The original Middle English text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight of the extracts is given above, taken from the latest transcription by Andrew and Waldron.[4] A translation into modern English by Winny[3] attempts to “represent as closely as possible the sense of the poem, without compromising that aim by insisting that the lines alliterate. It does not reproduce the exact literal sense of the original.”
Spelling at that time was somewhat variable; as Chaucer observed, there was “gret diversité in writyng of oure tonge”
There are a few points that might help with pronunciation: qu was often used in place of w or wh (a characteristic north of the Ribble) as in quyte (white); u and v are often used interchangeably as in saue (save); þ (thorn) generally represents th (although th is also sometimes used); and ȝ (yogh) can be pronounced y as in ȝe (ye), or gh as in heȝe (high), or even as the ch of a Scottish loch as in knyȝt (knight). All consonants are sounded, even the k in knyȝt. Beyond that, if you use a good north eastern Lancashire accent (but not south west) you won't be far wrong.
Modern English Translation
'What do you call yourself rightly, and then no more demands?'
'I will tell you that truthfully,' replied that other man,
'Bertilak of Hautdesert I am called in this land.
Back to: Section 1
Modern English Translation
If you will listen to this story just a little while
I will tell it at once, as I heard it told
Back to: Section 1
Modern English Translation
Over a hill in the morning in spendour he rides
Into a dense forest, wondrously wild;
High slopes on each side and woods at their base
Of massive grey oaks, hundreds growing together
Hazel and hawthorn were densely entangledBack to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Through many a morass and swamp, a solitary figure
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Before he caught sight through the trees of a moated building
Standing over a field, on a mound, surrounded by boughs
Of many a massive tree-trunk enclosing the moat:
The most splendid castle ever owned by a knight
Set on a meadow, a park all aroundBack to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Now the new Year approaches and the night wears away,
The dawn presses against the darkness, as the Creator bids,
But rough weather blows up in the country outside,
Clouds emty their bitter cold contents on the earth,
With enough malice from the north to torment the ill-clad.
Snow pelted down spitefully, stinging the wild creatures;
The wind whistled shrilly down from the fells,
Choking the valleys with enormous drifts.Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Then Gringolet was ready, that great horse and huge,
Who had been stabled securely, keeping him safe,
In such fine condition that he was eager to gallop.
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
The drawbridge was lowered, and the broad gates
Unbarred and pushed open upon both sides.
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
And went on his way with his single guide,
Who would show him the way to that perilous place
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
They struggled up hillsides where branches are bare,
They climbed up by rock-faces gripped by the cold.
The clouds were high up, but murky beneath them,
Mist shrouded the moors, melted on the hills.
Each summit wore a hat, a huge cloak of mist.
Streams foamed and splashed down the slopes around them,
Breaking white against the banks as they rushed downhill.
Very wandering was the way they must take to the wood,
Until soon it was time for sunrise at that point
of the year.
They were high up in the hills,
By snow surrounded then
Why not a literal translation of these last two lines?
They were on a hill full high
The white snow lay beside
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
'If you would follow my advice, it would be better for you.
The place you are going to is extremely dangerous;
There lives in that wilderness, the worst in the world,
For he is powerful and grim, and loves dealing blows,
And is bigger than any other man upon earth:
His body is mightier than the four strongest men
In Arthur's household, Hector or any other.
He so brings it about at the Green Chapel
That no one passes that place, however valiant in arms,
Who is not battered to death by force of his hand;
For he is a pitiless man who never shows mercy.
For whether peasant or churchman passes his chapel,
Monk or mass-priest, or whatever man else'
To him killing seems as pleasant as enjoying his own life.
Therefore I tell you, as sure as you sit in your saddle,
If you go there you'll be killed, I warn you, sir knight,
Believe that for certain, though you had twenty lives
to loose
He has dwelt there long,
And brought about much strife;
Against his brutal blows
Nothing can save your life.
Therefore, good Sir Gawain, let the man be,
And for God's sake get away from here by some other road!'
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
For all the wealth in the world I would not go with you
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
'Marry!' said the other man, 'since your words make it clear
That you will deliberately bring harm on yourself,
And lose your life by your own wish, I won't hinder you.
Put your helmet on your head, take your spear in your hand,
And ride down this track beside the rock over there
Until it brings you to the bottom of the wild valley
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Rides down the rugged hillside right to the valley
And then looked about him, and it seemed a wild place,
And saw no sign of a building anywhere near,
But high and step hillsides upon both sides,
And rough rocky crags of jagged stones:
The clouds grazing the jutting rocks, as it seemed.
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Then he halted, and checked his horse for a while,
Often turning his face to look for a chapel.
He saw nothing of the kind anywhere, which he thought strange
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Except a way off in a glade, something like a mound;
A rounded hillock on the bank of a stream,
Near the bed of a torrent that tumbled there;
The water foamed in its course as though it had boiled.
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
The knight urges his horse and comes to the mound,
Alights nimbly, and makes fast to a tree
The reins and his noble steed with a rough branch.
Then he goes to the mound and walks around it,
Wondering to himself what it could be.
It had a hole at the end and on either side,
And was covered all over with patches of grass,
And was all hollow inside; nothing but an old cave,
Or a fissure in an old rock: what to call it he hardly
could tell.
'Good lord!' said the noble knight,
'Can the Green Chapel be this place?
Here probably at midnight
The devil his matins says!'
'Now truly,' said Gawain, 'this is a desolate place;
This chapel looks evil, with grass overgrown'
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
With tall helmet on head, his lance in his hand,
He climbs to the top of that primitive dwelling.
Then he heard up the hillside, from behind a great rock,
On the slope across the stream, a defening noise
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Then the knight shouted at the top of his voice,
'Who is master of this place, to keep tryst with me?
For now is good Gawain waiting right here.
If anyone wants anything, let him hurry here fast,
Either now or never, to settl his affairs.'
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
'Wait,' said someone on the hillside above,
'And you shall quickly have all that I promised you once.'
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
And then makes his way among the rocks, bursting out of a hole'
Whirling out of a nook with a fearsome weapon –
A Danish axe newly made – for dealing the blow
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
And the man in the green, dressed as at first,
Both his flesh and his legs, hair and beard,
Except that grandly on foot he stalked on the earth,
Set the handle to the ground and walked beside it.
When he came to the stream he refused to wade:
He hopped over on his axe and forcefully strides
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
Sir Gawain met the knight,
Made him a frosty bow;
The other said 'Good sir,
'A man may trust your vow.'
'Gawain,' said that green man, 'may God protect you!
You are indeed welcome, sir, to my place;
You have timed your journey as a true man should'
Back to: Section 2
Modern English Translation
'I shall bear you no grudge at all, whatever hurt comes about.
Just limit yourself to one blow, and I will stand still
And not resist whatever it pleases you to do
at all.'
He bent his neck and bowed,
Showing the flesh all bare,
And seeming unafraid;
He would not shrink in fear.
Then the man dressed in green quickly got ready.
Raised his terrible axe to give Gawain the blow
Back to: Section 2
© 2007, Ron Catterall, All rights reserved.