sword of winter keen and cold. This Cambuscan, of which I have you told, In royal vesture, sat upon his dais, With diadem, full high in his palace; And held his feast so solemn and so rich, That in this worldë was there none it lich. Of which if I should tell all the array, Then would it occupy a summer’s day; And eke it needeth not for to devise At every course the order of servíce. I will not tellen of their strangë sewes, Nor of their swannës, nor their heronsews. Eke in that land, as tellë knightës old, There is some meat that is full dainty hold, That in this land men reck of it full small: There is no man that may reporten all. I will not tarry you, for it is prime, And for it is no fruit, but loss of time; Unto my purpose I will have recourse. And so befell that, after the third course, While that this king sat thus in his nobley, Hearing his ministrelës their thingës play Before him at his board deliciously, In at the hallë door all suddenly There came a knight upon a steed of brass, And in his hand a broad mirrór of glass; Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring, And by his side a naked sword hangíng: And up he rode unto the highë board. In all the hall was there not spoke a word, For marvel of this knight; him to behold Full busily they waited, young and old.
This strangë knight, that came thus suddenly, All armed, save his head, full richëly, Saluted king, and queen, and lordës all, By order as they satten in the hall, With so high reverence and óbservánce, As well in speech as in his countenánce, That Gawain with his oldë courtesý, Though he were come again out of Faerie, Him couldë not amendë with a word. And after this, before the highë board, He with a manly voice said his messáge, After the form used in his languáge, Withoutë vice of syllable or letter. And, for his talë shouldë seem the better, Accordant to his wordës was his cheer, As teacheth art of speech them that it lear. Albeit that I cannot sound his style, Nor cannot climb over so high a stile, Yet say I this, as to commúne intent, Thus much amounteth all that ever he meant, If it so be that I have it in mind.
He said; “The king of Araby and Ind, My liegë lord, on this solemnë day Saluteth you as he best can and may, And sendeth you, in honour of