Chapter XI: Book VI: Arthur (2)

'And my thoughts to thy sire are turning; his country was
fair Anjou,
And he left thee far other heirdom (for his heart never
falsehood knew,)
Than the heritage thou hast won thee, and the crown of an
evil fame!
And could I but think thy mother had wrought here a deed of
shame 680
I had said that _his_ child thou wert not! Yet her faith it
but wrought her woe,
And of her naught but good be spoken! And thy father, as all
men know,
In his manhood was true and steadfast, and in many a distant
land
He won for him meed of honour, and his praise o'er all men
did stand.
For great heart and little falsehood as a roof did defend his
breast, 685
A dam 'gainst the flood of evil, and a home for his love to
rest.
And in manly strength and courage was his honour for aye held
fast,
But _thy_ truth it is turned to falsehood, and thine honour
to earth is cast!
Alas! for the day I heard it, alas! for the mournful tale,
That the child of fair Herzeleide in knighthood and faith
should fail.' 690
She herself was the prey of sorrow, and her hands did she
wring amain,
While the teardrops they chased each other down her cheeks
like a shower of rain.
And her eyes they gave faithful witness to the grief that her
bosom filled,
For of true heart she spake, the maiden, nor e'en then was
the sorrow stilled.

Then unto the king she turned her, and she spake 'Is there
here a knight 695
Who yearneth for love's rewarding, and for honour and fame
would fight?
For I know of four queens, and maidens four hundred, and all
are fair,
In Château Merveil is their dwelling; and like to the empty
air
Shall be all knightly ventures to the venture that Burg
within,
Yet he who shall face its peril, from true love shall his
guerdon win. 700
And tho' far be that Burg and distant, and weary and rough
the way,
Its walls must I seek if haply I reach them ere close of
day.'
And sad was the maid, not joyful, nor courteous she bade
farewell,
But weeping she gazed around her, and she cried as the
teardrops fell,
'Ah! woe unto thee, Monsalväsch, thou dwelling and goal of
grief, 705
Since no man hath pity on thee, or bringeth thy woe relief!'

Thus had the sorceress Kondrie, that maiden fierce and proud,
Wrought evil upon the Waleis, and his fame to the earth had
bowed.
Naught they helped him, his bold heart's counsel, his manhood
and knightly fame,
And high o'er all other virtues, the virtue of knightly
shame. 710
(For falsehood he ne'er had hearkened,) and true shame doth
rewarding bring,
And it crowneth the soul with honour as the circlet doth
crown a king.
And he who true shame doth cherish his work shall for ever
stand--
Then she lifted her voice o'er the maidens, the maiden of
fair Lalande,
And she wept for the words of Kondrie, and the sorrow of
Parzival, 715
For the fairest of men did she deem him; and swiftly the
teardrops fell
From the eyes of many a woman, for the sake of that hero
bold,
And they sorrowed at heart, and their weeping must many a
knight behold!

Now sorrow had Kondrie brought them; and e'en as her way she
went
Another must ride towards them on a warlike errand bent; 720
A knight of a haughty bearing, and his harness was fair to
see,
From his foot to the goodly helmet, and royal its cost must
be,
And richly plumed was the helmet; and, e'en as the man, the
steed
Was clad in such glittering armour as serveth for knightly
need.
And he found them, both man and maiden, heavy and sad at
heart, 725
As he rode nigh unto the circle; hear ye how he bare his
part--
Tho' his mien it was high and haughty, yet his heart it was
full of woe,
Of the twain shall ye learn the reason; thro' his manhood he
pride must know,
Yet grief to his heart taught mourning--Thus rode he unto the
ring,
Were it well he should come within it? Then squires to his
aid did spring, 730
And the gallant knight they greeted, yet were he and his
shield unknown,
Nor he doffed from his head the helmet, and sorrow was his
alone;
And his hand bare a sword unsheathèd, and he asked for those
heroes twain,
'Where are they whom I fain would speak with, King Arthur and
Knight Gawain?'

