The most interesting of all Arthurian romances are those of the Gawain cycle,[54] and of these the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is best worth reading, for many reasons.  First, though the material is taken from French sources,[55] the English workmanship is the finest of our early romances.  Second, the unknown author of this romance probably wrote also “The Pearl,” and is the greatest English poet of the Norman period.  Third, the poem itself with its dramatic interest, its vivid descriptions, and its moral purity, is one of the most delightful old romances in any language.

In form Sir Gawain is an interesting combination of French and Saxon elements.  It is written in an elaborate stanza combining meter and alliteration.  At the end of each stanza is a rimed refrain, called by the French a “tail rime.”  We give here a brief outline of the story; but if the reader desires the poem itself, he is advised to begin with a modern version, as the original is in the West Midland dialect and is exceedingly difficult to follow.

On New Year’s day, while Arthur and his knights are keeping the Yuletide feast at Camelot, a gigantic knight in green enters the banquet hall on horseback and challenges the bravest knight present to an exchange of blows; that is, he will expose his neck to a blow of his own big battle-ax, if any knight will agree to abide a blow in return.  After some natural consternation and a fine speech by Arthur, Gawain accepts the challenge, takes the battle-ax, and with one blow sends the giant’s head rolling through the hall.  The Green Knight, who is evidently a terrible magician, picks up his head and mounts his horse.  He holds out his head and the ghastly lips speak, warning Gawain to be faithful to his promise and to seek through the world till he finds the Green Chapel.  There, on next New Year’s day, the Green Knight will meet him and return the blow.

The second canto of the poem describes Gawain’s long journey through the wilderness on his steed Gringolet, and his adventures with storm and cold, with, wild beasts and monsters, as he seeks in vain for the Green Chapel.  On Christmas eve, in the midst of a vast forest, he offers a prayer to “Mary, mildest mother so dear,” and is rewarded by sight of a great castle.  He enters and is royally entertained by the host, an aged hero, and by his wife, who is the most beautiful woman the knight ever beheld.  Gawain learns that he is at last near the Green Chapel, and settles down for a little comfort after his long quest.

The next canto shows the life in the castle, and describes a curious compact between the host, who goes hunting daily, and the knight, who remains in the castle to entertain the young wife.  The compact is that at night each man shall give the other whatever good thing he obtains during the day.  While the host is hunting, the young woman tries in vain to induce Gawain to make love to her, and ends by giving him