Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The poet begins his work by reminding us that the history of Great Britain is ancient and glorious; Aeneas, whose exploits in the Trojan War are legendary, whose war exploits are recorded in Virgil's Aeneid, and who is legendary for having founded the city of Rome after the Trojan War, was the ancestor of a man called Felix Brutus who founded Britain ("Britain" comes from "Brutus"). The noblest of the kings who followed Brutus was Arthur; the poet says he intends to tell one of Arthur's wonderful stories. One Christmas in Camelot, the king, his queen Guinevere and the court gather for fifteen days of celebration. The best and noblest people and activities are present: brave and famous men competing in military games, beautiful and kind women playing kissing games with men. There is the most wonderful entertainment: dancing, banquets, singing. On New Year's Day there is a big party where everyone gathers. Arthur, young and impulsive, however, has a festive tradition that must be observed before the meal. He would not eat on such an occasion until he observed something wonderful: the telling of a remarkable story, the fighting of a glorious battle, or the like. Arthur presides over the banquet at the high table with Guinevere, Gawain, and other famous knights as music plays and food is brought—so many delicacies and elaborate dishes that the poet says it would be impossible to describe them all. In the midst of preparations for the feast, and while Arthur waits for a miracle to occur so he can eat, a huge and terrible man bursts into the hall: a giant of a man, his chest and limbs are massive even as his proportions show it fit and attractive. The most shocking thing about him was that he was completely green. The poet spends most of the next three stanzas describing the Green Knight in detail; we first learn of her clothes, trimmed with fur and embroidery, all green and gold. Then we learn that the horse he rides, the saddle and the stirrups are all green. The man's long hair matches that of the horse, and he has a large, bushy beard, also green.