Whosoe’er at Beaurosch had battled, methinks that Gawain had won

The highest fame in both armies, save but for one knight alone;

And none knew his red harness glowing, and none knew from whence he came,

But high as a banner waveth, so high did it rise, his fame.

Yet of honour alike and good fortune had Gawain in full his share—5

Now hence must he ride, for the moment of strife which he sought drew near,

And far and wide stretched the woodland thro’ which he must wend his way—

No conflict he shunned, tho’ all guiltless of the sin men on him would lay.

But, alas! his charger failed him, Ingliart, with the close-cropped ear,

In the land of the Moors at Tabronit no better the steeds they rear.10

And diverse the wood around him, here a bush and there a field,

And so narrow at whiles, that pathway, it scarcely a space might yield

For tent, or for knight’s pavilion. Then fair dwellings met his eye,

’Twas Askalon, and he prayed them if Schamfanzon at hand did lie?

But many a marsh and moorland and many a steep hillside15

Must he traverse, ere fair before him in the setting sun he spied

A fortress stand so stately, it gleamed in the sunlight’s rays,

And he turned his steed towards it who rode here on unknown ways.

Now list ye awhile the venture, and mourn ye awhile with me

The sorrow that fell on Gawain—And if old ye shall chance to be20

Or young, yet of this your friendship I pray you his grief to weep;

Alas! were it best to tell ye, or silence a space to keep?

Nay, better to tell the story, how he whom Good Luck did call

Her friend, was by her forsaken, and how grief to his lot must fall.

So proudly uprose the fortress that never did Carthage seem25

So fair to the eyes of ?neas, when Dido, as failed her dream

Of love, turned to death and, seeking, found rest in his cold embrace.

Would ye know what countless turrets those stately halls did grace?

Scarce more had Akraton boasted, that city whose walls so wide,

An man may believe the heathen, with Babylon only vied;30

So high rose the circling ramparts, and where to the sea they fell

No storm might they fear, but defiance could they bid to their foes right well.

‘Fore the city a plain outstretching lay fair for a mile or more.

As Sir Gawain rode across it, five hundred knights he saw,

Yet one, o’er all the others, gallant and fair to sight;35

Gaily they rode towards him all clad in raiment bright,

For so the venture telleth—With their falcons soaring high

Would they chase the crane, or other fair game that should wingèd fly.

A tall steed from Spain’s far kingdom, King Vergulacht bestrode,

And his glance was as day in the night-time—Aforetime his race abode40

Where Mazadan reigned as monarch, by Fay Morgan’s mystic mount,

And amid the roll of his fathers he many a fay might count—

And even as in the spring-tide the May blossom bloometh fair

So rode the king in his beauty, and Gawain he bethought him there,

As he saw him ride so stately, ’twas another Parzival,45

Or Gamuret, as he came to Kanvoleis, as this venture erewhile did tell.

Now into a pond so marshy a heron had taken flight

As it fled from before the falcon, and the king, as beseemed a knight,

Sought not for the ford but followed as he saw his falcon’s need,

And wet he won in the aiding, and lost was his gallant steed,50

And lost too his royal raiment, tho’ safe was I ween the bird.

The falconers took his garments, for this, so the tale I’ve heard,

Was their right, and they needs must have them, and no man might say them nay.

Another horse they brought him, for lost was his own for aye,

And fresh garments they put upon him, since such was the chance of fate55

That his falconers won the vesture that had decked their king of late.

Then Sir Gawain, he rode towards them, and knightly and worshipful

The greeting they gave unto him, not such as in Karid?l

Once fell to the lot of Erec, when after his well-fought fight

He had fain drawn near to King Arthur, and with him his lady bright,60

Fair Enid, who graced his coming—But the dwarf Maliklisier

With a scourge full hardly smote him, ‘neath the eyes of Queen Guinevere.

