Yet had he no helmet nor hawberk either, + 

No pisan nor plate, not a piece of armour, + 

No shield nor no shaft to shove with or strike; + 

But he held in one hand a cluster of holly + 

That is greatest in green when groves are bare, + 

And an axe in the other, huge beyond measure, + 

A terrible tool to tell of in speech: + 

The head of this axe had an ellyard’s length, + 

The grain of green steel with gold was enchasèd, + 

The bit burnisht bright, with a broad edge on it + 

As well shapen to sheer as a sharp razor. + 

The stale to this steel was a timber full stout + 

That with iron was wound to the wánd’s ènd + 

And engravèd in green with gracious devices: + 

A lace round it lapp’d that lock’d at the head, + 

And was halchèd full often the handle about, + 

With many a choice tassel attachèd thereto + 

On buttons of bright green broider’d full rich. + 

This áthel híes him ín and the hall enters, + 

Driving to the dais: no danger he fear’d. + 

He gave none greeting but gazed ay before him, + 

And no word did he utter, but “where is” (quoth he) + 

“The governor of this gyng? full glad should I be + 

Of that same to have sight, and with him would speak + 

reasón.” + 

On knights he cast his e’en + 

And swagger’d up and down, + 

Then stopp’d, and studied keen + 

Who there had most renown. + 