Portal:Poetry/poem archive/Week 48 2006

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (selection) lo lorde quoþ þe leude and þe lace hondeled þis is þe bende of þis blame I bere my nek þis is þe laþe and þe losse þat I la3t haue of couardise and couetyse þat I haf ca3t þare þis is þe token of vntrawþe þat I am tan inne and I mot nedez hit were wyle I may last for non may hyden his harme bot vnhap ne may hit for þer hit onez is tachched twynne wil hit neuer þe kyng comfortez þe kny3t and alle þe court als la3en loude þerat and luflyly acorden þat lordes and ladis þat longed to þe table vche burne of þe broþerhede a bauderyk schulde haue a bende abelef hym aboute of a bry3t grene and þat for sake of þat segge in swete to were for þat watz acorded þe renoun of þe rounde table and he honoured þat hit hade euermore after as hit is breued in þe best boke of romaunce þus in arthurus day þis aunter bitidde þe brutus bokez þerof beres wyttenesse syþen brutus þe bolde burne bo3ed hider fyrst after þe segge and þe asaute watz sesed at troye iwysse mony aunterez here biforne haf fallen suche er þis now þat here þe croun of þorne he bryng vus to his blysse amen Translation: `Lo, my lord,' quoth the knight as he handled the lace, 'this is the bond and sign of my shame, this is the loss and the hurt that I have suffered through cowardice and covetousness. It is the token of untruth, and I must needs wear it while life shall last, for none may hide it, for when it is once fixed upon any one never will it pass from him.' The king comforted the knight, as did all the court; and they laughed loudly, and it was agreed that all the lords and ladies of the Round Table, each member of the brotherhood, should have a lace belt, a band of bright green, and wear it for the sake of Sir Gawain as long as they lived. And this was the renown of the Round Table, and he that had it was held in great honour for evermore, as I have seen it written in the best book of romance. Thus in King Arthur's day did this adventure betide. The Brutus books bear witness to it, since the bold Knight Brutus came hither first after the siege and the assault ceased at Troy, as I wish. Many adventures herebefore have befallen such ere this. Now He that thorn-crown for us bore, bring us to His bliss. Amen.

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