高文爵士与绿衣骑士

中文导读

《高文爵士与绿衣骑士》是中古英语文学中叙事技艺最高超的作品，约成书于十四世纪后期，作者即"珍珠诗人"，全部 2530 行保存在 Cotton Nero A.x 手稿中。全诗使用头韵体写成，101 节，每节末尾以"巴布与轮"（bob and wheel）收束。

故事围绕一个"斩首游戏"展开：绿衣巨人骑士闯入亚瑟王的圣诞宴会，提出砍头挑战——一年后接受回砍。高文爵士接下挑战，一斧砍下绿骑士的头颅；绿骑士拾头而去。一年将尽，高文北上赴约，途经一座城堡，城堡主人的夫人连续三日试探他的贞洁与诚实。高文在前两天通过了试炼，但第三天收下了据称能保命的绿色腰带且未告知主人。最终在绿教堂，绿骑士只划破了他的皮肤——正是对他隐瞒腰带的惩罚。

这首诗的精妙之处在于它从不简单地评判高文。他并非"失败"了——他只是出于对死亡的恐惧而犯了一个小小的过失。诗人以温柔的讽刺暗示：人类的完美只是一种理想，承认不完美才是真正的勇气。

以下收录 Jessie L. Weston 1898 年公版散文改写本（Project Gutenberg #66084）的关键段落，涵盖四个部分（Fitt I-IV）的核心叙事。

I — 绿骑士的到来

King Arthur lay at Camelot upon a Christmas-tide, with many a gallant lord and lovely lady, and all the noble brotherhood of the Round Table. There they held rich revels with gay talk and jest; one while they would ride forth to joust and tourney, and again back to the court to make carols; for there was the feast holden fifteen days with all the mirth that men could devise, song and glee, glorious to hear, in the daytime, and dancing at night. Halls and chambers were crowded with noble guests, the bravest of knights and the loveliest of ladies, and Arthur himself was the comeliest king that ever held a court.

Now the New Year had but newly come in, and on that day a double portion was served on the high table to all the noble guests, and thither came the king with all his knights, when the service in the chapel had been sung to an end. But Arthur would not eat till all were served, so full of joy and gladness was he, even as a child; he liked not either to lie long, or to sit long at meat, so worked upon him his young blood and his wild brain. And another custom he had also, that came of his nobility, that he would never eat upon an high day till he had been advised of some knightly deed, or some strange and marvellous tale, of his ancestors, or of arms, or of other ventures.

Then they bare the first course with the blast of trumpets and waving of banners, with the sound of drums and pipes, of song and lute, that many a heart was uplifted at the melody. Many were the dainties, and rare the meats, so great was the plenty they might scarce find room on the board to set on the dishes.

绿骑士闯入宴会

As the sound of the music ceased, and the first course had been fitly served, there came in at the hall door one terrible to behold, of stature greater than any on earth; from neck to loin so strong and thickly made, and with limbs so long and so great that he seemed even as a giant. And yet he was but a man, only the mightiest that might mount a steed; broad of chest and shoulders and slender of waist, and all his features of like fashion; but men marvelled much at his colour, for he rode even as a knight, yet was green all over.

For he was clad all in green, with a straight coat, and a mantle above; all decked and lined with fur was the cloth and the hood that was thrown back from his locks and lay on his shoulders. Hose had he of the same green, and spurs of bright gold with silken fastenings richly worked; and all his vesture was verily green. Even the steed on which he rode was of the same hue, a green horse, great and strong, and hard to hold, with broidered bridle, meet for the rider.

The knight bore no helm nor hauberk, neither gorget nor breast-plate, neither shaft nor buckler to smite nor to shield, but in one hand he had a holly-bough, that is greenest when the groves are bare, and in his other an axe, huge and uncomely, a cruel weapon in fashion.

挑战

The knight halted in the entrance of the hall, looking to the high daïs, and greeted no man, but looked ever upwards; and the first words he spake were, "Where is the ruler of this folk? I would gladly look upon that hero, and have speech with him."

And the Green Knight spake: "If any one in this hall holds himself so hardy, so bold both of blood and brain, as to dare strike me one stroke for another, I will give him as a gift this axe, which is heavy enough, in sooth, to handle as he may list, and I will abide the first blow, unarmed as I sit. If any knight be so bold as to prove my words let him come swiftly to me here, and take this weapon, I quit claim to it, he may keep it as his own, and I will abide his stroke, firm on the floor. Then shalt thou give me the right to deal him another, the respite of a year from to-day shall he have."

