The myth of Gawain and the Green Knight - Dan Kwartler

Translator: Dzaki Jabbar Mahdi Reviewer: Reno Kanti Riananda

It was Christmas time in Camelot and King Arthur was throwing a party.

Saat itu malam Natal di Camelot, dan Raja Arthur tengah berpesta.

The entire court was invited— save the wicked sorceress Morgan le Fay—

Seluruh istana diundang— termasuk penyihir jahat Morgan le Fay—

and food and drink flowed freely.

serta makanan dan minuman berlimpah ruah.

But in the midst of the revelry, the castle doors split open.

Namun, di tengah kemeriahan pesta, gerbang istana sontak terbuka.

A towering knight riding an emerald steed burst into the room,

Kesatria yang menjulang tinggi dan menunggang kuda hijau menerjang masuk,

stunning the court into silence.

membuat seisi ruangan diam terkesima.

Then, in a deep bellowing voice, he proposed a game.

Kemudian, dengan suara berat dia melemparkan sebuah tantangan.

The Green Knight declared he would allow

Kesatria Hijau mengumumkan bahwa dia mempersilakan kesatria terkuat yang hadir

the bravest warrior present to attack him with his own axe.

untuk menyerangnya menggunakan kapaknya sendiri.

If they could strike him down, they would win his powerful weapon.

Kesatria yang bisa mengalahkannya, akan mendapatkan senjatanya yang ampuh.

However, the knight would be allowed to return that blow

Namun, kesatria yang menang diperbolehkan menerima kembali pukulan tersebut

in one year and one day.

dalam satu tahun dan satu hari.

Arthur and his knights were baffled.

Arthur dan para kesatrianya kebingungan.

No man could survive such a strike.

Tidak ada yang bisa bertahan dari serangan semacam itu.

The Green Knight began to mock their leader’s hesitance,

Kesatria Hijau mencemooh keragu-raguan pemimpin mereka,

and Arthur stood to defend his honor.

dan Arthur maju untuk mempertahankan kehormatannya.

But as soon as he gripped the axe, another leapt to take his place.

Namun, saat Arthur mencengkeram kapak, kesatria lain bergegas menggantikannya.

Arthur’s nephew, Sir Gawain, took the weapon instead.

Keponakan Arthur, Sir Gawain, mengambil senjata tersebut.

And with one swift strike, he beheaded the grinning knight.

Dengan sekali ayun, dia memenggal kepala kesatria yang sedang menyeringai tersebut.

But the moment his skull met the ground, it began to laugh.

Saat kepala Kesatria Hijau menyentuh tanah, dia mulai terbahak.

The Green Knight collected his head and mounted his horse.

Kesatria hijau memungut kepalanya lantas menunggang kudanya.

As he rode off, his severed head reminded Gawain of their contract

Saat dia beranjak, penggalan kepalanya mengingatkan Gawain akan kontrak mereka

and told him to seek the Green Chapel one year hence.

dan menyuruhnya untuk mencari Kapel Hijau satu tahun kemudian.

In the months that followed, Gawain tried to forget this bizarre vision.

Berbulan-bulan setelahnya, Gawain mencoba melupakan bayangan ganjil tersebut.

But despite the strangeness of the knight’s game,

Terlepas dari keanehan tantangan kesatria itu,

he was determined to act honorably.

dia bertekad untuk bertindak terhormat.

When the following winter approached, he set out—

Ketika musim dingin tiba, dia bergegas pergi—

enduring foul weather and beastly encounters

menerjang cuaca buruk dan pertarungan yang mengerikan

in his quest to find the mysterious Green Chapel.

dalam misinya mencari Kapel Hijau yang misterius.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, he saw a shimmering castle on the horizon.

Akhirnya, pada malam natal, dia melihat istana berkilau di cakrawala.

The castle’s lord and lady were thrilled to help such an honorable guest,

Tuan dan nyonya istana senang sekali bisa membantu tamu terhormat sepertinya,

and informed him that the Green Chapel was only a short ride away.

dan memberitahu bahwa Kapel Hijau berada tak jauh dari sana.

They implored Gawain to rest at their home until his meeting with the Green Knight.

Mereka memohon agar Gawain beristirahat di sana sebelum bertemu Kesatria Hijau.

Thrilled at this news, Gawain happily accepted their offer.

Gembira mendengar informasi ini, Gawain menerima tawaran mereka.

