Book Summary: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Gawain-poet, Chapter 13

Summary:

King "Arthur before, the high dais that entrance beholds," Arthur stands on the high dais, raised platform, facing the entrance of the hall (250). Arthur "hailed," saluted the rider as is "behooved," proper, "for he had no fear" (251). Arthur said "Fellow, in faith," the reference to fellow means one who shares official dignity, or one united with another in a covenant for common ends, an ally in trust and confidence, the rider "has found fair welcome" (252).

Arthur informs the rider that he is "head of this hostelry," head of this a castle where lodging and entertainment is provided, and introduces himself as "Arthur am I" (253). Arthur requests the rider to "Leap lightly down, and linger, I pray" (254). Arthur informs the rider that the "tale of [his] intent" he "shall tell us after," why he is here, he may tell us later (255). Arthur asks the horseman to dismount, stay for the festivities, and tell us "your intent," later (255).

The rider responds to Arthur "Nay, so help me," expression of dissent or contradiction, it is not so (256). The rider refers to Arthur as "He that on high sits," he that sits so high (256). The rider informs Arthur that to "tarry here any time, 'twas not mine errand," delay and defer, protract or prolong was not [the rider's] mission (257). The rider explains to Arthur that his "praise of [him], prince, is puffed up so high" (258), "And [his] court and ... company are counted the best" (259). The rider says they are "Stoutest under steel-gear on steeds to ride," the most valiant, bravest with courage and energy, resolute and firm, under gear of steel, armor, on horses to ride (260). The rider refers to them as the "Worthiest of their works the wide world over," worthiest of their works, warriors for battle throughout the world (261).

They trained for military service from a young age. The word "knight" if derived from "cniht," an old Anglo-Saxon term for "boy." Knights arose in the eighth century under the feudal system instituted by the French emperor Charlemagne. Knights are well known for fighting on horseback, but they also battled on foot.

The rider believes these knights to be "peerless to prove in passages of arms," unequal in demonstrating and establishing as truth, evidenced through territorial conquests, of defensive and offensive, fighting or battling abilities in war (262). The rider thinks, as well, that "courtesy here is carried to its height," courtesy here is carried to its highest level (263). Those reasons are why the rider during this "has sought [them] out" during "this season" (264).

The rider explains that they "may be certain by the branch that [he] bears in [his] hand" of his intentions (265). The horseman is reference to the branch is regarding the holly bob. Because the rider hold a holly bob, it means he passes "here in peace, and would part friends" (266). As evidence of his peaceful intentions, the rider explains that "had [he] come to this court on combat bent," had he come to court with mental inclination or tendency, disposition and propensity towards battle, the rider has "at home a hauberk ... and a helm" (268), "a shield and a sharp spear" (269), "And other weapons to wield, [he] ween well, to boot" (270), "But as [the rider] willed no war, [he] wore no metal" (271).

A "hauberk" is a piece of defensive armor, originally intended for the defense of the neck and shoulders, but by the 12th and 13th Centuries, it developed into a long coat of mail, or military tunic, usually of ring or chain mail, which adapted itself more readily to the motions of the body (268). A "helm" is that part of the armor which covers the head, a helmet (268).

A "shield" in ancient and medieval warfare, an article of defensive armor carried in the hand or attached by a strap to the left arm of a knight, as a protection from the weapons of the enemy (269). During the Middle Ages in England, shields had curved sides tapering to a point at the lower end. The 'armorial bearings' of a knight were depicted on his shield, and decorated shields, made for display and not for warlike use. When a knight or noble was killed in action, the 'armorial bearings' were often hung on walls in churches or other buildings as a memorial of a knight or noble. The 'armorial bearings' is the proper name for a coat of arms. During the Middle Ages, the coat of arms were used by knights to identify them apart from enemy soldiers. The system of blazoning arms that is used in England was developed by the officers of arms in the Middle Ages. This includes a stylized description of the escutcheon, shield, the crest and, if present, supporters, mottoes and other insignias. Certain rules apply, such as the Rule of tincture. In the heraldic traditions of England and Scotland an individual, rather than a family, had a coat of arms. In those traditions coats of arms are legal property transmitted from father to son. Although wives and daughters could also bear arms, but must be modified to indicate their relation to the current holder of the arms.