高文接下挑战

Then Gawain, who sat by the queen, leaned forward to the king and spake, "I beseech ye, my lord, let this venture be mine. For I think it not seemly that such challenge should be made in your hall that ye yourself should undertake it, while there are many bold knights who sit beside ye. I am the weakest, I wot, and the feeblest of wit, and it will be the less loss of my life if ye seek sooth. For save that ye are mine uncle naught is there in me to praise, no virtue is there in my body save your blood, and since this challenge is such folly that it beseems ye not to take it, and I have asked it from ye first, let it fall to me."

Then they all spake with one voice that the king should leave this venture and grant it to Gawain.

斩首

Then the Green Knight swiftly made him ready, he bowed down his head, and laid his long locks on the crown that his bare neck might be seen. Gawain gripped his axe and raised it on high, the left foot he set forward on the floor, and let the blow fall lightly on the bare neck. The sharp edge of the blade sundered the bones, smote through the neck, and clave it in two, so that the edge of the steel bit on the ground, and the head rolled even to the horse's feet.

The blood spurted forth, and glistened on the green raiment, but the knight neither faltered nor fell; he started forward with out-stretched hand, and caught the head, and lifted it up; then he turned to his steed, and took hold of the bridle, set his foot in the stirrup, and mounted. His head he held by the hair, in his hand. Then he seated himself in his saddle as if naught ailed him, and he were not headless.

For he held up the head in his hand, and turned the face towards them that sat on the high daïs, and it lifted up the eye-lids and looked upon them, and spake: "Look, Gawain, that thou art ready to go as thou hast promised, and seek leally till thou find me, even as thou hast sworn in this hall in the hearing of these knights. Come thou, I charge thee, to the Green Chapel, such a stroke as thou hast dealt thou hast deserved, and it shall be promptly paid thee on New Year's morn. Many men know me as the knight of the Green Chapel, and if thou askest thou shalt not fail to find me."

With that he turned his bridle, and galloped out at the hall door, his head in his hands, so that the sparks flew from beneath his horse's hoofs. Whither he went none knew, no more than they wist whence he had come.

II — 北上寻访绿教堂

For Yule was now over-past, and the year after, each season in its turn following the other. For after Christmas comes crabbed Lent, that will have fish for flesh and simpler cheer. But then the weather of the world chides with winter; the cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift, and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains. Then the flowers come forth, meadows and groves are clad in green, the birds make ready to build, and sing sweetly for solace of the soft summer that follows thereafter. So the year passes into many yesterdays, and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us.

When the Michaelmas moon was come in with warnings of winter, Sir Gawain bethought him full oft of his perilous journey. Yet till All Hallows Day he lingered with Arthur, and on that day they made a great feast for the hero's sake, with much revel and richness of the Round Table.

And after meat, sadly Sir Gawain turned to his uncle, and spake of his journey, and said, "Liege lord of my life, leave from you I crave. Ye know well how the matter stands without more words, to-morrow am I bound to set forth in search of the Green Knight."

高文的武装

On the morn he arose and asked betimes for his armour; and they brought it unto him on this wise: first, a rich carpet was stretched on the floor, then the knight stepped on to it, and handled the steel; clad he was in a doublet of silk, with a close hood, lined fairly throughout. Then they set the steel shoes upon his feet, and wrapped his legs with greaves, with polished knee-caps fastened with knots of gold. Then they cased his thighs in cuisses closed with thongs, and brought him the byrny of bright steel rings sewn upon a fair stuff. Well burnished braces they set on each arm with good elbow-pieces, and gloves of mail, and all the goodly gear that should shield him in his need.

五角星盾牌

Then they showed him the shield, that was of shining gules, with the pentangle painted thereon in gleaming gold. And why the pentangle pertains to that prince so noble I intend now to tell, though it may tarry my story.

It is a sign that Solomon once set on a time to betoken Troth, as it is entitled to do; for it is a figure that has five points, and each line overlaps and locks in another, and everywhere it is endless; and the English, I hear, everywhere name it the Endless Knot. So it suits well this knight and his unsullied arms; for, faithful five ways and five times each, Gawain was reputed good and, like gold well refined, he was devoid of all villainy, every virtue displaying in the land.

