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Middle English |
Modern English |
| [FYTTE THE FIRST] | |
| I | |
| Siþen þe sege & þe assault watȝ sesed at Troye, | After the siege and the assault had ceased at Troy, |
| Þe borȝ brittened & brent to brondeȝ & askeȝ, | the burg broken and burnt to brands and ashes, |
| Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt, | the traitor who trammels of treason there wrought |
| 4 | Watȝ tried for his tricherie, þe trewest on erthe ; | was tried for his treachery, the truest on earth. |
| Hit watȝ Ennias þe athel, & his highe kynde, | This was Aeneas the noble; he and his high kindred |
| Þat siþen depreced prouinces, & patrounes bicome | afterwards conquered provinces, and became patrons |
| Welneȝe of al þe wele in þe west iles, | of well nigh all the wealth in the West Isles. |
| 8 | Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swyþe, | As soon as rich Romulus turns him to Rome, |
| With gret bobbaunce þat burȝe he biges vpon fyrst, | with great pride he at once builds that city, |
| & neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat ; | and names it with his own name, which it now has; |
| Ticius to Tuskan [turnes,] & teldes bigynnes ; | Ticius turns to Tuscany and founds dwellings; |
| 12 | Langaberde in Lumbardie lyftes vp homes ; | Longobard raises homes in Lombardy; |
| & fer ouer þe French flod Felix Brutus | and, far over the French flood, Felix Brutus |
| On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he setteȝ, | establishes Britain on many broad banks, |
| wyth wynne ; | with joy |
| 16 | Where werre, & wrake, & wonder, | where war and wreck and wonder |
| Bi syþeȝ hatȝ wont þer-inne, | betimes have worked within, |
| & oft boþe blysse & blunder | and oft both bliss and blunder |
| Ful skete hatȝ skyfted synne. | have held sway swiftly since. |
| II | |
| 20 | Ande quen þis Bretayn watȝ bigged bi þis burn rych, | And when this Britain was founded by this baron rich, |
| Bolde breddan þer-inne, baret þat lofden, | bold men were bred therein, of battle beloved, |
| In mony turned tyme tene þat wroȝten ; | in many a troubled time turmoil that wrought. |
| Mo ferlyes on þis folde han fallen here oft, | More flames on this fold have fallen here oft |
| 24 | Þen in any oþer þat I wot, syn þat ilk tyme. | than any other I know of, since that same time. |
| Bot of alle þat here bult of Bretaygne kynges | But of all the Britsh kings that built here, |
| Ay watȝ Arthur þe hendest, as I haf herde telle ; | Arthur was ever the highest, as I have heard tell. |
| For-þi an aunter in erde I attle to schawe, | And so of earnest adventure I aim to show, |
| 28 | Þat a selly in siȝt summe men hit holden, | that astonishes sight as some men do hold it, |
| & an outtrage awenture of Arthureȝ wondereȝ ; | an outstanding action of Arthur’s wonders. |
| If ȝe wyl lysten þis laye bot on littel quile, | If you will listen to this lay but a little while, |
| I schal telle hit, as-tit, as I in toun herde, | I will tell it forthright as in town I heard it, |
| 32 | with tonge ; | with tongue; |
| As hit is stad & stoken, | as it was said and spoken |
| In stori stif & stronge, | in story stiff and strong, |
| With lel letteres loken, | with linked letters loaded, |
| 36 | In londe so hatȝ ben longe. | as in this land so long. |
| III | |
| Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse, | This king lay at Camelot nigh on Christmas |
| With mony luflych lorde,ledeȝ of þe best, | with many lovely lords, of leaders the best, |
| Rekenly of þe rounde table alle þo rich breþer, | reckoning of the Round Table all the rich brethren, |
| 40 | With rych reuel oryȝt, & rechles merþes ; | with right ripe revel and reckless mirth. |
| Þer tournayed tulkes bi-tymeȝ ful mony, | There tourneyed tykes by times full many, |
| Iusted ful Iolilé þis gentyle kniȝtes, | jousted full jollily these gentle knights, |
| Syþen kayred to þe court, caroles to make. | then carried to court, their carols to make. |
| 44 | For þer þe fest watȝ ilyche ful fiften dayes, | For there the feast was alike full fifteen days, |
| With alle þe mete & þe mirþe þat men couþe a-vyse ; | with all the meat and mirth men could devise: |
| Such glaumande gle glorious to here, | such clamour and glee glorious to hear, |
| Dere dyn vp-on day, daunsyng on nyȝtes, | dear din in the daylight, dancing of nights; |
| 48 | Al watȝ hap vpon heȝe in halleȝ & chambreȝ, | all was happiness high in halls and chambers |
| With lordeȝ & ladies, as leuest him poȝt ; | with lords and ladies, as liked them all best. |
| With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen, | With all that’s well in the world were they together, |
| Þe most kyd knyȝteȝ vnder kryste seluen, | the knights best known under the Christ Himself, |
| 52 | & þe louelokkest ladies þat euer lif haden, | and the loveliest ladies that ever life honoured, |
| & he þe comlokest kyng þat þe court haldes ; | and he the comeliest king that the court rules. |
| For al watȝ þis fayre folk in her first age, | For all were fair folk and in their first age |
| on sille ; | still |
| 56 | Þe hapnest vnder heuen, | the happiest under heaven, |
| Kyng hyȝest mon of wylle, | king noblest in his will, |
| Hit were now gret nye to neuen | that it were hard to reckon |
| So hardy a here on hille. | so hardy a host on hill. |
| IV | |
| 60 | Wyle nw ȝer watȝ so ȝep þat hit watȝ nwe cummen, | While New Year was so young it was new come in, |
| Þat day doubble on þe dece watȝ þe douth serued, | that day double on the dais was the dole served, |
| Fro þe kyng watȝ cummen with knyȝtes in to þe halle, | for the king was come with knights into the hall, |
| Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende ; | and chanting in the chapel had chimed to an end. |
| 64 | Loude crye watȝ þer kest of clerkeȝ & oþer, | Loud cry was there cast of clerics and others, |
| Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte ; | Noel nurtured anew, and named full oft; |
| & syþen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle, | and see the rich run forth to render presents, |
| Ȝeȝed ȝeres ȝiftes on hiȝ, ȝelde hem bi hond, | yelled their gifts on high, yield them to hand, |
| 68 | Debated busyly aboute þo giftes ; | argued busily about those same gifts. |
| Ladies laȝed ful loude, þoȝ þay lost haden, | Ladies laughed out loud, though they had lost, |
| & he þat wan watȝ not wrothe, þat may ȝe wel trawe. | while he that won was not wrath, that you’ll know. |
| Alle þis mirþe þay maden to þe mete tyme ; | All this mirth they made at the meal time. |
| 72 | When þay had waschen, worþyly þay wenten to sete, | When they had washed well they went to be seated, |
| Þe best burne ay abof, as hit best semed ; | the best of the barons above, as it seemed best; |
| Whene Guenore ful gay, grayþed in þe myddes, | with Guinevere, full gaily, gracing their midst, |
| Dressed on þe dere des, dubbed al aboute, | dressed on the dais there, adorned all about – |
| 76 | Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer | splendid silk by her sides, and sheer above |
| Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites in-noghe, | of true Toulouse, of Tartar tapestries plenty, |
| Þat were enbrawded & beten wyth þe best gemmes, | that were embroidered, bright with the best gems |
| Þat myȝt be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye, | that might be price-proved with pennies |
| 80 | in daye ; | any a day. |
| Þe comlokest to discrye, | the comeliest to descry |
| Þer glent with yȝen gray, | glanced there with eyen grey; |
| A semloker þat euer he syȝe, | a seemlier ever to the sight, |
| 84 | Soth moȝt no mon say. | sooth might no man say. |
| V | |
| Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued, | But Arthur would not eat till all were served, |
| He watȝ so Ioly of his Ioyfnes, & sum-quatchildgered, | he was so joyous a youth, and somewhat boyish: |
| His lif liked hym lyȝt, he louied þe lasse | he liked his life lively, he loved less |
| 88 | Auþer to lenge lye, or to longe sitte, | either to long lie idle or to long sit, |
| So bi-sied him his ȝonge blod & his brayn wylde ; | so busied him his young blood and his brain wild. |
| & also anoþer maner meued him eke, | And also another matter moved him so, |
| Ƿat he þurȝ nobelay had nomen, he wolde neuer ete | that he had nobly named he would never eat |
| 92 | Vpon such a dere day, er hym deuised were | on such dear days, before he had been advised, |
| Of sum auenturus þyng an vncouþe tale, | of some adventurous thing, an unknown tale, |
| Of sum mayn meruayle, þat he myȝt trawe, | of some mighty marvel, that he might believe, |
