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Suddenly the green knight summons up his strength,hoists the axe high over Gawain's head,lifts it aloft with every fiber of his lifeand begins to bring home a bone-splitting blow.Had he seen it through as thoroughly as threatenedthe man beneath him would have met with his maker.But glimpsing the axe at the edge of his eyebringing death earthwards as it arced through the air,and sensing its sharpness, Gawain shrank at the shoulders.The swinging axman swerved from his stroke,and reproached the young prince with piercing words:"Call yourself good Sir Gawain?" he goaded,"who faced down every foe in the field of battlebut now flinches with fear at the foretaste of harm.Never have I known such a namby-pamby knight.Did I budge or even blink when you aimed the axe,or carp or quibble in King Arthur's castle,or flap when my head went flying to my feet?"

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