Tuesday Poem: Sir Gawain & The Green Knight
Sir Gawain & The Green Knight: Stanza 3
This king lay at Camelot nigh on Christmas
with many lovely lords, of leaders the best,
reckoning of the Round Table all the rich brethren,
with right ripe revel and reckless mirth.
There tourneyed tykes by times full many,
jousted full jollily these gentle knights,
then carried to court, their carols to make.
For there the feast was alike full fifteen days,
with all the meat and mirth men could devise:
such clamour and glee glorious to hear,
dear din in the daylight, dancing of nights;
all was happiness high in halls and chambers
with lords and ladies, as liked them all best.
With all that’s well in the world were they together,
the knights best known under the Christ Himself,
and the loveliest ladies that ever life honoured,
and he the comeliest king that the court rules.
For all were fair folk and in their first age still,
…………the happiest under heaven,
…………king noblest in his will;
…………that it were hard to reckon
…………so hardy a host on hill.
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by Anonymous. ca. 14th century;
Translated by A.S. Kline © 2007, on the Poetry In Translation site. Reproduced here in accordance with the translator’s permission.
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Featuring “Legendary” Poems:
The David Gemmell Legend Award longlist came out recently, so while the voting period is open until 31 July, I thought I’d feature what I consider to be legendary and/or epic poems each Tuesday.
Sir Gawain & The Green Knight is a Middle English epic poem that draws on the Arthurian legend for it’s subject matter. Wikipedia has the following to say:
“… it emerges from Welsh, Irish and English tradition and highlights the importance of honour and chivalry. It is an important poem in the romance genre, which typically involves a hero who goes on a quest that tests his prowess, and it remains popular to this day in modern English renderings from J. R. R. Tolkien, Simon Armitage and others as well as through film and stage adaptations.”
Again, I have only used an excerpt from the full poem; you can read the full Poetry In Translation version here: Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
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To read the featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub and other great poems from fellow Tuesday poets from around the world, click here or on the Quill icon in the sidebar.
Love the whole long poem – such rhythmic alliterative bliss! Thanks for this, Helen, a great start to my day. Takes me back to university….
I do love this poem — there’s an online version over at http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poems/sir-gawain-and-green-knight
I haven’t read Armitage’s translation yet.
Thanks Mary & Harvey: I love the poem too — and I should have added that it is an “alliterative romance.” 🙂
Simon Armitage’s modern rendering of the poem is a joy to read!
Now you’ve spurred me on to find it and read; I have the Tolkien translation.