| Of alderes, of armes, of oþer auenturus, | of ancestors, arms, or other adventures; |
| 96 | Oþer sum segg hym bi-soȝt of sum siker knyȝt, | or else till someone beseeched for some sure knight |
| To Ioyne wyth hym in iustyng in Iopardé to lay, | to join with him in jousting, in jeopardy to lay, |
| Lede lif for lyf, leue vchon oþer, | lay down life for life, allow each to the other, |
| As fortune wolde fulsun hom þe fayrer to haue. | as fortune might favour them, a fair advantage. |
| 100 | Þis watȝ [þe] kynges countenaunce where he in court were, | This was the king’s custom when he in court was, |
| At vch farand fest among his fre meny, | at each fine feast among his many friends |
| in halle ; | in hall. |
| Þer-fore of face so fere, | Therefore with fearless face |
| 104 | He stiȝtleȝ stif in stalle, | he stands straight and tall; |
| Ful ȝep in þat nw ȝere, | full lively at that New Year |
| Much mirthe he mas with alle. | much mirth he makes with all. |
| VI | |
| Thus þere stondes in stale þe stif kyng his-seluen, | Thus there stands straight and tall the king himself, |
| 108 | Talkkande bifore þe hyȝe table of trifles ful hende ; | talking at the high table of trifles full courtly. |
| There gode Gawan watȝ grayþed, Gwenore bisyde, | There good Gawain was graced by Guinevere beside, |
| & Agrauayn a la dure mayn on þat oþer syde sittes, | and Agravain a la dure main on the other side sits, |
| Boþe þe kynges sister sunes, & ful siker kniȝtes ; | both the king’s sister-sons and full sure knights; |
| 112 | Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gineȝ þe table, | Bishop Baldwin above, he begins the table, |
| & Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hym-seluen ; | and Ywain, Urien’s son, ate alongside him. |
| Þise were diȝt on þe des, & derworþly serued, | These sat high on the dais and deftly served, |
| & siþen mony siker segge at þe sidbordeȝ. | and many another sat sure at the side-tables. |
| 116 | Þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes, | Then the first course came with crack of trumpets, |
| Wyth mony baner ful bryȝt, þat þer-bi henged, | with many a banner full bright that thereby hung; |
| Nwe nakryn noyse with þe noble pipes, | new noise of kettledrums and noble pipes, |
| Wylde werbles & wyȝt wakned lote, | wild warbles and wide wakened echoes, |
| 120 | Þat mony hert ful hiȝe hef at her towches ; | that many a heart full high heaved at their notes. |
| Dayntes dryuen þer-wyth of ful dere metes, | Dainties drawn in therewith of full dear meats, |
| Foysoun of þe fresche, & on so fele disches, | foods of the freshest, and in such files of dishes |
| Þat pine to fynde þe place þe peple bi-forne | they find no room to place them people before |
| 124 | For to sette þe syluener, þat sere sewes halden, | and to set the silver that holds such servings |
| on clothe ; | on cloth. |
| Iche lede as he loued hym-selue | Each his load as he liked himself, |
| Þer laght with-outen loþe, | there ladled and nothing loath; |
| 128 | Ay two had disches twelue, | Every two had dishes twelve, |
| Good ber, & bryȝt wyn boþe. | good beer and bright wine both. |
| VII | |
| Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more, | Now will I of their service say you no more, |
| For vch wyȝe may wel with no wont þat þer were ; | for each man may well know no want was there |
| 132 | An oþer noyse ful newe neȝed biliue, | another noise full new neared with speed, |
| Þat þe lede myȝt haf leue lif-lode to cach. | that would give the lord leave to take meat. |
| For vneþe watȝ þe noyce not a whyle sesed, | For scarce was the noise not a while ceased, |
| & þe fyrst cource in þe court kyndely serued, | and the first course in the court duly served, |
| 136 | Þer hales in at þe halle dor an aghlich mayster, | there hales in at the hall door a dreadful man, |
| On þe most of þe molde on mesure hyghe ; | the most in the world’s mould of measure high, |
| Fro þe swyre to þe swange so sware & so þik, | from the nape to the waist so swart and so thick, |
| & his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete, | and his loins and his limbs so long and so great |
| 140 | Half etayn in erde I hope þat he were. | half giant on earth I think now that he was; |
| Bot mon most I algate mynn hym to bene, | but the most of man anyway I mean him to be, |
| & þat þe myriest in his muckel þat myȝt ride ; | and that the finest in his greatness that might ride, |
| For of bak & of brest al were his body sturne, | for of back and breast though his body was strong, |
| 144 | Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale, | both his belly and waist were worthily small, |
| & alle his fetures folȝande, in forme þat he hade, | and his features all followed his form made |
| ful clene ; | and clean. |
| For wonder of his hwe men hade, | Wonder at his hue men displayed, |
| 148 | Set in his semblaunt sene ; | set in his semblance seen; |
| He ferde as freke were fade, | he fared as a giant were made, |
| & ouer-al enker grene. | and over all deepest green. |
| VIII | |
| Ande al grayþed in grene þis gome & his wedes, | And all garbed in green this giant and his gear: |
| 152 | A strayt cote ful streȝt, þat stek on his sides, | a straight coat full tight that stuck to his sides, |
| A mere mantile abof, mensked with-inne, | a magnificent mantle above, masked within |
| With pelure pured apert þe pane ful clene, | with pelts pared pertly, the garment agleam |
| With blyþe blaunner ful bryȝt, & his hod boþe, | with blithe ermine full bright, and his hood both, |
| 156 | Þat watȝ laȝt fro his lokkeȝ, & layde on his schulderes ; | that was left from his locks and laid on his shoulders; |
| Heme wel haled, hose of þat same grene, | neat, well-hauled hose of that same green |
| Þat spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder, | that clung to his calves and sharp spurs under |
| Of bryȝt golde, vpon silk bordes, barred ful ryche, | of bright gold, on silk stockings rich-barred, |
| 160 | & scholes vnder schankes, þere þe schalk rides ; | and no shoes under sole where the same rides. |
| & alle his vesture uerayly watȝ clene verdure, | And all his vesture verily was bright verdure, |
| Boþe þe barres of his belt & oþer blyþe stones, | both the bars of his belt and other bright stones, |
| Þat were richely rayled in his aray clene, | that were richly rayed in his bright array |
| 164 | Aboutte hym-self & his sadel, vpon silk werkeȝ, | about himself and his saddle, on silk work, |
| Þat were to tor for to telle of tryfles þe halue, | it were tortuous to tell of these trifles the half, |
| Þat were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & flyȝes, | embroidered above with birds and butterflies, |
| With gay gaudi of grene, þe golde ay in myddes ; | with gay gaudy of green, the gold ever inmost. |
| 168 | Þe pendauntes of his payttrure, þe proude cropure, | The pendants of his harness, the proud crupper, |
| His molaynes, & alle þe metail anamayld was þenne, | his bridle and all the metal enamelled was then; |
| Þe steropes þat he stod on, stayned of þe same, | the stirrups he stood on stained with the same, |
| & his arsounȝ al after, & his aþel sturtes, | and his saddle bows after, and saddle skirts, |
| 172 | Þat euer glemered & glent al of grene stones. | ever glimmered and glinted all with green stones. |
| Þe fole þat he ferkkes on, fyn of þat ilke, | The horse he rode on was also of that hue, |
| sertayn ; | certain: |
| A grene hors gret & þikke, | A green horse great and thick, |
| 176 | A stede ful stif to strayne, | a steed full strong to restrain, |
| In brawden brydel quik, | in broidered bridle quick – |
| To þe gome he watȝ ful gayn. | to the giant he brought gain. |
| IX | |
| Wel gay watȝ þis gome gered in grene, | Well garbed was this giant geared in green, |
| 180 | & þe here of his hed of his hors swete ; | and the hair of his head like his horse’s mane. |
| Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes ; | Fair fanned-out flax enfolds his shoulders; |
| A much berd as a busk ouer his brest henges, | A beard big as a bush over his breast hangs, |
| Þat wyth his hiȝlich here, þat of his hed reches, | that with the haul of hair that from his head reaches |
| 184 | Watȝ euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes, | was clipped all round about above his elbows, |
| Þat half his armes þer vnder were halched in þe wyse | that half his hands thereunder were hid in the wise |
| Of a kyngeȝ capados, þat closes his swyre. | of a king’s broad cape that’s clasped at his neck. |
| Þe mane of þat mayn hors much to hit lyke, | The mane of that mighty horse was much alike, |
