The following are the missing pages from the original manuscript of The Wedding
of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. This is the scene after Sir Gawain and
Dame Ragnell are married. She is asking Sir Gawain to kiss her, after which
she transforms from an ugly monster to a beautiful princess.
THE WEDDING OF SIR GAWAIN AND DAME RAGNELL
Lines 700-734
And you, sir Knight, Courteous Gawen
Have given me the sovereignty certain,
That will not wroth you early nor late.
Kiss me, Sir Knight, even now here,
I pray you, be glad and make good cheer,
For well I am began.
There they made joy out of their mind
So was it, the reason and cause of their kind
They, the two of them, by themselves alone
She thanked God and Mary mild
She was recovered of that by which she was defiled
And did Sir Gawen.
He made mirth in all her chamber
And thanked God of all the savior
I tell you in certain
With joy and mirth they waked till day
And then would rise the fair maid.
You shall not rise, Sir Gawen said
We will lie and sleep till prime
And have the King call us to dine.
I agree, then said the maid,
Thus the time passed forth until midday.
Sirs, scolded the King, let us go and see
If Sir Gawen is still alive
For I am afraid for Sir Gawen's life
Lest the friend has slain him
Now would I fain to prove.
Let's go now said Arthur, the king.
We will see their uprising
How well that they have slept.
Arise said the king to Sir Gawen
Why are you still sleeping in bed?
Mary scold Sir king certainly!
I would be glad and you would let me be
For I am well fully at ease.
Then King Arthur sees Dame Ragnell, and he is very surprised to see the most beautiful
princess he has ever seen in his entire life. She is as beautiful as can
be, and they all go out to dine together.