Then straight thro' the ring he passed him, and a costly coat
he bare, 735
And 'twas wrought of silk all shining, in Orient woven fair;
And before the host he halted as he sate there within the
ring,
And he spake aloud, 'God's favour be on thee, thou gracious
king,
And upon these knights and ladies--To all whom mine eyes here
see,
I offer, in greeting, service, yet be _one_ from my greeting
free; 740
For ne'er will I do him service, nay, rather I choose his
hate,
If ill-will he beareth to me, mine ill-will with his may
mate!'

'And 'twere well that I name him to ye. Alas! alas! woe is
me!
My heart he so sore hath wounded, mine anguish o'er-great
shall be!
And here doth he sit, Sir Gawain, whom all men were wont to
praise, 745
High standeth his fame, yet dishonour it ruleth, methinks,
his ways;
Since avarice to this betrayed him, in greeting my lord he
slew,
The kiss once by Judas given, it taught him such guile anew.
Many thousand hearts hath he wounded--'Twas murder base,
abhorred,
And he, upon whom he wrought it, erewhile was my dearest
lord. 750
An Sir Gawain would here deny it, true answer our strife
shall yield,
Forty days from to-day shall he meet me, and face me on
battlefield,
Before Askalon's king and ruler, in the city of Schamfanzon;
Thus I bid him in honour face me, and for conflict his armour
don.'

'And this grace shall he not refuse me, but thither his
shield shall bear; 755
And yet further shall he bethink him, by the helmet he
weareth fair,
And the life that a knight beseemeth, who two treasures in
pledge doth hold,
True shame, and a faith unwavering, and their fame shall be
new, as old.
But from shame may Gawain ne'er free him, if a knight of the
Table Round,
Whose heroes stand here before me, he thinketh he may be
found. 760
For its honour and fame are vanished, if false knight sit its
board beside--
Methinks ye have heard mine errand, and ye know I came not to
chide,
For here would I not blame, but battle, and death shall my
guerdon be,
An it be not a life of honour, that Good Fortune shall hold
for me!'

Then sad was the king and silent, yet answer at last he gave, 765
'Know, Sir Knight, that Gawain is my nephew, and myself would
the conflict brave
Ere his bones should lie dishonoured--If Good Fortune by
Gawain stand
In strife shalt thou well acknowledge, 'neath the might of
his strong right hand
That his body in faith he keepeth, and falsehood afar doth
hold.
If another hath done thee evil methinks art thou over-bold, 770
His shame dost thou speak too loudly, who never hath done
thee ill--
If he winneth, perchance, thine homage, and thou ownest him
guiltless still,
Yet hast thou in short space spoken such words of a blameless
knight
As have shamèd for aye thine honour, if this folk read the
thing aright!'

Then upsprang the proud Knight Beaucorps, brother to Gawain
he, 775
And he spake in his wrath, 'Wouldst thou fight him? Then
myself his pledge will be,
For thou speakest false of Gawain; and know that thy words of
shame
Have kindled anew within me fierce wrath's devouring flame.
An thou speakest not Gawain guiltless of all dishonour, I
Stand here to fight his battle, and to be his surety. 780
Think not by thy words of scorning to lower his lofty fame,
Unstainèd is Gawain's honour, and thy words are but words of
shame!'

Then he turned him to his brother, and he spake of true heart
and free,
'Bethink thee now, my brother, of all thou hast done for me,
Thou hast helped me unto the winning of fame, for thy toil's
reward 785
Bid me here to be hostage for thee, and bid me thine honour
guard.
If Good Fortune be here my portion, and I win here my meed of
fame,
Then _thine_ be the crown of honour, and thy foeman hath
naught but shame.'
By his knighthood and love as a brother he besought him right
earnestly;
Quoth Gawain, 'Now in sooth, my brother, too wise shall I
surely be 790
To hearken to thee, and to grant thee what thou askest of
right good-will;
What meaneth this strife, I wot not, and of fighting have had
my fill,
Of good-will would I ne'er deny thee what boon thou from me
shouldst crave,
Yet shame must I bear for ever if this conflict I fail to
brave!'

