To the castle court rode Gawain, and the goodly company 115
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 won 140
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 assuredly 145
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 recall 150
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