They never oute of that stede gede, Whan hyt was come, whan hyt was gone; 5 160 170 180 Of colde ne hete, felte they no peyne; 190 200 These men that hadde go thus karolland Alle the yere, fast hand yn hand, Thogh that they were than asunder, Yyt alle the world spake of hem wunder: That same hoppyng that they fyrst gede, That daunce gede they thurgh land and lede; 16 And as they ne myght fyrst be unbounde, So efte to-gedyr myght they never be founde, Ne myght they never come ageyn 18 230 Foure gede to the courte of Rome, And ever hoppyng aboute they nome; With sundyr lepys come they thedyr, But they come never efte to-gedyr; Here clothes ne roted, ne naylës grewe Ne heere ne wax, ne solowed hewe, Ne never hadde they amendëment, That we herde, at any corseynt, 19 But at the vyrgyne Seynt Edyght,20 There was he botened,21 seynt Teodryght; On oure lady day, yn lenten tyde, As he slepte here toumbe besyde, There he hade hys medycyne, At seynt Edyght, the holy vyrgyne. 12 occasion. 14 next. 18 went. 240 13 no fear of her soul's being dead. 16 nations. 17 one place. 15 same. 19 holy saint. 20 Edith. 21 amended. THE PEARL1 PERLE plesaunte2 to prynces paye, 2 A Sypen in pat spote3 hit fro me sprange, Of goud vche goude is ay by-gonne; 4 To pat spot pat I in speche expoun In augoste in a hy3 seysoun, Quen corne is coruen wyth croke; kene. & pyonys powdered ay by-twene. Ofte haf I wayted, wyschande pat weleer wonys pat worpyly, I wot & wene, Ι þat wont watz whyle deuoyde my wrange, o & heuen my happe & al my hele, bat dots bot prych my hert prange, My breste in bale bot bolne & bele. Jet post me neuer so swete a sange As stylle stounde let to me stele; For-sope per fleten to me fele. To penke hir color so clad in clot! O moul, pou marrez a myry inele, My priuy perle wyth-outen spotte! 3 pat spot of spyse3 [mo]ts nede3 sprede, per such rychez to rot is runne; Blome3 blayke & blwe" & rede per schynez ful schyr agayn þe sunne; Flor & fryte may not be fede per hit doun drof in moldez dunne; For vch gresse mot grow of graynez dede, No whete were elle3 to wonez wonne; 1 See the notes to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the excerpt from the original text, for the main peculiarities of the manuscript. The italic letters, like n here, are indicated in the MS. only by a sign of contraction. Each stanza in the sets of five is connected to the preceding stanza by the repetition in the first line of some word from the last line of the preceding stanza. Such a word could perfectly well have its original final e in order to improve the metre. Brackets about letters, as here, indicate that the letters have been supplied or emended by an editor. w for single u. My precious perle wyth-outen spot. 5 Bifore pat spot my honde I spenn[e]d 6 Fro spot my spyryt þer sprang in space, I ne wyste in pis worlde quere pat hit wace, Bot I knew me keste per klyfe; cleuen; Towarde a foreste I bere pe face, Where rych rokke; wer to dyscreuen. pe lyst of hem my3t no mon leuen, pe glemande glory pat of hem glent; For wern neuer webbez pat wyzez weuen Of half so dere adub[be]mente. 1 THE PEARL 1. Pearl, pleasant for princes to set cleanly in clear gold, hardily I say that out of the Orient I never found its precious peer. So round, so beauteous in each array, so small, so smooth were its sides, that wheresoever I judged of gay jewels I set it singly by itself. Alas! I lost it in an arbor;2 through grass to ground it went from me. I pine, stricken by love-danger, for mine own pearl without a spot. 2. Since in that spot it sprang from me, oft have I waited, wishing for that weal that was wont whilom to rid me of my woe and raise my hap and all my joy; it doth pierce through my heart and makes my breast in bale to swell and burn. Yet me thought never was there so sweet a song as stole to me in the silent hour; forsooth there floated to me many, to think of her beauty, so clad in clay. O earth, thou marrest a lovely jewel, mine own pearl without a spot! 3. That spot must needs abound in spices where such riches is run to rot. Blooms yellow and blue and red shine there full sheer against the sun; flower and fruit may not fade where it drove down in the dun mould; for every herb must grow from a seed's death; else were no wheat e'er brought to barns; from good each good is aye begun. So seemly a seed could not fail that springing spices should not start up from that precious pearl without a spot. 4. To the spot which I tell of, in that green garden, I went in August, at the height of the season, when corn is cut with sickles keen. On the monnd where the pearl had rolled down, these herbs so bright and fair cast their shade-gilly-flower, 1 The pearl, as may be seen by a glance at the original on the opposite page, is indifferently neuter and feminine in the poem. Perhaps garden, i.e. Anglo-French herber, grassy place, herb garden. Reading fordolled instead of fordolked, which latter