130
Now
wyl
I
of
hor
their
seruise
service
say
yow
you
no
more,
There was no want of anything.
131
For
veh wyȝe
every one
may
wel
wit
know
no
wont
lack
þat
þer
there
were;
132
An
oþer
different
noyse
ful
quite
newe
neȝed
approached
biliue,
quickly
Scarcely had the first course commenced,
133
Þat
so that
þe
lude
prince
myȝt
might
haf
have
leue
leave
lif-lode
food
to
cach.
take
134
For
vneþe
hardly
watȝ
was
þe
noyce
noise
not
a
whyle
moment
sesed,
ceased
135
&
þe
fyrst
cource
course
in
þe
court
kyndely
properly
serued,
136
Þer
there
hales
comes
in
at
þe
halle
hall
dor
door
an
aghlich
terrible
mayster,
knight
when there rushes in at the hall-door a knight;
137
On
one
þe
most
largest
on þe molde
on earth
on
in
mesure
stature
hyghe;
tall
138
Fro
from
þe
swyre
neck
to
þe
swange
waist
so
sware
squarely built
&
so
þik,
stout
139
&
his
lyndes
loins
&
his
lymes
limbs
so
longe
&
so
grete,
the tallest on earth
93
140
Half
etayn
giant
in erde
in the world
I
hope
think
þat
he
were.
141
Bot
but
mon
man
most
biggest
I
algate
at any rate
mynn
declare
hym
to
bene,
be
he must have been.
142
&
þat
at that (=moreover)
þe
myriest
shapeliest
in
his
muckel
size
þat
myȝt
could
ride;
143
For
of
bak
back
&
of
brest
breast
al
although
were
his
bodi
sturne,
of forbidding appearance
His back and breast were great,
144
Bot
his
wombe
belly
&
his
wast
waist
were
worthily
becomingly
smale,
slender
but his belly and waist were small.
145
&
alle
his
fetures
parts of the body
folȝande,
in the like manner
in
forme
figure
þat
he
hade,
had
146
ful
very
clene;
elegant
147
For
wonder
of
his
hwe
hue
men
hade,
had
148
Set
in
his
semblaunt
appearance
sene;
plain to see
149
He
ferde
proceeded
as
freke
man
were
fade,
bold (?)
150
&
ouer-al
entirely
enker grene.
bright green
Now will I tell you no more of the serving, for ye may wot well no want was there. Another and a full new wonder was drawing near. Scarcely had the noise ceased and the first course been served in the court, when there came in at the hall door an ugly fellow and tallest of all men upon earth. From his neck to his loins so square set was he, and so long and stalwart of limb, that I trow he was half a giant. And yet he was a man, and the merriest that might ride. His body in back and breast was strong, his belly and waist were very small, and all his features
full clean.
Great wonder of the knight
Folk had in hall, I ween,
Full fierce he was to sight,
And over all bright green.
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.