|
This strange knyght, that cam thus sodeynly |
| 90 | Al armed, save his heed, ful richely, |
| Saleweth kyng, and queene, and lordes alle, |
| By ordre, as they seten in the halle, |
| With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce, |
| As wel in speche as in contenaunce, |
| 95 | That Gawayn, with his olde curteisye, |
| Though he were comen ayeyn out of Fairye, |
| Ne koude hym nat amende with a word. |
| And after this, biforn the heighe bord |
| He with a manly voys seith his message, |
| 100 | After the forme used in his langage, |
| Withouten vice of silable or of lettre. |
| And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre, |
| Accordant to hise wordes was his cheere, |
| As techeth art of speche hem that it leere. |
| 105 | l be it that I kan nat sowne his stile, |
| Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style, |
| Yet seye I this, as to commune entente, |
| Thus muche amounteth al that evere he mente, |
| If it so be that I have it in mynde. |
| 110 | He seyde, "The kyng of Arabe and of Inde, |
| My lige lord, on this solempne day |
| Saleweth yow, as he best kan and may; |
| And sendeth yow, in honour of your feeste, |
| By me, that am al redy at your heeste, |
| 115 | This steede of bras, that esily and weel |
| Kan in the space of o day natureel, |
| This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres, |
| Wher-so yow lyst, in droghte or elles shoures, |
| Beren youre body into every place |
| 120 | To which youre herte wilneth for to pace, |
| Withouten wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair. |
| Or if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air |
| As dooth an egle, whan that hym list to soore, |
| This same steede shal bere yow evere moore |
| 125 | Withouten harm, til ye be ther yow leste, |
| Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste; |
| And turne ayeyn, with writhyng of a pyn. |
| He that it wroghte, koude ful many a gyn; |
| He wayted many a constellacion |
| 130 | Er he had doon this operacion; |
| And knew ful many a seel, and many a bond. |
|
| This stranger knight, who came thus suddenly, |
| 90 | Armed at all points, except his head, richly, |
| Saluted king and queen and those lords all, |
| In order of rank, as they sat there in hall, |
| Showing such humble courtesy to each |
| In manner of behaviour and in speech, |
| 95 | That Gawain, with his old-time courtesy, |
| Though he were come again from Faery, |
| Could not have bettered him in any word. |
| And after this, before the king's high board, |
| He with a manly voice said his message, |
| 100 | After the form in use in his language, |
| Without mistake in syllable or letter; |
| And, that his tale should seem to all the better, |
| According to his language was his cheer, |
| As men teach art of speech both there and here; |
| 105 | Albeit that I cannot ape his style, |
| Nor can I climb across so high a stile, |
| Yet sky I this, as to his broad intent, |
| To this amounts the whole of what he meant, |
| If so be that I have it yet in mind. |
| 110 | He said: "The king of Araby and Ind, |
| My liege-lord, on this great and festive day |
| Salutes you as he now best can and may, |
| And sends to you, in honour of your feast, |
| By me, that am prepared for your behest, |
| 115 | This steed of brass, that easily and well |
| Can, in one natural day, 'tis truth I tell, |
| That is to say, in four and twenty hours, |
| Where'er you please, in drought or else in showers, |
| Bear you in body unto every place |
| 120 | To which your heart wants that you go apace, |
| Without least hurt to you, through foul or fair; |
| Or, if you please to fly as high in air |
| As does an eagle when he wishes to soar, |
| This self-same steed will bear you evermore |
| 125 | Without least harm, till you have gained your quest, |
| Although you sleep upon his back, or rest; |
| And he'll return, by twisting of a pin. |
| He that made this could make full many a gin; |
| He waited, watching many a constellation |
| 130 | Before he did contrive this operation; |
| And he knew many a magic seal and band. |
|
