Now he who his rest had broken, if rest he perchance might win,

Methinks they who hear the story had counted it him for sin.

For, e’en as the venture telleth, sore toil had the hero known,

And in sooth did he face such peril that his fame thro’ all lands hath flown.

Lancelot on the sword-bridge battled, and Meljakanz must sue for grace,5

Yet as naught was I ween his danger to the woe that Gawain must face.

And that which is told of Garel, the valiant and knightly king,

Who o’erthrew the lion ‘fore the palace and made Nantes with his daring ring—

And he sought the knife too, Garel, but he paid for his deed full dear

In the pillar of marble—greater was the venture ye read of here!10

For the darts that were shot against Gawain, as his manly courage bade,

For a mule were too great a burden if they all on its back were laid!

The Perilous Ford hath its dangers; and Erec must sorrow know,

When for Schoie-de-la-kurt he battled, and Mabonagrein would fain lay low,

Yet ne’er had he faced such peril as fell here to knight Gawain.15

Nor Iwein, the gallant hero, who water would pour amain,

Nor feared of the stone the venture—Were these perils all knit in one,

He who knoweth to measure danger saith Gawain greater deeds had done!

What peril is this I tell of? If ye will, I the woe will name,

Or too early perchance the telling? Swift-foot Orgelusé came,20

And straight to the heart of the hero hath she taken her silent way,

That heart that hath ne’er known trembling, that courage hath ruled alway.

And how came it so stately lady might hide in so small a space?

For narrow I ween was the pathway that led to her resting-place.

And all sorrow he knew aforetime was as nought to this bitter woe,25

And a low wall it was that hid her when his heart did her presence know

In whose service he never faltered, but was watchful as he was true.

Nor find ye here food for laughter, that one who ne’er terror knew,

A hero so brave in battle, should yield to a woman’s hand.

Alas! woe is me for the marvel that no man may understand!30

And Frau Minne she waxeth wrathful ‘gainst him who the prize hath won,

Yet dauntless and brave hath she found him, and shall find him, till life be done.

Who harm on a wounded foeman shall work doth his honour stain,

Yet in strength ‘gainst his will did Love bind him, and it turnèd to him for gain.

Frau Minne, wouldst have men praise thee? Then this will I say to thee,35

This strife shall be not to thine honour, since sore wounded Gawain shall be.

And ever throughout his life-days has he lived as thou didst command,

And he followed in this his father, and the men of his mother’s land.

For they yielded thee loyal service since the days Mazadan was king,

Who Terre-de-la-Schoie from Fay-Morgan in thy service did gallant bring.40

And this do men tell of his children, no man from his fealty fell.

And Ither of Gaheviess bare it, thy badge, and he served thee well;

And never in woman’s presence did one speak of the hero’s name

But their hearts yearned in love towards him, and they spake it, nor thought it shame,

How then when they looked upon him? Then the tale first was told aright!45

Frau Minne, a faithful servant didst thou lose in that gallant knight!

Slay Gawain if thou wilt, as his cousin Ilinot by thine hand was slain,

Since thy power with the bitter torment of desire did the knight constrain,

Till he strove for the love of his lady all the days of his fair young life,

Florie of Kanedig was she, and he served her in many a strife.50

And he fled from the land of his fathers in the days of his youth’s unrest,

And was reared by this queen, and Britain ne’er saw him but as a guest.

And the burden of Love weighed on him, and from Florie’s land he fled,

Till the day that in true love’s service, as I told ye, men found him dead.

And often the kin of Gawain thro’ love have known sorrow sore,55

And of those by Frau Minne wounded could I name to ye many more.

And why did the snow and the blood-drops move Parzival’s faithful heart?

’Twas his wife wrought the spell, I think me! Yea, others have known thine art,

Galoes and Gamuret hast thou vanquished, and in sooth hast thou laid them low,

And the twain for their true love’s guerdon must the death of a hero know.60

And Itonjé, Gawain’s fair sister, must love Gramoflanz the king,

And grieve for her love; and sorrow, Frau Minne, thou once didst bring

On fair Surdamur and her lover: since thou sufferest not Gawain’s kin

To seek them another service, so on him wouldst thou honour win!

Be mighty towards the mighty but here let Gawain go free,65

His wounds they so sorely pain him, and the hale should thy foemen be!

