Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 167 pages of information about Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight.

Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 167 pages of information about Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight.

[Sidenote A:  “Good sir,” says Gawayne, “ask the high lord of this house to
  grant me a lodging.”]
[Sidenote B:  “You are welcome to dwell here as long as you like,” replied
  the porter.]
[Sidenote C:  The draw-bridge is let down,] [Sidenote D:  and the gate is opened wide to receive him.] [Sidenote E:  His horse is well stabled.] [Sidenote F:  Knights and squires bring Gawayne into the hall.] [Sidenote G:  Many a one hastens to take his helmet and sword.] [Sidenote H:  The lord of the country bids him welcome,] [Sidenote I:  and they embrace each other.] [Footnote 1:  trowoe, Ms.] [Footnote 2:  quyle (?) or quen (?).] [Footnote 3:  buurne, Ms.]

XV.

[A] Gawayn gly3t on þe gome þat godly hym gret,
[B] & þu3t hit a bolde burne þat þe bur3 a3te,
844 A hoge haþel for þe none3, & of hyghe elde;[1]
[C] Brode bry3t wat3 his berde, & al beuer hwed,
Sturne stif on þe stryþþe on stal-worth schonke3,
[D] Felle face as þe fyre, & fre of hys speche;
848 & wel hym semed for soþe, as þe segge þu3t,
To lede a lortschyp in lee of leude3 ful gode.
[E] Þe lorde hym charred to a chambre, & chefly cumaunde3[2] [Fol.]
To delyuer hym a leude, hym lo3ly to serue; [102b.]
852 & þere were boun at his bode burne3 in-no3e,
[F] Þat bro3t hym to a bry3t boure, þer beddyng wat3 noble,
Of cortynes of clene sylk, wyth cler golde hemme3,
[G] & couertore3 ful curious, with comlych pane3,
856 Of bry3t blaunnier a-boue enbrawded bisyde3,
Rudele3 rennande on rope3, red golde rynge3,
[H] Tapyte3 ty3t to þe wo3e, of tuly & tars,
& vnder fete, on þe flet, of fol3ande sute.
860 [I] Þer he wat3 dispoyled, wyth speche3 of myerþe,
Þe burn of his bruny, & of his bry3t wede3;
[J] Ryche robes ful rad renkke3 hem[3] bro3ten,
For to charge, & to chaunge, & chose of þe best.
864 Sone as he on hent, & happed þer-inne,
Þat sete on hym[4] semly, wyth saylande skyrte3,
[K] Þe ver by his uisage verayly hit semed
Wel ne3 to vche haþel alle on hwes,
868 Lowande & lufly, alle his lymme3 vnder,
[L] Þat a comloker kny3t neuer Kryst made,
hem þo3t;
Wheþen in worlde he were,
872 Hit semed as he my3t
Be prynce with-outen pere,
In felde þer felle men fy3t.

[Sidenote A:  Gawayne looks on his host;] [Sidenote B:  a big bold one he seemed.] [Sidenote C:  Beaver-hued was his broad beard,] [Sidenote D:  and his face as “fell as the fire.”] [Sidenote E:  The lord leads Gawayne to a chamber, and assigns him a page to
  wait upon him.]
[Sidenote F:  In this bright bower was noble bedding;] [Sidenote G:  the curtains were of pure silk with golden hems;] [Sidenote H:  Tarsic tapestries covered the walls and the floor.] [Sidenote I:  Here the knight doffed his armour,] [Sidenote J:  and put on rich robes,] [Sidenote K:  which well became him.] [Sidenote L:  A more comely knight Christ never made.] [Footnote 1:  eldee, Ms.] [Footnote 2:  clesly, Ms.] [Footnote 3:  hym (?).] [Footnote 4:  Ms. hyn.]

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Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.