232
Ther
there
watȝ
was
lokyng
staring
on lenþe,
for a long time
þe
lude
man
to
be-holde,
Much they marvel to see a man and a horse
233
For
vch mon
everybody (vch=each)
had meruayle
wondered
quat
what
hit
it
mene
mean
myȝt,
might
234
Þat
a
haþel
knight
&
a
horse
myȝt
could
such
a
hwe
hue
lach,
take
235
As
growe
to grow
grene
as
þe
gres
grass
&
grener
greener
hit
it
semed,
seemed
as green as grass.
236
Þen
than
grene
aumayl
enamel
on
golde
lowande
shining
bryȝter;
brighter
237
Al
studied
watched intently
þat
þer
there
stod,
stood
&
stalked
walked cautiously
hym
nerre,
nearer to
238
Wyth
al
þe
wonder
of
þe
worlde,
what
he
worch
do
schulde.
should
Never before had they seen such a sight as this.
239
For
fele
many
sellyeȝ
marvels
had
þay
they
sen,
seen
bot
but
such
neuer
are,
before
240
For-þi
therefore
for
fantoum
illusion
&
fayryȝe
magic
þe
folk
þere
hit
it
demed;
considered
241
Þer-fore
to
answare
answer
watȝ
was
arȝe
afraid
mony
many a
aþel
noble
freke,
knight
They were afraid to answer,
242
&
al
stouned
astonished
at
his
steuen,
voice
&
stonstil
in stony silence
seten,
sat
243
In
a
swoghe
dead
sylence
þurȝ
throughout
þe
sale
hall
riche
and were as silent as if sleep had taken possession of them;
244
As
as if
al
were
slypped
fallen
vpon
into
slepe
sleep
so
slaked
were stilled
hor
their
loteȝ
noise of talk
245
in hyȝe;
suddenly
246
I
deme
think
hit
it
not
al
for
doute,
fear
247
Bot
but
sum
in part
for
cortaysye,
courtesy
some from fear and others from courtesy.
248
Bot
but
let
hym
þat
al
schulde
should
loute,
reverence
249
Cast
speak
vnto
to
þat
wyȝe.
knight
When they all looked at him, and every man marvelled much what it might mean that a man and his horse should be of such a colour of green, green as the grass and greener, as it seemed, than green enamel upon gold shining brightly. All studied him carefully, and came nearer to him, for they had seen many wonders, but nothing like unto this; therefore the folk deemed it to be a phantom or some faery. And many of them were afraid to answer him; astounded at his voice, stone still they sat. And there was a solemn silence through that rich hall, as though they had all fallen asleep
speedily;
Not all, I trow, for fear
But some for courtesy:
Let him whom all hold dear
Unto him make reply.
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.