"God preserve thee!" says the Green Knight,

"Gawayn," quod þat grene gome, "God þe mot loke!

I-wysse þou art welcom,1 wyȝe, to my place,

& þou hatȝ tymed þi trauayl as true2 mon schulde;

& þou knoweȝ þe couenaunteȝ kest vus by-twene,

At þis tyme twelmonyth þou toke þat þe falled,

& I schulde at þis nwe ȝere ȝeply þe quyte.

& we ar in þis valay, verayly oure one,

Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vus likeȝ;

Haf þy3 helme of þy hede, & haf here þy pay;