Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

19
Že grene kny3t vpon grounde grayžely hym dresses,
A littel lut with že hede, že lere he discouerez,
His longe louelych lokkez he layd ouer his croun,
Let že naked nec to že note schewe.
Gauan gripped to his ax, and gederes hit on hy3t,
Že kay fot on že folde he before sette,
Let him doun ly3tly ly3t on že naked,
Žat že scharp of že schalk schyndered že bones,
And schrank žur3 že schyire grece, and schade hit in twynne,
Žat že bit of že broun stel bot on že grounde.
Že fayre hede fro že halce hit to že erže,
Žat fele hit foyned wyth her fete, žere hit forth roled;
Že blod brayd fro že body, žat blykked on že grene;
And nawžer faltered ne fel že freke neuer že helder,
Bot styžly he start forth vpon styf schonkes,
And runyschly he ra3t out, žere as renkkez stoden,
La3t to his lufly hed, and lyft hit vp sone;
And syžen bo3ez to his blonk, že brydel he cachchez,
Steppez into stelbawe and strydez alofte,
And his hede by že here in his honde haldez;
And as sadly že segge hym in his sadel sette
As non vnhap had hym ayled, ža3 hedlez he were

20
For že hede in his honde he haldez vp euen,
Toward že derrest on že dece he dressez že face,
And hit lyfte vp že y3e-lyddez and loked ful brode,
And meled žus much with his muthe, as 3e may now here:
"Loke, Gawan, žou be grayže to go as žou hettez,
And layte as lelly til žou me, lude, fynde,
As žou hatz hette in žis halle, herande žise kny3tes;
To že grene chapel žou chose, I charge že, to fotte
Such a dunt as žou hatz dalt--disserued žou habbez
To be 3ederly 3olden on Nw 3eres morn.
Že knyt of že grene chapel men knowen me mony;
Forži me for to fynde if žou fraystez, faylez žou neuer.
Žerfore com, ožer recreaunt be calde že behoues."
With a runisch rout že raynez he tornez,
Halled out at že hal dor, his hed in his hande,
Žat že fyr of že flynt fla3e fro fole houes.
To quat kyth he becom knwe non žere,
Neuer more žen žay wyste from quežen he watz wonnen.

21
Ža3 Aržer že hende kyng at hert hade wonder,
He let no semblaunt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e
To že comlych quene wyth cortays speche,
"Dere dame, to-day demay yow neuer;
Wel bycommes such craft vpon Cristmasse,
Laykyng of enterludez, to la3e and to syng,
Among žise kynde caroles of kny3tez and ladyez.
Neuer že lece to my mete I may me wel dres,
For I haf sen a selly, I may not forsake."
He glent vpon Sir Gawen, and gaynly he sayde,
"Now, sir, heng vp žyn ax, žat hatz innogh hewen";
And hit watz don abof že dece on doser to henge,
Žer alle men for meruayl my3t on hit loke,
And bi trwe tytel žerof to telle že wonder.
Ženne žay bo3ed to a borde žise burnes togeder,
Že kyng and že gode kny3t, and kene men hem serued
Of alle dayntyez double, as derrest my3t falle;
Wyth alle maner of mete and mynstralcie bože,
Wyth wele walt žay žat day, til woržed an ende

mauler's (nonverse) translation:

19
The Green Knight readily takes his position,
Bowed his head a little, bearing the skin,
And lifted his lovely locks over his crown,
To let his naked neck show in readiness.
Gawain gripped his axe and heaved it up high,
Set his left foot on the floor in front of him,
And let it fall swiftly upon the naked flesh,
So that the sharp shining blade sundered his spine,
And sheared through his fair flesh, severing it in twain,
Until the bright steel blade bit into the ground.
The fair head fell from the neck to the earth,
And many people kicked it with their feet as it rolled forward.
Blood gushed from the body, shining bright red on green,
But the knight never faltered or fell, in spite of it all!
Instead he stoutly strode forward on steady legs,
And fiercely reached out toward the knights feet,
Snatched his handsome head, and lifted it up swiftly.
Then he strode to his steed and seizing the bridle,
Stepped into the stirrup and swung himself up,
And holding his head by his hair in his hand,
Sat steady and straight in his saddle like a man
Who was not troubled at all, though in fact

20
For truly, he held his head in his hand,
And turned the face toward the nobles on the dais,
And it opened its eyelids and stared at them sternly,
And spoke thusly with its mouth as you may now hear:
"See to it Gawain, that you are ready to go as you promised,
And loyally search for me, until you may find me,
As you have promised in this hall in the hearing of these knights
To the Green Chapel you must go, I charge thee, to receive
Such a blow as you have dealt—you deserve
To be promptly repaid on New Years morn.
As 'The Knight of the Green Chapel' I am known by many,
So if you seek to find me you shall certainly not fail.
Therefore come for me, or you deserve to be called a coward."
With a fierce tug, he turned the reins,
And raced from the hall with his head in his hand,
Such that sparks flew from his horse's hooves.
To what land he returned, no one knew,
No more than they knew from where he had come.

21
Although Arthur, the noble king, in his heart was astonished,
He let no sign of it be seen, but instead said loudly
To his comely queen with courtly words,
"My lovely lady, today do not dismay,
for it is fitting to have such fun on Christmas,
performing plays, laughing and singing,
along with courtly dances of knights and ladies,
And not least, I may at last turn to my food,
For I have truly seen a wonder, it cannot be denied."
He looked to Gawain, and rightfully said,
"Now then, hang up your ax, it has hewn enough!"
And it was hung as he asked on hooks above the dais,
Where all men could look on it and marvel,
And point to it as proof when telling the tale.
Then they returned together to the table,
Arthur and the good knight, and eager men served them
Double portions of every delicacy, as was due to their station.
With all manner of foods and revelry both,
With joy they passed the day until darkness fell

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