Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

22
This hanselle hatz Arthur of auenturus on fyrst
In 3onge 3er, for he 3erned 3elpyng to here.
Tha3 hym wordez were wane when şay to sete wenten,
Now ar şay stoken of sturne werk, stafful her hond.
Gawan watz glad to begynne şose gomnez in halle,
Bot şa3 şe ende be heuy haf 3e no wonder;
For şa3 men ben mery in mynde quen şay han mayn drynk,
A 3ere 3ernes ful 3erne, and 3eldez neuer lyke,
Şe forme to şe fynisment foldez ful selden.
Forşi şis 3ol ouer3ede, and şe 3ere after,
And vche sesoun serlepes sued after oşer:
After Crystenmasse com şe crabbed lentoun,
Şat fraystez flesch wyth şe fysche and fode more symple;
Bot şenne şe weder of şe worlde wyth wynter hit şrepez,
Colde clengez adoun, cloudez vplyften,
Schyre schedez şe rayn in schowrez ful warme,
Fallez vpon fayre flat, flowrez şere schewen,
Boşe groundez and şe greuez grene ar her wedez,
Bryddez busken to bylde, and bremlych syngen
For solace of şe softe somer şat sues şerafter

23
After şe sesoun of somer wyth şe soft wyndez
Quen Zeferus syflez hymself on sedez and erbez,
Wela wynne is şe wort şat waxes şeroute,
When şe donkande dewe dropez of şe leuez,
To bide a blysful blusch of şe bry3t sunne.
Bot şen hy3es heruest, and hardenes hym sone,
Warnez hym for şe wynter to wax ful rype;
He dryues wyth dro3t şe dust for to ryse,
Fro şe face of şe folde to fly3e ful hy3e;
Wroşe wynde of şe welkyn wrastelez with şe sunne,
Şe leuez lancen fro şe lynde and ly3ten on şe grounde,
And al grayes şe gres şat grene watz ere;
Şenne al rypez and rotez şat ros vpon fyrst,
And şus 3irnez şe 3ere in 3isterdayez mony,
And wynter wyndez a3ayn, as şe worlde askez,

24
3et quyl Al-hal-day with Arşer he lenges;
And he made a fare on şat fest for şe frekez sake,
With much reuel and ryche of şe Rounde Table.
Kny3tez ful cortays and comlych ladies
Al for luf of şat lede in longynge şay were,
Bot neuer şe lece ne şe later şay neuened bot merşe:
Mony ioylez for şat ientyle iapez şer maden.
For aftter mete with mournyng he melez to his eme,
And spekez of his passage, and pertly he sayde,
"Now, lege lorde of my lyf, leue I yow ask;
3e knowe şe cost of şis cace, kepe I no more
To telle yow tenez şerof neuer bot trifel;
Bot I am boun to şe bur barely to-morne
To sech şe gome of şe grene, as God wyl me wysse."
Şenne şe best of şe bur3 bo3ed togeder,
Aywan, and Errik, and oşer ful mony,
Sir Doddinaual de Sauage, şe duk of Clarence,
Launcelot, and Lyonel, and Lucan şe gode,
Sir Boos, and Sir Byduer, big men boşe,
And mony oşer menskful, with Mador de la Port.
Alle şis compayny of court com şe kyng nerre
For to counseyl şe kny3t, with care at her hert.
Şere watz much derue doel driuen in şe sale
Şat so worthé as Wawan schulde wende on şat ernde,
To dry3e a delful dynt, and dele no more

mauler's (nonverse) translation:

22
This adventure was Arthur's first gift
Of the New Year, for he longed to hear challenges
Though their words were few when they first sat down to dine,
Now they are faced with a grim task, indeed quite a handful.
Gawain was glad to begin those games in that hall,
But do not be surprised if the outcome prove unhappy,
For though men were quite merry when they had much to drink,
A year passes swiftly, and each new one is different;
The beginning and the end only rarely resemble each other.
Thus this Yule passed away, and the year thereafter,
And each season in turn ensued after the other.
After Christmas came crabby Lent,
That tests the body with fish and other plain foods,
But then the weather of the world wages war upon winter:
Coldness cowers deep, and clouds rise up,
Shedding shining rain in warm showers,
Which falls upon the fair plain, where flowers bloom.
Both the ground and the groves are clothed in green,
Birds hasten to build nests, and briskly sing,
Taking solace that soft summer will ensue thereafter

23
Then comes the summer season with its soft winds,
When Zephyrus blows gently on the seedlings and grasses.
Cheerful are the plants that grow from them,
As the moistening dew drips from the leaves,
To wait for the blissful first blush of the sun.
But then the harvest-time comes and soon hardens them,
Warning them to become ripe before winter,
And brings dryness, so that the dust rises
From the face of the earth, flying up high;
Wrathful winds of the sky wrestle with the sun,
Leaves loosed from the linden alight on the ground,
And the grass that was once green becomes gray.
Then all ripens and rots that once was alive,
And thus passes the year, in yesterdays many,
And winter comes again, as the world demands,

24
Yet on All-Hallows Day he lingered with Arthur,
Who held a feast on that day in Gawain's honor.
Courtly knights and comely ladies,
For love of Gawain were all grieving,
But nevertheless they made nothing but mirth,
Though joyless, they made jests for Gawain's sake.
After the meal, he sadly turned to his uncle,
And spoke of his journey, and openly said,
"Now, my liege lord, I ask your leave;
You know the terms of this matter, I care not
To trouble you by retelling the trifles of the case,
But tomorrow, without fail, I set out for the blow,
And seek the Man of Green, as God is my guide.
Then the finest of his fellows came forward to see him off:
Ywain and Erec, and many many others,
Sir Dodinel the Savage, the Duke of Clarence,
Lancelot, and Lionel, and Lucan the Good,
Sir Bors and Sir Bedevere, big men both,
And many others of worth, such as Mador de la Port.
All this courtly company came toward the king,
To counsel Gawain, with care in their hearts.
Much mournful lament was made in that Hall,
That one so worthy as Gawain should go on that quest
To bear a baleful blow and nevermore brandish

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