At Tulmein he took his vengeance, where, within the ring so wide

To win the hawk, the heroes in deeds of valour vied.

’Twas Idêr, the son of Noit, a hero true and bold65

Whom he else had slain, whom Erec did there in surety hold.

But leave we all other venture, and hearken awhile to me,

For in sooth never fairer welcome shall it fall to your lot to see.

Yet, alas! for ill it wrought him, Gawain, King Lot’s brave son—

An ye will I will cease my story ere the tale to its end be run,70

And for pity’s sake keep silence—Yet perchance it were best to tell

The ill that thro’ others’ treason on a gallant spirit fell.

And if I yet further pray ye this story strange to heed

Then in sooth, e’en as I, right truly will ye mourn for its hero’s need.

Quoth the king, ‘Sir Knight, thus I think me, thou shalt to the castle ride,75

Thine host will I be right gladly, tho’ scarce may I be thy guide;

Yet if this on my part shall vex thee the chase will I gladly leave!’

Quoth Gawain, ‘As it best may please thee, that do, nor for my sake grieve,

Whate’er thou shalt do shall be well done—No grudge do I bear thee, Sire,

But of right good-will I gladly will do as thou shalt require.’80

Quoth the king of Askalon further, ‘Schamfanzon thou well mayst see

Sir Knight, there my sister dwelleth, who as yet but a maid shall be;

And she hath in fullest measure such beauty as poets sing—

An thou as a grace shalt hold it, my knights unto her shall bring

Such word she shall well entreat thee in my stead, till I come again.85

And whenever I come, I think me, ’twill be sooner than thou art fain

To look on my face, for gladly wilt thou spare me when thou shalt see

My sweet sister, nor e’er bemoan thee, tho’ my coming o’er late shall be!’

‘Nay, gladly again I’ll see thee, and gladly thy sister greet,

Tho’ as host never queen has done me such service as host finds meet’90

Thus spake the gallant Gawain—Then a knight bare the king’s behest

To his sister, that she, as fitting, should so care for the stranger guest

That however long his absence the hours should as minutes fly—

(An ye will, I will cease my story that now runneth but mournfully!)

Nay, further I’ll tell the venture,—Steed and pathway the hero bore95

Where as one were both Burg and palace, and he held him before the door.

And he who shall e’er have builded a house, he shall better know

To tell of this mighty castle, and the strength of its walls to show.

Yea, indeed ’twas a Burg, none better might this earth on its bosom bear

And around it, far outstretching, the ramparts towered high in air.100

Leave we the praise of the castle, and speak of the castle’s queen,

A maiden fair, for of women I shall better speak I ween,

And as fitting I’ll sing her praises—Was she fair to the eye? ’Twas well;

Was she true of heart? Then gladly will men of her praises tell.

And so both in mind and manner might she vie with that lady true,105

The Margravine, who from Heitstein afar o’er her marches threw

A light,—Well for him who dwelleth as friend in her presence fair,

Such pastime as there his portion he findeth not other-where!

For I praise but a woman’s virtue, as I see, and shall surely know,

True and pure must she be, the maiden, on whom I shall praise bestow.110

And he whom this venture singeth is a gallant man and true,

For no dealing have I with falsehood, or with one who his deeds shall rue,

As repentance, slowly piercing, but turneth his bliss to bale,

And his soul knoweth wrath and sorrow, or ever his life-days fail.

To the castle court rode Gawain, and the goodly company115

To whom the king had sent him, who shamed for his sake should be.

Then the knight to his lady led him, as she sat in her beauty’s glow,

Queen Antikonie—Could the merchants a woman’s fame bestow,

Of such goods had she made rich purchase; ‘gainst falsehood she set her face,

And hers was the crown of honour, and a maiden’s maiden grace.120

Ah! woe’s me for him of Veldeck, that death thus cut short his days,

None is there of all men living who so well could have sung her praise.

