1601
There
watȝ
blawyng of prys
blowing of horn to announce capture
in
mony
many a
breme
loud
home,
Then was there blowing of horns
1602
Heȝe
high
halowing
shouting
on hiȝe,
loudly
with
by
haþeleȝ
knights
þat
myȝt;
could
1603
Brachetes
hounds
bayed
barked at
þat
best,
beast
as
bidden
commanded
þe
maystereȝ,
masters
and baying of hounds.
1604
Of
þat
chargeaunt
toilsome
chace
hunt
þat
who
were
chef
chief
huntes.
huntsmen
1605
Þenne
a
wyȝe
man
þat
watȝ
wys
skilled
vpon
in
wod crafteȝ,
hunting practice
One wise in woodcraft begins to unlace the boar.
1606
To
vnlace
cut up
þis
bor
boar
lufly
gladly
bigynneȝ;
1607
Fyrst
he
hewes
cuts
of
off
his
hed,
head
&
on hiȝe
on high
setteȝ,
sets
First he hews off the head, then rends him by the back.
1608
&
syþen
then
rendeȝ
rends
him
al
roghe
roughly
bi þe rygge after,
along the back
1609
Braydeȝ
pulls
out
þe
boweles,
brenneȝ
broils
hom
them
on
glede,
red-hot charcoal
He next removes the bowels, broils them on the ashes, and therewith rewards his hounds.
1610
With
bred
bread
blent
mingled
þer-with
with it
his
braches
hounds
rewardeȝ;
1611
Syþen
then
he
britneȝ
cuts
out
þe
brawen
flesh
in
bryȝt
brode
broad
[s]cheldeȝ,
slabs of boar’s flesh
1612
&
hatȝ
takes
out
þe
hastletteȝ,
edible entrails
as
hiȝtly
fitly
bisemeȝ;
it is fitting
Then the hastlets are removed.
1613
&
ȝet
hem
them
halcheȝ
fastens
al
hole
whole
þe
halueȝ
sides
to-geder,
The two halves are next bound together and hung upon a pole.
1614
&
syþen
then
on
a
stif
strong
stange
pole
stoutly
hem
them
henges.
hangs
1615
Now
with
þis
ilk
same
swyn
boar
þay
swengen
hasten
to
home;
1616
Þe
bores
boar’s
hed
head
watȝ
borne
bifore
in front of
þe
burnes seluen,
knight himself
The boar's head is borne before the knight, who hastens home.
1617
Þat
him
for-ferde
killed
in
þe
forþe,
ford
þurȝ
through
forse
strength
of
his
honde,
1618
so
stronge;
1619
Til
until
he
seȝ
saw
sir
Gawayne,
1620
In
halle
hym
þoȝt
it seemed to
ful
longe,
1621
He
calde,
called
&
he
com
came
gayn,
promptly
Gawayne is called to receive the spoil.
1622
His
feeȝ
payment
þer
for
to
fonge.
receive
Then furious was the blast blown upon many a horn, and high hallooing on the part of the men, and the hounds bayed the beast as the masters of that dangerous chase did urge them on. Then one who was wise in woodcraft began to unlace this lovely boar. First he hewed off his head and set it on high, then he roughly rent him by the back and tore out his entrails, and burnt them on hot coals, and rewarded his hounds with bread blended therewith; then he cut out the brawn in bright broad shields, and had out the hastlets, the two halves of which, all whole, he hung upon a strong pole. Then they made for home at a swinging pace, with the boar as theirrophy, and the boar's head was borne before the knight who had fared into the ford so valiant
and strong.
He saw Sir Gawain in hall,
And the time it seemed full long;
He came when he did call
To take what to him did belong.
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.