| 188 | Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony, | well crisped and combed, with knots full many |
| Folden in wyth fildore aboute þe fayre grene, | plaited in thread of gold about the fair green, |
| Ay a herle of þe here, an oþer of golde ; | here a thread of the hair, and there of gold. |
| Þe tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute, | The tail and his forelock twinned, of a suit, |
| 192 | & bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bryȝt grene, | and bound both with a band of a bright green, |
| Dubbed wyth ful dere stoneȝ, as þe dok lasted, | dressed with precious stones, as its length lasted; |
| Syþen þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte, | then twined with a thong, a tight knot aloft, |
| Þer mony belleȝ ful bryȝt of brende golde rungen. | where many bells bright of burnished gold ring. |
| 196 | Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke þat hym rydes, | Such a man on a mount, such a giant that rides, |
| Watȝ neuer sene in þat sale wyth syȝt er þat tyme, | was never before that time in hall in sight of human |
| with yȝe ; | eye. |
| He loked as layt so lyȝt, | He looked as lightning bright, |
| 200 | So sayd al þat hym syȝe, | said all that him descried; |
| Hit semed as no mon myȝt, | it seemed that no man might |
| Vnder his dyntteȝ dryȝe. | his mighty blows survive. |
| X | |
| Wheþer hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nauþer, | And yet he had no helm nor hauberk, neither, |
| 204 | Ne no pysan, ne no plate þat pented to armes, | nor protection, nor no plate pertinent to arms, |
| Ne no schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte, | nor no shaft, nor no shield, to strike and smite, |
| Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe, | but in his one hand he held a holly branch, |
| Þat is grattest in grene, when greueȝ ar bare, | that is greatest in green when groves are bare, |
| 208 | & an ax in his oþer, a hoge & vn-mete, | and an axe in his other, one huge, monstrous, |
| A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle quo-so myȝt ; | a perilous spar to expound in speech, who might. |
| Þe hede of an elnȝerde þe large lenkþe hade, | The head of an ell-rod its large length had, |
| Þe grayn al of grene stele & of golde hewen, | the spike all of green steel and of gold hewn, |
| 212 | Þe bit burnyst bryȝt, with a brod egge, | the blade bright burnished with a broad edge |
| As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores ; | as well shaped to sheer as are sharp razors. |
| Þe stele of a stif staf þe sturne hit bi-grypte, | The shaft of a strong staff the stern man gripped, |
| Þat watȝ wounden wyth yrn to þe wandeȝ ende, | that was wound with iron to the wand’s end, |
| 216 | & al bigrauen with grene, in gracios werkes ; | and all engraved with green in gracious workings; |
| A lace lapped aboute, þat louked at þe hede, | a cord lapped it about, that linked at the head, |
| & so after þe halme halched ful ofte, | and so around the handle looped full oft, |
| Wyth tryed tasseleȝ þerto tacched in-nogne, | with tried tassels thereto attached enough |
| 220 | On botounȝ of þe bryȝt grene brayden ful ryche. | on buttons of the bright green broidered full rich. |
| Þis haþel heldeȝ hym in, & þe halle entres, | This stranger rides in and the hall enters, |
| Driuande to þe heȝe dece, dut he no woþe, | driving to the high dais, danger un-fearing. |
| Haylsed he neuer one, bot heȝe he ouer loked. | Hailed he never a one, but high he overlooked. |
| 224 | Þe fyrst word þat he warp, "where is," he sayd, | The first word that he spoke: ‘Where is,’ he said, |
| "Þe gouernour of þis gyng ? gladly I wolde | ‘the governor of this throng? Gladly I would |
| Se þat segg in syȝt, & with hym self speke | see that soul in sight and with himself speak |
| raysoun." | reason.’ |
| To knyȝteȝ he kest his yȝe, | On knights he cast his eyes, |
| 200 | & reled hym vp & doun, | And rolled them up and down. |
| He stemmed & con studie, | He stopped and studied ay |
| Quo walt þer most renoun. | who was of most renown. |
| XI | |
| 232 | Ther watȝ lokyng on lenþe, þe lude to be-holde, | There was a looking at length the man to behold, |
| For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene myȝt, | for each man marvelled what it might mean |
| Þat a haþel & a horse myȝt such a hwe lach, | for a rider and his horse to own such a hue |
| As growe grene as þe gres & grener hit semed, | as grew green as the grass and greener it seemed, |
| 236 | Þen grene aumayl on golde lowande bryȝter ; | than green enamel on gold glowing the brighter. |
| Al studied þat þer stod, & stalked hym nerre, | All studied that steed, and stalked him near, |
| Wyth al þe wonder of þe worlde, what he worch schulde. | with all the wonder of the world at what he might do. |
| For fele sellyeȝ had þay sen, bot such neuer are, | for marvels had they seen but such never before; |
| 240 | For-þi for fantoum & fayryȝe þe folk þe folk þere hit demed; | and so of phantom and fairie the folk there it deemed. |
| Þer-fore to answare watȝ arȝe mony aþel freke, | Therefore to answer was many a knight afraid, |
| & al stouned at his steuen, & stonstil seten, | and all stunned at his shout and sat stock-still |
| In a swoghe sylence þurȝ þe sale riche | in a sudden silence through the rich hall; |
| 244 | As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor loteȝ | as all had slipped into sleep so ceased their noise |
| in hyȝe ; | and cry. |
| I deme hit not al for doute, | I think it not all in fear, |
| Bot sum for cortaysye, | but some from courtesy; |
| 248 | Bot let hym þat al schulde loute, | to let him all should revere |
| Cast vnto þat wyȝe. | speak to him firstly. |
| XII | |
| Þenn Arþour bifore þe hiȝ dece þat auenture byholdeȝ, | Then Arthur before the high dais that adventure beholds, |
| & rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer, | and, gracious, him reverenced, a-feared was he never, |
| 252 | & sayde, "wyȝe, welcum iwys to þis place, | and said: ‘Sir, welcome indeed to this place, |
| Þe hede of þis ostel Arthour I hat ; | the head of this house, I, Arthur am named. |
| Liȝt luflych adoun, & lenge, I þe praye, | Alight swiftly adown and rest, I thee pray, |
| & quat so þy wylle is, we schal wyt after." [syttes, | and what thy will is we shall wait after.’ |
| 256 | "Nay, as help me," quod þe haþel, "he þat on hyȝe | ‘Nay, so help me,’ quoth the man, ‘He that on high sits: |
| To wone any quyle in þis won, hit watȝ not myn, | to wait any while in this way, it was not my errand. |
| Bot for þe los of þe, lede, is lyft vp so hyȝe, [ernde ; | But as the light of thee, lord, is lifted so high, |
| & þy burȝ & þy burnes best ar holden, | and thy burg and thy barons the best, men hold, |
| 260 | Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde, , | strongest under steel gear on steeds to ride, |
| Þe wyȝtest & þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde, | the wisest and worthiest of the world’s kind, |
| Preue for to play wyth in oþer pure laykeȝ ; | proof to play against in other pure sports, |
| & here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp, | and here is shown courtesy, as I have heard said, |
| 264 | & þat hatȝ wayned me hider, I-wyis, at þis tyme. | so then I wandered hither, indeed, at this time. |
| Ȝe may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here, | You may be sure by this branch that I bear here |
| Þat I passe as in pes, & no plyȝt seche ; | that I pass by in peace and no plight seek. |
| For had I founded in fere, in feȝtyng wyse, | For were I found here, fierce, and in fighting wise, |
| 268 | I haue a hauberghe at home & a helme boþe, | I had a hauberk at home and a helm both, |
| A schelde, & a scharpe spere, schinande bryȝt, | a shield and a sharp spear, shining bright, |
| Ande oþer weppenes to welde, I wene wel als, | and other weapons to wield, I well will, too; |
| Bot for I wolde no were, my wedeȝ ar softer. | but as I wish no war, I wear the softer. |
| 272 | Bot if þou be so bold as alle burneȝ tellen, | But if you be as bold as all bairns tell, |
| Þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask, | you will grant me goodly the gift that I ask |
| bi ryȝt" ; | by right.’ |
| Arthour con onsware, | Arthur answered there, |
| 276 | & sayd, "sir cortays knyȝt, | and said: ‘Sir courteous knight, |
| If þou craue batayl bare, | if you crave battle bare, |
| Here fayleȝ þou not to fyȝt." | here fails you not the fight.’ |
| XIII | |
| "Nay, frayst I no fyȝt, in fayth I þe telle, | ‘Nay, follow I no fight, in faith I thee tell. |
| 280 | Hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdleȝ chylder ; | About on these benches are but beardless children; |
