96
366
Þen
comaunded
commanded
þe
kyng
þe
knyȝt
for
to
ryse;
367
&
he
ful
radly
promptly
vp ros,
rose up
&
ruchched
proceeded
hym
himself
fayre,
gracefully
368
Kneled
kneeled
doun
down
bifore
þe
kyng,
&
cacheȝ
seizes
þat
weppen;
weapon
The king gives his nephew his weapon,
369
&
he
luflyly
amiably
hit
hym
laft,
gave up
&
lyfte
vp
his
honde,
hand
370
&
gef
gave
hym
goddeȝ
God’s
blessyng,
&
gladly
hym
biddes
exhorts
371
Þat
his
hert
heart
&
his
honde
hand
schulde
should
hardi
bold
be
boþe.
both
and tells him to keep heart and hand steady.
372
“Kepe þe
take care (þe=thee)
cosyn,”
kinsman
quod
þe
kyng,
“þat
þou
on
one
kyrf
blow
sette,
deal
373
&
if
þou
redeȝ
manage
hym
ryȝt,
rightly
redly
fully
I
trowe,
believe
374
Þat
þou
schal
byden
survive
þe
bur
blow
þat
he
schal
bede
offer
after.
afterwards
375
Gawan
gotȝ
goes
to
þe
gome,
man
with
giserne
battle-axe
in
honde,
hand
376
&
he
baldly
boldly
hym
bydeȝ,
waits for
he
bayst
was dismayed
neuer
none
þe
helder
the more for that
377
Þen
carppeȝ
speaks
to
sir
Gawan
þe
knyȝt
in
þe
grene,
The Green Knight enquires the name of his opponent.
378
“Refourme
(let us) restate
we
oure
our
for-wardes,
agreements
er
before
we
fyrre
further
passe.
go
379
Fyrst
I
eþe
entreat
þe,
thee
haþel,
knight
how
þat
þou
hattes,
are called
380
Þat
þou
me
telle
truly,
as
I
tryst
believe
may?”
381
“In god fayth,”
in truth
quod
þe
goode
knyȝt,
“Gawan
I
hatte,
am called
Sir Gawayne tells him his name, and declares that he is willing to give and receive a blow.
382
Þat
who
bede
offer
þe
thee
þis
buffet,
blow
quat-so
whatever
bi-falleȝ
happens
after,
383
&
at
þis
tyme
twelmonyth
(a) year (hence)
take
will take
at
from
þe
thee
anoþer,
384
Wyth
what
(...so) whatever
weppen
weapon
so[1]
þou
wylt,
will
&
wyth
from (=at the hands of)
no
wyȝ
one
elleȝ,
else
385
on lyue.”
alive
386
Þat
the
oþer
on-swareȝ
answers
agayn,
in return
387
“Sir
Gawan,
so
mot
may
I
þryue,
thrive
388
As
I
am
ferly
wondrously
fayn.
glad
The other thereof is glad.
389
Þis
dint
blow
þat
þou
schal
dryue.”
strike
When the king commanded the knight to rise up, which he readily did, and set himself fairly and knelt down again before the king and received from him the weapon, and the king lifted up his hand and gave him God's blessing, and prayed that both his heart and hand might be hardy and strong.' Take care, cousin, that thou set one blow upon him, and if thou doest it well, then shalt thou bide the blow that he shall give thee afterwards.' Gawain went forward to the man with the axe in his hand, and the Green Knight boldly bided his coming and flinched not at all. Then said the Green Knight to Sir Gawain, 'Let us make well our covenant ere we go further. First, I want to know thy name -- tell me truly.' 'In good faith,' said the knight, 'my name is Gawain, and it is Gawain that offers to give thee this blow, whatsoever befall him afterwards; and in a twelvemonth and a day thou shalt take back the blow with any weapon thou likest, if I shall be
alive.'
That other answered again,
'Gawain, so may I thrive,
For I am fiercely fain
Of the blow that thou wilt drive.'
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.