But many have sung of love’s working who never so knew love’s power,

For myself, I would hold me silent—But true lovers shall mourn this hour

What chanced unto him of Norway, for the venture he faced right well,

And now, without help or warning, love’s tempest upon him fell!70

Quoth the hero, ‘Alas, for restless my resting-place shall be,

One couch did so sorely wound me, and the other hath brought to me

Sore torment of love and longing! Orgelusé must favour show

Unto me her true knight and servant, or small joy shall my life-days know!’

As unresting he turned, and he stretched him, the bands from his wounds were torn,75

So restless he lay and wakeful awaited the coming morn.

And at last the day shone on him, and many a battlefield

And sword-strife more rest had brought him than the rest which his couch might yield.

Would one liken his woe unto Gawain’s, and be e’en such a lover true,

Of his love-wounds let him be healèd, and then smitten by darts anew,80

And methinks he shall find that the sorrow and torment shall vex him more

Than all the sum of the sorrow he hath borne for love’s sake before!

Nor love’s torments alone vexed Gawain—Ever clearer it grew, the light,

Till dark seemed the lofty tapers that erstwhile had shone so bright.

Then up sprang from his couch the hero, and as blood, and as iron, red85

With wounds, and with rust, was his linen, yet beside him he saw outspread

Hosen and shirt of woollen, and the change pleased our hero well,

And robes lined with fur of the marten, and a garment that o’er them fell,

(In Arras its stuff was woven, and from Arras ’twas hither sent,)

And boots had they lain beside it, none too narrow for his content.90

In these garments anew he clothed him, and forth from the chamber went

Gawain, and hither and thither his steps thro’ the palace bent,

Till he found the hall of his venture, no riches he e’er had known

To liken unto the glories within this fair castle shown.

And there at one side of the palace a narrow dome he found,95

And it rose high above the building, and a staircase within it wound,

And above stood a shining pillar; nor of wood was it shapen fair,

But so large and so strong that the coffin of Kamilla it well might bear.

And Klingsor, the wise, he brought it from the kingdom of Feirefis,

And his cunning and skill had fashioned both the hall and the stair I wis!100

No tent might so round be fashioned; did the Master Geometras will

To raise such a work he had failèd, for unknown to his hand the skill.

’Twas magic alone that wrought it—The venture it bids us know

Of diamond, amethyst, topaz, carbuncle with red-fire glow,

Of chrysolite, emerald, ruby, and sardius, the windows tall,105

That each one like to the other encircled this wondrous hall.

And rich as the window columns, and carven, the roof o’erhead,

And herein was a greater marvel than all marvels ye yet have read;

For, the vault below, no pillar was like to that column fair

That stood in the midst of the circle, and wondrous the power it bare,110

For so the venture telleth—Gawain fain would gaze around,

And alone did he climb the watch-tower, and precious the jewels he found.

And he saw there a greater wonder, and the sight never vexed his eye,

For he thought him upon the column all the lands of the earth did lie.

And he saw the countries circle, and the mighty mountains’ crest115

Meet, e’en as two hosts in battle, as one vision the other pressed.

And folk did he see in the pillar, and on horse or afoot they went,

They ran, and they stood: in a window he sat him on seeing bent.

Came the agèd Queen Arnivé, with Sangivé her child, and there

Were two maidens, the gentle daughters that Sangivé erewhile did bear.120

And the four queens they came unto Gawain, and he saw them and sprang upright;

And thus quoth the Queen Arnivé, ‘Methinks thou shouldst sleep, Sir Knight,

For though rest may no longer please thee, thou art wounded too sore, I trow,

That thou further toil and labour shouldst yet for a season know!’

Quoth the knight, ‘Lady mine and my mistress, since thy wisdom hath brought to me125

My wit, and my strength, all my lifetime thy servant I fain would be!’

Quoth the queen, ‘If I so may read them, the words thou didst speak but now,

And thou ownest me as thy mistress, then Sir Knight, to my bidding bow,

And kiss at my will these ladies, as thou mayest, without thought of shame,

Since nor mother nor maid before thee but a kingly birth may claim!’130

Then glad was Gawain at her bidding, and he kissed those ladies three,

And Sangivé was first, then Itonjé, and the third was the fair Kondrie.

And the five sat them down together, and Gawain saw those maidens twain,

Their face and their form so gracious, and he looked, and he looked again;

Yet one woman so worked upon him, for yet in his heart she lay,135

That their beauty by Orgelusé‘s he deemed but a cloudy day.

For he held with the Lady of Logrois none other might well compare,

And his heart and his thoughts were captive to this lady so sweet and fair.

