Castle Anthrax, at last (Green Knight 8 -- 10)

And riding home came Barbarossa
Around his horse, the hound pack milled
Behind him dragged a heap of fur
A dozen foxes, freshly killed

He called: Young Sir, I've had good hunting
While you played checkers with my wife
What windfall did you earn to give me
In your day of toil and strife?

So Gawaine went down to greet him
And said: My lord, that's quite a catch
But I won have a treasure for you
That your foxes cannot match

Your pale lady grants me riches
Greater than a fleet of ships
And with these words, Gawaine stood tiptoe
To kiss the lord square on the lips

Red Beard roared, and Red Beard sputtered
And he clasped Gawaine by the hand
You are a knight as fine and honest
As I have met in any land

So Barbarossa spent the evening
Peeling back the rank red skins
While the lady's twisting spindles
Made a hiss like icy wind

The next morning as Gawaine was patching
His red silks that had been so fine
Suddenly he looked up shivering
And met pale eyes as deep as mines

The lady stood there like a sundog
She lit the room like Northern lights
Gawaine got up and bowed to greet her
Half in wonder, half in fright

She kissed him and his heart was frozen
Her coldness made a fog of breath
She said: Put aside your knitting
Let us talk of life and death

She said: if you go tomorrow
You will find nothing but your doom
If you will stay, I will protect you
You need not die, so young, so soon

Gawaine's heart beats filled the chamber
Cold fire chuckled on the grill
From the window horns came faintly
As Red Beard made another kill

Gladly, he said, I would stay here
As lost I would have slept in snow
But I gave my word -- it's all I have
And I fear that I must go

And riding home came Barbarossa
With his great spear bright with gore
His big roan stallion came home prancing
Behind his horse, he dragged six boar

Like a squire Gawaine went to him
Looped the reins round his wrist
Swung up on the stallion's stirrup
And gave the Lord his Lady's kiss

Barbarossa boomed like thunder
Honest Gawaine! the giant roared
If you take her heart you'll find
This blade is good for more than boar

He shook the shining spear with laughter
But let us pass this night in mirth
For tomorrow you must leave us
Tomorrow's your last day on earth

So Barbarossa spent the evening
Telling tales, red eyes a-gleam
While the lady's silver harping
Murmured like a stony stream

The next morning as Gawaine sat sharpening
His great sword that had grown so dim
Suddenly he heard silk hissing:
The Lady came in like a wind

She came close and his strength went from him
He staggered like a winded deer
That feels the arrow’s eye upon it
His heart beat fast with wondering fear

He said: Lady, will you stay here
And help me pass this final day
For I would look at something lovely
If tomorrow I must be clay

I know that I have given nothing
No answer to your lonely cry
But still, I ask you for your comfort
In the dawn, I'm going to die

You need not die, answered the lady
With her cold hand, she clasped his arm
She took the sash off of her mantle
This would save you from all harm

Her unbound cloak billowed around her
Swirling up like wind caught snow
She held the sash out as an offering
Pale flames dance through all her clothes

This sash could save me? Stammered Gawaine
His heart was fluttering in his chest
How can such a small thing save me --
I beg you, Lady, do not jest.

I do not jest with you, she answered
This sash is woven with a spell
No axe or sword or knife will cut you
If you wear it knotted well

The lady took the sash and tied it
Round his waist with murmured wish
So from her hands, he had his hope, then
And from her lips he had his kiss

And riding home came Barbarossa
With his hawk and deadly bow
A stag was slung across his shoulders
Behind him dragged a heap of does

Look what I have won to give you
Red Beard cried, his eyes aflame
And you, in your poor patchwork robes
What have you won today, Gawaine?

We had a bet we'd trade our winnings
What have you won, I ask again
Give your account, and leave out nothing
That would be the gravest sin

The knotted sash around him twisted
And Gawaine blushed as he bowed deep
But he said: Sir, you are no richer
I've won nothing in your keep

And his heart broke as he said it
Honest Gawaine had told a lie
For hope had set his courage reeling
And silent, he began to cry

So that last evening past in silence
As Gawaine sat in lonely gloom
At dawn he would feel the axe swing
And see if could face his doom