'Then the king and his men I prayed them, by what service I e'er had done, 405
They should loose me from stain of dishonour which I by his death had won,
And the knight should live, as I sware him.—Then the lady, his gracious queen,
I prayed by the bond of kinship, since my friend she hath ever been,
(From my childhood, King Arthur reared me and my love doth toward them flow,)
That she of her kindness help me—as I asked, it was even so, 410
For she drew on one side the maiden, and she spake to her soft and kind,
And it was thro' the queen, I wot me, that the knight did his pardon find.
Thus free from his guilt they spake him, yet his sin must he sorely rue,
For the life that was granted to him stern penance he needs must do.
With the hounds of the chase and the house-dogs from one trough he needs must eat 415
For the space of four weeks, thus the maiden found avenging as it was meet!'
'For this cause is he wroth with me, Lady'—'Yet his judgment it went astray,
If my love ne'er shall be thy guerdon, in such wise I'll his deed repay
That ere he shall leave my kingdom he shall count it to him for shame!
Since King Arthur avenged not the evil that was wrought on that maid's fair fame 420
It falleth unto mine office, and judge am I o'er ye twain,
Tho' who ye may be I know not, yet I to this task am fain!
And well shall he be chastisèd for the wrong that he did the maid,
Not for thine, for I ween such evil is better by blows repaid.'
To the mare now Sir Gawain turned him, and lightly he caught the rein, 425
And the squire he followed after, and the lady she spake again,
And in Arabic spake she to him, and she gave him to know her will—
Now hearken unto my story, how Sir Gawain he fared but ill:
Then Malcréature, he left them—and Gawain his horse beheld,
Too feeble it was for battle, the squire, as his way he held 430
Down the hill, from the peasant-owner had taken the sorry steed,
And Gawain for his charger must have it, tho' but ill it might serve his need.
In mocking and hatred spake she, 'Wilt still ride upon thy way?'
Quoth Gawain, 'I will take my journey e'en in such wise as thou shalt say.'
She quoth, 'Wilt abide my counsel? It shall reach thee I ween too late!' 435
Quoth he, 'Yet for that will I serve thee, tho' o'er-long I thy rede shall wait!'
Quoth she, 'Then a fool I think thee, for unless thou shalt leave this mind,
Then sorrow instead of gladness and repentance for joy thou'lt find!'
Then he quoth, of her love desirous, 'Yet thy servant I still abide,
If joy be my lot or sorrow, be thy love and thy will my guide. 440
Since thy love laid its spell upon me in thy bidding my law I see,
And ahorse or afoot I'll follow, I care not where'er it be!'
So stood he beside the lady, and awhile he beheld the mare,
Who to joust with such steed had ridden his gold were o'er-keen to spare!
For the stirrups of hemp were twisted, and ne'er had this gallant knight 445
Such saddle, I ween, bestridden, it would serve him but ill for fight.
For e'en as he looked upon it, he thought, 'If on that I ride,
The girths sure will break asunder, nor the saddle my weight abide!'
And so weak was the steed and ill-shapen, had one dared on its back to leap
Of a sooth would the back have broken—On foot he the road must keep! 450
And in this guise he took his journey: the horse by the rein he held,
And his spear and his shield he carried; and the lady his grief beheld,
And she mocked him with ringing laughter, fain was she to work him woe—
Then his shield on the mare he fastened, and she spake, 'In such guise wouldst go,
And carry thy wares thro' my kingdom? A strange lot is mine, I ween, 455
Since footman, and leech, and merchant in turn hath my comrade been!
Of the toll hadst thou best beware thee, or else, as thou goest thy way,
It may chance they who take the toll here on thy merchandise hands may lay!
And tho' sharp, I ween, was her mocking yet her words was he fain to hear,
Nor rued he the bitter speeches that rang sweet to his longing ear. 460
And as ever his eyes beheld her his sorrow it fled away,
For fair was she to his thinking as blossoms in month of May!
A delight of the eyes, and heart-sorrow, his gain and his loss was she,
And languishing joy did she quicken—Her freeman and captive he!
This hath many a master taught me, that Amor, and Cupid too, 465
And Venus, of both the mother, make all men their deeds to rue;
For with darts and with fire they kindle desire in the longing heart,
But such love seemeth me but evil that is lighted by torch or dart.
And the true heart it loveth ever, be its guerdon or joy or woe,
And in honour the love is rooted which alone shall abiding know! 470
'Gainst me have thy darts, O Cupid! I ween ever missed their mark,
Nor Amor with spear hath smote me, nor fell on my heart a spark
From the torch of thy mother Venus—Tho' love 'neath your rule shall be,
If love be my lot, not from passion but from faith shall it bloom for me!
And if I with wit and wisdom 'gainst love's spells might a hero aid, 475
Gawain had I gladly aided, nor asked that I be repaid.
And yet no shame need he think it if love's fetters him captive hold,
And if he of love be vanquished, for her captives are aye the bold.
And yet so strong was he ever, and so knightly, to face the foe,
That 'tis pity so brave a hero by a woman should be laid low! 480