prev
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 1.10
next
203
Wheþer
yet
hade
had
he
no
helme
helmet
ne
nor
hawb[e]rgh
hauberk
nauþer,
either
The knight carried neither spear nor shield,
204
Ne
nor
no
pysan,
armour for upper breast and neck
ne
nor
no
plate
steel plate
þat
pented
belonged
to
armes,
205
Ne
nor
no
schafte,
spear
ne
nor
no
schelde,
shield
to
schwne
thrust
ne
nor
to
smyte,
strike
206
Bot
but
in
his
on
one
honde
hand
he
hade
had
a
holyn
holly
bobbe,
branch
In one hand was a holly bough,
207
Þat
is
grattest
greatest
in
grene,
when
greueȝ
groves
ar
are
bare,
208
&
an
ax
axe
in
his
oþer,
a
hoge
huge
&
vn-mete,
monstrous
in the other an axe,
209
A
spetos
cruel
sparþe
battle-axe
to
expoun
describe
in
spelle
words
quo-so
whoever
myȝt;
could
210
Þe
hede
length
of
an
elnȝerde
measuring-rod an ell long (=45 in.)
þe
large
broad
lenkþe
head
hade,
had
211
Þe
grayn
blade of axe
al
of
grene
stele
steel
&
of
golde
hewen,
made
212
Þe
bit
blade
burnyst
polished
bryȝt,
with
a
brod
long
egge,
edge
the edge of which was as keen as a sharp razor,
213
As
wel
schapen
fashioned
to
schere
cut
as
scharp
sharp
rasores;
rasors
214
Þe
stele
handle
of
a
stif
strong
staf
staff
þe
sturne
grim knight
hit
it
bi-grypte,
by (which) gripped
94
215
Þat
watȝ
was
wounden
bound round
wyth
yrn
iron
to
þe
wandeȝ
stave’s
ende,
216
&
al
bigrauen
engraved
with
grene,
in
gracios[1]
beautiful
werkes;
designs
and the handle was encased in iron, curiously "graven with green, in gracious works."
217
A
lace
thong
lapped
wrapped
aboute,
þat
louked
was fastened
at
þe
hede,
head
218
&
so
after
along
þe
halme
handle
halched
looped round
ful
very
ofte,
219
Wyth
tryed
fine
tasseleȝ
tassels
þerto
to it
tacched
fastened
in-noghe,
in plenty
220
On
botounȝ
bosses
of
þe
bryȝt
grene
brayden
embroidered
ful
very
ryche.
richly
Thus arrayed the Green Knight enters the hall,
221
Þis
haþel
knight
heldeȝ
proceeds
hym
himself
in,
&
þe
halle
entres,
enters
222
Driuande
making his way
to
þe
heȝe
high
dece,
dais
dut
feared
he
no
woþe,
danger
223
Haylsed
greeted
he
neuer
no
one,
bot
but
heȝe
high
he
ouer
above (them)
loked.
looked
without saluting any one.
224
Þe
fyrst
word
þat
he
warp,
uttered
“wher
where
is,”
he
sayd,
225
“Þe
gouernour
ruler
of
þis
gyng?
company
gladly
I
wolde
would
He asks for the "governor" of the company,
226
Se
(...in sy3t) set eyes on
þat
segg
man
in
syȝt,
&
with
hym self
him
speke
speak
227
raysoun.”
speech
228
To
on
knyȝteȝ
knights
he
kest
cast
his
yȝe,
eyes
229
&
reled
rolled
hym
them
vp
&
doun,
230
He
stemmed
stopped
&
con
did
studie,
look carefully
and looks for the most renowned.
231
Quo
who
walt
possessed
þer
there
most
greatest
renoun.
renown
And he had no helmet nor hauberk, nor was he armour-plated, nor had he spear or shield with which to smite; but in one hand he held a holly branch, that is most green when the groves are all bare, and in the other he held an axe, huge and uncanny, and a sharp weapon was it to describe whoso might wish. And the head thereof measured an ell, and its grain was of green steel and of hewn gold, and the broad edge of it was burnished brightly, and as well shaped for cutting as a razor. And the sturdy knight gripped the steel of the stiff staff that was wound round with iron right along its length, and engraven in green with many noble deeds; and lace lapped it about and was fastened on the head, and looped about the handle full oft with many tassels tied thereto and broidered full richly on buttons of bright green. And the man haled into the hall, and pushed forward to the high daïs, fearful of nothing, and saluted no one, but looked scornfully over them all. The first word that he uttered was 'Where is the chief of this company? Gladly would I see that man in the body, and speak with him seasonably
in town.'
The knight cast round his eye,
And reeled up and down,
He stopped and 'gan to spy
Who was of best renown.

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.