Then Gawain, he looked on the maiden, and the messenger spake the word

E’en as the king had bade him, and the queen his message heard.

Then gently she spake to the hero, ‘Come thou near unto me, Sir Knight,125

Thyself shalt be my master in courtesy, as is right;

And gladly I’ll do thy bidding—If well it shall please thee here,

’Twill be even as thou shalt order—Yea, since my brother dear

Hath bid me well entreat thee, I’ll kiss thee, if so I may.

I’ll do, or leave it undone, e’en as thou the word shalt say!’130

Courteous she stood before him, quoth Gawain, ‘Thy lips so red

In sooth were made for kissing, be kiss and greeting sped!’

So full and warm and rosy were the lips that Gawain pressed,

No stranger sure had kissed her as kissed this stranger guest.

Unchecked he sat him by her, and sweet words passed between,135

Soft spake they to each other; and oft renewed, I ween,

His prayers and her denials, yea, sorely grieved was he,

And fain to win her favour—Then she spake as I tell to ye:

‘Bethink thee, Sir Knight, thou art wise else, with this I enough have done,

For I ween at my brother’s bidding mine uncle Gamuret won140

Less welcome from Queen Anflisé than the welcome I gave to thee,

An our tending were weighed together methinks hers would lighter be.

Nor know I, Sir Knight, whence thou comest, nor e’en what shall be thy name,

That, after such short approving, thou shouldst to my love lay claim!’

Then out spake the gallant Gawain, ‘Then know here assuredly145

O! queen, of my father’s sister the brother’s son am I;

Wilt thou give me sweet love’s rewarding, for my birth shalt thou not delay,

Hand in hand, and to equal measure, it paceth with thine alway!’

The maiden who filled the wine-cup she had passed from out the hall,

And the women who sat beside them must now to their mind recall150

The task that elsewhere did wait them; nor longer the knight stood there

Who erst to the queen had brought him—As Gawain was now aware

That no man was here beside them, he thought how a mighty bird

Is oft trapped by a little falcon—nor further he spake a word,

But he passed his arm around her beneath her mantle’s fold,155

And love laid such stress upon them, the maid and the hero bold,

That belike a thing had chanced there, an no eye had been there to see,

Of one mind were the twain—yet heart-sorrow drew near to them speedily.

For straight stepped within the doorway an old and grey-haired knight,

And loudly he called on Gawain, and shouted a shout of might,160

For well did he know the hero, and fiercely his cry did ring,

‘Alas! alas! woe upon us, since the hand that hath slain our king

Is fain now to force his daughter!’ At the sound of his battle-cry

The folk that within the castle abode to the hall did hie,

So it fell out—Then quoth Sir Gawain to the queen, ‘Now, Lady mine,165

Say thou how we best may ward us ‘gainst this wrathful folk of thine,

For sure they will come against us—An I had but my sword at hand!’

Then out spake the gentle maiden, ‘Their might shall we best withstand

An we to yon tower betake us that riseth my bower beside,

Perchance they will then bethink them, and the storm shall we override.’170

Here a knight, and there a merchant, already the maid must hear,

With the cry of the angry townsfolk, as the twain to the tower drew near;

And sore was her friend beset there, tho’ she prayed them from strife to cease,

So loud rose the angry tumult none hearkened her words of peace.

‘Gainst the portal the foe pressed onward, Gawain stood within the door,175

And held off the angry rabble; an iron bolt he tore

From its fastenings wherewith to arm him, and before his strong right hand

Full oft fled his evil neighbours, they durst not his blows withstand.

While the queen, with flying footsteps, hither and thither sought

To find, perchance, some weapon ‘gainst the foe that so fiercely fought.180

At length did she chance on some chess-men, and a chess-board, wide and fair,

That hung by a ring of iron; to Gawain she brought it there,

As a shield four-square it served him; yea, many a game was played

On that board ere ’twas hewn in battle—Now hear of the royal maid;

Were it king, or queen, or castle, she hurled them against the foe,185

Heavy and large the chess-men, and in sooth I would have ye know

They who by her shaft were stricken must ever a fall abide.