Now ’twas done, and Gawain had been greeted with a kiss by those ladies three,

And so fair were they all that I wot well their beauty would fatal be140

To a heart that was yet unwounded—Then he spake to the elder queen,

And he prayed her to tell of the pillar, and the marvels he there had seen.

Quoth Arnivé, ‘By day and by night-time that pillar, I ween, doth throw

Its light for six miles around it, so long as its power I know.

And all that within that circuit doth chance on its face we see,145

In water, or on the meadow, and true shall the vision be.

The bird and the beast we see here, the guest and the woodman true,

He who to this land is a stranger, or its ways of aforetime knew.

Yea, all may we find within it, and it shineth for six miles round;

And so fast and so firm it standeth none moveth it from the ground,150

And no hammer shall ever harm it, and no smith hath, I ween, the skill.

’Twas stolen from Queen Sekundillé, I think me, against her will!’

Now Gawain he saw at this moment on the column a goodly pair,

A knight with a lady riding, and he thought him the maid was fair,

And clearly and well he saw them—and armed were both steed and knight,155

And his helmet was plumed and jewelled, and it gleamed in the morning light.

And they rode at a hasty gallop thro’ the defile out on the plain:

Tho’ I wot well he little knew it, yet they rode but to seek Gawain!

And they came by the self-same pathway that Lischois he rode afore,

The proud knight whom Gawain had vanquished, and in joust from his charger bore.160

And the lady she held the bridle of the knight who to joust would ride,

And the sight to Gawain brought sorrow, and swiftly he turned aside,

And behold! ’twas no lying vision, for without on the grassy plain

By the river rode Orgelusé, and a knight at her side drew rein.

E’en as hellebore within the nostril pierceth sharp, and a man doth sneeze,165

Thro’ his eye to his heart came the Duchess, and she robbed him of joy and ease!

Alas! I wot well ‘gainst Frau Minne all helpless shall be Gawain—

Then he looked on the knight who rode there, and he spake to the queen again,

‘Lady, a knight I see there, who rideth with well-aimed spear,

Nor will cease from the goal he seeketh—Well! I ween he may find it here,170

Since he craveth some deed of knighthood I am ready with him to fight,

But say, who shall be the maiden?’ she quoth, ”Tis the lady bright

Who is Duchess and queen of Logrois,—Now ‘gainst whom doth she bear ill-will?

For the Turkowit rideth with her, and unconquered shall he be still.

With his spear such fame hath he won him, as were riches for kingdoms three,175

And against a hand so valiant ’twere best not to venture thee;

For strife is it all too early, and thou shalt be hurt too sore,

And e’en wert thou whole I should rede thee to strive with him nevermore!’

Quoth Gawain, ‘If indeed I be lord here then he who so near shall seek

Deeds of knighthood, shall shame mine honour if vengeance I fail to wreak.180

Since he lusteth for strife, O Lady, thou shalt give me mine armour here!’

Then the ladies, the four, bewailed them with many a bitter tear:

And they quoth, ‘Wilt thou deck thy glory? wilt thou greater honour know?

Strive not now, shouldst thou fall before him then greater shall wax our woe.

But e’en if thou be the victor, if thou girdest thine harness on185

Thou must die who so sore art wounded, and with thee are we all undone!’

Gawain, he was sorely anguished, and the cause have ye heard aright,

For he counted himself dishonoured by the coming of such a knight

And his wounds, they must sorely pain him, yet love’s torment it vexed him more,

And the grief of these four fair ladies, and the love they towards him bore.190

Then he bade them to cease from weeping, and harness and sword he craved,

And his charger; and those fair women they led forth the hero brave.

And he bade them go forth before him, and adown the steps they wind

To the hall where the other maidens so sweet and so fair they find.

Then Gawain for his perilous journey was armed ‘neath the light of eyes195

Tear-dimmed, and they secret held it, and none knew save the merchant wise.

And they bade him the steed make ready, and the hero he slowly stept

To the place where his charger waited—nor light on its back he leapt,

But scarcely his shield might he carry, for in sooth was he wounded sore.

