20
Ande
and
quen
when
þis
Bretayn
watȝ
was
bigged
founded
bi
þis
burn
warrior
rych,
noble
21
Bolde
bold men
bredden
bred
þer-inne,
there
baret
fighting
þat
who
lofden,
loved
Bold men increased in the Land,
22
In
mony
many a
turned tyme
times that came to pass
tene
harm
þat
who
wroȝten;
brought about
23
Mo
more
ferlyes
marvels
on
þis
folde
land
han
have
fallen
happened
here
oft
24
Þen
than
in
any
oþer
þat
I
wot,
know
syn
since
þat
ilk
same
tyme.
and many marvels happened.
25
Bot
but
of
alle
þat
here
bult
dwelt
of
Bretaygne
Britain’s
kynges
Of all Britain's kings Arthur was the noblest.
26
Ay
ever
watȝ
was
Arthur
þe
hendest;
most courteous
as
I
haf
have
herde
heard
telle;
91b
27
For-þi
therefore
an
aunter
adventure
in erde
in the world
I
attle
intend
to
schawe,
show
28
Þat
(...hit) which
a
selly
marvel
in siȝt
to see
summe
some
men
hit
holden,
consider
29
&
an
outtrage
exceedingly strange
awenture
of
Arthureȝ
Arthur’s
wondereȝ;
marvellous tales
30
If
ȝe
you
wyl
lysten
listen to
þis
laye
poem
bot
but
on
littel
quile,
while
Listen a while and ye shall hear the story of an "outrageous adventure."
31
I
schal
shall
telle
hit,
it
as-tit,
at once
as
I
in toun
in the court
herde,
heard
32
with
tonge;
tongue
33
As
hit
it
is
stad
put down
&
stoken,
set down
34
In
stori
story
stif
brave
&
stronge,
35
With
lel
true
letteres
loken,
fastened
36
In
londe
so
hatȝ
has
ben
been
longe.
Now, when Britain was conquered by this noble man, brave warriors were bred and born therein that were fond of striving, so that many times sorrow came thereof. And more wonders have been wrought in this land than in any other I wot of since that time. But of all the British kings, Arthur was the most courteous, as I have heard say. And I propose to tell you a wondrous adventure, as some hold it to be, that happened in Arthur's court; and if ye will listen but a little I will tell it you
with tongue
As I have heard it told,
In a story brave and strong,
In a loyal book of old,
In the land it has been long.
Text and side-notes from Richard Morris (1869). Interlinear glosses from Brunetti. Translation from Ernest Kirtlan's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Rendered Literally Into Modern English.
Sources integrated and rendered by James K. Tauber.