Yet Beaucorps he prayed him straitly--then out spake the
stranger knight, 795
'A man whom I ne'er have heard of now lusteth with me to
fight!
I spake not of _him_, and no evil, methinks, hath he done to
me.
Strong, gallant, and fair to look on, and faithful and rich
is he,
And well might he be my hostage, yet against _him_ no wrath I
bear--
My lord and my kinsman was he for whose death I this strife
declare, 800
And brothers twain were our fathers, as comrades and kinsmen
true;
And were he a crownèd monarch against whom my sword I drew,
By my birth might I give him battle, and vengeance of right
demand,
Of a royal race, and a princely, was I born in a distant
land.
And Askalon is my country, I am Landgrave of Schamfanzon, 805
Kingrimursel do they call me; if Gawain's fame be not outrun
No otherwise may he free him, but conflict with me must dare.
Yet safe-conduct throughout my kingdom, from all save my
hand, I swear,
In peace may he ride, and safety, to the field where I
vengeance claim;
God keep in His grace those I leave here, save one, and ye
know _his_ name!' 810

So passed he, the gallant hero, from the plain of Plimizöl,
And e'en as his name was namèd, all men knew Kingrimursel,
For the fame of this knight so valiant was known thro' the
far lands wide,
And it seemèd them well that to Gawain might ill thro' this
strife betide
When they thought of the strength and the manhood of this
knight who rode swift away. 815
And many must sorely vex them that no honour he won that day;
Yet full often a message cometh, I myself shall such venture
know,
Of such wise, that the guest who bears it, of his host must
ungreeted go!

From Kondrie they heard the tidings of Parzival's name and
kin,
How a queen, she had been his mother, and his sire was an
Angevin. 820
And they spake--''Twas at fair Kanvoleis, and the story we
know full well,
He served her with deeds of knighthood, and many a joust
befell,
And there by his dauntless manhood he won him that lady
bright;
And the noble Queen Anflisé, she taught him, that gallant
knight,
Such courtesy as befitted a hero of lineage high; 825
And no Breton but shall rejoice him, that his son now draweth
nigh,
For of him, e'en as of his father, may this tale of a truth
be told
That honour is his yoke-fellow, as she was of his sire of
old.'

Thus joy alike and sorrow came to Arthur's host that day,
And mingled, the life of the heroes, since the twain they
must have their way. 830
Upstood they all as one man, and all with one voice they
wept,
And the bravest knights among them within the circle stept,
And they looked on Gawain and the Waleis where each by the
other stood,
And they wove them fair words of comfort to pleasure the
heroes good.

But Klamidé the king bethought him that the loss which should
be his share 835
Was greater than that of another, and too sharp was his pain
to bear,
And to Parzival he quoth thus, 'If the Grail thee for lord
must own,
Yet still would I mourn my sorrow, and of true heart my woe
make known.
For the kingdom of Tribalibot, and Kaucasus' golden strand,
Whatsoe'er shall be writ of riches in Christian or paynim
land, 840
Yea, even the Grail and its glory, they had failèd the hurt
to cure
Which at Pelrapär was my portion, or the grief that I here
endure!
Ah me! Of all men most wretched am I since thy valiant hand
Of joy and of blessing robbed me!--See the princess of fair
Lalande,
Know thou that this noble lady she keepeth such faith with
thee, 845
That no service else she craveth, and none other knight will
she;
Yet well might she crown his service who served her for love
alone!
And that I am so long her captive, methinks may she well
bemoan.
If my joy thou to life wouldst quicken, then give me thine
aid, I pray,
And teach her herself to honour in such wise that her love
repay 850
In a measure the ill thou didst me, and that which thro' thee
I lost,
When the goal of my joy fled from me and my pathway by thee
was crossed,
But for thee, I, methinks, had reached it, and if thou art
foeman true
Thou wilt help me with this fair maiden, and my gladness
shall wax anew!'

'Right gladly will I,' quoth the Waleis, 'if so be she will
grant my prayer, 855
For fain would I bring thee comfort, since _mine_ is that
maiden fair
For whose sake thou sore didst sorrow, my wife and my queen
is she,
Kondwiramur, the fairest of all women on earth that be!'
Then the heathen Queen of Ianfus, King Arthur, and Guinevere,
Kunnewaaré of Lalande, and Jeschuté of Karnant, who these
words must hear, 860
Came near with sweet words of comfort--what would ye they
should do more?
Kunnewaaré they gave to Klamidé, who yearned for her love so
sore,
And he gave her, as her rewarding, himself, his body fair,
And a queenly crown and golden henceforth on her head she
bare!

