He put spurs to his steed and sprang on his way + 

So fast that the flint-sparks flew out behind him. + 

All that saw that sire sigh’d in their hearts, + 

And said to each other (it seemèd but sooth) + 

Grieving for Gawain, “By God, ’tis a pity + 

We should lose such a liege, in his life so noble! + 

To find his fellow on fold, in faith, is not easy. + 

More warily to have wrought had been wiser, in truth, + 

And to have dubb’d him, dear man, a duke to become, + 

A shining light in the land, a leader of men; + 

So ’twere better he had been than broken to naught, + 

Beheaded by an elfin, for idle pride. + 

Who knew ever King such counsel to take + 

As at Christmas games to catch men in quibbles?” + 

Many were the warm tears that wellèd from eyes + 

When that seemly sire sought from those wones + 

that day. + 

He made there no abode + 

But swiftly went his way: + 

A wildsome track he rode, + 

The book as I heard say. + 