VERSES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

1981–1990

 

From THE BOOK OF PREFACES 2000

Poem: Alasdair Gray © 2005

17 – Gawain and the Green Knight, by Anon, translation of the second verse

 

And when Britain was built by this baron rich,

Bold brethren therein, that brawling loved,

Through much wild warfare wrought great wrong.

More fearfulness befell in these fields

Than in any other that I know since that time.

But of all that here built, of British kings,

Aye was Arthur the courtliest, as I have heard tell.

So an earthly adventure I aim to show,

An eerie adventure some men have beheld,

An outrageous adventure of Arthur’s wonders.

If ye listen this lay but one little while,

I shall tell it straight as I in town heard,

                                    with tongue,

            As is stated and stocked,

            In swift tale and strong,

            With leal letters locked

            As this land hath known long.

 
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