The evidence of the rider's peaceful intention is evidenced by the holly bob he holds, and the fact that he has no hauberk, helm, shield, sharp spear of "other weapons to wield" (270). The rider "ween well, to boot," surmises and supposes well, too (270). The rider concludes his list of evidence by explaining that as he "willed no war, [he] wore not metal" (271). The rider addresses Arthur, "if you be so bold as all men believe" (272), Arthur "will graciously grant the game that [he] asks" (273). The rider may ask for the game of his choice "by right" (274).

"Arthur gave" an "answer" (275). Arthur responded by saying "Sir courteous knight" (276), "If contest bare you crave," if it is a contest that you crave (277), the rider "shall not fail to fight," shall not be disappointed, granted a contest of fight (278).

Modern English Translation:

Then Arthur before the high dais that entrance beholds,

And hailed him, as behooved, for he had no fear,

And said "Fellow, in faith you have found fair welcome;

The head of this hostelry Arthur am I;

Leap lightly down, and linger, I pray,

And the tale of your intent you shall tell us after."

"Nay, so help me," said the other, "He that on high sits,

To tarry here any time, 'twas not mine errand;

Bus as the praise of you, prince, is puffed up so high,

And your court and your company are counted the best,

Stoutest under steel-gear on steeds to ride,

Worthiest of their works the wide world over,

And peerless to prove in passages of arms,

And courtesy here is carried to its height,

And so at this season I have sought you out.

You may be certain by the branch that I bear in hand

That I pass here in peace, and would part friends,

For had I come to this court on combat bent,

I have a hauberk at home, and a helm beside,

A shield and a sharp spear, shining bright,

And other weapons to wield, I ween well, to boot,

But as I willed no war, I wore no metal.

But if you be so bold as all men believe,

You will graciously grant the game that I ask

by right."

Arthur answer gave

And said, "Sir courteous knight,

If contest bare you crave,

You shall not fail to fight."

Middle English Manuscript:

Þenn Arþour bifore þe hi3 dece þat auenture byholdez,
And rekenly hym reuerenced, for rad was he neuer,
And sayde, 'Wy3e, welcum iwys to þis place,
Þe hede of þis ostel Arthour I hat;
Li3t luflych adoun and lenge, I þe praye,
And quat-so þy wylle is we schal wyt after.'
'Nay, as help me,' quoþ þe haþel, 'he þat on hy3e syttes,
To wone any quyle in þis won, hit watz not myn ernde;
Bot for þe los of þe, lede, is lyft vp so hy3e,
And þy bur3 and þy burnes best ar holden,
Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde,
Þe wy3test and þe worþyest of þe worldes kynde,
Preue for to play wyth in oþer pure laykez,
And here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,
And þat hatz wayned me hider, iwyis, at þis tyme.
3e may be seker bi þis braunch þat I bere here
Þat I passe as in pes, and no ply3t seche;
For had I founded in fere in fe3tyng wyse,
I haue a hauberghe at home and a helme boþe,
A schelde and a scharp spere, schinande bry3t,
Ande oþer weppenes to welde, I wene wel, als;
Bot for I wolde no were, my wedez ar softer.
Bot if þou be so bold as alle burnez tellen,
Þou wyl grant me godly þe gomen þat I ask
bi ry3t.'
Arthour con onsware,
And sayd, 'Sir cortays kny3t,
If þou craue batayl bare,
Here faylez þou not to fy3t.'

Work Cited:

Manuscript:

Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, and Sir Gawain reproduced in facsimile from MS. Cotton Nero A. x with Introduction by Sir I. Gollancz, E.E.T.S. 162, 1923.

Editions:
Syr Gawayne, ed. Sir F. Madden, Bannatyne Club, 1839.

Sir Gawayne and The Green Knight, ed. R. Morris, E.E.T.S. 4, 1864, revd. Sir I. Gollancz 1897 and 1912.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, ed. J. R. R. Tolkien and E. V. Gordon, Oxford, 1925.

The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript: Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Eds. Malcom Andrew, and Ronald Waldron. Exeter: U of Exeter, 1987.

"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, The Middle Ages. 8^th ed. Vol. A. Eds. Alfred David, and James Simpson. New York, N.Y.: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2006. 160-213. Oxford English Dictionary Online. 2nd ed. 1989. Lane Library, Ripon College, Ripon, WI.