More than five hundred years ago an unknown contemporary of Chaucer wrote the poem of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' using the ancestral measure of England, alliterative verse, as it is now called. A new translation by J. R. R. TOLKIEN, who contributes this foreword, is to be broadcast in the Third Programme, beginning on Sunday. The poem has come down to us in a single manuscript, which was not even printed until 1839
. . . but of all the royal men that here ruled this realm of Britain ever was Arthur most honoured, as I have heard men tell. Wherefore a marvel among men I mean to recall, a sight strange to see some men have held it, one of the wildest adventures of the wonders of Arthur. If ye will listen but a little to this lay a while, I will tell it at once as in town I have heard it told, as it is fixed and fettered in story brave and bold, thus interlinked and lettered, as was loved in this land of old.
I found this year's ago at Manchester Library and have a scan tucked into Chronology under its date. It's nice to see it available for people to read more easily at last.
For those interested in Mr. Underhill's presentation from Westmoot last year, the Tolkien Society has shared the video online. Discussion of collecting and various editions/impressions starts at the 13 minute mark.
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