Yet till All Hallows with Arthur he bode, + 

Who made feast on that festival for his friend’s sake, + 

Amid revel full rich of the Round Table. + 

Then courteous Knights and comely ladies + 

All for love of that liege were in longing and sorrow, + 

But ne’er the less nor the latter they allow’d but mirth, + 

Though many were joyless, jesting the while. + 

After supper, full sadly he sought to his uncle, + 

And spoke of his passage in speech very plain: + 

“Now, liege lord of my life, your leave I would ask; + 

Ye know all the case, and I care no more + 

Of my trouble to talk, or to teen you one whit; + 

But I am bound for the buffet a bare night hence + 

And the Green Knight must seek, as God will me speed.” + 

Then the best of the burg busk’d them together, + 

Ewain and Eric, and others full many, + 

Sir Dodinal the Dour, the Duke of Clarence, + 

Launcelot, and Lionel, and Lucan the good, + 

Sir Bors and Sir Bedivere, big men both, + 

And many another worthy, with Mador of the Port; + 

Came all this company seeking the King, + 

With care at their heart, to counsel Sir Gawain; + 

There was dole very dree that day in the hall + 

That so worthy as Gawain should wend on that errand, + 

To endúre a gríevous dínt, and deal nevermore + 

with brand. + 

The Knight made ay good cheer, + 

Said he, “Now grief is bann’d; + 

’Gainst destiny so drear + 

What may man do but stand?” + 