Quoth the heathen unto the Waleis, 'Kondrie a man hath named, 865
Whom thou as in truth thy brother, rejoicing, might well have
claimed;
For far and wide he ruleth in the power of a double crown,
And alike by land and water men in fear to his hand bow down.
And Assagog is one kingdom, Zassamank shall the other be,
Two mighty lands and powerful from fear and from weakness
free. 870
And naught shall be like his riches save those the Baruch
doth own,
Or those of far Tribalibot, he is worshipped as God alone!
A marvel his skin to look on, and like unto none his face,
For 'tis black, and 'tis white, as his parents, who sprang of
a diverse race.
Thro' one of his lands I journeyed as hither I took my way, 875
And full fain had he been my wanderings in a far-off land to
stay.
Yet but little his will prevailèd, tho' I am his near of kin,
The cousin unto his mother, and _he_ is a mighty king!
Yet hear thou more of his prowess; his saddle no man may keep
Who rideth a joust against him, and fame doth he richly reap. 880
And no gentler knight or truer e'er lay on a mother's breast,
And falsehood it fleeth from him, and truth in his heart doth
rest.
Yea, true and fair in his dealings is Feirefis Angevin,
And women he serveth duly, tho' he pain thro' his service
win!'

'Tho' all men to me were strangers, yet hither I came to know 885
What ventures of gallant knighthood a Christian land might
show;
And of all Heaven's gifts the highest, I ween, shall thy
portion be,
And Christendom winneth honour thro' the praise it doth give
to thee.
And thine is a noble bearing, and fair is thy form and face,
And in thee beauty mates with manhood, and strength doth thy
youth embrace!' 890
(Both rich and wise was the heathen, and of wisdom she token
gave,
In the French tongue her speech was holden.) Then out spake
the hero brave,
And he quoth, 'God reward thee, Lady, who thinkest to comfort
me,
Yet sorrow it fast doth bind me, and the cause would I tell
to thee,
For the shame that has here befallen think not I shall
lightly bear, 895
And here many sin against me, who give to my plaint no ear,
The while I must list their mocking!--No joy shall my portion
be
Or long or short be my wanderings, till the Grail once again
I see!
For my soul's unrest constrains me, and it driveth me on my
way,
Nor so long as my life endureth shall my feet from their
wanderings stay!' 900

'If a courteous and knightly bearing but bringeth rewarding
still
In shame, and in this world's mocking, then methinks I was
counselled ill!
For 'twas Gurnemanz who bade me of questions rash beware,
And from words and ways unfitting a courteous knight forbear.
Here standeth full many a hero, I pray ye give counsel true, 905
By your courtesy and knighthood, that your grace I may win
anew.
Here hath judgment been passed upon me with bitter words and
strong--
Who withholdeth from me his favour, I deem not he doth me
wrong;
If perchance, in the days hereafter, fame and honour my lot
shall be
Then according to those my dealings, I pray ye to deal with
me; 910
But now must I haste far from ye--An oath have ye sworn me
here
While I stood in the strength of mine honour; of that oath do
I hold ye clear
Till the day I have won me payment for my fresh joy waxed wan
and pale;
And my heart shall be home of sorrow, nor tears to mine eyes
shall fail,
For the day that at far Monsalväsch my labour I left undone, 915
And myself from all joy I severed, and woe for my guerdon
won.
Ah God! they were fair, those maidens! and ne'er was there
wonder tale
That men told, but as naught its marvels to those of the
wondrous Grail!
Yet torment so sore, and sighing, are the lot of Its king,
alas!
Small good hath my coming done thee, thou hapless Anfortas!' 920

Nor longer the knight might linger, but part they must alway,
So turned he unto King Arthur, and leave he fain would pray
Of him, his knights, and ladies, with their favour would he
depart,
And none, I ween, but sorrowed that he rode hence sad at
heart.

