Sir Gawain and the Green Knight E-Book

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• Herausgeber: tredition
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 115

Beschreibung

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Unknown - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian story, dated from the late 14th century. It's a chivalric romance, a genre that was hugely popular in the courts of Medieval Europe - stories filled with adventures and featuring a knight that goes on a quest. In this book, Sir Gawain is a knight of King Arthur's Round Table. One day, a mysterious man appears, the Green Knight, who dares any knight to hit him with his axe, with the knowledge that he will return the strike in precisely a year and a day. King Arthur is prepared to take this up, but Sir Gawain takes the challenge instead and chops off the Green Knight's head. The Green Knight picks up his head and walks away, after reminding Sir Gawain that he will be back in a year and a day. Sir Gawain continues his life as a knight, acting with loyalty and chivalry until, with only a few days left before the Green Knight is to return, he finds himself tested to his limit whilst staying at the castle of Lord Bertilak de Hautdesert. The author of the story is unknown, although it is posited that he was a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer. There have been many interpretations of the story, including Postcolonial, Christian, and Feminist. At the heart of it though, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a medieval romance, and one that has survived for many centuries. It has been adapted several times into theatrical plays, operas, and for film and television - the latest being the movie, The Green Knight.

Leseprobe

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Fytte the First

1.

After the siege and the assault had ceased at Troy,the city been destroyed and burned to brands and ashes,the warrior who wrought there the trains of treasonwas tried for his treachery, the truest on earth.1This was Aeneas the noble;he and his high kindred afterwards conquered provinces,and became patrons of well nigh all the wealth in the West Isles.As soon as rich Romulus turns him to Rome,with great pride he at once builds that city,and names it with his own name, which it now has;Ticius turns to Tuscany and founds dwellings;Longobard raises homes in Lombardy;and, far over the French flood, Felix Brutusestablishes Britain joyfully on many broad banks,where war and waste and wonders by turns have since dwelt,and many a swift interchange of bliss and woe.

2.

And when this Britain was founded by this great hero,bold men loving strife bred therein,and many a time they wrought destruction.More strange things have happened in this land since these daysthan in any other that I know,but of all the British kings that built here,Arthur was ever the most courteous,as I have heard tell.Therefore, I mean to tell of an adventure in the world,which some count strange and extraordinaryeven among the wonders of Arthur.If ye will listen to this lay but a little while,I will tell it forthright as I heard it told in town,as it is set down in story that cannot be changed,long written in the land in true words.

3.

This King lay royally at Camelot at Christmas tidewith many fine lords, the best of men,all the rich brethren of the Round Table,with right rich revel and careless mirth.There full many heroes tourneyed betimes,jousted full gaily;then returned these gentle knights to the court to make carols.2For there the feast was held full fifteen days alikewith all the meat and the mirth that men could devise.Such a merry tumult, glorious to hear;joyful din by day, dancing at night.All was high joy in halls and chamberswith lords and ladies as pleased them best.With all the weal in the world they dwelt there together,the most famous knights save only Christ,the loveliest ladies that ever had life,and he, the comeliest of kings, who holds the court.For all this fair company were in their prime in the hall,the happiest troop under heaven with the proudest of kings.Truly it would be hard to name anywhere so brave a band.

4.

When New Year was fresh and but newly come,the court was served double on the dais.As soon as the king with his knights was come into the hall,the chanting in the chapel came to an end;loud was the cry there of clerks and others.Noel was celebrated anew, shouted full often;and afterwards the great ones ran about to take handsel;3called aloud for New Year’s gifts;ladies laughed full loud, though they had lost;and he that won was not wroth,that may ye well trow.All this mirth they made till the meat time.When they had washed,worthily they went to their seats,the best man ever above,as it best behoved.Queen Guinevere full beauteous was set in the midst,placed on the rich dais adorned all about.Fine silk at the sides,a canopy over her of precious cloth of Toulouseand tapestries of Tars,4 that were embroideredand set with the best gems that money could buy.Truly no man could say that he ever behelda comelier lady than she,with her dancing gray eyes.

5.

But Arthur would not eat till all were served.He was so merry in his mirth,and somewhat childlike in his manner;his life pleased him well;he loved little either to lie long or to sit long,so busied him his young blood and his wild brain.And another custom moved him also,that he through chivalry had taken up;he would never eat upon such a dear day before he was toldan uncouth tale of some adventurous thing,of some great marvel that he could believe,of ancient heroes, of arms, or of other adventures;or unless some person demanded of hima sure knight to join with him in jousting,to incur peril, to risk life against life,trusting each in the other,leaving the victory to fortune.This was the king’s custom whenever he held courtat each goodly feast among his free company in the hall.And so with undaunted face he stridesstoutly to his seat on that New Year,making great mirth with everybody.

6.

Thus the great king stands waiting before the high table,talking of trifles full courteously.The good Gawain was placed there beside Guinevere,and Agravain of the Hard Hand sat on the other side,both of them the king’s sister’s sons and full sure knights.Bishop Baldwin at the top begins the table,and Ywain, Urien’s son, ate by himself.These were placed on the dais and honorably served,and after them many a good man at the side tables.Then the first course came in with blare of trumpets,which were hung with many a bright banner.A new noise of kettle-drums with the noble pipes,wild and stirring melodies wakened the echoes;that many a heart heaved full high at their tones.Dainties of precious meats followed,foison of fresh viands, and on so many dishesthat it was difficult to find place before the peopleto set on the cloth the silver that held the several courses.Each man as he himself preferred partook without hesitation.Every two5 had twelve dishes between them,good beer and bright wine both.

7.

