Then tried him his host, and touch’d on his travel, + 

And by questions discreet enquired of his quest, + 

And he courteously granted he came from the court + 

Where Arthur the athel the sovranty held, + 

Ruler most royal of the Round Table, + 

And that ’twas Gawain himself who among them sat, + 

Come to that Christmas, as the case had befall’n. + 

But that lord when he learn’d that the leal man he was, + 

Loud laugh’d he thereat, he liked it so well; + 

And all in that household were overjoy’d + 

That tide to appear in the prince’s presence, + 

For all prowess and price, and all pure knighthood + 

To his person belong’d, and were prais’d in him ever; + 

Before all men on earth his honour was highest. + 

Then softly would each man say to his fellow: + 

“Now skill shall we see of seemly manners, + 

And the terms full clean of courteous converse, + 

What is speed in speech shall we learn unspeer’d, + 

Since among us we find this fine father of nurture. + 

God has giv’n us his grace in goodliest measure, + 

Such a guest as Gawain to grant at this tide + 

When blithe men on bench of His birth shall sit + 

and sing. + 

To know of knightly cheer + 

This beam now shall us bring, + 

Methinks all that him hear + 

Shall learn of love-talking.” + 