Pearl Poet
Pearl Poet
The "Gawain Poet", or less commonly the "Pearl Poet", is the name given to the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an alliterative poem written in 14th-century Middle English. Its author appears also to have written the poems Pearl, Patience, and Cleanness; some scholars suggest the author may also have composed Saint Erkenwald. Save for the last, all these works are known from a single sur
"For when þat þe Helle herde þe houndez of heuen, He watz ferlyly fayn, vnfolded bylyue; Þe grete barrez of þe abyme he barst vp at onez, Þat alle þe regioun torof in riftes ful grete, & clouen alle in lyttel cloutes þe clyffez aywhere, As lauce leuez of þe boke þat lepes in twynne."
Pearl Poet"Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere; Þurȝ gresse to grounde hit fro me yot. I dewyne, fordolked of luf-daungere Of þat pryuy perle wythouten spot."
Pearl Poet"Hit waltered on þe wylde flod, went as hit lyste, Drof vpon þe depe dam, in daunger hit semed, Withouten mast, oþer myke, oþer myry bawelyne, Kable, oþer capstan to clyppe to her ankrez, Hurrok, oþer hande-helme hasped on roþer, Oþer any sweande sayl to seche after hauen."
Pearl Poet"In þe founce þer stonden stoneȝ stepe, As glente þurȝ glas þat glowed and glyȝt, As stremande sterneȝ, quen stroþe-men slepe, Staren in welkyn in wynter nyȝt."
Pearl Poet"Moteleȝ may so meke and mylde", Þen sayde I to þat lufly flor, "Bryng me to þat bygly bylde And let me se þy blysful bor." Þat schene sayde: "Þat God wyl schylde; Þou may not enter wythinne hys tor."
Pearl Poet"And also an oþer maner meued him eke, Þat he þurȝ nobelay had nomen he wolde neuer ete Upon such a dere day er hym deuised were Of sum auenturus þyng an vncouþe tale Of sum mayn meruayle þat he myȝt trawe Of of alderes of armes of oþer auenturus."
Pearl Poet
