XXVII
Then they show’d him the shield—’twas of shéer gùles, With the pentacle painted in pure gold on it. By the baldric he caught it and cast o’er his neck, And it became well the Knight, that comely armour Now why it should ’long to the leal Gawain I am intent to tell you, though my tale may linger; ’Tis a sign that Solomon sometime appointed To be a tried token of truest fealty, For ’tis a figure wherein there are five angles And the lines overlap and lock in each other Without end, every way: and Englishmen call it Everywhere, as I hear, the Endless Knot. For this cause it became the good Kníght to wear it, For in five ways faithful and five times five Was Gawain known for good, and as gold refinèd, Void of all villainy, with virtues endued, in moat; So this pentangle new He bore on shield and coat, As wight of word most true And gentlest knight of note.