1454
Schalkeȝ
men
to
schote
shoot
at
hym
schowen
pressed
to
up
þenne,
The bowmen send their arrows after this wild swine,
1455
Haled
loosed
to
hym
of
with
her
their
areweȝ,
arrows
hitten
hit
hym
oft;
1456
Bot
þe
poynteȝ
payred
deteriorated
at
þe
pyth
toughness
þat
pyȝt
struck
in
his
scheldeȝ,
tough skin and flesh at shoulders
1457
&
þe
barbeȝ
barbs (of arrows)
of
his
browe
forehead
bite
(of...) pierce
non
none
wolde,
1458
Þaȝ
though
þe
schauen
smooth
schaft
shaft
schyndered
shatter
in
peceȝ,
pieces
but they glide off shivered in pieces.
1459
Þe
hede
head
hypped aȝayn,
rebounded
were-so-euer
wherever
hit
hitte;
1460
Bot
quon
when
þe
dynteȝ
blows
hym
dered
hurt
of
her
their
dryȝe
incessant
strokeȝ,
Enraged with the blows,
1461
Þen,
brayn-wod
frenzied
for
because of
bate,
fighting
on
burneȝ
men
he
raseȝ,
rushes
1462
Hurteȝ
wounds
hem
them
ful
heterly
fiercely
þer
where
he
forth
hyȝeȝ,
hastens
he attacks the hunters.
1463
&
mony
arȝed
were terrified
þerat,
at it
&
on-lyte droȝen.
held back
1464
Bot
þe
lorde
on
a
lyȝt
light
horce
horse
launces
dashes
hym
after,
1465
As
burne
man
bolde
vpon
bent
hunting field
his
bugle
he
bloweȝ,
The lord of the land blows his bugle,
1466
He
rechated,
blew the recall
&
r[ode][1]
þurȝ
through
roneȝ
bushes
ful
þyk,
thick
1467
Suande
pursuing
þis
wy[ld]e
swyn
boar
til
þe
sunne
schafted.
set
1468
Þis
day
wyth
þis
ilk
same
dede
occupation
þay
dryuen
pass
on
in
þis
wyse,
manner
and pursues the boar.
1469
Whyle
oure
luflych
fair
lede
knight
lys
lies
in
his
bedde,
1470
Gawayn
grayþely
pleasantly
at
home,
in
gereȝ
bedclothes
ful
ryche
All this time Gawayne lies a-bed.
1471
of
hewe;
hue
1472
Þe
lady
noȝt
by no means
forȝate,
forgot
1473
Com
to
hym
to
salue,
wish good morning
1474
Ful
erly
early
ho
she
watȝ
hym
ate,
with
1475
His
mode
mood
forto
remwe.
alter
Then the shooters shot their arrows at him, and often they struck him, but their points failed to pierce his hide, and the barbs would not bite his forehead. The shaven arrow-shafts shivered in pieces wheresoever they struck him. But whenever the blows at all pierced his flesh, then, maddened, he burst forth on the hunters and hurt them hotly as he tried. And many grew timid and drew back somewhat. But the lord riding on a light horse often pierced him, as boldly on the bent-field he blew his bugle, and called them back as he rode through the dense thickets, pursuing the boar till the sun shifted westwards. Thus on this day did they drive the boar, while our lovely knight lay on his bed in rich apparel,
all bright.
The lady quickly tries
To greet the gentle knight,
Full early doth she rise
To change him if she might.
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.