LXXXV
“Therefore, good Sir Gawain, give him good-bye, And go you some other gate, in God’s name I pray you; Choose some other country, where Christ may you speed, And I shall hie home; and eke will I promise That I shall swear by God and his good Hallows (So help me the halidom) and oaths a many, That I’ll keep your secret and slip not a word That ye e’er flinchèd or fled for foe that I wist.” “Gramercy,” he said, and he searchèd his soul, “Well worth thee, good wight, that wishest me well; I am in sooth full sure my secret thou’lt guard, But wert thou never so true, if this tryst I kept not, But flinchèd for fear, in the form that thou sayst, I were a craven coward beyond all excuse. For any check that may chance, to the chapel I’ll go, And talk with that tyrant the tale that me list, Come weal or come woe, as my weird shall ordain me to have. Though cruellest knave alive He be, and stand with stave, Full well can God contrive His servants for to save.”