First he clad him in his clothes to keep off the cold, and then in his
harness, which was well and fairly kept. Both hauberk and plates were
well burnished, the rings of the rich byrny freed from rust, and all as
fresh as at first, so that the knight was fain to thank them. Then he
did on each piece, and bade them bring his steed, while he put the
fairest raiment on himself; his coat with its fair cognizance, adorned
with precious stones upon velvet, with broidered seams, and all furred
within with costly skins. And he left not the lace, the lady’s gift,
that Gawain forgot not, for his own good. When he had girded on his
sword he wrapped the gift twice about him, swathed around his waist. The
girdle of green silk set gaily and well upon the royal red cloth, rich
to behold, but the knight ware it not for pride of the pendants,
polished though they were, with fair gold that gleamed brightly on the
ends, but to save himself from sword and knife, when it behoved him to
abide his hurt without question. With that the hero went forth, and
thanked that kindly folk full often.