And thro’ centre and rim was it piercèd, and traces of battle bore!200

Then again he bestrode his charger, and he turned from the Burg away,

And he rode to his host so faithful; and never he said him Nay,

But all that he asked he gave him, a spear both strong and new,

(Many such had, I ween, been his tribute from that plain where they jousted true,)

Then Gawain bade him ship him over, in a ferry they sought the shore,205

And the Turkowit, who high courage and the thought of sure victory bore;

For so well against shame was he armèd that ill-deeds from before him fled,

And his fame was so high accounted, that they made of the sward their bed

Who would ride a joust against him—From their charger they needs must fall,

And of those who had faced his valour, his spear had o’erthrown them all.210

And this was the rule of the hero, that by spear-thrust, and no sword-blade,

Would he win to him fame in battle, or his honour be prostrate laid.

And to him who should face his onslaught, and o’erthrow him, the self-same day

Would he yield, nor defend him further, but would give him his pledge straightway.

And thus heard Gawain the story from him who the pledge did hold,215

For his pledge Plippalinòt took there, when the tale of the joust was told.

Did one fall while the other sat still, with goodwill of the heroes twain

Did he take that which one must forfeit, and the other methinks should gain,

Of the charger I speak, hence he led it, for he deemed they enough had fought.

Who was victor, and who the vanquished, from the Burg were the tidings brought,220

For the women, they looked on the jousting, and many a conflict saw.

Then he bade Gawain seat him firmly, and the charger he led to shore,

And his shield and his spear he gave him—and the Turkowit swiftly came

As one who his joust can measure, nor too high nor too low his aim.

And Gawain turned his horse against him—of Monsalv?sch, Gringuljet,225

And it answered unto the bridle, and his spear ‘gainst the foe he set.

Now forward!—the joust be ridden—Here rideth King Lot’s fair son,

Undaunted his heart—Now know ye where the helm hath its fastening won?

For there did his foeman strike him; but Gawain sought another aim,

And swift thro’ the helmet’s visor with sure hand the spear-point came,230

And plain to the sight of all men was the fate of the joust that day,

On his spear short and strong the helmet from his head Gawain bare away,

And onward it rode, the helmet! But the knight on the grass lay low,

Who was blossom and flower of all manhood till he met with such mighty foe.

But now he in joust was vanquished, and the jewels from his helm were seen235

To vie with the dew on the herbage and the flowers on the meadow green.

And Gawain, he rode back unto him, and his pledge did he take that day,

And the boatman he claimed the charger, who was there should say him Nay?

Thou art joyful, and yet hast small reason,’ spake the lady of Gawain’s love,

(As of old were her words of mocking,) ‘Since wherever thy shield doth move240

The lion’s paw doth follow—And thou thinkest fresh fame to gain

Since the ladies have looked on thy jousting—-Well thou mayst in thy bliss remain,

Since the Lit Merveil hath dealt gently and but little harm hath wrought!

And yet is thy shield all splintered as if thou hadst bravely fought—

Thou art doubtless too sorely wounded to yearn for a further fray?245

And such ill to the ‘Goose’ be reckoned, that I called thee but yesterday.

So eager wert thou to vaunt thee, as a sieve hast thou piercèd thro’

Thy shield, one would deem it riddled with the darts that toward thee flew.

But to-day mayst thou well shun danger—If thy finger shall wounded be

Ride hence to the maids of the castle, for well will they care for thee!250

Far other strife were his portion, to whom I a task would give,

Did thine heart yet yearn for my favour, and thou wouldst in my service live!’

Quoth Gawain to the Duchess, ‘Lady, tho’ deep were my wounds I trow

They ere this have found help and healing—If such help I from thee might know

That thou, gracious, wouldst own my service, no peril would be so great,255

But I, for thy love and rewarding, the issue would gladly wait!’

Quoth she, ‘Then shalt thou ride with me new honour perchance to gain!’

Then rich in all joy and contentment was that valiant knight Gawain—

And the Turkowit went with the boatman, and he bade him the tidings bear

To the Burg, and there pray the maidens to have of the knight good care.260

And his spear it was yet unsplintered, tho’ both horses they spurred amain

To joust, his right hand yet held it, and he bare it from off the plain.

And many a maiden saw him, and wept as he rode away.

Quoth Arnivé, ‘Our joy and comfort hath chosen to him to-day

A joy for the eyes and a sorrow for the heart, yea, both flower and thorn,265

Alas! that he rides with the Duchess, since he leaveth us here forlorn.

To the Perilous Ford he rideth, and his wounds sure shall work him ill!’

(Maids four hundred must weep for his going, yet new tasks would he fain fulfil.)