And why the pentangle pertains to that prince so noble I intend now to tell, though it may tarry my story. For he was a faithful knight, and faultless in his five senses; and moreover his five fingers failed him never in any deed; and all his trust upon earth was in the five wounds that Christ bare on the Cross, as the Creed tells. And wheresoever this knight found himself in melee, his thought above all other things was this, that all his force was founded on the five joys that the Queen of Heaven had of her Child; for which cause he fittingly had the image of Our Lady on the inside of his shield, that when he cast his eyes upon it he might not lack for aid. The fifth five that I find the knight used were Liberality and Lovingkindness first, Chastity and Chivalry then, and Piety, the surpassing of all the five; and these five were firmly set in him, each linked to the others, without end.

Now all these five, the twice five-fold, were embodied in this knight; and he wore them linked together in endless knots, and in no wise separated; fixed upon five points that never failed, nor were ever united, nor ever separated at any point, without end at any angle, wherever the game began or ended. Therefore on his shining shield was shaped the knot, royally with red gold upon red gules. That is the true pentangle as it was held of old.

Now Gawain was ready and gay, and with his lance he gave them all farewell.

荒野中的旅程

So he rode on his way through many a strange land, and over many a broad stream, and found none that knew the Green Knight, or the Green Chapel. And ever he rode through woods and over wastes, with many a bitter blast and drift of snow, so that he slept in his armour more nights than enough, with his harness upon him. He rode far in unknown lands, where he found strange folk, and had many an adventure, some in arms, and some in courtesy; but of all that befell him I tell ye not, for it is too long.

And on Christmas Eve, as he rode through a forest, he prayed to Our Lord to grant him harbourage, that he might hear Mass on the morrow. He crossed himself, and besought Christ to give him lodging for the sake of His birth. And scarce had he ended his prayer when he saw a castle, the fairest that ever he had beheld, set upon a height, and moated all around. It rose fair and grey upon the meadow, with many a tall tower and turret, and deep ditches, and drawbridge, and gates well barred.

城堡中的款待

The lord of the castle was a heavy man, hoar and old, with a great beard; and the lady, his wife, was fair of face, and passing wise. And there was another lady in the castle, older than the other, and she seemed of great authority. But fairer was the young lady than the queen herself, as the new gold outshines the old.

The lord of the castle welcomed Gawain right gladly, and made him great cheer, and said he might have all that was in the castle at his will. And Gawain thanked him courteously, and said he would repay him what he might.

Then Gawain told them his name, and all the court rejoiced that so noble a knight had come amongst them. And the lord said, "Now we shall see the fine arts of courtesy, and the fair speech that is so famed, for we have with us the very man that all the world speaks of."

交换游戏

Then the lord said to Gawain, "I go forth each day to the chase, whilst thou abidest here. Let us make a covenant: whatever I win in the wood I will give thee, and do thou in like manner give me whatever thou winnest within. Let us swear, good friend, to make this exchange, be the lot better or worse."

Gawain agreed, and they sealed the covenant.

III — 三日试炼

第一日：猎鹿与亲吻

On the morrow the lord rose at dawn and went forth to the wood to hunt the deer. And the lady of the castle arose early, and came softly to Sir Gawain's chamber, and closed the door behind her, and turned to the knight, and spake merrily, and said, "Good morrow, Sir Gawain, ye are but a careless sleeper, that one may come thus to your bed! Yet since I find ye here, ye must needs put me in mind of the courtesy ye are famed for; for I have you at advantage, and ye are mine own knight, to do my will."

And she pressed him sorely with her words of love, but Gawain answered her courteously, and with fair words he put off her importunity, so that she got naught but kisses. And at last she bent over him and kissed him, and took her leave, and went from him.

That night the lord gave Gawain the flesh of the deer that he had slain, and Gawain gave him the kiss that he had received, but told not how he came by it.

第二日：猎野猪

On the second day the lord went forth to hunt the wild boar. And again the lady came to Gawain's chamber, and kissed him, and spake to him yet more urgently of love. And she said, "Why should ye refuse me? I am at your will, and ye are so renowned for courtesy that it were a marvel if ye could not find some gentle word for me." And she bent over him and kissed him again and yet again.

But Gawain answered with such fair words that he came safely through that trial also, and the lady departed, seeming well content. And that night Gawain gave his host the kisses he had received, and the lord gave him the boar that he had slain.

第三日：猎狐与绿色腰带

On the third day the lord went to hunt the fox. And the lady came to Gawain's chamber in a rich mantle, and she kissed him, and spake to him as before. And she said, "Now, fair knight, do but grant me a little gift, a token of our friendship; 'tis but a ring of gold, with a ruby set therein." But Gawain would take no gift from her.

