“For ’tis my weed that thou wearest, that woven girdle, + 

And from my wife didst thou win it, that wot I full well, + 

I know of thy kisses, and your courtly disport, + 

And the wooing of my wife: I wrought it myself; + 

I sent her to essay thee, and I think thee in sooth + 

The most faultless knight, that on foot ever fared; + 

As a pearl by the pea all price is above, + 

So by gay knights all, in good faith, is Gawain. + 

But with the lace in lealty a little ye fail’d, + 

Yet it wás not for wooing, nor wantonness either, + 

But for love of your life: the less do I blame you.” + 

A great while that stalwart stood in a study, + 

So grievèd for grame that he groan’d in his heart; + 

All the blood from his breast blent in his visage, + 

He shrank so for shame at the speech he had heard. + 

The first word in the world that the wight uttered + 

Was “Cursèd be cowardice and covetise both! + 

In yóu is víllany and více, that virtue destroy.” + 

Then caught he the lace, and the knot he loosen’d, + 

And fiercely it flung to the green man on field: + 

“Look ye! the false weed! and foul it befall! + 

I cared for thy knock, and cowardice taught me + 

To accord me with covetise, and be false to my kind⁠— + 

The largess and leaky that ’longs to a knight. + 

But though faulty and false, afear’d was I still + 

Of treachery and untrúth; betide them may sorrow + 

and care! + 

Here, I confess my sin, + 

All faulty is my fare: + 

Let me your will but win, + 

And eft I shall be ware.” + 