| If I were hasped in armes on a heȝe stede, | if I were clasped in armour on a high steed, |
| Here is no mon me to mach, for myȝteȝ so wayke. | here is no man to match me, his might so weak. |
| For-þy I craue in þis court a crystemas gomen, | From thee I crave in this court a Christmas gift, |
| 284 | For hit is ȝol & nwe ȝer, & here ar ȝep mony ; | for it is Yule and New Year, and here many young men. |
| If any so hardy in þis hous holdeȝ hym-seluen, | If any so hardy in this house holds himself, |
| Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede, | is so bold of blood, hot-brained in his head, |
| Þat dar stifly strike a strok for an oþer, | that dare staunchly strike a stroke for another, |
| 288 | I schal gif hym of my gyft þys giserne ryche, | I shall give him as gift this weapon so rich, |
| Þis ax, þat is heué in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes, | this axe, that is heavy enough to handle as he likes, |
| & I schal bide þe fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. | and I will bear the first blow, as bare as I sit. |
| If any freke be so felle to fonde þat I telle, | If any friend be so fell as to fare as I say, |
| 292 | Lepe lyȝtly me to, & lach þis weppen, | Leap lightly to me; latch on to this weapon – |
| I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen, | I quit claim for ever, he keeps it, his own. |
| & I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on þis flet, | And I will stand his stroke straight, on this floor, |
| Elleȝ þou wyl diȝt me þe dom to dele hym an oþer, | if you will grant me the gift to give him another, |
| 296 | barlay ; | again; |
| & ȝet gif hym respite, | and yet give him respite |
| A twelmonyth & a day ; | a twelvemonth and a day. |
| Now hyȝe, & let so tite | Now hurry, let’s see aright |
| 300 | Dar any her-inne oȝt say." | dare any herein aught say.’ |
| XIV | |
| If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were þanne | If he had stunned them at first, stiller were then |
| Alle þe hered-men in halle, þe hyȝ & þe loȝe ; | all the host in the hall, the high and the low. |
| Þe renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel, | The man on his mount he turned in his saddle, |
| 304 | & runisch-ly his rede yȝen he reled aboute, | and roundly his red eyes he rolled about, |
| Bende his bresed broȝeȝ, bly-cande grene, | bent his bristling brows, burning green, |
| Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse. | waving his beard about waiting who would rise. |
| When non wolde kepe hym with carp he coȝed ful hyȝe, | When none would come to his call he coughed full high, |
| 308 | Ande rimed hym ful richley, & ryȝt hym to speke : | and cleared his throat full richly, ready to speak: |
| "What, is þis Arþures hous," quod þe haþel þenne, | ‘What, is this Arthur’s house,’ quoth the horseman then, |
| "Þat al þe rous rennes of, þurȝ ryalmes so mony? | ‘that all the rumour runs of, through realms so many? |
| Where is now your sourquydrye & your conquestes, | Where now your superiority and your conquests, |
| 312 | Your gry[n]del-layk, & your greme, & your grete wordes? | your grinding down and your anger, your great words? |
| Now is þe reuel & þe renoun of þe rounde table | Now is the revel and the renown of the Round Table |
| Ouer-walt wyth a worde of on wyȝes speche ; | overthrown with the word of a wanderer’s speech, |
| For al dares for drede, with-oute dynt schewed !" | for all duck down in dread without dint of a blow!’ |
| 316 | Wyth þis he laȝes so loude, þat þe lorde greued ; | With this he laughed so loud that the lord grieved; |
| Þeblod schot for scham in-to his schyre face | the blood shot for shame into his fair face |
| & lere ; | and there, |
| He wex as wroth as wynde, | he waxed as wrath as wind; |
| 320 | So did alle þat þer were, | so did all that there were. |
| Þe kyng as kene bi kynde, | The king, so keen by kind, |
| Þen stod þat stif mon nere. | then stood that strong man near. |
| XV | |
| Ande sayde, "haþel, by heuen þyn askyng is nys, | And said: ‘Horseman, by heaven you ask as a fool, |
| 324 | & as þou foly hatȝ frayst, fynde þe be-houes ; | and as a folly you fain, to find it me behoves. |
| I know no gome þat is gast of þy grete wordes. | I know no guest that’s aghast at your great words. |
| Gif me now þy geserne, vpon godeȝ halue, | Give me now your weapon, upon God’s name, |
| & I schal bayþen þy bone, þat þou boden habbes." | and I shall bear you the boon you’d be having.’ |
| 328 | Lyȝtly lepeȝ he hym to, & laȝt at his honde ; | lightly he leaped to him and caught at his hand; |
| Þen feersly þat oþer freke vpon fote lyȝtis. | then fiercely the other fellow on foot alighted. |
| Now hatȝ Arthure his axe, & þe halme grypeȝ, | Now has Arthur his axe, and the helm grips, |
| & sturnely stureȝ hit aboute, þatstryke wyth hit þoȝt. | and strongly stirs it about, to strike with a thought. |
| 332 | Þe stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hyȝt, | The man before him drew himself to full height, |
| Herre þen ani in þe hous by þe hede & more [berde, | higher than any in the house by a head and more. |
| Wyth sturne schere þer he stod, he stroked his | With stern face where he stood he stroked his beard, |
| & wyth a countenaunce dryȝe he droȝ doun his cote, | and with fixed countenance tugged at his coat, |
| 336 | No more mate ne dismayed for hys mayn dinteȝ, | no more moved or dismayed by mighty blows |
| Þen any burne vpon bench hade broȝt hym to drynk | than if any man to the bench had brought him a drink |
| of wyne ; | of wine. |
| Gawan, þat sate bi þe quene, | Gawain, that sat by the queen, |
| 340 | To þe kyng he can enclyne, | to the king he did incline: |
| "I be-seche now with saȝeȝ sene, | ‘I beseech in plain speech |
| Þis melly mot be myne.". | that this mêlée be mine’ |
| XVI | |
| "Wolde ȝe, worþilych lorde," quod Gawan to þe kyng, | ‘Would you, worthiest lord,’ quoth Gawain to the king, |
| 344 | "Bid me boȝe fro þis bench, & stonde by yow þere, | ‘bid me bow from this bench and stand by you there, |
| Þat I wyth-oute vylanye myȝt voyde þis table, | that I without villainy might void this table, |
| & þat my legge lady lyked not ille, | and if my liege lady liked it not ill, |
| I wolde com to your counseyl, bifore your cort ryche. | I would come counsel you before your court rich. |
| 348 | For me þink hit not semly, as hit is soþ knawen, | For I think it not seemly, as it is true known, |
| Þer such an askyng is heuened so hyȝe in your sale, | that such an asking is heaved so high in your hall, |
| Þaȝȝe ȝour-self be talenttyf to take hit to your-seluen, | that you yourself are tempted, to take it to yourself, |
| Whil mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten, | while so many bold men about you on benches sit, |
| 352 | Þat vnder heuen, I hope, non haȝer er of wylle, | that under heaven, I hope, are none higher of will, |
| Ne better bodyes on bent, þer baret is rered ; | nor better of body on fields where battle is raised. |
| I am þe wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest, | I am the weakest, I know, and of wit feeblest. |
| & lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes þe soþe, [prayse, | least worth the loss of my life, who’d learn the truth. |
| 356 | Bot for as much as ȝe ar myn em, I am only to | Only inasmuch as you are my uncle, am I praised: |
| No bounté bot your blod I in my bodé knowe ; | No bounty but your blood in my body I know. |
| & syþen þis note is so nys, þat noȝt hit yow falles, | And since this thing is folly and naught to you falls, |
| & I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, foldeȝ hit to me, | and I have asked it of you first, grant it to me; |
| 360 | & I carp not comlyly, let alle þis cort rych, | and if my cry be not comely, let this court be free |
| bout blame." | of blame.’ |
| Ryche to-geder con roun, | Nobles whispered around, |
| & syþen þay redden alle same, | and after counselled the same, |
| 364 | "To ryd þe kyng wyth croun, | to free the king and crown, |
| & gif Gawan þe game. | and give Gawain the game. |
| XVII | |
| Þen comaunded þe kyng þe knyȝt for to ryse ; | Then commanded the king the knight for to rise, |
| & he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre, | and he readily up-rose and prepared him fair, |
| 368 | Kneled doun bifore þe kyng, & cacheȝ þat weppen ; | knelt down before the king, and caught the weapon; |
| & he luflyly hit him laft, & lyfte vp his honde, | and he lightly left it him, and lifted up his hand |
| & gef hym goddeȝ blessyng, & gladly hym biddes | and gave him God’s blessing, and gladly him bade |
