--- title: Opening, part 3 — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-Englis… · full text with trees description: Opening, part 3, «Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose» by Jessie L. Weston: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: With that he turned his bridle, and galloped out at the hall door, his head in his --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Mid…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/) / Opening, part 3 # Opening, part 3 Opening, part 3 of «Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose» by Jessie L. Weston: the whole text, 97 sentences and 2528 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/3/page/2/) With that he turned his bridle, and galloped out at the hall door, his head in his hands, so that the sparks flew from beneath his horse’s hoofs.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Whither he went none knew, no more than they wist whence he had come; and the king and Gawain they gazed and laughed, for in sooth this had proved a greater marvel than any they had known aforetime.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Though Arthur the king was astonished at his heart, yet he let no sign of it be seen, but spake in courteous wise to the fair queen: “Dear lady, be not dismayed, such craft is well suited to Christmas-tide when we seek jesting, laughter and song, and fair carols of knights and ladies.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") But now I may well get me to meat, for I have seen a marvel I may not forget.”[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he looked on Sir Gawain, and said gaily, “Now, fair nephew, hang up thine axe, since it has hewn enough,” and they hung it on the dossal above the daïs, where all men might look on it for a marvel, and by its true token tell of the wonder.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the twain sat them down together, the king and the good knight, and men served them with a double portion, as was the share of the noblest, with all manner of meat and of minstrelsy.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") And they spent that day in gladness, but Sir Gawain must well bethink him of the heavy venture to which he had set his hand.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") II[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") This beginning of adventures had Arthur at the New Year, for he yearned to hear gallant tales, though his words were few when he sat at the feast.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") But now had they stern work on hand.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Gawain was glad to begin the jest in the hall, but ye need have no marvel if the end be heavy.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") For though a man be merry in mind when he has well drunk, yet a year runs full swiftly, and the beginning but rarely matches the end.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The waning of the year[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") For Yule was now over-past,\[3\] and the year after, each season in its turn following the other.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") For after Christmas comes crabbed Lent, that will have fish for flesh and simpler cheer.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") But then the weather of the world chides with winter; the cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift, and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the flowers come forth, meadows and groves are clad in green, the birds make ready to build, and sing sweetly for solace of the soft summer that follows thereafter.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The blossoms bud and blow in the hedgerows rich and rank, and noble notes enough are heard in the fair woods.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") After the season of summer, with the soft winds, when zephyr breathes lightly on seeds and herbs, joyous indeed is the growth that waxes thereout when the dew drips from the leaves beneath the blissful glance of the bright sun. But then comes harvest and hardens the grain, warning it to wax ripe ere the winter.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The drought drives the dust on high, flying over the face of the land; the angry wind of the welkin wrestles with the sun; the leaves fall from the trees and light upon the ground, and all brown are the groves that but now were green, and ripe is the fruit that once was flower.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") So the year passes into many yesterdays, and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Gawain bethinks him of his covenant[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Michaelmas moon was come in with warnings of winter, Sir Gawain bethought him full oft of his perilous journey.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet till All Hallows Day he lingered with Arthur, and on that day they made a great feast for the hero’s sake, with much revel and richness of the Round Table.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Courteous knights and comely ladies, all were in sorrow for the love of that knight, and though they spake no word of it many were joyless for his sake.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") And after meat, sadly Sir Gawain turned to his uncle, and spake of his journey, and said, “Liege lord of my life, leave from you I crave.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Ye know well how the matter stands without more words, to-morrow am I bound to set forth in search of the Green Knight.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Then came together all the noblest knights, Ywain and Erec, and many another.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Dodinel le Sauvage, Launcelot and Lionel, and Lucan the Good, Sir Bors and Sir Bedivere, valiant knights both, and many another hero, with Sir Mador de la Porte, and they all drew near, heavy at heart, to take counsel with Sir Gawain.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Much sorrow and weeping was there in the hall to think that so worthy a knight as Gawain should wend his way to seek a deadly blow, and should no more wield his sword in fight.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") But the knight made ever good cheer, and said, “Nay, wherefore should I shrink?[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") What may a man do but prove his fate?”[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The arming of Sir Gawain[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") He dwelt there all that day, and on the morn he arose and asked betimes for his armour; and they brought it unto him on this wise: first, a rich carpet was stretched on the floor\[4\] (and brightly did the gold gear glitter upon it), then the knight stepped on to it, and handled the steel; clad he was in a doublet of silk, with a close hood, lined fairly throughout.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they set the steel shoes upon his feet, and wrapped his legs with greaves, with polished knee-caps fastened with knots of gold.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they cased his thighs in cuisses closed with thongs, and brought him the byrny of bright steel rings sewn upon a fair stuff.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Well burnished braces they set on each arm with good elbow-pieces, and gloves of mail, and all the goodly gear that should shield him in his need.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") And they cast over all a rich surcoat, and set the golden spurs on his heels, and girt him with a trusty sword fastened with a silken bawdrick.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") When he was thus clad his harness was costly, for the least loop or latchet gleamed with gold.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") So armed as he was he hearkened Mass and made his offering at the high altar.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he came to the king, and the knights of his court, and courteously took leave of lords and ladies, and they kissed him, and commended him to Christ.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") With that was Gringalet ready, girt with a saddle that gleamed gaily with many golden fringes, enriched and decked anew for the venture.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") The bridle was all barred about with bright gold buttons, and all the covertures and trappings of the steed, the crupper and the rich skirts, accorded with the saddle; spread fair with the rich red gold that glittered and gleamed in the rays of the sun.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the knight called for his helmet, which was well lined throughout, and set it high on his head, and hasped it behind.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") He wore a light kerchief over the vintail, that was broidered and studded with fair gems on a broad silken ribbon, with birds of gay colour, and many a turtle and true-lover’s knot interlaced thickly, even as many a maiden had wrought them.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") But the circlet which crowned his helmet was yet more precious, being adorned with a device in diamonds.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they brought him his shield, which was of bright red, with the pentangle painted thereon in gleaming gold.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") \[5\][48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Wherefore Sir Gawain bare the pentangle[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") And why that noble prince bare the pentangle I am minded to tell you, though my tale tarry thereby.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a sign that Solomon set ere-while, as betokening truth; for it is a figure with five points and each line overlaps the other, and nowhere hath it beginning or end, so that in English it is called “the endless knot.”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") And therefore was it well suiting to this knight and to his arms, since Gawain was faithful in five and five-fold, for pure was he as gold, void of all villainy and endowed with all virtues.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore he bare the pentangle on shield and surcoat as truest of heroes and gentlest of knights.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/3/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/2/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/3/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/)