'The Duchess, is she, of Logrois,' quoth Gawain in his courtesy, 725
'In her service have I come hither, and, so it was told to me,
Thou thyself hast sought her dwelling, and how it rejoiced thee there,
Thou canst without shame declare us, as a widower dost thou fare.'
Quoth Arthur, 'She doth, as her captive, thy kinsman Gaherjet hold,
And Garel, who in many a conflict hath shown h'm a hero bold; 730
From my very side was he taken, one charge had we made so nigh
That almost we gained the portal, when lo! from the gate did fly
Meljanz of Lys! How he battled! On high flew a banner white
And the host who fought beneath it took captive my gallant knight.
And the banner it bare a blazon of crimson, a bleeding heart, 735
And right through the midst was it pierced by the shaft of a sable dart,
As one who to death is smitten—'Lirivoin' was the battle-cry
Of the army who fought beneath it, and their hand did the victory buy.
My nephew, Iofreit, was taken, and grief for his sake I know—
Yestreen did I keep the rear-guard, and the chance it hath worked me woe!' 740
Sore mourned the king for his sorrow—quoth the Duchess, with courteous mien,
'Sire, I speak thee free of all shaming, I had greeted thee not, I ween.
Thou mayst well have wrought me evil, tho' no wrong had I done to thee,
And I would that God's wisdom teach thee that harm to make good to me.
The knight to whose aid thou camest, if combat with me he dared, 745
Hath found me, methinks, defenceless, with side to the foeman bared.
If yet for such strife he lusteth, nor of conflict hath had his fill,
With never a sword or a weapon I think to withstand him still.'
Then Gawain, he quoth to King Arthur, 'Wilt thou that we fill the plain
With knights? For we well can do so—I think me such grace to gain 750
From the Duchess that all the captives from thine host she will swiftly free,
And, many a new spear bearing, her knighthood we here may see.'
'Yea, such were my will,' quoth Arthur; then the Duchess she gave command,
And many a gallant hero she summoned from Logrois' land—
And I wot well a host so goodly the earth ne'er had seen before— 755
Then Gawain, he prayed leave of the monarch, he would to his tent withdraw,
And the king's will was e'en as Gawain's, and all they who hither rode
With the knight, they turned their bridles, and with him in his camp abode.
And his tent was so rich and so goodly, as befitted a gallant knight,
That afar from its costly trappings had poverty taken flight. 760
And there rode unto his pavilion full many whose hearts were sore
For the weary days since he left them, and the love they to Gawain bore.
And the wounds of Kay had been healèd since he jousted by Plimizöl,
And he looked on the wealth of Gawain, and with envy his heart was full,
And he quoth, 'Now, King Lot, his father, my monarch's near of kin, 765
Ne'er thought with such pomp to shame us, nor a camp of his own would win.'
(For ever did he bethink him how Gawain would no vengeance take
On the knight who so sorely smote him, when his right arm in joust he brake,)
'God worketh for some His wonders,—Who gave Gawain this woman folk?'
And the words they were scarce a friend's words that Kay in his anger spoke. 770
Of the honour his friend hath won him the true knight is ever glad,
But the faithless, aloud he crieth, and his heart ever waxeth sad
When the heart of his friend rejoiceth, and he needs must his gladness see.
Bliss and honour had fallen to Gawain; and, if one would more favoured be,
I know not what thing he may wish for! Thus ever the evil mind 775
Is with envy filled, while the brave man his comfort and joy doth find
When honour shall seek his comrade, and shame from his face doth flee—
Gawain ne'er forgat his knighthood, and from falsehood was ever free;
And thus it was right and fitting that men on his bliss should gaze,
And gladness and fair rejoicing henceforward should crown his days. 780
In what wise for the folk that followed did the knight of Norway care,
Alike for his knights and ladies? Not ill was, methinks, their fare.
And Arthur and all his people they looked on King Lot's fair son,
And I trow well they greatly marvelled at the riches his hand had won.
Now the evening meal was ended, and 'twas time for the folk to sleep, 785
And little I grudge their slumber! A guard thro' the night they keep,
And lo! at the early morning, ere the dawning had waxed to-day,
Came a folk in goodly armour, and the men of Logrois were they.
And they read their helmet's token by the light of the waning moon,
On this side lay the host of Arthur, and his camp had they passed full soon, 790
And they came to the goodly circle where Gawain and his men should lie—
And, methinks, who such gallant succour by the might of his hand could buy
Were reckoned of men a hero! Then Gawain bade his Marshal find
A place for the host to camp on, but, such was their leader's mind,
He deemed it best that their circle apart from the rest should be, 795
And 'twas even the hour of noontide ere all were lodged fittingly.
Then Arthur, the noble monarch, a message would straightway send;
Unto Rosche Sabbins, and the city, a squire on his way should wend
To King Gramoflanz should he speak thus, 'Since conflict the king doth pray,
And he lusteth to fight my nephew, the strife shall he not delay, 800
For Sir Gawain is fain to meet him—But bid him to meet us here,
As a gallant man do we know him, were he other, 'twould cost him dear!'
And the messenger of King Arthur he rode on his errand fain—
Then forth, with Lischois and Sir Florand, rode the gallant knight, Gawain,
And he prayed them to show them to him who from many a land afar 805
Had ridden for love's high service, and had fought in his lady's war.
And he met them and gave them greeting in such wise that the heroes knew
Sir Gawain for courteous lover, and faithful knight and true.
With that again he left them, and in secret his way he sped,
And he gat him again to his chamber, and he armed him from foot to head; 810
He would know if his wounds were healèd so that never a scar should pain,
And his limbs would he test, since so many, both maiden and man were fain
To look on the strife, had they wisdom they should see if his dauntless hand
Might even to-day, as aforetime, the victor's crown command.
A squire did he bid to bring him his charger, Gringuljet, 815
And he sprang to the saddle lightly and the horse to a gallop set.
He would try both himself and his charger, if ready for strife the twain—
Ah! woe is me for his journey! so rode he upon the plain,
And so had his Fortune willed it, that a knight his bridle drew
By the side of the river Sabbins, and ye know that knight so true, 820
And a rock, men well might call him, for manhood and courage high,
And no knight might stand before him, and falsehood his heart did fly.
And yet so weak was his body that no burden it bare of wrong,
Yea, a hand's-breadth had been too heavy, and a finger-length too long!
And, I ween, of this gallant hero of old time ye oft must hear, 825
For my tale hath come to its root-tree, and draweth its goal anear.