566
He
dowelleȝ
remains
þer
there
al
þat
day,
and
dresseȝ
prepares
on
þe
morn,
morrow
On the morn he asks for his arms.
567
Askeȝ
asks for
erly
early
hys
armeȝ,
arms
&
alle
were
þay
they
broȝt
568
Fyrst
a
tule
of red silk
tapit,
carpet
tyȝt
spread
ouer
þe
flet,
floor
A carpet is spread on the floor,
569
&
miche
much
watȝ
was
þe
gyld
gilded
gere
armour
þat
glent
glinted
þer alofte;
on it
570
Þe
stif
bold
mon
man
steppeȝ
steps
þeron,
on it
&
þe
stel
armour
hondoleȝ,
takes hold of
and he steps thereon.
571
Dubbed
arrayed
in
a
dublet
doublet
of
a
dere
costly
tars,
silk of Tharsia
He is dubbed in a doublet of Tarsic silk, and a well-made hood.
572
&
syþen
then
a
crafty
skilfully made
capados,
hood with cape
closed
fastened
aloft,
above (=at the neck)
573
Þat
which
wyth
a
bryȝt
pure white
blaunner
fur (ermine?)
was
bounden
trimmed
with-inne;
574
Þenne
set
þay
they
þe
sabatounȝ
steel shoes
vpon
þe
segge
knight’s
foteȝ,
feet
They set steel slices on his feet, and lap his legs in steel greaves.
575
His
legeȝ
legs
lapped
wrapped
in
stel
steel
with
luflych
fair
greueȝ,
greaves
576
With
polayneȝ
knee-pieces
piched
attached
þer-to,
to them
policed
polished
ful
clene,
bright
577
Aboute
his
kneȝ
knees
knaged
fastened
wyth
knoteȝ
knots
of
golde;
578
Queme
fine
quyssewes
thigh-pieces
þen,
þat
which
coyntlych
elegantly
closed
enclosed
Fair cuisses enclose his thighs,
579
His
thik
thick
þrawen
muscular
þyȝeȝ
thighs
with
þwonges
thongs
to-tachched;
fastened to them
580
&
syþen
then
þe
brawden
linked
bryne
mail-shirt
of
bryȝt
stel
steel
ryngeȝ,
rings
and afterwards they put on the steel habergeon,
581
Vmbe-weued
enveloped
þat
wyȝ,
knight
vpon
wlonk
glorious
stuffe;
stuff
582
&
wel
bornyst
polished
brace
pair of arm-pieces
vpon
his
boþe
armes,
well-burnished braces, elbow pieces, and gloves of plate.
583
With
gode
good
cowters
elbow-pieces
&
gay,
bright
&
gloueȝ
gloves
of
plate,
steel plate
584
&
alle
þe
godlych
fine
gere
armour
þat
hym
gayn
be of use to
schulde
585
Þat tyde;
then
586
Wyth
ryche
cote armure,
coat armour (=coat embroidered with heraldic devices)
Over all this is placed the coat armour.
587
His
gold
sporeȝ
spurs
spend
fastened
with pryde,
splendidly
His spurs are then fixed,
588
Gurde
girt
wyth
a
bront
sword
ful
sure,
trusty
and his sword is attached to his side by a silken girdle.
589
With
silk
sayn
girdle
vmbe
round
his
syde.
He remained there that day, and dressed in the morning, and asked early for his arms, and they were all brought unto him. And first a carpet of tuly was spread on the floor, and much gold gleamed upon it. The strong man stepped forth and handled the steel, and donned a doublet of very costly Tarsian silk, and then a fair cap closed in above, and with fair fur was it bound inside. Then set they steel shoes upon the man's feet, and his legs they lapped in steel with lovely greaves and knee-pieces fastened thereunto and polished full brightly and fixed about his knees with knots of gold. Fair cuisses also cunningly covered his thighs, that were thick and brawny, and were tied with thongs. And then the woven bryny of bright steel rings enfolded the warrior over the fair stuff, and well burnished braces were upon both his arms, and good and gay elbowpieces and plated gloves, and all the goodly gear that befitted such a knight, for
that tide,
With rich coat of armour,
Gold spurs he fixed with pride,
Girt with a sword full sure,
And silk girths round his side.
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.