Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

37
A cheyer byfore že chemné, žer charcole brenned,
Watz grayžed for Sir Gawan grayžely with cložez,
Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes žat koynt wer bože;
And ženne a meré mantyle watz on žat mon cast
Of a broun bleeaunt, enbrauded ful ryche
And fayre furred wythinne with fellez of že best,
Alle of ermyn in erde, his hode of že same;
And he sete in žat settel semlych ryche,
And achaufed hym chefly, and ženne his cher mended.
Sone watz telded vp a tabil on trestez ful fayre,
Clad wyth a clene clože žat cler quyt schewed,
Sanap, and salure, and syluerin sponez.
Že wy3e wesche at his wylle, and went to his mete.
Seggez hym serued semly inno3e
Wyth sere sewes and sete, sesounde of že best,
Double-felde, as hit fallez, and fele kyn fischez,
Summe baken in bred, summe brad on že gledez,
Summe sožen, summe in sewe sauered with spyces,
And ay sawes so sle3e žat že segge lyked.
Že freke calde hit a fest ful frely and ofte
Ful hendely, quen alle že haželes rehayted hym at onez,

38
Ženne watz spyed and spured vpon spare wyse
Bi preué poyntez of žat prynce, put to hymseluen,
Žat he beknew cortaysly of že court žat he were
Žat ažel Arthure že hende haldez hym one,
Žat is že ryche ryal kyng of že Rounde Table,
And hit watz Wawen hymself žat in žat won syttez,
Comen to žat Krystmasse, as case hym žen lymped.
When že lorde hade lerned žat he že leude hade,
Loude la3ed he žerat, so lef hit hym žo3t,
And alle že men in žat mote maden much joye
To apere in his presense prestly žat tyme,
Žat alle prys and prowes and pured žewes
Apendes to hys persoun, and praysed is euer;
Byfore alle men vpon molde his mensk is že most.
Vch segge ful softly sayde to his fere:
"Now schal we semlych se sle3tez of žewez
And že teccheles termes of talkyng noble,
Wich spede is in speche vnspurd may we lerne,
Syn we haf fonged žat fyne fader of nurture.
God hatz geuen vus his grace godly for sože,
Žat such a gest as Gawan grauntez vus to haue,
When burnez blyže of his burže schal sitte

39
Bi žat že diner watz done and že dere vp
Hit watz ne3 at že niy3t ne3ed že tyme.
Chaplaynez to že chapeles chosen že gate,
Rungen ful rychely, ry3t as žay schulden,
To že hersum euensong of že hy3e tyde.
Že lorde loutes žerto, and že lady als,
Into a cumly closet coyntly ho entrez.
Gawan glydez ful gay and gos žeder sone;
Že lorde laches hym by že lappe and ledez hym to sytte,
And coužly hym knowez and callez hym his nome,
And sayde he watz že welcomest wy3e of že worlde;
And he hym žonkked žroly, and ayžer halched ožer,
And seten soberly samen že seruise quyle.
Ženne lyst že lady to loke on že kny3t,
Ženne com ho of hir closet with mony cler burdez.
Ho watz že fayrest in felle, of flesche and of lyre,
And of compas and colour and costes, of alle ožer,
And wener žen Wenore, as že wy3e žo3t.
Ho ches žur3 že chaunsel to cheryche žat hende.
An ožer lady hir lad bi že lyft honde,
Žat watz alder žen ho, an auncian hit semed,
And he3ly honowred with haželez aboute.
Bot vnlyke on to loke žo ladyes were,
For if že 3onge watz 3ep, 3ol3e watz žat ožer;
Riche red on žat on rayled ayquere,
Rugh ronkled chekez žat ožer on rolled;
Kerchofes of žat on, wyth mony cler perlez,
Hir brest and hir bry3t žrote bare displayed,
Schon schyrer žen snawe žat schedez on hillez;
Žat ožer wyth a gorger watz gered ouer že swyre,
Chymbled ouer hir blake chyn with chalkquyte vayles,
Hir frount folden in sylk, enfoubled ayquere,
Toreted and treleted with tryflez aboute,
Žat no3t watz bare of žat burde bot že blake bro3es,
Že tweyne y3en and že nase, že naked lyppez,
And žose were soure to se and sellyly blered;
A mensk lady on molde mon may hir calle,

mauler's (non-verse) translation:

37
A chair before the fireplace, where charcoal burned,
Was promptly arranged for Gawain, with coverings,
Cusions set on quilted spreads, both skillfully made,
And finally, a fine cloak was thrown over his shoulders,
Of a fine brown fabric, fabulously embroidered.
And beautifully furred on the inside with the finest pelts
Of ermine in fact, and the same was his hood.
He sat in that seat, suitably majestic,
And warmed himself straight away, which cheered him further.
Next they set up a table on ornate trusses,
Complete with a fine tablecloth of pure white,
A surcloth, a salt-celler, and silver spoons.
Gawain leisurely washed and sat down to eat.
Waiters with due deference served him
With many stews and platers, deliciously seasoned,
Double portions, as was fitting, and all kinds of fish:
Some breaded and baked, some broiled over coals,
Some boiled, some in stews flavored with spices,
And every sauce was so skillful that the knight loved them all.
Gawain gratefully declared it a feast over and over
Graciously, which all the servants politely denied