3

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swere on al manere; neither by hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heved, for thou maist not make oon heer whyt or blak; but be youre word yea, yea; Nay, nay; forsothe that that is more than this, is of yvel. Yee han herde that it is said, Eiye 2 for eiye,2 toth for toth. But Y say to you, to nat ayeinstonde yvel; but yif any shal smyte thee in the right cheeke, yeve to hym and the tother; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in dome," and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to hym and thin over-clothe; and whoevere constrayneth thee a thousand pacis, go thou with hym other tweyne. Forsothe yif 6 to hym that axith of thee, and turne thou nat awey fro hym that wol borwe of thee. Yee han herd that it is said, Thou shalt love thin neighbore, and hate thin enmy. But Y say to you, love yee youre enmyes, do yee wel to hem that haten you, and preye yee for men pursuynge, and falsly chalengynge 10 you; that yee be the sonys of youre Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sune to springe up upon good and yvel men, and rayneth upon juste men and unjuste men. For yif ye loven hem that loven you, what meed 11 shul 12 yee have? whether and puplicans don nat this thing? And yif yee greten, or saluten, youre bretheren oonly, what more over 13 shul yee don? whether and paynymmys 14 don nat this thing? Therfore be yee parfit,15 as and youre hevenly Fadir is parfit. Take yee hede, lest ye don your rightwisnesse before men, that yee be seen of hem, ellis 16 ye shule nat han meed at youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Therfore when thou dost almesse,17 nyle 18 thou synge byfore thee in a trumpe, as ypocritis don in synagogis and streetis, that thei ben maad worshipful of men; forsothe Y saye to you, thei han resceyved her 19 meede. But thee doynge almesse,17 knowe nat the left hond what thi right hond doth, that thi almes be in hidlis,20 and thi Fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal yelde 21 to thee."

6

but be youre word, yhe, yhe; Nay, nay; and that that is more than these, is of yvel. Ye han herd that it hath be seid, Iye for iye, and tothe for tothe. But Y seie to you, that ye ayenstonde not an yvel man; but if ony smyte thee in the right cheke, schewe to him also the tothir; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in doom," and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to him also thi mantil; and whoever constreyneth thee a thousynde pacis, go thou with hym othir tweyne. Yyve thou to hym that axith of thee, and turne not awey fro hym that wole borewe of thee. Ye han herd that it was seid, Thou shalt love thi neighbore, and hate thin enemye. But Y seie to you, love ye youre enemyes, do ye wel to hem that hatiden you, and preye ye for hem that pursuen, and sclaundren you; that ye be the sones of your Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sunne to rise upon goode and yvele men, and reyneth on just men and unjuste. For if ye loven hem that loven you, what mede " schulen ye han? whether pupplicans doon not this? And if ye greten youre britheren oonli, what schulen ye do more? ne doon not hethene men this? Therfore be ye parfit, as youre hevenli Fadir is parfit."

ΧΙ

ΧΙ

Long was there looking, that lord to behold, For each man had marvel what might be the meaning

That a horseman and a horse might such a hue catch.

As grow-green as the grass and greener yet seemed they,

Than green enamel on gold glowing brighter. All studied that stood there, and stalked to him nearer,

With all the wonder in the world what wiles he was planning;

For many sights had they seen, but such a sight never;

So for phantom and faërie the folk there did deem it.

Therefore to answer was fearful many a fine

fellow,

240

13 do 14

5 what each grass than many

9

10 enamel 11 strange things 15 before 16 therefore as illusion

and magic 17 timid 18 19 many a noble knight were amazed 20 voice 21 in a swoon-like silence 22 hall

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29

25

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if 24 so slackened their noises suddenly fear but let him to whom all should bow 28 speak (= Arthur) 31 obdais 30 happening serves courteously greeted him afraid indeed 35 house 36 I am called

32

33

34

AE

Therefore I crave in this court a Christmas gambol,

For it is Yule and New Year, and here are many young braggarts;

If any in this house holds him so hardy, If he be so bold in his blood, hot-brained of temper

That he dare stiffly strike one stroke for another,

I shall give him of my gift this gisarme splendid

This axe, that is heavy enough to handle as he pleases;

And I shall bide the first blow, as bare as I sit here.

If any man be so mad as to make such a trial Let him leap to me lightly and lay hold of this weapon

292

I quit-claim it for ever, keep it as his own And I shall stand him a stroke, stiff on this floor, If thou wilt but grant me the grace to give him another,

3

bold, ready

22

14

mad pole-axe handle 7 abide, endure blow

10 fierce 17 floor own

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what try let him leap seize provided thou wilt give me the right 18 I claim this 19 hasten 20 quickly 21 amazed

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25

310

horse settled 26 furi

at first 23 retainers ously 27 eyes 28 bristly 29 29 glittering observe 31 who-so 32 when none would reply aloud 34 and made full preparation

30

33

coughed

35

got ready

36 knight 37 of which all the fame goes

And said, "Horseman, by heaven thy as is foolish,

And as thou folly hast craved, it behooves thou find it.

I know no man that is aghast at thy

boasting.

Give me now thy gisarme, in God's name And I will bestow the boon that thou bidden."

Lightly he leaps to him and lays hand weapon;

Then fiercely the other man on foot a there.

Now has Arthur his axe, and by the holds it,

And sternly stirs it about, to strike thinks he.

The stalwart man before him stood a height

Higher than any in the house by a h more;

With stern look there he stood, strc beard,

And with countenance calm he drew. collar,

No more moved nor dismayed for t mighty blows