Then courteous her leave he prayed him, the rust would he wash away, And fair shone his face, and youthful, and his lips they were red that day. And robed was the gallant hero, and so bright and so fair was he, That all men who there beheld him, they sware he for sure must be 490 The flower and the crown of manhood, a knight without shame or fear; And they looked upon him, and they praised him and his colour waxed bright and clear, And right well did his garb become him; an emerald green and rare, The gift of fair Kunnewaaré, as clasp at his neck he bare; And a girdle beside she gave him, all wrought in a cunning row 495 With mystic beasts, bejewelled, that burnt with a fiery glow, And its clasp was a red-fire ruby--How think ye the beardless youth Was seen when thus richly girded? Fair was he in very sooth, For so the story runneth--the folk bare him right goodwill, Men and women who looked upon him, they counted him worthy still. 500 Forthwith, as the Mass was ended, came Arthur the noble king, And the knights of his Table with him, a goodly following. No man there whose lips spake falsehood. Yea, all heard the word that day, 'With Gawain the Red Knight dwelleth!' the king thither took his way. Then the knight who so sore was beaten came swiftly, Sir Antanor, 505 For, fain to behold the Waleis, his feet sped the king before, And he asked, 'Art thou he who avenged me, and the lady of fair Lalande? Now vanished shall be Kay's honour, for it falleth unto thine hand, And an end hast thou made of his threatening, and the days of his strife are o'er, For his arm it is weak, and his vengeance I fear for it never more!' 510 And so fair was the knight and radiant, that all men beheld his face As an angel from heaven, that wingless, abideth on earth a space. And well did King Arthur greet him, and his knights were no whit behind, And all they who looked upon him, naught but love in their hearts might find, And their lips to their heart made answer, and all spake to his praises, 'Yea,' 515 And no man gainsaid the other, so lovely his mien that day!