Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight

A stranger strode across the threshold
From the darkness to the light
He came in careless as a storm cloud
The hound pack cowered at the sight

For he was huge as any giant
That lived before the days of man
He led a horse with feet like soup plates
An axe was in his mighty hand

And all the court stepped back in wonder
In wonder and a little fear
For the man was green as holly
Green of skin and clothes and hair

Green his cloak and green his surcoat
Green his belt with tassels gold
And all stitched thick with silver figures
Of beasts and birds and runes of old

Welcome, stranger, said King Arthur,
For all are welcome to this hall
Share with us your name and story
What brings you to our New Year's ball?

The stranger's deep voice rattled rafters
And ruffled up the candlelight
In the roof vault pennants twisted
And from their perches, hawks took flight

Men call me Knight of the Green Chapel
I have no need of Christian name
I travel all lands seeking honor
A knight who's equal to my game

What game is that? sneered Lancelot
Whatever game you play - beware
I am quick with sword and buckler
And you may find your equal here

The Green Knight faced him down and rumbled
I do not come to duel or fight
But to take one blow without resisting
To lose my head this New Year's night

And in one year, at the moon's darkening
In one year, we'll make a trade --
Who kills me now must seek me out then
And bare his neck to my axe blade

Lancelot said: But that is madness!
And madness seemed to charge the air
Like the green before the thunder
The court stirred with a restless fear

The stranger smiled and stepped forward
He loosed the laces at his throat
He leaned his axe against the table
And empty-handed knelt and spoke

It is not madness, said the giant
It is my test; it is my game
If you refuse, I call you cowards
Call Camelot a court of shame

Lancelot flushing red with anger
Answered in a voice gone rough
If you seek death, I'm glad to give it--
Your insults give me cause enough

But as the great knight rose and readied
Gawaine leapt from his low seat
And staggering on the slippery rushes
Threw out a hand and shouted: wait!

The court grew still, and Gawaine flattered
It seemed to him the room was cold
He blushed as all eyes turned toward him
To see what fool could be so bold

He said: I am the least among you
The least, where Lancelot is great
But should the great fight with the nameless?
More fitting I should risk this fate

The king looked grave, the queen was frowning
But the stranger turned and laughed
You! he said, You're just a puppy!
You could not even lift my axe

I'll lift it, if my lord will let me
Gawaine said, though I am small
You set this test -- you can't refuse me
You set this test for one and all

Gawaine turned and bowed to Arthur
The king said: Cousin, you are brave
If you want this fate, then take it
Though I fear it may prove grave

The Knight still knelt -- the axe beside him
Stood as tall as a young tree
Gawaine hefted it and staggered
The Knight said: First, your word to me

I am Gawaine, the young man answered
Of noble blood, though I am poor
Before my friends, I give my promise
You could ask for nothing more

Then swing the axe, the Green Knight answered
And cut my neck from ear to ear
As long as you can keep that promise
You may strike free from blame or fear

So Gawaine took the axe and swung it --
Swung it snapping through the bones
The Green Knight crashed down like an earthquake
The green head tumbled over stones

But then, as wolfhounds howled in terror
The headless thing got to its feet
It scooped its head up from the flagstones
Swung on the horse, and made to speak

The words whipped out both soft and heavy
They fell on Gawaine like a net
I await you on the New Year
Come before the moon has set

This my game, which none has equaled
This my test, which none has passed
Seek me out on New Year's morning
Bare your neck, and face my axe

With his grisly challenge given
The Green Knight wheeled his horse to go
Hard hooves rang out across the forecourt
And echoed through the falling snow

As echoes died, there fell a silence
Nothing human moved or spoke
Though the hounds were hackled, whimpering
And hawks went tumbling through the smoke

And Gawaine laughed, then, spattered, shaking
Laughed, although he'd seen his doom -
To live his life out as a coward
Or die beneath the New Year's moon

Come then, cousin, said King Arthur,
Put that bloody axe aside
Come and sit, you've done a wonder -
Come and sit here at my side

So the minstrels started playing
So the midnight feast resumed
In face of death we must keep dancing
Make merry in the face of doom