However, in exchange for their hospitality,

Namun, sebagai imbalan atas keramahan mereka,

the lord made a strange request.

tuan tanah mengajukan permintaan yang aneh.

Over the next three days, he would go hunting and share his spoils every night.

Selama tiga hari berikutnya, ia berburu dan membagikan buruannya setiap malam.

In return, Gawain must give him whatever he’d gained during his day at the castle.

Sebaliknya, Gawain harus memberinya apa pun yang ia dapatkan selama di istana.

At first, Gawain was perplexed by these strange terms.

Awalnya, Gawain sedikit bingung dengan syarat-syarat aneh ini.

But the lord’s meaning became quite clear the next day,

Namun, maksud sang tuan tanah menjadi lebih jelas di hari berikutnya,

when his wife tried to seduce Gawain.

saat nyonya rumah mencoba merayu Gawain.

To rebuff the lady’s advances without offending her honor,

Untuk menolak permintaan sang ratu tanpa menyinggung kehormatannya,

Gawain allowed one kiss—

Gawain mengizinkannya untuk mencium satu kali—

which he then passed on to her husband in exchange for a slain dear.

yang kemudian dia teruskan ke sang suami untuk ditukar dengan seekor kijang.

The next day, Gawain allowed two kisses, which he gave to the lord for a dead boar.

Keesokan harinya, Gawain memperoleh dua ciuman,

yang ditukar dengan satu ekor babi jantan.

But on the third day, the lady offered more than just three kisses.

Namun di hari ketiga, sang nyonya menciumnya lebih dari tiga kali.

She presented a magical sash that would protect Gawain

Dia memberikan selempang ajaib yang akan melindungi Gawain

from the Green Knight’s blade.

dari pedang sang Kesatria Hijau.

Gawain accepted immediately, but that evening, when the lord returned,

Gawain serta merta menerimanya. Namun, saat sang raja kembali malam itu,

the knight offered only three kisses with no mention of his enchanted gift.

Gawain hanya memberinya tiga kali ciuman tanpa menyinggung tentang hadiah ajaib.

The next morning, Gawain rode out to the Green Chapel—

Keesokan paginya, Gawain bertolak menuju Kapel Hijau—

a simple mound of earth

sebuah gundukan tanah biasa

where the Green Knight ominously sharpened an axe.

tempat Kesatria Hijau mengasah kapaknya.

With the sash’s protection, Gawain approached stoically—

Dengan perlindungan selempangnya,

Gawain mendekat dengan tabah—

determined to honor his agreement.

bertekad memenuhi janjinya.

He bowed his head for the deadly blow, and with a massive swing,

Dia menundukkan kepala untuk menerima serangan,

dan dengan satu ayunan besar,

the Green Knight cut Gawain’s neck—

Kesatria Hijau memenggal leher Gawain—

inflicting nothing more than a flesh wound.

menghasilkan hanya sedikit luka gores.

Once more, Gawain was bewildered.

Sekali lagi, Gawain kebingungan.

Why hadn’t the sash protected him?

Mengapa kain selempangnya tidak melindungi dirinya?

And why hadn’t the knight killed him?

Mengapa sang kesatria tidak membunuhnya?

Bursting into laughter, the Green Knight revealed himself to be the castle’s lord,

Kesatria Hijau terbahak sembari berubah ke wujud aslinya yaitu si tuan istana,

and he’d been working with Morgan Le Fay

yang selama ini bekerja sama dengan Morgan le Fay

to test the honor and bravery of Arthur’s knights.

untuk menguji kehormatan dan keberanian para kesatria Arthur.

He was impressed with Gawain’s behavior,

Ia sangat terkesan dengan sikap Gawain,

and he’d planned to spare his neck entirely—

dan berencana untuk menyelamatkan lehernya sepenuhnya—

until Gawain concealed the sash.

sampai Gawain mengeluarkan selempangnya.

Filled with shame, Gawain returned to Camelot.

Dipenuhi rasa malu, Gawain kembali ke Camelot.

But to his surprise, his companions absolved him of blame

Namun, di luar dugaan, teman-temannya tak menyalahkannya

and celebrated his valor.

dan merayakan keberaniannya.

Struggling to understand this strange journey,

Berjuang memahami perjalanan yang aneh ini,

it seemed to Gawain that perhaps the whole world was playing a game—

Gawain merasa bahwa seluruh dunia sedang memainkan permainan—

with rules more wild and bewildering than any man could understand.

dengan aturan yang lebih liar dan membingungkan

untuk bisa dipahami oleh siapapun.