But yet tho’ his wounds they pained him, his sorrow had taken flight

When he looked upon Orgelusé, so fair was her mien and bright.270

Then she quoth, ‘Thou shalt win me a garland of fresh leaves from off a tree,

And I for the gift will praise thee—If thou doest this deed for me

Thou shalt find in my love rewarding!’ Then he quoth, ‘Wheresoe’er it stand,

The tree that shall bring such blessing as reward unto this mine hand,

If I not in vain bemoan me, but win hearing for this my grief,275

Then thy garland, tho’ death it bring me, shall lack not a single leaf!’

And tho’ many a blossom bloomed there yet their colour it was as naught

To the colour of Orgelusé, and Gawain on her beauty thought

Till it seemed him his grief of aforetime and his anguish had fled away—

And thus with her guest did she journey a space from the Burg that day,280

And the road it was straight and easy, and it led thro’ a forest fair,

And Tamris I ween and Prisein were the names that the trees did bear,

And the lord of the wood was Klingsor—Then Gawain the hero spake,

‘Say, where shall that garland blossom which the spell of my grief shalt break?’

(In sooth he had best o’erthrown her, as oft shall have chanced I trow285

To many a lovely lady.) Then she quoth, ‘Thou shalt see the bough

Whose plucking shall win thee honour!’ O’er the field ran a deep ravine,

And so near did they ride to the chasm that the tree from afar was seen.

Then she quoth, ‘Now, Sir Knight, one guardeth that tree who my joy hath slain,

If thou bring me a bough from off it, no hero such prize shall gain290

As from me shall be thy rewarding! And here must I hold my way,

Nor further may I ride with thee; but make thou no more delay,

God have thee in His safe keeping! Thine horse must thou straightway bring

To the gulf, and with sure hand urge it o’er the Perilous Ford to spring.’

So still on the plain she held her, and on rode the gallant knight,295

And he hearkened the rush of water that had riven a path with might

Thro’ the plain—it was deep as a valley, and no man its waves might ford;

Then Gawain spurred his steed towards it, and he sprung o’er the flood so broad,

And yet but the charger’s fore-feet might light on the further side,

And they fell in the foaming torrent; and the lady in anguish cried,300

For swift and wide was the water; yet Gawain he had strength enow,

Tho’ heavy the weight of his armour, for he saw where there grew a bough

That hung o’er the foaming torrent, and he grasped it, for life was dear,

And he gained on the bank a footing, and he drew from the waves his spear.

Up and down the stream swam the charger, and Gawain to its aid would go,305

Yet so swift was the rush of the water he followed with pain its flow,

For heavy I ween his harness, and his wounds they were deep and sore:

Then he stretched out his spear as a whirlpool bare the charger towards the shore—

For the rain and the rush of the waters had broken a passage wide,

And the bank at the place was shelving, and the steed swept towards the side—310

And he caught with the spear its bridle, and drew it towards the land

Till the hero at last might reach it and lay on the rein his hand.

And Gawain, the gallant hero, drew his horse out upon the plain,

And the steed shook itself in safety, nor the torrent as prize might gain

The shield—Then he girt his charger, and the shield on his arm he took:315

And if one weepeth not for his sorrow methinks I the lack may brook,

Tho’ in sooth was he in sore peril—For love he the venture dared,

For the fair face of Orgelusé, his hand to the bough he bared.

And I wot, ’twas a gallant journey, and the tree it was guarded well,

He was one, were he twain, for that garland his life must the payment tell.320

King Gramoflanz, he would guard it, yet Gawain he would pluck the bough.

The water, men called it Sabbins, and the tribute was harsh enow

That Gawain would fetch when both charger and knight did the wild waves breast.

Tho’ the lady was fair, I had wooed not! To shun her methinks were best.

When Gawain erst the bough had broken and its leaves in his helm did wave,325

Uprode a knight towards him, and his bearing was free and brave.

Nor too few were his years nor too many; and in this he his pride had shown,

What evil so e’er befell him he fought not with one alone,

Two or more must they be, his foemen! So high beat his gallant heart,

That whate’er one might do to harm him unscathed might he thence depart.330

To Gawain this son of King Ir?t a fair ‘good-morrow’ gave,

’Twas King Gramoflanz—‘To the garland that doth there in thine helmet wave

I yield not my claim!’ thus quoth he, ‘Sir Knight, were ye two I trow,

Who here for high honour seeking had reft from my tree a bough,

I had greeted ye not, but had fought ye, but since thou alone shalt be,335

Thou canst ride hence, for strife unequal I deem it a shame to me!’

And Gawain, too, was loth to fight h............