| Þat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boþe. | that his heart and his hand should hardy be, both. |
| 372 | "Kepe þe cosyn," quod þe kyng, "þat þou on kyrf sette, | ‘Take care, cousin,’ quoth the king, ‘how you set on, |
| & if þou redeȝ him ryȝt, redly I trowe, | and if you read him aright, readily I trow, |
| Þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after." | that you shall abide the blow he shall bring after.’ |
| Gawan gotȝ to þe gome, with giserne in honde, | Gawain goes to the giant, with weapon in hand, |
| 376 | & he baldly hym bydeȝ, he bayst neuer þe helder. | and boldly abides him, never bothered the less. |
| Þen carppeȝ to sir Gawan þe knyȝt in þe grene, | Then to Sir Gawain says the knight in the green: |
| "Refourme we oure for-wardes, er we fyrre passe. | ‘Re-affirm we our oaths before we go further. |
| Fyrst I eþe þe, haþel, how þat þou hattes, | First I entreat you, man, how are you named, |
| 380 | Þat þou me telle truly, as I tryst may?" [hatte, | that tell me truly, then, so trust it I may.’ |
| "In god fayth," quod þe goode knyȝt, "Gawan I | ‘In God’s faith,’ quoth the good knight, ‘Gawain am I, |
| Þat bede þe þis buffet, quat-so bi-falleȝ after, | that bear you this buffet, whatever befalls after, |
| & at þis tyme twelmonyth take at þe anoþer, | and at this time twelvemonth take from thee another |
| 384 | Wyth what weppen so þou wylt, & wyth no wyȝ elleȝ, | with what weapon you wilt, and no help from any |
| on lyue." | alive.’ |
| Þat oþer on-swareȝ agayn, | The other replies again: |
| "Sir Gawan, so mot I þryue, | ‘Sir Gawain, may I so thrive, |
| 388 | As I am ferly fayn, | if I am not wondrous fain |
| Þis dint þat þou schal dryue." | for you this blow to drive.’ |
| XVIII | |
| "Bigog," quod þe grene knyȝt, "sir Gawan, me lykes, | ‘By God,’ quoth the green knight, ‘Sir Gawain, I like |
| Þat I schal fange at þy fust þat I haf frayst here ; | That I’ll face first from your fist what I found here. |
| 392 | & þou hatȝ redily rehersed, bi resoun ful trwe, | And you have readily rehearsed, with reason full true, |
| Clanly al þe couenaunt þat I þe kynge asked,, | clearly all the covenant that I the king asked, |
| Saf þat þou schal siker me, segge, bi þi trawþe, | save that you shall secure me, say, by your troth, |
| Þat þou schal seche me þi-self, where-so þou hopes | that you shall seek me yourself, where so you think |
| 396 | I may be funde vpon folde, & foch þe such wages | I may be found upon field, and fetch you such wages |
| As þou deles me to day, bifore þis douþe ryche." | as you deal me today before this dear company.’ |
| "Where schulde I wale þe," quod Gauan, "where is þy place? | ‘Where should I seek,’ quoth Gawain, ‘where is your place? |
| I wot neuer where þou wonyes, bi hym þat me wroȝt, | I know nothing of where you walk, by Him that wrought me, |
| 400 | Ne I know not þe, knyȝt, þy cort, ne þi name. | nor do I know you, knight, your court or your name. |
| Bot teche me truly þer-to, & telle me howe þou hattes, | But teach me truly the track, tell me how you are named, |
| & I schal ware alle my wyt to wynnne me þeder, | and I shall wind all my wit to win me thither; |
| & þat I swere þe for soþe, & by my seker traweþ." | and that I swear you in truth, and by my sure honour.’ |
| 404 | "Þat is in-nough in nwe ȝer, hit nedes no more," | ‘That is enough this New Year, it needs no more,’ |
| Quod þe gome in þe grene to Gawan þe hende, | quoth the giant in the green to courteous Gawain: |
| "Ȝif I þe telle trwly, quen I þe tape haue , | ‘if I shall tell you truly, when you have tapped me |
| & þou me smoþely hatȝ smyten, smartly I þe teche | and you me smoothly have smitten, I swiftly you teach, |
| 408 | Of my hous, & my home, & myn owen nome, | of my house and my home and my own name. |
| Þen may þou frayst my fare, & forwardeȝ holde, | Then may you find how I fare, and hold to your word; |
| & if I spende no speche, þenne spedeȝ þou þe better, | and if I spend no speech, then it speeds you the better, |
| For þou may leng in þy londe, & layt no fyrre, | for you may linger in your land and seek no further – |
| 412 | bot slokes ; | but oh! |
| Ta now þy grymme tole to þe, | Take now your grim steel to thee, |
| "& let se how þou cnokeȝ." | and see how you fell oaks.’ |
| "Gladly sir, for soþe," | ‘Gladly, sir, indeed,’ |
| 416 | Quod Gawan ; his ax he strokes. | quoth Gawain; his axe he strokes. |
| XIX | |
| The grene knyȝt vpon grounde grayþely hym dresses, | The green knight on his ground graciously stands: |
| A littel lut with þe hede, þe lere he discouereȝ, | with a little lean of the head, flesh he uncovers; |
| His longe louelych lokkeȝ he layd ouer his croun, | his long lovely locks he laid over his crown, |
| 420 | Let þe naked nec to þe note schewe. | and let the naked neck to the stroke show. |
| Gauan gripped to his ax, & gederes hit on hyȝt, | Gawain gripped his axe and glanced it on high, |
| Þe kay fot on þe folde he be-fore sette, | his left foot on the field before him he set, |
| Let hit down lyȝtly lyȝt on þe naked, | letting it down lightly light on the naked, |
| 424 | Þat þe scharp of þe schalk schyndered þe bones, | that the sharp of the steel sundered the bones, |
| & schrank þurȝ þe schyire grece, & scade hit in twynne, | and sank through the soft flesh, sliced it in two, |
| Þat þe bit of þe broun stel bot on þe grounde. | that the blade of the bright steel bit in the ground. |
| Þe fayre hede fro þe halce hit [felle] to þe erþe, | The fair head from the frame fell to the earth, |
| 428 | Þat fele hit foyned wyth her fete, þere hit forth roled ; | that folk flailed it with their feet, where it forth rolled; |
| Þe blod brayd fro þe body, þat blykked on þe grene ; | the blood burst from the body, the bright on the green. |
| & nawþer faltered ne fel þe freke neuer þe helder, | Yet nevertheless neither falters nor falls the fellow, |
| Bot styþly he start forth vpon styf schonkes, | but stoutly he started forth on strong shanks, |
| 432 | & ru[n]yschly he raȝt out, þere as renkkeȝ stoden, | and roughly he reached out, where the ranks stood, |
| Laȝt to his lufly hed, & lyft hit vp sone ; | latched onto his lovely head, and lifted it so; |
| & syþen boȝeȝ to his blonk, þe brydel he cachcheȝ, | and then strode to his steed, the bridle he catches, |
| Steppeȝ in to stel bawe & strydeȝ alofte, | steps into stirrup and strides him aloft, |
| 436 | & his hede by þe here in his honde haldeȝ ; | and his head by the hair in his hand holds. |
| & as sadly þe segge hym in his sadel sette, | and as steady and staunch him in his saddle sat |
| As non vnhap had hym ayled, þaȝ hedleȝ he we[re], | as if no mishap had him ailed, though headless now |
| in stedde ; | instead. |
| 440 | He brayde his bluk aboute, | He twined his trunk about, |
| Þat vgly bodi þat bledde, | that ugly body that bled; |
| Moni on of hym had doute, | many of him had doubt, |
| Bi þat his resounȝ were redde. | ere ever his speech was said. |
| XX | |
| 444 | For þe hede in his honde he haldeȝ vp euen, | For the head in his hand he holds up even, |
| To-ward þe derrest on þe dece he dresseȝ þe face, | towards the dearest on dais addresses the face; |
| & hit lyfte vp þe yȝe-lyddeȝ, & loked ful brode, | and it lifted its eyelids, and looked full wide, |
| & meled þus much with his muthe, as ȝe may now here. | and made this much with its mouth, as you may now hear; |
| 448 | "Loke, Gawan, þou be grayþe to go as þou hetteȝ, | ‘Look, Gawain, be you geared to go as you promised, |
| & layte as lelly til þou me, lude, fynde, | and look out loyally till you me, lord, find, |
| & þou hatȝ hette in þis halle, herande þise knyȝtes ; | as you swore oath in this hall, these knights hearing. |
| To þe grene chapel þou chose, I charge þe to fotte, | To the green chapel you go, I charge you, to find |
| 452 | Such a dunt as þou hatȝ dalt disserued þou habbeȝ, | such a dint as you dealt – deserved you have – |
| To be ȝederly ȝolden on nw ȝeres morn ; | to be readily yielded on New Year’s morn. |
| Þe knyȝt of þe grene chapel men knowen me mony ; | The knight of the green chapel, men know me as, many; |
| For-þi me for to fynde if þou fraysteȝ, fayleȝ þou neuer, | therefore to find me, if you fain it, you’ll fail never. |
| 456 | Þer-fore com, oþer recreaunt be calde þe be-houeus." | Come then, or be called recreant it behoves you.’ |
| With a runisch rout þe rayneȝ he torneȝ, | With a rough rasping the reins he twists, |
| Halled out at þe hal-dor, his hede in his hande, | hurled out the hall door, his head in his hand, |
| Þat þe fyr of þe flynt flaȝe fro fole houes. | that the fire of the flint flew from fleet hooves. |