Then she spake again, and said, "Take ye then my girdle, 'tis of green silk, woven with gold, and I give it thee for a gift; for whoever wears this green lace about his body shall have no peril of death, no weapon shall have power to harm him." And she pressed it upon him so eagerly that at last he yielded, and took the girdle, and she kissed him three times. And when she was gone, Gawain hid the girdle beneath his garments, and said no word of it to the lord.

That night the lord gave him the spoil of the fox, a poor beast, and Gawain gave him the three kisses, but of the girdle he spake not a word. Thus he kept not all the covenant.

离别

Then Gawain took leave of the lord and the lady, and thanked them for all their kindness, and said he must go seek the Green Chapel. And the lord said, "Go not far, I pray thee, for the Green Chapel is but a little way hence. I will send a squire to guide thee." And the squire led Gawain through the frosty forest, and at last they came to a place where the trees were bare and the ground was broken, and there, in a hollow, stood a chapel, all overgrown with moss. And the squire said, "This is the Green Chapel, and here the Green Knight abideth thee. Go in, and God be with thee." And the squire fled, for he would not stay.

IV — 绿教堂

Then Gawain was left alone, and he heard, from the hill beyond the chapel, a whetting sound, as of a blade being sharpened on a stone. And he called aloud, "Who is here to keep covenant with me? I am Sir Gawain, who am come to meet the Green Knight, and to take the stroke that is my due."

绿骑士现身

And the Green Knight came forth from the hillside, bearing a huge axe, and he greeted Gawain, and said, "Welcome, Sir Gawain, thou art punctual to the hour." And he bade Gawain bare his neck, and prepare for the blow.

Gawain bared his neck and bent down, and the Green Knight raised the axe on high. But when the axe came down Gawain shrank a little, and drew his shoulders aside. Then the Green Knight stayed the blow, and chid him, saying, "Thou art not Gawain, who was accounted so valiant, that now thou flinchest ere thou feelest the smart! I shrank not from thy blow, nor made complaint when thy blade bit into my neck."

Then Gawain said, "Strike once more; I shall shrink no more, I swear." And he stood still, and the Green Knight raised the axe again, and brought it down so that the edge came near his neck, but drew it back ere it touched him. And Gawain sprang up, and said, "Have done with thy threats, for now hast thou given me two blows, and after the covenant but one remains. Now strike, and keep thy word, or I will fight with thee."

第三斧

Then the Green Knight smiled, and brought down the axe a third time, and this time the edge touched his neck, so that the blood flowed. And Gawain sprang back, and seized his helmet and shield, and drew his sword, and said, "Now have I had the blow, so now I bid thee forbear; strike not again, for the covenant is fulfilled."

揭示真相

Then the Green Knight laughed, and said, "So now have I taken my revenge, for the blows I gave thee were these: the first blow I gave thee I drew back from, and that was for the first day, when thou didst truly give me all thou hadst won. The second blow I gave thee was for the second day, when thou didst likewise keep the covenant. But the third blow, that drew blood, was for the third day, when thou didst fail, and keep back the girdle that was mine by right. For that fault I gave thee the scar, but for the two days that thou didst deal truly, I gave thee two feints. And I knew all that befell thee, for I myself planned the temptation, and sent my wife to try thee. And I wot we shall soon make peace with my wife, who was thy bitter enemy. But thou hast failed in the one point, and that was for love of thy life. Yet do I blame thee the less, for a man may not deny his nature."

And the Green Knight told him his true name was Bertilak de Hautdesert, and that Morgan le Fay had wrought the enchantment, to terrify Guinevere and to test the renown of the Round Table.

归来

Then Gawain was full of shame, and he said, "Alas! I have brought shame upon myself, and upon the fame of the Round Table. Cowardice led me to take the girdle, and treachery to keep it; now am I false and fearful, and unworthy of the honour that has been done me." And he would have cast the girdle from him, but the Green Knight said, "Nay, keep the girdle as a remembrance of this adventure, and of the fault that thou hast done."

And Gawain rode back to Camelot, and told the king and all the knights of his adventure, and of his fault, and of the girdle that he wore. And the king and all the knights laughed, and said that it was no great fault, and they all agreed to wear a green lace in honour of Gawain. And ever since that time the knights of the Round Table have worn a green baldric, passing round the right side and slung to the left, in token of the adventure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Thus was the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ended. And may He who was crowned with thorns bring us all to bliss. AMEN.