Right bravely the queen so gracious now fought by her hero’s side,

And she bare herself so knightly, that never the Burger maids

Of Tollenstein at Shrove-tide such dauntless skill displayed.190

And yet they but fight for folly, and weary themselves for naught—

An a woman bear trace of battle, on her womanhood shame is brought,

(For I know what befits a woman,) unless love shall have bid her fight

To prove her faith—Now faithful and true was that lady bright,

As Schamfanzon might bear witness—Yet, tho’ high of heart was she,195

Many tears that conflict cost her; for in sooth shall it ever be

That Love is brave as steadfast, yet tender and true of heart—

Would ye know how in such fierce conflict Sir Gawain would bear his part?

When the strife but leisure gave him to gaze on the maid aright,

Her lips so red and glowing, her eyes so soft and bright—200

More slender was she and shapely than ever a lowland hare

That ye truss on the spit, so graceful her limbs, and her form so fair;

Full well might her charms awaken desire in the heart of man.

And smaller, I ween, the maiden, where her golden girdle ran

Around her waist, than ants are, and their slender shape ye know—205

The sight wrought in Gawain courage his foemen to overthrow,

For she shared his need; his chastising none other than death should be,

And help was there none—Then his anger flamed high and wroth was he

As he looked on that gentle maiden, and no fear was his but hate,

And sorely his foemen rued it who met at his hand their fate.210

Came King Vergulacht, and he saw well how his folk ‘gainst Gawain did fight;

Nor do I in this deceive ye, nor can I account him right

That not as a host he bare him, when he saw his gallant guest

Thus stand, as one man against many—But straight thro’ the throng he pressed,

In such wise, I must mourn for Gandein, the monarch of Anjou fair,215

That his daughter, so true a lady, so faithless a son must bear.

From the strife his folk he called not, short space must they stay their hand

While the king would don his armour, he lusted to lead the band.

Too mighty the force for Gawain, nor I ween shall ye count it shame

That he closed the door upon them—Then in wrath and haste there came220

The knight who to battle bade him ‘fore Arthur at Plimiz?l

But short time back—They called him the Landgrave Kingrimursel,

And sore did Gawain’s need vex him, he wrung his hands amain,

For in sooth had he pledged his honour his foe should in peace remain

Till one man alone o’ercame him—Old and young from the tower he drave,225

Yet the portal would they force open, as their king commandment gave.

Then the Landgrave he cried on Gawain, ‘Sir Knight, I would in to thee

As a friend, that this bitter conflict I may share, if it so must be,

For then must my monarch slay me, or leave thee in life to-day.’

Peace Gawain would swear unto him, and he made to the tower his way—230

Then doubtful, the foemen thronging, their hand for a space must hold,

For their Burg-grave he was, and his bidding had they hearkened both young and old.

Then, as ceased the noise of battle, thro’ the doorway he sprang, Gawain,

And the Landgrave, he stood beside him, swift and bold were those heroes twain.

Quoth King Vergulacht, ‘Why tarry? Why stand we here as on guard,235

When of foemen but two shall dare us, and none other the tower gates ward?

Much my cousin doth take upon him, when he dareth to shield my foe,

Yea, himself should wreak vengeance on him, if his faith he were fain to show!’

Of true heart then they chose a true man, and unto the king he spake,

‘Now, Sire, upon our Landgrave no vengeance we think to take,240

Nor shall harm at our hand befall him—May God so turn thy mind

That, instead of shaming, honour thou shalt from this venture find.

For shame shall it bring upon thee, and an ending to thy fair fame,

If he who as host doth hail thee shall here at thine hand be slain.