| 460 | To quath kyth he be-com, knwe non þere, | to what land he came no man there knew, |
| Neuer more þen þay wyste fram queþen he watȝ won- | no more than they knew where he had come from |
| what þenne ? | what then? |
| 440 | Þe kyng & Gawan þare, | The king and Gawain there |
| At þat grene þay laȝe & grenne, | at that green man laugh and grin; |
| Ȝet breued watȝ hit ful bare, | yet broadcast it was abroad |
| A meruayl among þo menne. | as a marvel among those men. |
| XXI | |
| Þaȝ Arþer þe hende kyng at hert hade wonder, | Though Arthur the high king at heart had wonder, |
| 468 | He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hyȝe | he let no semblance be seen, but said aloud |
| To þe comlych quene, wyth cortays speche, | to the comely queen, with courteous speech: |
| "Dere dame, to day demay yow neuer ; | ‘Dear dame, today dismay you never; |
| Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse, | well become us these crafts at Christmas, |
| 472 | Laykyng of enterludeȝ, to laȝe & to syng. | larking at interludes, to laugh and to sing |
| Among þise, kynde caroles of knyȝteȝ & ladyeȝ ; | among the courtly carols of lords and ladies. |
| Neuer-þe-lece to my mete I may me wel dres, | Nevertheless my meat I may now me address, |
| For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake." | for I have seen my marvel, I may not deny.’ |
| 476 | He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde, | He glanced at Sir Gawain and graciously said: |
| "Now sir, heng vp þyn ax, þat hatȝ in-nough hewen." | ‘Now sir, hang up your axe that has hewn enough.’ |
| & hit watȝ don abof þe dece, on doser to henge, | And it adorned the dais, hung on display, |
| Þer alle men for meruayl myȝt on hit loke, | where all men might marvel and on it look, |
| 480 | & bi trwe tytel þer-of to telle þe wonder. | and by true title thereof to tell the wonder. |
| Þenne þay boȝed to a borde þise burnes to-geder, | Then they went to the board these two together, |
| Þe kyng & þe gode knyȝt, & kene men hem serued | the king and the godly knight, and keen men them served |
| Of alle dayntyeȝ double, as derrest myȝt falle, | of all dainties double, as dearest might fall, |
| 484 | Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie boþe ; | with all manner of meat and minstrelsy both. |
| Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende, | Full well they whiled that day till it worked its end |
| in londe. | on land |
| 440 | Now þenk wel, sir Gawan, | Now think well, Sir Gawain, |
| For woþe þat þou ne wonde, | lest by peril unmanned, |
| Þis auenture forto frayn, | this adventure to sustain, |
| Þat þou hatȝ tan on honde. | you have taken in hand. |
| [FYTTE THE SECOND] | |
| I | |
| This hanselle hatȝ Arthur of auenturus on fyrst, | This gift of adventure has Arthur thus on the first |
| 492 | In ȝonge ȝer, for he ȝerned ȝelpyng to here, | of the young year, for he yearned exploits to hear. |
| Thaȝ hym wordeȝ were wane, when þay to sete wenten ; | Though words were wanting when they went to sit, |
| Now ar þay stoken of sturne werk staf-ful her hond. | now are they stoked with stern work, fullness to hand. |
| Gawan watȝ glad to be-gynne þose gomneȝ in halle, | Gawain was glad to begin those games in hall, |
| 496 | Bot þaȝ þe ende be heuy, haf ȝe no wonder ; | yet if the end be heavy, have you no wonder; |
| For þaȝ men ben mery in mynde, quen þay han mayn drynk, | though men be merry in mind when they have strong ale, |
| A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne, & ȝeldeȝ neuer lyke,, | a year turns full turn, and yields never a like; |
| Þe forme to þe fynisment foldeȝ ful selden. | the form of its finish foretold full seldom. |
| 500 | For-þi þis ȝol ouer-ȝede, & þe ȝere after, | For this Yuletide passed by, and the year after, |
| & vche sesoun serlepes sued after oþer ; | and each season slips by pursuing another: |
| After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun, | after Christmas comes crabbed Lenten time, |
| Þat fraysteȝ flesch wyth þe fysche & fode more symple ; | that forces on flesh fish and food more simple. |
| 504 | Bot þenne þe weder of þe worlde wyth wynter hit þrepeȝ, | But then the weather of the world with winter it fights, |
| Colde clengeȝ adouun, cloudeȝ vp-lyften, | cold shrinks down, clouds are uplifted, |
| Schyre schedeȝ þe rayn in schowreȝ ful warme, | shining sheds the rain in showers full warm, |
| Falleȝ vpon fayre flat, flowreȝ þere schewen, | falls upon fair flats, flowers there showing. |
| 508 | Boþe groundeȝ & þe greueȝ grene ar her wedeȝ, | Both ground and groves green is their dress, |
| Bryddeȝ busken to bylde, & bremlych syngen, | birds begin to build and brightly sing they |
| For solace of þe softe somer þat sues þer-after, | the solace of the soft summer ensuing after |
| bi bonk ; | on bank; |
| 512 | & blossumeȝ bole to blowe, | and blossoms bloom to blow |
| Bi raweȝ rych & ronk, | by hedges rich and rank, |
| Þen noteȝ noble in-noȝe, | while noble notes do flow |
| Ar herde in wod so wlonk. | in woodland free and frank. |
| II | |
| 516 | AFter þe sesoun of somer wyth þe soft wyndeȝ, | After, in season of summer with the soft winds, |
| Quen ȝeferus syfleȝ hym-self on sedeȝ & erbeȝ, | when Zephyrus sighs himself on seeds and herbs; |
| Wela-wynne is þe wort þat woxes þer-oute, | well-away is the wort that waxes out there, |
| When þe donkande dewe dropeȝ of þe leueȝ, | when the dunking dew drops from the leaves, |
| 520 | To bide a blysful blusch of þe bryȝt sunne. | biding a blissful blush of the bright sun. |
| Bot þen hyȝes heruest, & hardenes hym sone, | But then hies Harvest and hardens it soon, |
| Warneȝ hym for þe wynter to wax ful rype ; | warns it before the winter to wax full ripe; |
| He dryues wyth droȝt þe dust for to ryse, | then drives with drought the dust for to rise, |
| 524 | Fro þe face of þe folde to flyȝe ful hyȝe ; | from the face of the field to fly full high; |
| Wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrasteleȝ with þe sunne, | wild wind from the welkin wrestles the sun, |
| Þe leueȝ lancen fro þe lynde, & lyȝten on þe grounde, | the leaves lance then from linden, light on the ground, |
| & al grayes þe gres, þat grene watȝ ere ; | and all grey is the grass, that green was ere; |
| 528 | Þenne al rypeȝ & roteȝ þat ros vpon fyrst, | then all ripens and rots, that rose up at first. |
| & þus ȝirneȝ þat ȝere in ȝisterdayeȝ mony, | And thus wears the year into yesterdays many, |
| & wynter wyndeȝ aȝayn, as þe worlde askeȝ | and winter walks again, as the world’s way is, |
| no sage. | I gauge, |
| 532 | Til meȝel-mas mone, | till Michaelmas moon |
| Watȝ cumen wyth wynter wage ; | threatens a wintry age. |
| Þen þenkkeȝ Gawan ful stone, | Then thinks Gawain full soon, |
| Of his anious uyage. | of his wearisome voyage. |
| III | |
| Ȝet quyl al-hal-day with Arþer he lenges, | Yet till All-Hallows with Arthur he lingers, |
| & he made a fare on þat fest, for þe frekeȝ sake, | and he made a feast on that day for the knight’s sake, |
| With much reuel & ryche of þe rounde table ; | with much revel and rich of the Round Table. |
| Knyȝteȝ ful cortays & comlych ladies, | Knights full courteous and comely ladies, |
| 540 | Al for luf of þat lede in longynge þay were, | all for love of that lad in longing they were; |
| Bot neuer-þe-lece ne þe later þay neuened bot merþe, | but nevertheless they named nothing but mirth, |
| Mony ioyleȝ for þat ientyle iapeȝ þer maden. | many joyless for that gentle soul jokes made there. |
| For aftter mete, with mournyng he meleȝ to his eme, | For, after meat, with mourning he makes to his uncle, |
| 544 | & spekeȝ of his passage, & pertly he sayde, | and speaks his departure, and openly says: |
| "Now, lege lord of my lyf, leve I yow ask ; | ‘Now, liege lord of my life, I ask you leave. |
| Ȝe knowe þe cost of þis cace, kepe I no more | You know the cost in this case, care I no more |
| To telle yow teneȝ þer-of neuer bot trifel ; | to tell you the trial thereof, naught but a trifle; |
| 548 | Bot I am boun to þe bur barely to morne, | but I am bound to bear it, be gone, and tomorrow, |
| To sech þe gome of þe grene, as god wyl me wysse." | to seek the giant in the green, as God will me guide.’ |
| Þenne þe best of þe burȝ boȝed to-geder, | Then the best of the burg were brought together, |
| Aywan, & Errik, & oþer ful mony, | Ywain and Eric and others full many, |
| 552 | Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, þe duk of Clarence, | Sir Dodinal le Sauvage, the Duke of Clarence, |
| Launcelot, & Lyonel, & Lucan þe gode, | Lancelot and Lionel and Lucan the Good, |
| Sir Boos, & sir Byduer, big men boþe, | Sir Bors and Sir Bedivere, big men both, |
