970
When
Gawayn
glyȝt
looked
on
at
þat
gay,
fair lady
þat
graciously
loked,
With permission of the lord,
971
Wyth
leue
leave
laȝt
taken
of
from
þe
lorde
he
went
went
hem
them
aȝaynes;
towards
972
Þe
alder
elder
he
haylses,
greets
heldande
bowing
ful
lowe,
Sir Gawayne salutes the elder,
973
Þe
loueloker
fairer
he
lappeȝ
embraces
a
lyttel
little
in
armeȝ,
974
He
kysses
hir
comlyly,
fittingly
&
knyȝtly
courteous
he
meleȝ;
speaks
but the younger he kisses,
975
Þay
they
kallen
beg
hym
of
for
a quoyntaunce,
acquaintance
&
he
hit
quyk
quickly
askeȝ
976
To
be
her
their
seruaunt
sothly,
truly
if
hem-self
them
lyked.
it pleased
and begs to be her servant.
977
Þay
they
tan
take
hym
bytwene
hem,
them
wyth
talkyng
conversation
hym
leden
lead
978
To
chambre,
to
chemné,
fireplace
&
chefly
particularly
þay
they
asken
To chamber all go,
979
Spyceȝ,
spiced cakes
þat
vn-sparely
unsparingly
men
speded
hastened
hom
themselves
to
bryng,
where spices and wine are served.
980
&
þe
wynne-lych
pleasant
wyne
wine
þer-with
with it
vche
every
tyme.
981
Þe
lorde
luflych
courteously
aloft
up
lepeȝ
leaps
ful
ofte,
982
Mynned
exhorted
merthe
revel
to
be
made
vpon
on
mony
many
syþeȝ.
occasions
983
Hent
took
heȝly
gaily
of
off
his
hode,
hood
&
on
a
spere
spear
henged,
hung
The lord takes off his hood and places it on a spear.
984
&
wayned
urged
hom
them
to
wynne
win
þe
worchip
honour
þer-of,
of it
985
Þat
most
myrþe
fun
myȝt
mene[1]
provide
þat
crystenmas
whyle;
time
He who makes most mirth is to win it.
986
“&
i
schal
fonde,
try
bi my fayth,
on my honour
to
fylter
contend
wyth
þe
best,
987
Er
before
me wont
I lose
þe
wedeȝ,
garment
with
help
of
my
frendeȝ.”
friends
988
Þus
wyth
laȝande
laughing
loteȝ
words
þe
lorde
hit
tayt[2]
merry
makeȝ,
989
For
to
glade
gladden
sir
Gawayn
with
gomneȝ
games
in
halle
Night approaches, and then
990
þat
nyȝt;
night
991
Til þat
until
hit
watȝ
was
tyme,
992
Þe
kyng
comaundet
ordered
lyȝt,
lights
993
Sir
Gawen
his
leue
leave
con
did
nyme,
take
Sir Gawayne takes his leave and retires to rest.
994
&
to
his
bed
hym diȝt.
went
Now when Gawain glanced towards that gay lady, who looked so graciously, he took leave of the lord and went towards the ladies. He hailed the ancient one, and inclined himself full humbly. The lovelier of the two he took a little in his arms and kissed her in comely fashion, and addressed her courteously. They returned his greeting, and right soon he asked that he might be her servant. They took him between them, and talking together they led him to his chamber and towards the chimney corner, and they straightway asked for spices, which the pages brought full speedily, and winsome wine they brought with the spices. And the lord of the castle leapt aloft full often, for he intended that they should make mirth. He took off his hood right speedily, and hung it on a spear, and bade them win the worship thereof and so make the most mirth that Christmas tide. 'And I shall try, by my faith, to contend with the best ere I come short of it by help of my friends.' Thus doth that lord make sport with laughing words, that he might gladden Sir Gawain with games in the hall
that night,
Till that it was tide,
That the king commanded light,
Sir Gawain no more doth bide,
But for bed him doth dight.
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.