And thy kinsman is he, this other who hath brought him into this land;245

So, lest cursing and shame be thy portion, we pray thee to stay thine hand,

And grant thou a truce thro’ the daylight, and the fleeting hours of night,

Then bethink thee for shame or honour, and do as shall seem thee right!’

‘And our queen who hath ne’er known falsehood, thy sister, Antikonie,

See there as she standeth by him and weepeth full bitterly.250

Canst thou see such sight without rueing, since one mother bare ye both?

And bethink thee, sire, thou art wise else, thou didst send him, nothing loth,

Alone to this gentle maiden, nor further a guardian gave;

For her sake it were well to spare him!’ Then the king bade those warriors brave

To call a truce—He’ld bethink him how vengeance he best might take255

For his father’s death—Yet all guiltless Gawain, for another’s sake,

Must he bear the shame; with a lance-thrust by Ekunat was he slain

As to Barbig?l Prince Iofreit, a prisoner, he would have ta’en,

Who had ridden erewhile with Gawain—In such wise the chance befell

That they deemed that Gawain had slain him—So men do the venture tell.260

And scarce was the truce bespoken ere of men was the field bereft,

Each betook him unto his lodging, nor one on the ground was left.

Then the queen threw her arms around him, and with many a kiss so sweet

She gave to her gallant cousin such rewarding as seemed her meet,

Since so bravely he stood by Gawain, and sheltered the twain from wrong,265

And she spake, ‘Now art thou my cousin, nor unfaith shall to thee belong.’

Now hearken and I will read ye that word which I spake of late,

How a true heart sore was darkened—I ween ’twas an evil fate

That led Vergulacht to Schamfanzon; such deed he ne’er did learn

From sire or aye from mother, with shame did the young knight burn,270

And torment sore and suffering his better self must know

As his sister ‘gan upbraid him, small mercy the maid would show.

And thus spake the noble maiden, ‘Now had it but been God’s will,

That I, a man born, might sword bear, and knightly tasks fulfil,

To strive with me hadst thou come here, methinks thou hadst come too late,—275

But now am I all defenceless, a maiden, and no man’s mate.

And yet a shield I carry, and fair its device shall be,

And honoured of all—Its blazon would I read here, Sir King, to thee,

That thou henceforth mayst know it—Pure heart and upright mind,

That true man beneath its cover a shelter may ever find.280

And that, o’er the gallant hero whom thou sentest unto my care,

Did I hold, and ‘gainst thee, his foeman, I did, as beseemed me, bear,

For none other armour had I—And if thou repent the ill

Thou hast done to thy guest, me, thy sister, hast thou wronged more deeply still;

For this is the right of woman, so ever ’twas told to me,285

That if ever unto the shelter of a maiden a knight shall flee,

Then they who as foemen follow shall straightway leave their chase—

In such wise they ever bear them who would not their shield disgrace—

Now, Sir Vergulacht, that thy guest fled to me as his hope of life,

Hath loaded with shame thine honour, since thou aided, nor checked, thestrife!’290

Then Kingrimursel quoth sternly, ‘Yea, Sire, ’twas at thy command,

That on Plimiz?l’s plain I bade him, Sir Gawain, to seek this land.

On thy royal word safe conduct I sware him, that should he ride

Hither we twain were pledged him no evil should here betide,

Save but from one foeman only—Now, Sire, thou hast here done ill295

In that, spite of thine oath so knightly, thy word thou didst not fulfil.

And here shall my fellows hearing give judgment betwixt us twain,

If thus thou wrongest princes, what as king mayst thou hope to gain

From us of faith and honour?—If honoured thou fain wouldst be,

Then, courteous, make confession that near of kin are we;300

True cousin am I, no bastard, and e’en if such chance had been,

Even then, in this thy dealing, thou hadst done me a wrong, I ween!

A knight am I in whom no man hath found a taint of shame,

And I think me that free from falsehood, yea, to death will I guard my fame,

For in God have I ever trusted, and, methinks, He holds not in............