon in þe grene,

"So now þou hatȝ þi hert holle, hitte me bihou[e]s;

Halde þe now þe hyȝe hode, þat Arþur þe raȝt,

& kepe þy kanel at þis kest, ȝif hit keuer may."

G: ful gryndelly with greme þenne sayde,

"Wy þresch on, þou þro mon, þou þreteȝ to longe,

I hope þat þi hert arȝe wyth þyn awen seluen."

"For soþe," quod þat oþer freke, "so felly þou spekeȝ,

I wyl no lenger on lyte lette þin ernde,

riȝt nowe."

Þenne tas he² hym stryþe to stryke,

& frounses boþe lyppe & browe,

No meruayle þaȝ hym myslyke,

Þat hoped of no rescowe.

¹ ? ryneȝ = touches. ² he he, in MS.