| & mony oþer menskful, with Mador de la Port. | and many other men, with Mador de la Porte. |
| 556 | Alle þis compayny of court com þe kyng nerre, | All this courtly company came the king near, |
| For to counseyl þe knyȝt, with care at her hert ; | for to counsel the knight, with care in their hearts. |
| Þere watȝ much derne doel driuen in þe sale, | There was much dark dolefulness deep in the hall, |
| Þat so worthe as Wawan schulde wende on þat ernde, | that so worthy as Gawain should wend on that errand, |
| 560 | To dryȝe a delful dynt, & delel no more | to endure a dreadful dint, and no more with sword |
| wyth bronde. | wander. |
| Þe knyȝt mad ay god chere, | The knight made yet good cheer, |
| & sayde, "quat schuld I wonde, | and said: ‘Why should I falter? |
| 564 | Of destines derf & dere, | Such destinies foul or fair |
| What may mon do bot fonde ?" | what can men do but suffer?’ |
| IV | |
| He dowelleȝ þer al þat day, and dresseȝ on þe morn, | He dwelt there all that day, and dressed on the morn, |
| Askeȝ erly hys armeȝ, & alle were þay broȝt, | asks early for his arms, and all were they brought. |
| 568 | Fyrst a tule tapit, tyȝt ouer þe flet, | First a crimson carpet, cast over the floor, |
| & miche watȝ þe gyld gere þat glent þer alofte ; | and much was the gilded gear that gleamed thereon. |
| Þe stif mon steppeȝ þeron, & þe stel hondeleȝ, | The strong man steps there, and handles the steel, |
| Dubbed in a dublet of a dere tars, | dressed in a doublet of silk of Tartar, |
| 572 | & syþen a crafty capados, closed aloft, | and then a well-crafted cape, clasped at the top, |
| Þat wyth a bryȝt blaunner was bounden with-inne ; | that with a white ermine was trimmed within. |
| Þenne set þay þe sabatounȝ vpon þe segge foteȝ, | Then set they the plate shoes on his strong feet, |
| His legeȝ lapped in stel with luflych greueȝ, | his legs lapped in steel with lovely greaves, |
| 576 | With polayneȝ piched þer-to, policed ful clene, | with knee-pieces pinned thereto, polished full clean, |
| Aboute his kneȝ knaged wyth knoteȝ of golde ; | about his knees fastened with knots of gold; |
| Queme quyssewes þen, þat coyntlych closed | then the cuisses, that cunningly enclosed |
| His thik þrawen þyȝeȝ, with þwonges to-tachched ; | his thick-thewed thighs, attached with thongs; |
| 580 | & siþen þe brawden byrne of bryȝt stel ryngeȝ, | and then the hauberk linked with bright steel rings |
| Vmbe-weued þat wyȝ, vpon wlonk stuffe ; | over rich wear, wrapped round the warrior; |
| & wel bornyst brace vpon his boþe armes, | and well-burnished bracelets over both arms, |
| With gode cowters & gay, & gloueȝ of plate, | elbow-pieces good and gay, and gloves of plate, |
| 584 | & alle þe godlych gere þat hym gayn schulde | and all the goodly gear that should bring him gain |
| þat tyde ; | that tide; |
| Wyth ryche cote armure, | with rich coat armour, |
| His gold sporeȝ spend with pryde, | his gold spurs set with pride, |
| 588 | Gurde wyth a bront ful sure, | girt with a blade full sure |
| With silk sayn vmbe his syde. | with silk sword-belt at his side. |
| V | |
| When he watȝ hasped in armes, his harnays watȝ, [ryche | When he was hasped in armour, his harness was rich; |
| Þe lest lachet ou[þ]er loupe lemed of golde ; | the least laces or loops gleamed with gold. |
| 592 | So harnayst as he watȝ he herkneȝ his masse, | So harnessed as he was he hears the Mass, |
| Offred & honoured at þe heȝe auter ; | offered and honoured at the high altar, |
| Syþen he comeȝ to þe kyng & to his cort fereȝ, | then he comes to the king and his companions, |
| Lacheȝ lufly his leue at lordeȝ & ladyeȝ ; | takes his courteous leave of lords and ladies; |
| 596 | & þay hym kyst & conueyed, bikende hym to kryst. | and they him kiss and convey, commend him to Christ. |
| Bi þat watȝ Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel, | By then Gringolet was game, girt with a saddle |
| Þat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges, | that gleamed full gaily with many gold fringes, |
| Ay qyere naylet ful nwe for þat note ryched ; | everywhere nailed full new, for that noted day; |
| 600 | Þe brydel barred aboute, with bryȝt golde bounden ; | the bridle barred about, with bright gold bound; |
| Þe apparayl of þe payttrure, & of þe proude skyrteȝ, | the apparel of the breast-guard and proud skirts, |
| Þe cropore, & þe couertor, acorded wyth þe arsouneȝ ; | crupper, caparison, in accord with the saddle-bows; |
| & al watȝ rayled on red ryche golde nayleȝ, | and all was arrayed with rich red gold nails, |
| 604 | Þat al glytered & glent as glem of þe sunne. | that all glittered and glinted as gleam of the sun. |
| Þenne hentes he þe helme, & hastily hit kysses, | Then hefts he the helm, and hastily it kisses, |
| Þat watȝ stapled stifly, & stoffed wyth-inne ; | that was strongly stapled and stuffed within. |
| Hit watȝ hyȝe on his hede, hasped bihynde, | It was high on his head, clasped behind, |
| 608 | Wyth a lyȝtli vrysoun ouer þe auentayle, | with a light covering over the face-guard, |
| Enbrawden & bounden wyth þe best gemmeȝ, | embroidered and bound with the best gems |
| On brode sylkyn borde, & bryddeȝ on semeȝ, | on broad silken border, and birds on the seams, |
| As papiayeȝ paynted pernyng bitwene, | such as parrots painted preening between, |
| 612 | Tortors & trulofeȝ entayles so þyk, | turtle-doves, true-love knots, so thick entailed |
| As mony burde þer-aboute had ben seuen wynter | as many burdened with it had been seven winters |
| in toune ; | in town. |
| Þe cercle watȝ more o prys,, | The circlet of greater price |
| 616 | Þat vmbe-clypped hys croun, | that embellished his crown, |
| Of diamaunte a deuys, | of diamonds all devised |
| Þat boþe were bryȝt & broun. | that were both bright and brown. |
| VI | |
| Then þay schewed hym þe schelde, þat was of schyr gouleȝ, | Then they showed him the shield that was of shining gules, |
| 620 | Wyth þe pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hweȝ ; | with the pentangle painted there in pure gold hues. |
| He braydeȝ hit by þe baude-ryk, aboute þe hals kestes, | He brandishes it by the baldric, casts it about his neck, |
| Þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre. | that suited the wearer seemly and fair. |
| & quy þe pentangel apendeȝ to þat prynce noble, | And why the pentangle applies to that prince noble, |
| 624 | I am in tent yow to telle, þof tary hyt me schulde ; | I intend to tell, though I tarry more than I should. |
| Hit is a syngne þat Salamon set sum-quyle, | It is a sign Solomon settled on some while back, |
| In bytoknyng of trawþe, bi tytle þat hit habbeȝ, | in token of truth, by the title that it has, |
| For hit is a figure þat haldeȝ fyue poynteȝ, | for it is a figure that has five points, |
| 628 | & vche lyne vmbe-lappeȝ & loukeȝ in oþer, | and each line overlaps and locks with another, |
| & ay quere hit is endeleȝ, & Englych hit callen | and everywhere it is endless, and English call it |
| Ouer-al, as I here, þe endeles knot. | over all the land, as I here, the Endless Knot. |
| For-þy hit acordeȝ to þis knyȝt, & to his cler armeȝ, | For so it accords with this knight and his bright arms, |
| 632 | For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue syþeȝ, | forever faithful in five ways, and five times so, |
| Gawan watȝ for gode knawen, & as golde pured, | Gawain was for good known, and, as purified gold, |
| Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertueȝ ennoured | void of every villainy, with virtues adorned |
| in mote ; | all, so. |
| 636 | For-þy þe pen-tangel nwe | And thus the pentangle new |
| He ber in schelde & cote, | he bore on shield and coat, |
| As tulk of tale most trwe, | as title of trust most true |
| & gentylest knyȝt of lote. | and gentlest knight of note. |
| VII | |
| 640 | Fyrst he watȝ funden faulteȝ in his fyue wytteȝ, | First he was found faultless in his five senses, |
| & efte fayled neuer þe freke in his fyue fyngres, | and then failed never the knight in his five fingers, |
| & alle his afyaunce vpon folde watȝ in þe fyue woundeȝ | and all his trust in the field was in the five wounds |
| Þat Cryst kaȝt on þe croys, as þe crede telleȝ ; | that Christ caught on the cross, as the creed tells. |
| 644 | & quere-so-euer þys mon in melly watȝ stad, | And wheresoever this man in mêlée was stood, |
| His þro þoȝt watȝ in þat, þurȝ alle oþer þyngeȝ, | his first thought was that, over all other things, |
| Þat alle his forsnes he fong at þe fyue ioyeȝ, | all his force in fight he found in the five joys |
| Þat þe hende heuen quene had of his chylde ; | that holy Heaven’s Queen had of her child; |
