1846
“Now
forsake
refuse
ȝe
you
þis
silke.”
sayde
þe
burde
lady
þenne,
"Do you refuse it," says the lady, because it is simple?
1847
“For
because
hit
is
symple
of no great value
in
hit-self.
&
so
hit
wel
semeȝ?
seems
1848
Lo!
so
hit
is
littel,
&
lasse
less
hit
is
worþy;
1849
Bot
who-so
whoever
knew
þe
costes
qualities
þat
knit
entwined
ar
þer-inne,
in it
Whoso knew the virtues that it possesses, would highly prize it.
1850
He
wolde
hit
prayse
esteem
at
more
prys,
value
parauenture;
perchance
1851
For
quat
(...so) whatever
gome
man
so
is
gorde
girt
with
þis
grene
lace,
belt
For he who is girded with this green lace,
1852
While
he
hit
hade
hemely
neatly
halched
fastened round
aboute,
1853
Þer
is
no
haþel
knight
vnder
heuen
heaven
to-hewe
cut down
hym
þat
myȝt;
could
1854
For
he
myȝt
could
not
he
slayn,
for slyȝt vpon erþe.”
by any means
cannot be wounded or slain."
1855
Þen
kest
pondered
þe
knyȝt,
&
hit
come
came
to
his
hert,
mind
1856
Hit
were
a
Iuel
godsend
for
þe
Iopardé,
peril
þat
hym
iugged
assigned
were,
The knight thinks of his adventure at the Green Chapel.
1857
When
he
acheued
to reached
to
þe
chapel,
his
chek
fortune
forto
fech;
obtain
1858
Myȝ[1] he
if he could
haf
have
slypped
escaped
to þe vn-slayn,
without being slain
þe
sleȝt
device
were
would be
noble.
fine
The lady presses him to accept the lace.
116
1859
Þenne
ho
þulged
was patient
with
hir
þrepe,
importunity
&
þoled
allowed
hir
to
speke,
1860
&
ho
she
bere
pressed
on
hym
þe
belt,
&
bede
offered
hit
hym
swyþe,
earnestly
1861
&
he
granted,
consented
&
[ho]
hym
himself
gafe
surrendered
with a goud wylle,
gladly
He consents not only to take the girdle, but to keep the possession of it a secret.
1862
&
bisoȝt
begged
hym,
for
hir
sake,
disceuer
reveal
hit
neuer,
1863
Bot
to
lelly
faithfully
layne
conceal
for[2]
from
hir
lorde;
þe
leude
knight
hym
himself
acordeȝ.
consents
1864
Þat
neuer
wyȝe
man
schulde
hit
wyt,
know
Iwysse,
indeed
bot
except
þay
twayne,
two
1865
for noȝte;
on any account
1866
He
þonkked
thanked
hir
oft
ful
swyþe,
greatly
1867
Ful
þro
earnestly
with
hert
heart
&
þoȝt.
thought
1868
Bi þat
by that time
on þrynne syþe,
thrice
By that time the lady has kissed him thrice.
1869
He
she
hatȝ
kyst
kissed
þe
knyȝt
so
toȝt.
stout
`Now dost thou refuse this silk girdle,' said the lady, 'for simple it is in itself and of little worth it seems. But whoso knew the virtues that are knit therein, he would appraise it at greater price, peradventure. For whatsoever man is girded with this green lace while he has it secretly fastened about his body, there is no man under heaven that could hew him asunder. He could not be slain by any sleight or trick in the world.' Then the knight set himself to thinking, and it came into his heart that such a girdle would be a jewel in the jeopardy to which he was pledged in going to the Green Chapel to receive the deadly blow; and if he should slip and be in danger of death it would be a noble sleight of defence. Then he endured her chiding, and let her speak, and she thrust the belt upon him quickly, and he took it from her as she gave it with good will and besought him for her sake never to reveal it, but to loyally hide it from her lord. The knight agreed thereto, and swore that no man should ever know it save they two, as she
did crave.
Great thanks he gave that day
With heart and mind so grave.
The third time, as I say,
She kissed that knight so brave.
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.