Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, page 129

That belt youre wearing: its mine, my wife

Gave it to youI know it all, knight,
The kisses you took, and gave, and all
You did, and how she tempted you: everything.
For I planned it all, to test youand truly,
Not many better men have walked
This earth, been worth as muchlike a pearl
To a pea, compared to other knights.
But you failed a little, lost good faith
Not for a beautiful belt, or in lust,
But for love of your life. I can hardly blame you.
And Gawain stood silent, stood a long time,
So burdened with grief that his heart shuddered:
His blood ran like fire in his face.
He winced for shame at the green mans words.
And finally he found words of his own:
A curse on cowardice and a curse on greed!
They shatter chivalry, their vice destroys
Virtue. Then he loosened the belt, unfastened it,
And grimly threw it to the green man. There!
Take the faithless thing, may it rot!
Fear of your blow taught me cowardice,
Brought me to greed, took me from myself
And the goodness, the faith, that belong to knighthood.
Im false, now, forever afraid
Of bad faith and treachery: may trouble, may sorrow
Come to them!
Oh knight: I humbly confess
My faults: bless me
With the chance to atone.
Ill try to sin less.