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 on 185
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 eyes 195
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 Monsalväsch, 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 seen 235
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 move 240
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.)