Poetry Review: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Passus 1, Stanza 2, Lines 20 through 36

Passus 1, Stanza 2, Lines 20 through 36:

Modern English:
And since this Britain was built by this baron great,
Bold boys bred there, in broils delighting
That did in their day many a deed most dire.
More marvels have happened in this merry land
Than in any other I know, since that olden time,
But of those that her built, of British kings,
King Arthur was counted most courteous of all,
Wherefore an adventure I aim to unfold,
That a marvel of might some men think it,
And one unmatched among Arthur’s wonders.
If you listen to my lay but a little while,
As I heard it in hall, I shall hasten to tell
Anew.
As it was fashioned featly
In tale of derring-do,
And linked in measures meetly
By letters tried and true.

Summary:
Britain “was built by this baron great” (20). The term “baron great” means a great, but specific order or rank, a baron is the lowest grade of nobility. In Britain, “Bold boys bred there, in broils delighting” (21). The term “bold boys” means stout-hearted, courageous, daring and fearless boys that were born and raised there. The boys delighted in confusion and the disorder of building. The boys did many deeds that were “dire,” dreadful, dismal, mournful, horrible and terrible in order to build the city (22).

”Marvels have happened in this merry land” (23). A “marvel” is a miracle. The term “merry land” means land that causes and creates pleasure and happiness, land that is pleasing and delightful. More miracles have happened in this land “Than in any other I know” (24). The Gawain-poet introduces Britain’s leader, the legendary King Arthur. The introduction of King Arthur results in the poet’s first slam when he refers to of all the British kings, “King Arthur was counted most courteous of all” (26). The poet is going to unfold an adventure. Some men may think of the adventure as a “marvel,” miracle (28). This adventure is “one unmatched among Arthur’s wonders” (29). The term “Arthur’s wonders” means cause by Arthur for astonishment. The poet asks for the reader to “listen to [his] lay for but a little while” (30). The word “lay” means tale. The poet asks the reader to listen to his tale for a little while. The poet is going to recite the adventure as he “heard it in the hall” (31).

The tale was “fashioned featly” (33). The term “fashioned featly” means the tale was told properly, suitably, neatly and elegantly. The tale was of a “derring-do” means literally daring to do, which, by a chain of misunderstandings and errors, have come to be treated as a kind of substantive combination, taken to mean, daring action or feats and may include desperate courage. The tale was “linked in measures meetly” (35). The tale was “linked,” connected by, joined, coupled and associated, in “measures meetly,” to an extent as to not be exceeded, a limit that is fitting, proper and suitable. The tale was connected in a proper amount “By letters tried and true,” by excellent words chosen and selected through trial and error and were true.