To be yarely yielded on New Year's morning. As the Knight of the Green Chapel, I am known to many;

Thou shalt not fail to find me if faithfully thou triest;

Therefore come or coward to be called shall behoove thee."

With reckless roughness the reins he twitches, Hurls out of the hall-door, his head in his hand, So that fire from the flint flew from his steed's hoofs.

To what region he rode none could say rightly, 460 Any more than they wist by what way he had come.

What then?

17

32

dismay suits playing now and then 38 food nevertheless

36

37

39

address mar

50

Before that spot my hands I spread,
For care full cold that me had caught;
In my heart dark sorrow made its bed,
Though reason reconciled my thought.
I prayed for my pearl that thence had sped,
With timid pleas, and fast they fought;
Though the godhead of Christ me comforted,
My wretched will in woe still wrought.

A bed among the flowers I sought;
Such fragrance pierced my brain, I wot,
Me into a sleep of dreams it brought
Of that precious pearl without a spot.

8

XX

12

10

231

Pyght in perle, that precios pyece
On wyther-half water 9 com doun the schore;
No gladder gome hethen " into Grece
Then I quen ho on brymme wore.1
Ho wacz me nerre 13 then aunte or nece,
My joy forthy wacz 14 much the more.
Ho profered me speche, that special spece,15
Enclynande lowe in wommon lore,16

Caghte of her coroun of grete tresore,
And haylsed me wyth a lote lyghte.17
Wel wacz me that ever I wacz bore,
To sware 18 that swete in perlez
pyghte.

XXI

That jewel in gems so wondrous wrought
Up lifted her face with eyes of grey,
Set on her crown of pearls far-sought,
And soberly after began to say:
"Oh, sir, your mind is all distraught
To say that your pearl hath passed away,
That into so comely a coffer is brought
As in this garden gracious-gay,

260

Herein to dwell for ever and play, Where moan or mourning none shall find;

Here were a casket for thee, in fay,
If thou, my jeweller, wert kind.