- May 31, 2023
- 187
- 55
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*:・゚✧ The sharp edge of the blade sundered the bones, smote through the neck, and clave it in two, so that the edge of the steel bit on the ground, and the fair head fell to the earth that many struck it with their feet as it rolled forth. The blood spurted forth, and glistened on the green raiment, but the knight neither faltered nor fell; he started forward with out-stretched hand, and caught the head, and lifted it up; then he turned to his steed, and took hold of the bridle, set his foot in the stirrup, and mounted. His head he held by the hair, in his hand. Then he seated himself in his saddle as if naught ailed him, and he were not headless. He turned his steed about, the grim corpse bleeding freely the while, and they who looked upon him doubted them much for the covenant.
For he held up the head in his hand, and turned the face towards them that sat on the high dais, and it lifted up the eyelids and looked upon them and spake as ye shall hear:
"LOOK, GAWAIN, THAT THOU ART READY TO GO AS THOU HAST PROMISED, AND SEAK LEALLY TILL THOU FIND ME, EVEN AS THOU HAST SWORN IN THIS HALL IN THE HEARING OF THESE KNIGHTS. COME THOU, I CHARGE THEE, TO THE GREEN CHAPEL; SUCH A STROKE AS THOU HAST DEALT THOU HAST DESERVED, AND IT SHALL BE PROMPTLY PAID THEE ON NEW YEAR'S MORN!"
For he held up the head in his hand, and turned the face towards them that sat on the high dais, and it lifted up the eyelids and looked upon them and spake as ye shall hear:
"LOOK, GAWAIN, THAT THOU ART READY TO GO AS THOU HAST PROMISED, AND SEAK LEALLY TILL THOU FIND ME, EVEN AS THOU HAST SWORN IN THIS HALL IN THE HEARING OF THESE KNIGHTS. COME THOU, I CHARGE THEE, TO THE GREEN CHAPEL; SUCH A STROKE AS THOU HAST DEALT THOU HAST DESERVED, AND IT SHALL BE PROMPTLY PAID THEE ON NEW YEAR'S MORN!"
─ SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
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