ginger and gromwell, and ever peonies sprinkled between. If it was seemly to look upon, yet more pleasing was the sweet odour that floated from it. There dwells, I wot and ween, that worthy one, my precious pearl without a spot. 5. Before that spot I clasped my hands for the heavy sorrow which seized me. A doleful pang made a tumult in my heart, although reason reconciled me. I lamented my pearl that was enclosed there with frightened reasonings that fast fought. Though Christ's goodness offered me comfort, my wretched will sank ever into grief. Such a fragrance shot to my senses that I fell upon the flowery sward, and dropped into a sleeping trance above that precious pearl without a spot. II гому слагать стои 6. From the spot my spirit sprang into space; my body abode in a trance on the alle mound. My ghost by God's grace went on an adventure to a land where marvels move; I knew not where in this world it was; but I knew that I was borne where cliffs are cloven; my face I turned toward a forest where rich rocks were to be descried; the light of them might no man believe, the gleaming glory that glinted from them; for never were fabrics woven by men of half so fair adornment. 7. Adorned were all the sides of the downs with crystal cliffs so clear. Bright woods about them were, with boles as blue as indigo; like burnished silver the leaves unfold, trembling thick on every limb; when a gleam from the sky glides against them with a splendid shimmering they shine full bright. The gravel upon the ground 10 was precious pearls of Orient, the sunbeams but dark and dull in comparison with that ornament. 8. The adornment of those beauteous Keeping the MS. reading, deuely, as if from Old French doel, duel, grief. Doubtful. The MS. fyrte may be as it is translated related to A. S. fyrhtan, to frighten; or may possibly stand for the numeral forty. 10 Literally: The gravel that on the ground gan grind. downs made my spirit all grief forget; so fresh was the savour of the fruit that it fairly restored me like food. Fowls there flew in the forest, of flaming hues, both small and great. But the citole-string and the cithern player could not recount their splendid mirth; for when those birds beat their wings, they sang with sweet assent; so gracious glee could no man get as to hear and see their adornment. 9. So was adorned in dear array all that woodland where fortune leads me forth; the beauty thereof for to relate is no man worthy. I walked aye forth in happy wise; no bank so big as to cause me fear; the farther into the park, the fairer gan rise the plain, the plants, the spice, the trees,1 and hedges and banks, and rich meads - their steep banks like gold embroidery fine. I won to a water that ran bright by the shore. Lord, fair was its adornment! 10. The adornment of the precious dell was radiant banks of beryl bright; sweetly sounding swept the water, with a murmuring voice rushing by. In the bottom there stood bright stones, that glowed and glimmered like rays through glass, or as the streaming2 stars, when men sleep sound, stare in the welkin in winter night; for each pebble, set there in the pool, was emerald, or Sapphire, or gentle gem; so that all the pool gleamed with the light, so rich was its adorn that gladness glad. Therefore I thought that Paradise was there over against the broad banks. I supposed the stream to be a division by waters made between joys.7 Beyond the brook, by slope or dale, I imagined that city might be placed. But the water was deep, I durst not wade; and ever I longed aye more and more. 13. More and more, and yet still more I listed to see beyond the brook; for if it was fair where I walked, much lovelier was the farther land. About me gan I to stumble and stare; to find a ford fast gan I seek; but dangers more I wis there were the farther I stalked by the strand; and ever it seemed to me I should not to flinch for woe where joys so precious were. Then a new matter came to hand that moved my mind aye more and more. 14. A greater marvel gan my mind to daunt. I saw beyond that merry mere a crystal cliff right brilliant; many a royal ray shot from it. At the foot thereof there sat a child, a maiden of mien full debonaire; gleaming white was her garment — I knew her well, I had seen her before. As glistening gold when it is cut, so shone that fair one upon the shore. I looked upon her there at length; and the longer, I knew her more and more. 15. The more I searched her fair face, her beauteous figure scanned, such a gladdening glory glided to me as heretofore was little wont. Desire urged me to call her, but confusion gave my heart a blow; I saw her in so strange a place; such a shock might well amaze my heart. Then she lifted up her fair face, her visage white as plain ivory, that stung my strayed heart; and more and more the longer she gazed. IV 16. More than I desired, my dread arose; I stood full still, and durst not call; with open eyes and mouth full close I stood as mute as hawk in hall. I deemed that spiritual was the purport, and I dreaded ever what should befall lest she whom I saw there escaped me ere I could arrest her with my voice. But 7 i.e. the stream separated two joyous lands. Mean ing a bit doubtful. 