619
Then
þay
they
schewed
brought out
hym
þe
schelde,
shield
þat
was
of
schyr
bright
gouleȝ,
gules (=red in heraldry)
Then they show him his shield with the "pentangle" of pure gold.
620
Wyth
þe
pentangel
pentangle (=five-pointed star)
de-paynt
painted
of
pure
golde
hweȝ;
hues
621
He
braydeȝ
swings
hit
by
þe
baude-ryk,
baldric
aboute
þe
hals
neck
kestes,
casts
622
Þat
bisemed
suited
þe
segge
knight
semlyly
becomingly
fayre.
gracefully
623
&
quy
why
þe
pentangel
pentangle (=five-pointed star)
apendeȝ
belongs
to
þat
prynce
noble,
The "pentangle" was devised by Solomon as a token of truth.
624
I
am
in tent
in a mind
yow
to
telle,
þof
even though
tary
delay
hyt
me
schulde;
625
Hit
is
a
syngne
sign
þat
Salamon
Salomon
set
sum-quyle,
one upon a time
626
In bytoknyng
as a symbol of
of
trawþe,
fidelity
bi
tytle
right (bi tytle...habbes=justly)
þat
hit
habbeȝ,
has
99b
627
For
hit
is
a
figure
þat
haldeȝ
contains
fyue
five
poynteȝ,
points
628
&
vche
each
lyne
line
vmbe-lappeȝ
interlaces
&
loukeȝ
joins
in
with
oþer,
the other
629
&
ay quere
everywhere
hit
is
endeleȝ,[1]
endless
&
Englych
the English
hit
callen
call
It is called the endless knot
630
Ouer-al,
everywhere
as
I
here,
hear
þe
endeles
endless
knot.
631
For-þy
therefore
hit
acordeȝ
befits
to
þis
knyȝt,
&
to
his
cler
bright
armeȝ,
632
For
because
ay
always
faythful
trustworthy
in
fyue
five (ways)
&
sere
in each way
fyue
syþeȝ,
times
633
Gawan
watȝ
was
for
as
gode
good knight
knawen,
known
&
as
golde
pured,
refined
It well becomes the good Sir Gawayne,
634
Voyded
free
of
from
vche
every
vylany,
ill breeding
wyth
vertueȝ[2]
virtues
ennourned
adorned
635
in
mote;
castle
636
For-þy
therefore
þe
pen-tangel
pentangle (=five-pointed star)
nwe
new
637
He
ber
bore
in
schelde
shield
&
cote,
coat-armour
638
As
tulk
knight
of
tale
word
most
trwe,
trusty
a knight the truest of speech and the fairest of form.
639
&
gentylest
noblest
knyȝt
of
lote.
speech
Then they showed him the shield of shining gules and the pentangle painted with pure golden hues. He brandished it by the belt, and about his neck he cast it, that he was seemly and fair to look upon. And I am intent to tell you, though I may weary you somewhat, why that pentangle belonged to that noble prince. It is a symbol that Solomon set up some while for betokening of truth, as its name doth show. For it is a figure that hath five points, and each line overlaps, and is locked in the other, and everywhere it is endless, and the English call it, as I hear, the endless knot. Therefore was it befitting this knight and his clean armour. For Sir Gawain was known as a knight both good and true and faithful in five and many times five, and pure as gold, and void of all villany was he, and adorned with virtues
in the mote,
For the pentangle new
He bears in shield and coat,
And is a knight most true
And gentle man, I wot.
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.