1353
Boþe
þe
hede
head
&
þe
hals
neck
þay
hwen
cut
of
off
þenne,
After this the head and neck are cut off, and the sides severed from the chine.
1354
&
syþen
then
sunder
separate
þay
þe
sydeȝ
swyft
swiftly
fro
from
þe
chyne,
backbone
1355
&
þe
corbeles
raven’s
fee
þay
kest
cast
in
a
greue;[1]
thicket
1356
Þenn
þurled
pierced
þay
ayþer
both
þik
side
þurȝ,
through
bi
þe
rybbe,
1357
&
henged
hung
þenne
a[y]þer
both
bi
hoȝes
hocks
of
þe
fourcheȝ,
legs
1358
Vche
each
freke
man
for
his
fee,
portion
as
falleȝ
is fitting
forto
haue.
1359
Vpon
a
felle
skin
of
þe
fayre
best,
beast
fede
feed
þay
þayr
their
houndes,
1360
Wyth
þe
lyuer
liver
&
þe
lyȝteȝ,
lungs
þe
leþer
skin
of
þe
pauncheȝ,
stomachs
With the liver, lights and paunches, they feed the hounds.
1361
&
bred
bread
baþed
in
blod,
blende
mingled
þer amongeȝ;
with it
1362
Baldely
vigorously
þay
blw prys,
blew the horn to announce capture
bayed
barked
þayr
their
rachcheȝ,
hounds
1363
Syþen
then
fonge
received
þay
her
their
flesche
folden
went
to
home,
Then they make for home.
1364
Strakande
sounding (on horn)
ful
stoutly
vigorously
mony
stif
strong
moteȝ.
notes
1365
Bi þat
by the time that
þe
daylyȝt
watȝ
was
done,
over
þe
douthe
company
watȝ
was
al
wonen
come
1366
In-to
þe
comly
beautiful
castel,
þer
where
þe
knyȝt
bideȝ
stays
1367
ful
stille;
undisturbed
1368
Wyth
by
blys
joy
&
bryȝt
fyr
fire
bette,
kindled
1369
Þe
lord
is
comen
þer-tylle,
to it
1370
When
Gawayn
wyth
hym
mette,
met
Gawayne goes out to meet his host.
1371
Þer
watȝ
bot
only
wele
joy
at wylle.
to his pleasure
Then they hacked off both head and neck, and severed deftly the sides from the chine, and flung the fee of the crows into a grove hard by. Then they pierced both sides through at the ribs, and hung them by the houghs of the haunches. And each man took his share that fell to him, and they fed the hounds on the skins, and with the liver and the lights and the leathern paunches, with bread dipped in blood. Boldly they blew the horns, and the hounds bayed. Then having packed up the flesh they went homewards, blowing full strongly many bugle notes, so that by the time daylight had faded, home came the doughty men, to the comely castle where Sir Gawain was biding,
full still.
Brightly the fire doth burn.
He greeteth with a will
The lord at his return;
With joy each one did thrill.
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.