Now will I tell you no more of their service,for everybody must well understand that there was nolack of opportunity for the people to take their food.6Another noise full new suddenly drew nigh,for scarcely had the music ceased a moment,and the first course been properly served in the court,than there burst in at the hall door an awesome being,in height one of the tallest men in the world;from the neck to the waist so square and so thick was he,and his loins and his limbs so long and so great,that half giant I believed him to have been,or, at any rate, the largest of men,and withal the handsomest in spite of his bulk, that ever rode;for though his back and breast were so vast,yet his belly and waist were properly slim;and all his form according, full fairly shaped.At the hue of his noble face men wondered;he carried himself in hostile fashionand was entirely green.

8.

All green was this man and his clothing;a straight coat sat tight to his sides;a fair mantle above, adorned within;the lining showed, with costly trimming of shining white fur;and such his hood also, that was caught backfrom his locks and lay on his shoulders,the hem well stretched;7hose of the same green, that clung to his calf;and clean spurs under, of bright goldupon silk bands richly barred,and shoes8 on his shanks as the hero rides.And all his vesture verily was clean verdure,both the bars of his belt, and the other beauteous stonesthat were set in fine array about himselfand his saddle, worked on silk.It would be too difficult to tell the halfof the trifles that were embroidered there,with birds and flies, with gay gauds of green,— the good over in the middle; the pendants of the poitrel,the proud crupper, the bits,— and all the metal was enamelled;the stirrups that he stood on were coloured the same,and his saddle bow likewise, and his fine reins9that glimmered and glinted all of green stones.The horse that he rode on was of the same colour too,a green horse, great and thick,a steed full stiff to guide,in gay embroidered bridle,and one right dear to his master.

9.

This hero was splendidly dressed in green;and the hair of his head matched that of his horse;10fair flowing locks enfolded his shoulders;a beard as big as a bush hung over his breast;and it, together with his splendid hair that reached from his head,was trimmed evenly all round above his elbows,so that half his arms were caught thereunderin the manner of a king’s hood,11that covers his neck.The mane of that great horse was much like it,very curly and combed,with knots full many folded in with gold wire about the fair green,— always one knot of the hair, another of gold.The tail and the forelock were twined in the same way,and both bound with a band of bright green,set with full precious stones the whole length of the dock,and then tied up with a thong in a tight knot;where rang many bells full bright of burnished gold.Such a steed in the world,such a hero as rides him,was never beheld in that hall before that time.His glances were like bright lightning,so said all that saw him.It seemed as if no man could endure under his blows.

10.

He had neither helm nor hauberk,nor gorget, armour nor breastplate,nor shaft nor shield to guard or to smite;but in his one hand he had a holly twig,that is greenest when groves are bare,and an axe in his other,a huge and prodigious one,a weapon merciless almost beyond description;the head had the vast length of an ellyard,the blade all of green steel and of beaten gold;the bit12 brightly burnished, with a broad edge,as well shaped for cutting as sharp razors.The stern warrior gripped it by13 the steel of its stout staff,which was wound with iron to the end of the woodand all engraven with green in beauteous work.A lace was lapped about it, that was fastened at the head,and tied up often along the helve,with many precious tassels attachedon rich embroidered buttons of the bright green.This hero turns him in and enters the hall,riding straight to the high dais,fearless of mischief.He greeted never a one, but looked loftily about,and the first word that he uttered was:“Where is the governor of this company?Gladly I would see that hero and speak with him.”He cast his eye on the knights and rode fiercely up and down,stopped and gan ponder who was therethe most renowned.

11.

All gazed fixedly on the man,for everybody marvelled what it might mean,that a knight and a horse could have such a colour:as green grown as the grass, and greener, it seemed;shining brighter than green enamel on gold.All were amazed who stood there,and stalked nearer to him,with all the wonder in the world what he would do;for many marvels had they seen, but such never before.Therefore for phantom and faery the folk there deemed it;and for that reason many a noble warrior was slow to answer,and all were astonished at his voice and sat stone stillin a deep silence through the rich hall.Their voices14 sank as though they had suddenly fallen asleep.I deem, however, that it was not all for fear,but somewhat for courtesy.But now let him to whom all deferundertake the wight.

12.

Then Arthur before the high dais beheld that adventure,and saluted the stranger properly,for never was he afraid, and said,“Sir, welcome indeed to this place.I am called Arthur, the head of this hostel.Light courteously down and tarry, I pray thee;and whatso thy will is we shall wit after.”“Nay, so help me he that sits on high,” quoth the hero.“To dwell any time in this house was not my errand;but because the fame of this people is lifted up so high,and thy town and thy men are held the best,the stoutest in steel gear on steeds to ride,the wightest and the worthiest of the world’s kind,and proved opponents in other proper sports;and here courtesy is known, as I have heard tell,— it is this that has enticed me hither certainly at this time.You may be sure by this branch that I bear herethat I pass in peace and seek no quarrel;for if I had set out with a company in fighting fashion,I have a hauberk at home and a helm both,a shield and a sharp spear shining bright,and other weapons to wield, I ween well also;but since I wished no war, my weeds are softer.Now if thou be as bold as all men tell,thou wilt grant me graciously the game that I ask.”Arthur knew how to answer,and said: “Sir courteous knight,if it is battle that thou cravest,thou shalt not fail of a fight here.”

13.

“Nay, I demand no fight; in faith I tell theethere are but beardless children about on this bench.If I were hasped in arms on a high steedthere is no man here to match me,their might is so weak.Therefore I crave in this court a Christmas game,for it is Yule and New Year,and here are many gallants.If there be a man in this house who holds himself so hardy,is so bold in his blood, so rash in his head,that he dares stiffly strike one stroke for another,I shall give him as my gift this rich gisarm,this axe, that is heavy enough, to handle as he likes;