Madden
suggests
blows as the explanation of slokes.
Gawaine and the Green Knight
216 in gracios werkes. Sir F. Madden reads gracons for gracios, and
suggests Greek as the meaning of it.
244-5 As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3
in hy3e.
As all were fallen asleep so ceased their words
in haste (suddenly).
Sir F. Madden reads slaked horlote3, instead of slaked hor lote3,
which, according to his glossary, signifies drunken vagabonds.
He evidently takes horlote3 to be another (and a very uncommon) form
of harlote3 earlots. But harlot, or vagabond, would be a very
inappropriate term to apply to the noble Knights of the Round Table.
Moreover, slaked never, I think, means drunken. The general sense of
the verb slake is to let loose, lessen, cease. Cf. lines 411-2,
where sloke, another form of slake, occurs with a similar meaning:
-- layt no fyrre;
bot slokes.
-- seek no further,
but stop (cease).
Sir F.
Madden suggests blows as the explanation of slokes. It
is, however, a verb in the imperative mood.
286 Brayn. Matzner suggests brayn-wod.
296 barlay mar loi. This word is exceedingly common in the T. Book
(see l. 3391).
I bid you now, barlay, with besines at all
? at ye set you most soverainly my suster to gete. --T. B. l. 2780.
394 siker. Sir F.