Hand in hand King Arthur sware him, if henceforth his land
should bear 925
Such woe as Klamidé brought him, then the shame he with him
would share,
And he spake that full sore it grieved him that crowns and
kingdoms twain,
With the riches that were their portion, Lähelein from the
knight had ta'en.
And service both true and faithful many sware unto him that
day,
Ere yet from the court of King Arthur, sorrow-driven, he
passed away. 930

Then the fair maid Kunnewaaré, she took the hero bold,
And hence by the hand she led him, and in this wise the tale
is told,
Sir Gawain he turned and kissed him, and he spake out in
manly wise
To the hero strong and gallant: 'Now thou ridest in warlike
guise,
And thy feet shall be swift to battle--God guide thee upon
thy way, 935
And give me such strength to serve thee as my heart shall be
fain alway.'

But Parzival cried, 'Woe is me! Who is He, this mighty God?
Had He power, then methinks our portion had ne'er been this
shame abhorred!
Small power shall be His! I served Him from the day I first
knew His grace,
Henceforth I renounce His service; doth He hate me, His hate
I'll face! 940
And, friend, in thine hour of peril, as thy shield may a
_wife's_ love stand,
Dost thou know her for pure and holy, then the thought of her
guide thine hand,
And her love from all evil guard thee,--as I wish, may it be
to thee,
For little I wot of the future, if thy face I again may see!'

And their parting it brought them sorrow, for comrades in ill
were they. 945
With the maiden Kunnewaaré, to her tent must he take his way.
And she bade them bring his harness; with her hands so soft
and white,
She bound the armour on him who had served her as faithful
knight.
And she spake, ''Tis my right to do this, since it is thro'
thy deed alone
That Brandigan's gallant monarch now claimeth me as his own. 950
For otherwise thy valour but bringeth me grief and pain,
Art thou not against sorrow armèd, then thy loss shall
outweigh my gain!'

For battle decked was his charger, and his sorrow must wake
to life,
And fair was the knight to look on; and the harness he bare
for strife
Knew never a flaw, but was costly, and as sunshine 'twas
white and fair, 955
And radiant with gold and jewels the corslet and coat he
ware,
But the helmet alone was lacking--ere he bound it upon his
head,
In the self-same hour he kissed her, Kunnewaaré, the gracious
maid.
And this of the twain was told me, that the parting was sore
to see
'Twixt those two who loved each other in all honour and
loyalty. 960

So hence let him ride, our hero, and what ventures a man may
tell
He shall measure them not with the ventures that to Gamuret's
son befell.
Yet hear ye awhile of his doings, where he journeyed and
whence would ride--
He who loveth not deeds of knighthood, if counsel he take of
pride
For awhile will forget his doings--On thee, Kondwiramur, 965
On thy fair face and lovely body, thy lover thought evermore.
What ventures he dared in thy service as knightly the Grail
he sought!
Nor tarried he in the seeking but onward his way he fought,
The child of fair Herzeleide, and knew not that he was heir
To the glories that he rode seeking, to the Grail and Its
palace fair! 970

Then forth went full many a vassal on a toilsome and weary
way,
To gaze on the wondrous castle where in magic fetters lay
Four hundred gracious maidens, and four queens, right fair to
see.
Château Merveil was the castle; and no hate shall they earn
from me,
I grudge them naught they may win there! No woman rewardeth
me, 975
For she to whom I do service, from payment hath set me free!