| 648 | At þis cause þe knyȝt comlyche hade | for this cause the knight fittingly had |
| In þe more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted, | on the inner half of his shield her image painted, |
| Þat quen he blusched þerto, his belde neuer payred. | that when he beheld her his boldness never failed. |
| Þe fyft fyue þat I finde þat þe frek vsed, | The fifth five that I find the knight used |
| 652 | Watȝ fraunchyse, & felaȝschypp for-be al þyng ; | was Free-handedness and Friendship above all things; |
| His clannes & his cortaysye croked were neuer, | his Continence and Courtesy corrupted were never, |
| & pite, þat passeȝ alle poynteȝ, þyse pure fyue | and Piety, that surpasses all points – these pure five |
| Were harder happed on þat haþel þen on any oþer. | were firmer founded in his form than another. |
| 656 | Now alle þese fyue syþeȝ, forsoþe, were fetled on þis knyȝt, | Now all these five-folds, forsooth, were fused in this knight, |
| & vchone halched in oþer, þat non ende hade, | and each one joined to another that none end had, |
| & fyched vpon fyue poynteȝ, þat fayld neuer, | and fixed upon five points that failed never, |
| Ne samned neuer in no syde, ne sundred nouþ[er], | never confused on one side, nor sundered neither, |
| 660 | With-outen ende at any noke [a]i quere fynde, | without end at any angle anywhere, I find, |
| Where-euer þe gomen bygan, or glod to an ende. | wherever its guise begins or glides to an end. |
| Þer-fore on his schene schelde schapen watȝ þe knot, | Therefore on his shining shield shaped was the knot |
| Þus alle wyth red golde vpon rede gowleȝ, | royally with red gold upon red gules, |
| 664 | Þat is þe pure pentaungel wyth þe peple called, | thus is the pure pentangle called by the people |
| with lore ; | of lore. |
| Now grayþed is Gawan gay, | Now geared was Gawain gay, |
| & laȝt his launce ryȝt þore, | lifted his lance right there, |
| 668 | & gef hem alle goud day, | and gave them all good day – |
| He wende for euer more. | as he thought, for evermore. |
| VIII | |
| He sperred þe sted with þe spurneȝ, & sprong on his way, | He struck the steed with the spurs, and sprang on his way |
| So stif þat þe ston fyr stroke out þer-after ; | so strongly the stone-fire sparked out thereafter. |
| 672 | Al þat seȝ þat semly syked in hert, | All that saw the seemly sight sighed in their hearts, |
| & sayde soþly al same segges til oþer, , | and said softly the same thing all to each other, |
| Carande for þat comly, "bi Kryst, hit is scaþe, | in care of that comely knight: ‘By Christ, ‘tis pity, |
| Þat þou, leude, schal be lost, þat art of lyf noble ! | that you, lord, shall be lost, who art of life noble! |
| 676 | To fynde hys fere vpon folde, in fayth is not eþe ; | To find his fellow in field, in faith, is not easy. |
| Warloker to haf wroȝt has more wyt bene, | Warily to have wrought would wiser have been, |
| & haf dyȝt ȝonder dere a duk to haue worþed ; | to have dealt yon dear man a dukedom of worth. |
| A lowande leder of ledeȝ in londe hym wel semeȝ, | A loyal leader of this land’s lances in him well seems, |
| 680 | & so had better haf ben þen britned to noȝt, | and so had better have been than brought to naught, |
| Hadet wyth an aluisch mon, for angardeȝ pryde. | beheaded by an elvish man, out of arrogant pride. |
| Who knew euer any kyng such counsel to take, | Who knew any king ever such counsel to take |
| As knyȝteȝ in cauelounȝ on cryst-masse gomneȝ !" | as knights in altercations in Christmas games?’ |
| 684 | Wel much watȝ þe warme water þat waltered of yȝen, | Well was the water warm much wept from eyen, |
| When þat semly syre soȝt fro þo woneȝ | when that seemly sire spurred from the court |
| þat daye ; | that day. |
| He made non abode, | He made no delay, |
| 688 | Bot wyȝtly went hys way, | but swiftly went his way; |
| Mony wylsum way he rode, | Many a wild path he strayed, |
| Þe bok as I herde say. | so the books do say. |
| IX | |
| Now rideȝ þis renk þurȝ þe ryalme of Logres, | Now rides this knight through the realm of Logres, |
| 692 | Sir Gauan on Godeȝ halue, þaȝ hym no gomen þoȝt ; | Sir Gawain, in God’s name, yet no game it thought. |
| Oft, leudleȝ alone, he lengeȝ on niȝteȝ, | Oft friendless alone he lay long a-nights, |
| Þer he fonde noȝt hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked ; | where he found no fare that he liked before him. |
| Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frytheȝ & douneȝ, | He had no friend but his steed by furze and down, |
| 696 | Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp, | and no one but God to speak with on the way, |
| Til þat he neȝed ful noghe in to þe Norþe Waleȝ ; | till that he neared full nigh to northern Wales. |
| Alle þe iles of Anglesay on lyft half he haldeȝ, | All the Isle of Anglesey on the left hand he held, |
| & fareȝ ouer þe fordeȝ by þe for-londeȝ, | and fared over the fords by the forelands, |
| 700 | Ouer at þe Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk | over at Holyhead, till he reached the bank |
| In þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale ; wonde þer bot lyte | in the wilderness of Wirral – few thereabouts |
| Þat auþer God oþer gome wyth goud hert louied. | that either God or other with good heart loved. |
| & ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekeȝ þat he met, | And ever he asked as he fared, of fellows he met, |
| 704 | If þay hade herde any karp of a knyȝt grene, | if they had heard any word of a knight in green, |
| In any grounde þer-aboute, of þe grene chapel ; | on any ground thereabout, of the green chapel; |
| & al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue | and all met him with nay, that never in their lives |
| Þay seȝe neuer no segge þat watȝ of suche hweȝ | saw they ever a sign of such a one, hued |
| 708 | of grene. | in green. |
| Þe knyȝt tok gates straunge, | The knight took pathways strange |
| In mony a bonk vnbene, | by many a bank un-green; |
| His cher ful oft con chaunge, | his cheerfulness would change, |
| 712 | Þat chapel er he myȝt sene. | ere might that chapel be seen. |
| X | |
| Mony klyf he ouer-clambe in contrayeȝ straunge, | Many cliffs he over-clambered in countries strange, |
| Fer floten fro his frendeȝ fremedly he rydeȝ ; | far flying from his friends forsaken he rides. |
| At vche warþe oþer water þer þe wyȝe passed, | at every twist of the water where the way passed |
| 716 | He fonde a foo hym byfore, bot ferly hit were, | he found a foe before him, or freakish it were, |
| & þat so foule & so felle, þat feȝt hym by-hode ; | and so foul and fell he was beholden to fight. |
| So mony meruayl bi mouunt þer þe mon fyndeȝ, | So many marvels by mountain there the man finds, |
| Hit were to tore for to telle of þe tenþe dole. | it would be tortuous to tell a tenth of the tale. |
| 720 | Sumwhyle wyth wormeȝ he werreȝ, & with wolues als, | Sometimes with dragons he wars, and wolves also, |
| Sumwhyle wyth wodwos, þat woned in þe knarreȝ, | sometimes with wild woodsmen haunting the crags, |
| Boþe wyth bulleȝ & bereȝ, & boreȝ oþer-quyle, | with bulls and bears both, and boar other times, |
| & etayneȝ þat hym a-nelede, of þe heȝe felle ; | and giants that chased after him on the high fells. |
| 724 | Nade he ben duȝty & dryȝe, & dryȝtyn had serued, | had he not been doughty, enduring, and Duty served, |
| Douteles he hade ben ded, & dreped ful ofte. | doubtless he had been dropped and left for dead, |
| For werre wrathed hym not so much, þat wynter was wors, | for war worried him not so much but winter was worse, |
| When þe colde cler water fro þe cloudeȝ schadden, | when the cold clear water from the clouds shed, |
| 728 | & fres er hit falle myȝt to þe fale erþe ; | and froze ere it fall might to the fallow earth. |
| Ner slayn wyth þe slete he sleped in his yrnes, | Near slain by the sleet he slept in his steel |
| Mo nyȝteȝ þen in-noghe in naked rokkeȝ, | more nights than enough in the naked rocks, |
| Þer as claterande fro þe crest þe colde borne renneȝ, | where clattering from the crest the cold burn runs, |
| 732 | & henged heȝe ouer his hede in hard ÿsse-ikkles. | and hung high over his head in hard icicles. |
| Þus in peryl, & payne, & plytes ful harde, | Thus in peril and pain, and plights full hard |
| Bi contray caryeȝ þis knyȝt, tyl kryst-masse euen, | covers the country this knight till Christmas Eve |
| al one ; | alone. |
| 736 | Þe knyȝt wel þat tyde, | The knight that eventide |
| To Mary made his mone, | to Mary made his moan, |
| Þat ho hym red to ryde, | to show him where to ride, |
| & wysse hym to sum wone. | and guide him to some home. |
| End | |