worm] serpent
sough] blast of wind
ridge] line of the spine
the sot never ceased] the glutton never satisfied
knave] boy
cleight] seized
bachelors] young knights
hend] noble
freke] creature
pain] utmost
ken] tell
carl] churl
carp] speak
in counsel] privately
jesseraunt and his basinet] mailcoat and helmet
busked] hastened
on the bent hoved] wandered over the grass
hent] seized
stilly] quietly
that none nigh] so that none can get near
careful] sorrowful
carps overloud] speak too loudly
mild] sweet lady
dured] existed
at supper with six knave children] supping on six boys
broach] spit
or the filth is fulfilled … flesh asks] before his foul sexual requirements are satisfied
baked] i.e. warmed
freke] creature
meed] reward
dress thee] prepare yourself for combat
wight] creature
five fathom] i.e. thirty feet (ten metres)
clean] solid
swapped] struck
kid] notorious
reached a box even-informed] aimed a well-directed blow
slipped] moving
shaped] aimed a blow
shunted] dodged
swarf] earth
baleful] wretched
forfeit] lost
overfallen with] overwhelmed by
this corsaint … doughs] I have seized this saint’s body from the ravines up there
let brace it on a barbican] have it set over a gate of the city
gart lift him up lordly] caused him to be carried like a lord
let lap them in sixtyfold of sendal large] had them wrapped sixty times round in broad silk
for chafing or changing] because of abrasion of the silk or corruption of the corpses
I take no great force … my message] I have little concern, unless you bear my message
bourde] jest
sued] followed
raked] went
us is foul happed] evil has befallen us
laught up] seized
kept] resisted
strait passages] narrow ways
cunningest] most learned
proffered him full large] made generous offers
kindly with chrismed hands] fittingly, with hands anointed with holy oil
deem for] acknowledge
Rood] Cross
seisin] possession
alledged with] reduced by
stuffed] provided
trussing of harness with carriage] packing up and transport of war-gear
dyked] moated
latten] brass
in fewter cast] lowered for combat
do my advantage] seek my own good
but if Sir Lancelot] unless Sir Lancelot
dight] prepared
well beseen] beautifully adorned
maugre° my head] against my will
slade] valley; dell
sendal] silk
sadly] soundly
leman] mistress
and he prove him doughty of his hands] if he proves himself a powerful fighter
taught] directed
forfared] destroyed
scaffolds] platforms
arson] saddle-bow
to-brast] shattered
gree] prize
betaught] commended
I take no great force] I do not greatly mind
falleth for thee] belong to you will not be overmatched … overmatch him] who will not be overcome by any man I know of unless you overcome him
journey] day’s work
endlong] to and fro before
But if] unless
avoided° their horses] dismounted
tracing and razing] pursuing and slashing
beaver] lower face-guard
seethed] boiled
warn] forbid
in principal] above all
unhappy] unfortunate, doomed
had strait lodging] was poorly lodged
meat] food
marches] territorial borders
betaught] commended
him happened against night] he chanced at nightfall
curtilage] house with a courtyard
partner of] jointly responsible for
and we be men living] if we survive
guest] stranger
feute] track
searched] probed, cleaned out
more by a yard] three feet (a metre) taller
hilled] wrapped
Anon as ever] as soon as
cered] wrapped in waxed cloth
clipped] embraced
lunes] leashes for a hawk’s feet
boot°] remedy
waited] looked
awaited] noted
took] hit
more receit] receiving more injury
most plenour] i.e. with the full number of knights
marched nigh] bordered
might not go] could not walk
conceit] opinion
betook] entrusted
finding] provision
ate sadly] ate his fill
for no proffer] not for any invitation
and he might] if he could
masteries] contests of strength or skill
cast … to him] throw … as far as he did
foin°] thrust
mountenance] extent
durable] well-sustained
the utterance] my utmost
doubt] fear
Hope ye so … a proved knight?] Do you believe I could withstand a tested knight for long?
bawdy] filthy
allow thee] give you credit
unhappily] by mischance
a lusk and a turner of broaches] layabout and spit-turner
assay] make the attempt
slade] valley
but God reward me] unless God rewards me
ride outer] ride further off
parage] lineage
let the passage] bar the passage
reck] care
doubt] fear
laund] clearing, plain
unhappiness] mischance
full large of] very generous with
driving] riding fast
namely] especially
motes] blasts
overthwart] crosswise
deliverly°] agilely
kemps] champions
danger] power
mister] need
wight] strong
scaffolds] platforms for spectators
every knight] both knights
not so hardy, upon thy head] don’t be so bold, as you value your life
inde] indigo (of India)
peradventure though it list me] maybe although it pleased me
hoved] lingered
cost] side
retrayed him] drew back
despoiled her] undressed
pucelle] virgin
and he had would] if he had wished
cast] batches
betook] commended
I account her travail but lorn] I reckon her effort wasted
deliver] dispose of
shent] destroyed
shondship of harms] disgraceful injury
fared withal] treated
may forbear thy fellowship] can do without your company
be ware] take warning
paytrels, surcingles, and cruppers] fastenings of the horses’ harness
wagging] shaking
took their bere] got extra impetus
amated] confused
bought it … fighting] paid bitterly before he worked out his methods of fighting
avoided] dismissed
awaited him at a
n overthwart] watched for a chance to strike crosswise
abraided] sprang
siker assurance and borrows] safe promises and pledges
pardie] by God
wait] watch
stilly] silently
gainest] quickest
woodness] anger
wrack] injury
tatches] qualities
suffering] patient
keep no more of] no longer mind about
passed himself far in] lost
bewared] bestowed
no other cause] no reason to do otherwise
not so privily … understood] this secret was not kept so closely that it didn’t get out
made a clean avoidance] i.e. the hall was cleared
clip] embrace
giserne] battle-axe
shaftmon] hand’s breadth
avow] acknowledge
keep] notice
but if … enchantment] unless those who brought about the enchanted blow healed his wounds
put his body in devoir] jeopardized himself out of duty
done me to wit] let me know
might not have gone] could not walk
do make a cry] have it proclaimed
with unhappiness] through misfortune
harbingers] emissaries sent ahead to prepare lodging
let him of his worship] deprive him of his honour
devoir] duty
Take] Give
spered] enquired
thrang] forced his way
took] gave
wightly] vigorously
and ye were not my brother] even if …
worshipped] brought honour to
is betid] has befallen
wild nor tame] meat obtained by hunting or farming
liever] desirable
stint] value
bee] ring
and it were better] i.e. and would do even if it were better
sewer-chief] chief server
umber] shade
rejoice] enjoy [possession of]
piece] vessel
eft] again
damned] condemned
done] gift
And it liked] Since it pleased
measures of blowing] i.e. the different blasts on a hunting-horn
beareth old arms] of ancient lineage
dissever] distinguish
villein] peasant
tatches] virtues
truage] tribute
erne] uncle
to the utterance] to the death
did him to wit] informed him
umber] shadow
avised] looked at
leechcraft] medical skill
was he searched] his wounds were cleaned
behote] promise
witty] clever
learned] taught
degree] first place
discover] reveal
better-faring] more handsome
kept] awaited
namely] especially
bain] bath
at unhap] by misfortune
eme] uncle
meet] well-fitting
let of] prevented from
compare] contend
Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics) Page 78