Then out spake the Greek, Sir Klias, 'Yea, there was I
overthrown!'
(And thus in the ears of all men did he frankly the truth
make known)
'For the Turkowit he thrust me from my charger unto my shame;
And four queens who there lie captive the knight unto me did
name; 980
And old are the twain, and the others as yet they shall
children be,
And the first maid is called Itonjè, and the second shall be
Kondrie,
And the third she is named Arnivè, and Sangivè the fourth is
hight!'
Then fain to behold the wonders of that castle was many a
knight,
Yet their journey brought little profit, for sorrow o'ertook
them there. 985
Yet I mourn not o'ermuch for their sorrow; for he who would
labour bear,
And strife, for the sake of a woman, for guerdon shall
gladness know,
Tho' grief shall be mixed with his gladness, and his joy
shall be crossed with woe.
And I know not the which shall be stronger, or if sorrow
shall joy outweigh,
But so runneth the world for ever, where Frau Minne she
holdeth sway! 990
Now Gawain he must make him ready, and he girded his armour
on,
For the strife that afar should wait him, in the kingdom of
Askalon.
And sad was many a Breton, and ladies and maidens fair
Of a true heart did they bemoan them that Gawain must to
conflict fare.
And orphaned and reft of glory henceforth was the Table
Round. 995
Then Sir Gawain he well bethought him, since victor he would
be found,
And he bade the merchants bring him good shields both hard
and light,
And little he recked their colour so they served his need in
fight.
On laden mules they brought them, and methinks that they sold
them dear;
And three did he take as his portion--and the hero he chose
him here 1000
Seven chargers well fit for battle, and he chose him as
friends so good
Twelve spears of sharp steel of Angram, and the hilts were of
hollow wood.
They were reeds grown in heathen marshlands, Oraste Gentesein
their name.
Then Gawain he prayed leave, and rode forth, dauntless, to
seek him fame,
And with royal hand, for his journey, King Arthur he gave the
knight 1005
Red gold, and rich store of silver, and jewels gleaming
bright,
And heavy the weight of his treasure--Then the hero rode
swift away,
And I ween 'twas towards sore peril that his pathway must
lead that day.

Then she sailed to her distant kingdom, the young Queen
Ekuba,
I speak of the heathen princess; and they scattered to lands
afar 1010
The folk who awhile abode there, on the fair plain of
Plimizöl;
And King Arthur and all his courtiers they gat them to
Karidöl.
Yet first they prayed leave, Klamidé and Kunnewaaré of fair
Lalande,
And Duke Orilus and his lady, Jeschuté of Karnant.
Yet till the third day with Klamidé in the plain did the
twain abide, 1015
And the marriage-feast was holden ere yet from the place they
ride.
Yet small was the pomp; in his kingdom, I ween, should it
greater be.
And free was his hand and knightly, and he dealt right
courteously,
For many a knight at his bidding henceforth must his man
remain,
And many a wandering minstrel did he gather within his train, 1020
And he led them into his kingdom, and in honour, rich gifts,
and land
He gave unto them, nor churlish would any refuse his hand.

Now Duke Orilus and Jeschuté, to Brandigan the twain would
fare
For the love that unto Klamidé and Kunnewaaré they bare.
For they thought them that fitting honour to their sister
they scarce had done 1025
Till as queen they had seen her crownèd, and set on the royal
throne.
Now I know well if wise the woman, and true of heart she be,
Who seeth this story written, of a sooth will she own to me
That better I speak of women than I spake of _one_ erewhile;
For true was fair Belakané, and free from all thought of
guile, 1030
For dead was her love, yet lifeless he still o'er her heart
did reign.
And a dream filled fair Herzeleide with torment of fear and
pain.
And Queen Guinevere bewailed her full sorely for Ither's
death,
(And little I grudge her mourning, for no truer knight e'er
drew breath).
And I wot when King Lac's fair daughter rode forth such a
shameful ride 1035
Then sorely I mourned the sorrow that, guiltless, she must
abide.
Sore smitten was Kunnewaaré, and torn was her golden hair;
Now the twain they are well avengèd, and glory for shame they
bear!

And he who doth tell this story, he weaveth his ventures
fair,
And he knoweth right well to rhyme them, in lines that break
and pair. 1040
And fain were I more to tell ye, an she give to my words good
heed
Who treadeth with feet far smaller than the feet that shall
spur my steed!

BOOK VII

OBILOT

ARGUMENT

The poet will now for a while recount the adventures of Gawain; whom many have held to be as valiant a knight as Parzival.

Book VII. tells how Gawain fell in with the army of King Meljanz of Lys, who would fain avenge himself on Duke Lippaut, whose daughter had scorned his love. How Gawain came to the beleaguered city of Beaurosch; how Obie scorned him; and how Obilot besought him to be her knight. How the heroes fought before the walls of Beaurosch, and of the valiant deeds of Gawain and the Red Knight. How Gawain took Meljanz of Lys captive; how Obilot made peace betwixt Obie and Meljanz, and how Gawain rode forth from Beaurosch.