107
Thus
þer
there
stondes
stands
in
stale
standing (up)
þe
stif
bold
kyng
his-seluen,
himself
The king talks with his knights.
108
Talkkande
talking
bifore
þe
hyȝe
high
table
of
trifles
ful
very
hende
courteous
109
There
gode
good
Gawan
Gawain
watȝ
was
grayþed,
set
Gwenore
Guenever
bisyde
beside
Gawayne,
110
&
Agrauayn a la dure mayn
Agravain of the hard hand
on
þat
the
oþer
syde
sittes
sits
Agravayn,
111
Boþe
both
þe
kynges
king’s
sister sunes,
nephews
&
ful
very
siker
trusty
kniȝtes;
knights
112
Bischop
Bishop
Bawdewyn
Baldwin
abof
in the highest place
bi-gineȝ
begins (=has the place of honour)
þe
table,
Bishop Bawdewyn,
113
&
Ywan,
Iwain
Vryn
Urien’s
son,
ette
ate
wit
hym-seluen;
him
and Ywain sit on the dais.
114
Þise
these
were
diȝt
set
on
þe
des,
dais
&
derworþly
sumptuously
serued,
served
115
&
siþen
afterwards
mony
many a
siker
trusty
segge
knight
at
þe
sidbordeȝ.
side-tables
116
Þen
þe
first
cors
course
come
came
with
crakkyng
blaring
of
trumpes,
trumpets
The first course is served with cracking of trumpets.
117
Wyth
mony
many a
baner
banner
ful
very
bryȝt,
bright
þat
þer-bi
on them
henged,
hung
118
Nwe
new
nakryn
of kettledrums
noyse
with
þe
noble
pipes,
119
Wylde
werbles
warblings
&
wyȝt
loud
wakned
awakened
lote,
sound
120
Þat
so that
mony
many a
hert
heart
ful
very
hiȝe
high
hef
was uplifted
at
her
their
towches;
bursts of music
121
Dayntes
dainties
dryuen
come
þer-wyth
with it
of
ful
very
dere
costly
metes,
dishes
It consisted of all dainties in season.
122
Foysoun
abundance
of
þe
fresche,
fresh food
&
on
so
fele
many
disches,
dishes
123
Þat
pine
it was difficult
to
fynde
þe
place
þe
peple
people
bi-forne
before
124
For
in order
to
sette
þe
syluener,[1]
silver things
þat
sere
various
sewes
stews
halden,
contain
125
on
clothe;
table
126
Iche
each
lede
man
as
he
loued
liked
hym-selue
himself
127
Þer
there
laght
caught
with-outen
without
loþe,
grudge
128
Ay
in each case
two
had
disches
dishes
twelue,
twelve
Each two had dishes twelve,
129
Good
ber,
beer
&
bryȝt
bright
wyn
wine
boþe.
as well
good beer and bright wine both.
Thus was the King in the high seat talking before the high table of courteous trifles and good. Sir Gawain was sitting beside Guinevere. Agravayn of the hard hand sat on the other side, and both were sons of the king's sister and very strong and faithful knights. Bishop Bawdewyn was at the head of the table, and Ywain, son of Urien, was eating by himself. And they were all on the daïs, and well were they served, and afterwards many a true man at the sideboards. With the crashing of trumpets came the first course, and with banners and beating of drums and piping loud, so that many a heart heaved full high at the sound, and there were many dear and full dainty meats. And there were so many dishes and such great plenty that it was hard to find room to set before the folk the silver service that held the courses
on cloth,
Each man as he loved himself
There laughed he without loath,
Each two had dishes twelve,
Good beer and bright wine both.
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.