85
Bot
but
Arthure
wolde
would
not
ete
eat
til
until
al
were
serued,
served
Arthur would not eat,
86
He
watȝ
was
so
Ioly
gay
of
his
Ioyfnes,
youth
&
sum-quat
somewhat
child gered,
boyish
87
His
lif
liked
pleased
hym
lyȝt,
cheerful
he
louied
loved
þe
lasse
less
88
Auþer
either
to
lenge
lye,
lie
or
to
longe
sitte,
sit
nor would he long sit
89
So
bi-sied
stirred
him
his
ȝonge
young
blod
blood
&
his
brayn
wylde;
restless
90
&
also
anoþer
maner
custom
meued
influenced
him
eke,
as well
91
Þat
he
þurȝ
because of
nobelay
a point of honour
had
nomen,
taken (on himself)
ho
wolde
would
neuer
never
ete
eat
92
Vpon
such
a
dere
festal
day,
er
before
hym
deuised
relate
were
93
Of
sum
some
auenturus
perilous
þyng
an
vncouþe
strange
tale,
story
until he had witnessed a "wondrous adventure" of some kind.
94
Of
sum
some
mayn
great
meruayle,
marvel
þat
he
myȝt
could
trawe,
believe
95
Of[1]
alderes,
princes
of
armes,
of
oþer
auenturus,
adventures
96
Oþer
or
sum
some
segg
man
hym
bi-soȝt
begged
of
for
sum
some
siker
trusty
knyȝt,
knight
97
To
Ioyne
encounter
wyth
hym
in
iustyng
jousting
in
at
Iopardé
hazard
to
lay,
set
98
Lede
man
lif
for
lyf,
leue
allow
vchon
each
oþer,
the other
99
As
according as
fortune
wolde
would
fulsun
help
hom
them
þe fayrer
the advantage
to
haue.
100
Þis
watȝ
was
[þe]
kynges
king’s
countenaunce
custom
where
wherever
he
in
court
were,
101
At
vch
each
farand
splendid
fest
festival
among
his
fre
noble
meny,
company
92b
102
in
halle;
103
Þer-fore
therefore
of
face
so
fere.
proud
He of face so bold makes much mirth with all.
104
He
stiȝtleȝ
stands
stif
bold
in
stalle,
standing (up)
105
Ful
very
ȝep
brisk
in
þat
nw ȝere,
New Year
106
Much
mirthe
revel
he
mas
makes
with alle.
altogether
But Arthur would not eat until all were served, for he was so jolly, and almost like a child. Little recked he of his life; and so restless was he that he could not sit or recline for long, so active was his young blood and his brain. And there was another strange thing about him because of his noble birth, that he would not eat on these high days until he had heard some eerie tale of marvellous adventures, of his forbears or arms, or else that some knight joined with another in jousting, life for life as hap would have it. This was the custom of the King when he was in court at each feast as it came amongst his noble household
in hall,
Therefore so bold of face
He sat there, strong in stall,
In that new year of grace
Much mirth he made with all.
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.