279
“Nay,
frayst
seek
I
no
fyȝt,
in fayth
in truth
I
þe
thee
telle,
"I seek no fight," says the knight.
280
Hit
it (=there)
arn
are
aboute
on
þis
bench
bot
only
berdleȝ
beardless
chylder;
children
"'Here are only beardless children.'
281
If
I
were
hasped
clasped
in
armes
on
a
heȝe
high
stede,
steed
282
Here
is
no mon
nobody
me
to
mach,
match
for
because of
myȝteȝ
powers
so[1]
wayke.
weak
Here is no man to match me.
283
For-þy
therefore
I
craue
ask for
in
þis
court
a
crystmas
gomen,
game
284
For
hit
it
is
ȝol
Yule
&
nwe ȝer,
New Year
&
here
ar
are
ȝep
brisk
mony;
many
Here are brave ones many,
285
If
any
anyone
so
hardy
in
þis
hous
holdeȝ
considers
hym-seluen,
himself
286
Be
so
bolde
in
his
blod,
blood
brayn
mad (?)
in
hys
hede,
head
if any be bold enough to 'strike a stroke for another,'
287
Þat
dar
dare
stifly
fearlessly
strike
a
strok
for
in exchange for
an
oþer,
288
I
schal
shall
gif
give
hym
of
my
gyft
þys
giserne
battle-axe
ryche,
289
Þis
ax,
axe
þat
is
heué
heavy
in-nogh,
exceedingly
to
hondele
handle
as
hym
lykes,
this axe shall be his;
95
290
&
I
schal
bide
stand and face
þe
fyrst
bur,
blow
as
bare
without armour
as
I
sitte.
sit
291
If
any
freke
man
be
so
felle
bold
to
fonde
try
þat
what
I
telle,
292
Lepe
leap
lyȝtly
swiftly
me
to,
&
lach
take hold of
þis
weppen,
weapon
293
I
quit clayme
renounce
hit
it
for
euer,
kepe
(let him) keep
hit
as
his
auen,
own
294
&
I
schal
stonde
stand and take from
hym
a
strok,
stif
unflinching
on
þis
flet,
floor
but I shall give him a 'stroke' in return
295
Elleȝ
provided that
þou
wyl
diȝt
adjudge
me
þe
dom
right
to
dele
deal
hym
an
oþer,
296
barlay;
in my turn (?)
297
&
ȝet
yet
gif
give
hym
respite,
298
A
twelmonyth
twelvemonth (=year)
&
a
day;--
within a twelvemonth and a day."
299
Now
hyȝe,
hasten
&
let
se
see
tite
quickly
300
Dar
(if) dare
any
anyone
her-inne
oȝt
anything
say.”
Nay, I tell thee in good faith, I seek not to fight, for the men on this bench are but beardless children, and if I were hasped in arms on a high steed there is no man here to match with me. I only crave of this court a Christmas game, as this is the feast of Yule and New Year, and many here are brave. And if any in this house holds himself so hardy and is so boldblooded and so utterly mad that he dare strike one stroke for another in return, I will give to him this costly axe, that is heavy enough, and he shall handle it if he likes, and I will bide the first blow as bare as I sit here. If any fellow here be so brave as to do what I say, let him come forward quickly and take hold of the weapon, and I will quit claim upon it for ever. It shall be his very own. And I will stand strongly on this floor to abide his stroke if thou wilt doom him to receive another stroke in return from me; yet will I grant him
delay.
I'll give to him the blow,
In a twelvemonth and a day.
Now think and let me know
Dare any herein aught say.'
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.