“The mercy that thou prayst for, thou shalt have,” Sir Jaufry said; “but upon certain terms: first, thou shalt go to good King Arthur's court, there yield thyself a prisoner; he will take such vengeance on thee as his honour claims.”
“That will I do; but now, for Heaven's sake, permit the leech to bind me up this wound.”
“No leech shall come, nor e'er shalt thou uprise, till, by St. Thomas, thou hast let go free the knight who's bound to yonder cruel stake, and all the captives thou hast ever made.”
“Do as thou wilt, my lord, with them and me.” Jaufry at once did sheathe his own good blade and take the sword of Taulat. Then he allowed the squire to fetch the leech, who probed his master's hurt and washed the wound with water and white wine, when on a couch he had him gently laid, and borne within the gates.
Jaufry meanwhile set free the wounded knight; and having extorted from the captive lords their promise that they'd hasten to Carlisle, and to King Arthur this affair relate, he was about to leave them to God's care, when the wounded knight,—lord paramount of all those gentlemen,—most humbly to him said:
“Good sir, to you I yield, and with my person offer men and lands. Most nobly have you won all this and more, in freeing me from all the pangs I've borne for seven weary years. So great those pangs, so cruel was my lot, better for me had death relieved my woes. Taulat, without a cause of enmity, hath tortured me full long; but now, by God's grace, and, sir knight, by yours, at length his reign is o'er.”
“Good lord,” responded Jaufry, “pray retain your having; naught do I wish for your deliverance, save that, with these brave knights, you do proceed to good King Arthur's throne, and there explain you owe your liberty to Dovon's son.”
The knight such promise gave; when Jaufry, calling for his horse, which all prepared they brought, while Augier's daughter mounted by his side, he took of all farewell, and then set out for the fair damsel's home; his thoughts, in sooth, turning to Brunissende, towards whom he felt his heart most sweetly drawn.
When he had gone, Taulat returned the knights their steeds and arms, and, by the compact made, departed in their train for fair Carlisle. There they arrived upon the eleventh day. The worthy king gave audience to a dame, who, bathed in tears, her castle was to lose within a week, if she no champion found to meet her foe. When he had listed to her dolorous words, the king aggrieved replied:
“Lady, were Gawain here, most willingly would he defend your cause; but he is not: nor have I Dovon's son, nor Ivan bold, nor any of the braves of my Round Table. If of the knights who here surround my throne, there's standing one who'll venture your defence, great is the honour that shall be his meed.”