Unit 1: Selection Vocabulary 4

Flavorsome delicacies of flesh were fetched in
and the freshest of foods, so many in fact
there was scarcely space to present the stews
or to set the soups in the silver bowls on
the cloth.

No doubt
not all were stunned and stilled
by dread, but duty bound
to hold their tongues
until their sovereign could respond.

Be assured by this hollin stem here in my hand
that I mean no menace. So expect no malice,
for if I’d slogged here tonight to slay and slaughter
my helmet and hauberk wouldn’t be at home
and my sword and spear would be here at my side,
and more weapons of war, as I’m sure you’re aware

Then Arthur answered, “Knight
most courteous, you claim
a fair, unarmored fight.
We’ll see you have the same.”

Where’s the fortitude and fearlessness you’re so famous for?

Then he glanced at Gawain and was graceful with his words:
“Now hang up your axe—one hack is enough.”

And make this offer generously to-morn so as to assure the delay, for within a month Sir Lancelot shall come with all his noble knights and rescue you worshipfully and slay Sir Mordred and all who ever will hold with him.

They departed and came to Sir Mordred, where he had a grim host of a hundred thousand men.

And never since was there seen a more doleful battle in any Christian land, for there was great rushing and riding, thrusting and striking, and many a grim word was spoken by each side, and many a deadly stroke was dealt.

So Sir Lucan departed slowly, for he was grievously wounded in many places; as he went he saw and noticed by the moonlight how plunderers and robbers had come into the field to plunder and to rob many a full noble knight of brooches and beads, of many a good ring, and of many a rich jewel.

But now go again quickly; thy long tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of my life, for I have taken cold.

And there came an arm and a hand above the water which caught it and shook and brandished it thrice and then vanished with the sword into the water.