2239
“Gawayn,”
quod
þat
grene
gome,
knight
“God
þe
thee
mot
may
loke!
guard
"God preserve thee!" says the Green Knight,
2240
I-wysse
indeed
þou
art
welcom,[1]
wyȝe,
knight
to
my
place,
2241
&
þou
hatȝ
tymed
timed
þi
trauayl
(toilsome) journey
as
true[2]
trusty
mon
schulde;
"as a true knight 'thou hast timed thy travel'
2242
&
þou
knoweȝ
þe
couenaunteȝ
terms of compact
kest
made
vus
us
by-twene,
Thou knowest the covenant between us,
2243
At
þis
tyme
twelmonyth
(a) year (ago)
þou
toke
took
þat
what
þe falled,
fell to your lot (þe=thee)
2244
&
I
schulde
was to
at
þis
nwe ȝere
New Year
ȝeply
promptly
þe
thee
quyte.
repay
that on New Year's day I should return thy blow
2245
&
we
ar
in
þis
valay,
valley
verayly
truly
oure one,
by ourselves
Here we are alone,
2246
Here
ar
no
renkes
knights
vs
to
rydde,
separate
rele
sway
as
vus
us
likeȝ;
it pleases
2247
Haf
take
þy[3]
helme
helmet
of
off
þy
hede,
head
&
haf
have
here
þy
pay;
Have off thy helmet and take thy pay at once."
2248
Busk
make
no
more
debate
resistance
þen
than
I
þe
thee
bede
offered
þenne,
2249
“When
þou
wypped
slashed
of
off
my
hede
head
at
a wap one.”
a single blow
2250
“Nay,
bi
God,”
quod
Gawayn,
“þat
who
me
gost
soul
lante,
gave
"By God," quoth Sir Gawayne, "I shall not begrudge thee thy will."
2251
I
schal
gruch
bear ill will
þe
thee
no grwe,
not at all
for
grem
hurt
þat
falleȝ;
happens
2252
Botstyȝtel þe vpon
@ limit yourself to (þe=thyself)
on
one
strok,
blow
&
I
schal
stonde
stand
stylle,
2253
&
warp
utter
þe
thee
no
wernyng,
resistance
to
worch
act
as
þe
thee
lykeȝ,
it pleases
2254
no whare.”
in no case
2255
He
lened with
inclined
þe
nek,
neck
&
lutte,
bent
Then he shows his bare neck,
2256
&
schewed
þat
schyre
flesh
al
bare,
2257
&
lette
behaved
as
as if
he
noȝt
not
dutte,
feared
2258
For
drede
dread
he
wolde
not
dare.
cower
and appears undaunted.
`Gawain,' quoth the Green Knight, 'may God protect thee. I wis thou art welcome to my place, and thou hast kept thy promise as befitteth a true man. Thou knowest the covenant between us made -- how a twelvemonth ago thou didst take that which befell thee and I was to be quits with thee on this New Year's Day. We are alone verily in this valley; there are no knights here to separate us. Doff thy helmet and take thy pay, and make no more ado than I did when thou didst whip off my head at one blow.' 'Nay, by the most high God,' said Gawain, 'so I have spirit I grudge thee not thy will for any mischief that may befall me; but I stand here for thy stroke, and do not deny thee thy will
anywhere.'
Down he bent his head,
And showed his neck all bare.
There was no sign of dread,
Or that he would not dare.
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.