Sir Gawayn and Že Grene Kny3t IV
Whežer hade he no helme ne hawbergh naužer,
Ne no pysan ne no plate žat pented to armes,
Ne no schafte ne no schelde to schwue ne to smyte,
Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe,
Žat is grattest in grene when greuez ar bare,
And an ax in his ožer, a hoge and vnmete,
A spetos sparže to expoun in spelle, quoso my3t.
Že lenkže of an eln3erde že large hede hade,
Že grayn al of grene stele and of golde hewen,
Že bit burnyst bry3t, with a brod egge
As wel schapen to schere as scharp rasores,
Že stele of a stif staf že sturne hit bi grypte,
Žat wat3 wounden wyth yrn to že wandez ende,
And al bigrauen with grene in gracios werkes;
A lace lapped aboute, žat louked at že hede,
And so after že halme halched ful ofte,
Wyth tryed tassele3 žerto tacched innoghe
On botounz of že bry3t grene brayden ful ryche.
Žis hažel heldez hym in and že halle entres,
Driuande to že he3e dece, dut he no wože,
Haylsed he neuer one, bot he3e he ouer loked.
Že fyrst word žat he warp, 'Wher is', he sayd,
'Že gouernour of žis gyng? Gladly I wolde
Se žat segg in sy3t, and with hymself speke
raysoun.'
To kny3tez he kest his y3e,
And reled hym vp and doun;
He stemmed, and con studie
Quo walt žer most renoun.
Ther watz lokyng on lenže že lude to beholde,
For vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene my3t
Žat a hažel and a horse my3t such a hwe lach,
As growe grene as že gres and grener hit semed,
Žen grene aumayl on golde glowande bry3ter.
Al studied žat žer stod, and stalked hym nerre
Wyth al že wonder of že worlde what he worch schulde.
For fele sellyez had žay sen, bot such neuer are;
Forži for fantoum and fayry3e že folk žere hit demed.
Žerfore to answare watz ar3e mony ažel freke,
And al stouned at his steuen and stonstil seten
In a swoghe sylence žur3 že sale riche;
As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lotez
in hy3e --
I deme hit not al for doute,
Bot sum for cortaysye --
Bot let hym žat al schulde loute
Cast vnto žat wy3e.
Ženn Aržour bifore že hi3 dece žat auenture byholdez,
And rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer,
And sayde, 'Wy3e, welcum iwys to žis place,
Že hede of žis ostel Arthour I hat;
Li3t luflych adoun and lenge, I že praye,
And quat-so žy wylle is we schal wyt after.'
'Nay, as help me,' quož že hažel, 'he žat on hy3e syttes,
To wone any quyle in žis won, hit watz not myn ernde;
Bot for že los of že, lede, is lyft vp so hy3e,
And žy bur3 and žy burnes best ar holden,
Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde,
Že wy3test and že woržyest of že worldes kynde,
Preue for to play wyth in ožer pure layke3,
And here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,
And žat hat3 wayned me hider, iwyis, at žis tyme.
3e may be seker bi žis braunch žat I bere here
Žat I passe as in pes, and no ply3t seche;
For had I founded in fere in fe3tyng wyse,
I haue a hauberghe at home and a helme bože,
A schelde and a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
Ande ožer weppenes to welde, I wene wel, als;
Bot for I wolde no were, my wede3 ar softer.
Bot if žou be so bold as alle burnez tellen,
Žou wyl grant me godly že gomen žat I ask
bi ry3t.'
Arthour con onsware,
And sayd, 'Sir cortays kny3t,
If žou craue batayl bare,
Here faylez žou not to fy3t.'
On to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight V