995
On
þe
morne,
morrow
as
vch mon
everybody
myneȝ
remembers
þat
tyme,
On Christmas morn,
996
[Þ]at
dryȝtyn
God
for
oure
destyné
to
deȝe
die
watȝ
was
borne,
joy reigns in every dwelling in the world.
997
Wele
joy
waxeȝ
increases
in
vche a
every
won
dwelling
in
worlde,
for
his
sake;
998
So
did
hit
þere
on
þat
day,
þurȝ
through
dayntes
dainties
mony;
many
So did it in the castle where our knight abode.
104b
999
Boþe
at
mes
breakfast
&
at
mele,
mealtime
messes
dishes of food
ful
quaynt
1000
Derf
doughty
men
vpon
dece
dais
drest
arranged
of
þe
best.
1001
Þe
olde
auncian
aged
wyf
woman
heȝest
highest
ho
she
sytteȝ;
sits
The lord and "the old ancient wife" sit together.
1002
Þe
lorde
lufly
courteously
her
by
beside
lent,
took his place
as
I
trowe;
believe
1003
Gawan
&
þe
gay
fair
burde
lady
to-geder
þay
they
seten,
sat
Gawayne sits by the wife of his host.
1004
Euen
right
in-myddeȝ,
in the middle
as
where
þe
messe
food
metely
fittingly
come;
came
1005
&
syþen
then
þurȝ
through
al
þe
sale,
hall
as
hem
them
best
semed,
it seemed to
1006
Bi
when
vche
each
grome
man
at
according to
his
degre
rank
grayþely
readily
watȝ
was
serued.
It were too tedious to tell of the meat, the mirth, and the joy that abounded everywhere.
1007
Þer
watȝ
was
mete,
food
þer
watȝ
myrþe,
amusement
þer
watȝ
much
ioye,
joy
1008
Þat
for
to
telle
þerof
of it
hit
me
tene
trouble
were,
would be
1009
&
(...3et) even if
to
poynte
describe in detail
hit
ȝet
I
pyned
troubled
me
myself
parauenture;
perchance
1010
Bot
ȝet
I
wot
know
þat
Wawen
Gawain
&
þe
wale
fair
burde
lady
Gawayne and his beautiful companion derive much comfort from each other's conversation.
1011
Such
comfort
pleasure
of
her
their
compaynye
caȝten
took
to-geder,
1012
Þurȝ
through
her
their
dere
pleasant
dalyaunce
courtly conversation
of
her
their
derne
private
wordeȝ,
1013
Wyth
clene
cortays
carp,
speech
closed
free
fro
from
fylþe;
impurity
1014
&
hor
their
play
watȝ passande
surpassed
vche
every
prynce
princely
gomen,
pleasure
1015
in vayres;
in truth
1016
Trumpeȝ
trumpets
&
nakerys,
kettledrums
Trumpets and nakers give forth their sounds.
1017
Much
pypyng
music of pipes
þer
repayres,
is present
1018
Vche mon
everybody
tented
attended to
hys,
his own affairs
1019
&
þay
those
two
tented
attended to
þayres.
theirs
In the morrow morn, when all men call to mind how the Lord was born to die for our destiny, joy waxed everywhere in the world for Christ's dear sake. So was it in that castle. And doughty men on the aïs served many a dainty mess at meal times. And the ancient lady sat in the highest seat on the daïs. And the lovely lord sat by her side, as I trow. Gawain and the gay lady sat together in the midst whilst the messes were served, and throughout all the hall the folk were served, each according to his rank. There was meat and mirth, and so much joy that to tell thereof were much trouble to me, yet peradventure I may take the trouble. For I know that Gawain and the gay lady had great comfort of each other's company for the dear dalliance of their whispered words, and with clean and courteous talk, free from filth. And their playing surpassed of all princes
the game.
And trumpets do blare,
And much sounding declaim;
Each of his own took care,
And they two did the same.
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.