1241
“In god fayth,”
in truth
quod
Gawayn,
“gayn
a good thing
hit
me
þynkkeȝ,
seems to
1242
Þaȝ
though
I
be
not
now
he
þat
ȝe
you
of
speken;
speak
"I am unworthy," says Sir Gawayne, "to reach to such reverence as ye rehearse.
1243
To
reche
attain
to
such
reuerence
honour
as
ȝe
you
reherce
mention
here
1244
I
am
wyȝe
man
vn-worþy,
I
wot
know
wel
my-seluen;
myself
1245
Bi
God,
I
were
should be
glad,
&
if
yow
god
þoȝt,
it seemed to
1246
At
saȝe
word
oþer
or
at
seruyce
deed
þat
I
sette
do
myȝt
I shall be glad, however, to please you by word, or service."
1247
To
þe
plesaunce
pleasure
of
your prys,
you
@
hit
were
would be
a
pure
ioye.”
1248
“In god fayth,
in truth
sir
Gawayn,”
quod
þe
gay
fair
lady,
1249
“Þe
prys
excellence
&
þe
prowes
prowess
þat
pleseȝ
pleases
al
oþer,
others
1250
If
I
hit
lakked,
found fault with
oþer
or
set at lyȝt,
esteemed lightly
hit
were
would be
littel
daynté;
courtesy
1251
Bot
hit
it (=there)
ar
are
ladyes
in-noȝe,
many
þat
to whom
leuer
more delightful
wer
would be
nowþe
now
"There are ladies," says his visitor, "who would prefer thy company
1252
Haf
to have
þe
thee
hende
courteous one
in
hor
their
holde,
possession
as
I
þe
thee
habbe
have
here,
1253
To
daly
play at love
witt
derely
pleasantly
your
daynté
delightful
wordeȝ,
1254
Keuer
obtain
hem
themselves
comfort,
pleasure
&
colen
assuage
her
their
careȝ,
sorrows
1255
Þen
than
much
of
þe
garysourn
treasure
oþer
or
golde
þat[1]
þay
hauen;
have
to much of the gold that they possess."
1256
Bot
I
louue[2]
praise
þat
ilk
same
lorde
þat
þe
lyfte
heavens
haldeȝ,
rules
1257
I
haf
have
hit
holly
wholly
in
my
honde
þat
that which
al
desyres,
desire
1258
þurȝe
through
grace.”
gracious gift
1259
Scho
she
made
(...so gret chere) behaved so graciously
hym
so
gret
chere,
108
1260
Þat
who
watȝ
so
fayr
of
face,
1261
Þe
knyȝt
with
speches
words
skere,
pure
The knight answers the lady's questions.
1262
A[n]swared
to
vche a cace.
everything that turned up
`In good faith,' quoth Gawain, 'I think it would be gain for me were I not he of whom thou speakest, for to attain such worship as thou dost offer me herewith I wot well I am unworthy. By God, I should be glad, if it seemed good unto thee, to do thee service or pleasaunce in word or deed, and a pure joy it would be unto me.' 'By my faith, Sir Gawain,' quoth the gay lady, 'if I held lightly the price and the prowess that pleaseth all others, it would be but a little dainty. There are ladies enow that would be liefer to hold thee happily in their power as I have thee, and in dear dalliance to hear thee speak dainty words and thereby gain comfort and rid them of care, than all the guerdon or gold that they possess. And as I love the Lord who holdeth up heaven aloft, I have in my hands that which all desire
through grace.'
She made him so great cheer,
That was so fair of face,
With speeches pure, that peer
Answered in each case.
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.