8i.e. the Heavenly Jerusalem. For the MS. amunder shore one is tempted to read anunder gore (garment),“ u "under gore" being a favorite rime-tag with some of the romancers in such a connection. that gracious and gay one without fault,1 so smooth, so small, so seemly slight, rose up in her royal array- a precious piece in pearls bedight. 17. Set pearls of royal price there might man by grace have seen when she, fresh as fleur-de-lys, down the bank quickly took her way. All glistening white was her mantle,2 open at sides and brightly bound with the purest margery pearls, methinks, that ever I saw yet with nine eyes. The long sleeves, I wot and I ween, were adorned and set with double pearls; her kirtle of the same bright stuff was studded round with precious pearls. 18. A studded crown yet wore that girl, of margeries and no other stone, high pinnacled of clear white pearl, with blooming flowers wrought upon it. Her head had no other fillet, her own locks covered her quite. Her semblant was stately as that of duke or earl; her hue more white than whalebone. As bright as cut gold shone her locks, that lay lightly unbound over her shoulders. Her deep collar did not lack embroidery of precious pearls. 19. Set and sewed was every hem, at hands, at sides, at the openings, with white pearls and no other gem; and burnished white was her vesture. But a wondrous pearl without a flaw was set securely amidst her breast. A man's reason would be greatly baffled ere his mind could comprehend its size; no tongue, I think, would suffice to give an adequate account of that sight, so clean and clear and pure it was that precious pearl where it was set. - 20. Clad in pearl, that precious piece beyond the water came down the shore. From here to Greece was there never gladder man than I when she stood on the bank. She was nearer to me than aunt or niece; my joy therefore was much the more. Speech she proferred me, that dear being. Inclining low, in womanly fashion, she doffed her crown of great treasure, and greeted me 1 Perhaps to be taken literally, "without gall." Doves and such gentle things were supposed to be devoid of gall. The MS. beauuiys is doubtful. 3 Literally, "laps." The MS. lere leke is very difficult. Here heke (for eke), hair also; and here-leke hair-locks, have been proposed. Hair lace might be suggested; or leke might conceivably represent the Old Norse suffix -leikr; hereleke being then simply hair, growth of hair. • i.e. ivory. • Literally, "special spice." with blithe countenance. Glad was I that ever I was born, to answer that sweet one clad in pearls. V 21. "Oh pearl," quoth I," in pearls clad, art thou my pearl that I have mourned, regretted by me lonely in the night? Much longing for thee have I concealed since into the grass thou glided from me. Pensive, impaired, I suffer pain, whilst thou to a life of joy art come in the land of Paradise, untouched by strife. What fate has borne my jewel hither, and left me in this grief and great anxiety? Since we were torn atwain and parted I have been a joyless jeweller." 22. Then that jewel clad in gentle gems raised her face and her gray eyes, set on her crown of orient pearl, and soberly thereafter gan she speak: "Sir, ye have reck oned amiss, to say that your pearl is all lost that is enclosed in a coffer as comely as this garden gracious gay; herein to bide forever, and play, where loss nor mourning come never nigh. Here were a treasure-chest indeed for thee if thou were a gentle jeweller. 23. "But, gentle jeweller, if thou must lose thy joy for a gem that was dear to thee, thou seemst to me bent on a mad purpose, and busiest thee for a slight reason. For that which thou lost was but a rose, that flowered and failed as nature decreed. Now, through the virtue of the chest that encloses it, it has become a pearl of price. And thou hast called thy fate a thief, that manifestly has made for thee something out of nothing. Thou blamest the very cure of thy mischief. Thou art no natural jeweller." 24. A jewel to me then was this guest, and jewels were her gentle saws. "Forsooth," quoth I, "my blissful best one, my great distress thou takest all away. To be excused I make request; for I believed my pearl vanished. Now I have it I shall make merry and dwell with it in bright groves, and praise my Lord and all his laws, who has brought me near to this bliss. Now were I with you beyond these waves I were a joyful jeweller." 25. "Jeweller," then said that clean gem, "why jest ye men, so mad ye be? Three words hast thou spoken at once; and unadvised, forsooth, were all three. Thou knowest not what in the world one doth mean. |