“Egod,” quoth the green one, “right glad am I, Sir, + 

At thy hand to receive the service I sought; + 

Thou hast rightly rehears’d, by reasons full true, + 

All the covenant clean, that I craved of the King, + 

Sáve that thou assure me on thy sickar troth, + 

That thyself thou wilt seek me, wheresó that thou thinkest + 

I may be found upon fold, and fetch thee such wages + 

As thou deal’st me today this dais beside.” + 

“Whither,” said the wight, “shall I wend on that errand? + 

Where thou wonest I wot not, by Him that me wrought, + 

Nor know I thee, Sir Knight, by court or by name; + 

Now teach me thereto, and tell me the truth, + 

And áll my wít I shall wáre to win to thy place⁠— + 

I swear it for sooth, as a sickar knight.” + 

“ ’Tis enough at New Year (what needs any more?)” + 

Said the gallant in green to the knightly Gawain, + 

“If I tell thee of that, when the tap I have ta’en. + 

When thou hast smitten me fair, I shall smartly teach thee + 

Of my house and my home and my ówn nàme; + 

Then my troth mayst thou try, and to foreward be true. + 

And no speech if I spend, thou speedest the better, + 

For thou may’st lodge in thy land, nor look any further:⁠— + 

Let be! + 

Grip thy grim tool amain, + 

Thy dints now let us see.” + 

“Gladly, sir,” says Gawain, + 

And stern his axe strokes he. + 