Simon Armitage does Gawain and the Green Knight

[mirrorshard]

His new translation looks really good. A taste of it, and an interview with him, can be seen here.


Gawain,' said the green knight, 'By God, I'm glad
the favour I've called for will fall from your fist.
You've perfectly repeated the promise we've made
and the terms of the contest are crystal clear.
Except for one thing: you must solemnly swear
that you'll seek me yourself; that you'll search me out
to the ends of the earth to earn the same blow
as you'll dole out today in this decorous hall.'

Comments

[ceirseach.livejournal.com]

Mmmph. Want more alliteration. *pokes it*

Do the bryddes unblythe upon the boughes bare pitously still peep for pine of the cold?

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

I don't know; they might in the full version.

[unsomnambulist.livejournal.com]

This is rather exciting as I've been increasingly interested in reading alternative translations of works.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that reminds me.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/starttheweek_20061211.shtml

It's Christmas at Camelot and a giant green knight on a green horse canters into the hall and challenges any knight to strike him with an enormous axe, on condition that he is allowed to return the blow the following year. Sir Gawain accepts the challenge. What follows is an adventure story and morality tale, steeped in magic and mystery. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the classic poems of medieval English literature, yet the identity of its author is unknown. The poet SIMON ARMITAGE has completed a new translation and talks about the story, the alliterative style and the challenges of translating a medieval language. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is published by Faber and Faber.