Sir Gawain and the Bertilaks-N
Feasting and exchanging gifts in full swing
On the New Year day in King Arthur’s court
A green knight armed with an axe enters
And challenges anyone present in the court
To strike him once with his axe on a condition
That he will return the blow in one year and a day.
Sir Gawain, nephew to the king accepts it.
He severs the Green knight’s head in one stroke
But he picks up his own head reminding him
To meet at the Green chapel in a year and a day.
Time passes, Gawain heads for the Green Chapel
Tired on the way encounters a beautiful castle
Where he meets Bertilak, the lord of the castle.
Next day Bertilak proposes a bargain to Gawain
Before going hunting that he’ll give what he catches
In return Gawain’ll give what he gains during the day.
As he leaves Lady Bertilak tries to seduce Gawain
Her best efforts result in just one single kiss only.
On return Bertilak gives Gawain the deer he killed.
Gawain returns the lady’s kiss keeping the secret.
Next day the lady comes and gets two kisses
There’s similar exchange of a boar for two kisses.
On the third she comes and offers a girdle to him
There’s exchange of three kisses and keeps the girdle.
There is similar exchange of a fox and three kisses.
Then, Gawain leaves for Green Chapel with girdle.
The green knight belittles Gawain in the fight
And he could have killed him but causes a small scar.
The green knight turns out to be Lord Bertilak himself.
It’s a game planned Morgan le Fay, King Arthur’s sister.
Gawain returns to Camelot wearing the girdle in shame.
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