Book XII · EIDEGAST, part 6 of 8

¶Then King Gramoflanz prayed of Gawain to ride unto Rosche Sabbin, 425 'For nearer methinks than the city no way o'er the flood thou'lt win!' But out quoth the gallant Gawain, 'I will back e'en as erst I came, But in all else thy will I'll follow.' Then they sware them by their fair fame That with many a knight and lady at Ioflanz they'ld meet for strife On the chosen day, and alone there would battle for death or life. 430

¶And on this wise Gawain he parted for awhile from the noble knight, And joyful he turned his bridle, and the bough decked his helm so bright. And he checked not his steed, but spurred it to the edge of the gulf once more, Nor Gringuljet missed his footing, but he sprang well the chasm o'er, And he fell not again, the hero--Then the lady she turned her rein 435 As he sprang to the ground, and tightened the girths of his steed again, And swiftly to give him welcome, I ween, she to earth did spring, And low at his feet she cast her, and she spake, 'I such need did bring Upon thee, Sir Knight, as I wot well was more than thy worth might ask, And yet have I felt such sorrow, for the sorrow of this thy task, 440 And the service that thou hast done me, as I deem she alone doth know Who loveth in truth, and, faithful, doth weep o'er her lover's woe!'

¶Then he quoth, 'Is this truth, and thy greeting be not falsehood in friendly guise, Then thyself dost thou honour, Lady! For in this shall I be so wise That I know a knight's shield claimeth honour, and thou didst against knighthood sin, 445 For so high doth it stand that from no man methinks doth he mocking win, Who as true knight hath ever borne him--This, Lady, I needs must say, Whoever had looked upon me had known me for knight alway, Yet knighthood thou wouldst deny me when first thou my face didst see, But henceforth that may rest--Take this garland I won at thy will for thee, 450 But I bid thee henceforth beware thee that never thy beauty bright Shall again in such wise mislead thee to dishonour a gallant knight, For I wot, ere such scorn and mocking again at thine hand I bore, Thy love thou shouldst give to another, I would ask for it nevermore!'

¶Then she spake as she wept full sorely, that lady so sweet and fair, 455 'Sir Knight, did I tell unto thee the woe that my heart doth bear, Thou wouldst own that full sore my sorrow--If I shall discourteous be, Then he whom I wrong may forgive me of true heart with forgiveness free. For of such joy no man can rob me as the joy that I lost awhile In that knight of all knights the bravest, Eidegast, who knew naught of guile! 460 So brave and so fair my true love, his fame was as sunlight's ray, And for honour he strove so truly that all others, in this his day, Both here and afar, born of woman, they owned that his praise stood high O'er that of all men, and no glory might e'er with his glory vie. A fountain, for aye upspringing, of virtue, his gallant youth, 465 And falsehood ne'er shamed his honour nor darkened the light of truth. Into light came he forth from the darkness, and his honour aloft he bore, That none who spake word of treason might reach to it evermore. From the root in a true heart planted it waxed and it spread amain, Till he rose o'er all men as Saturn doth high o'er the planets reign. 470 And true as the one-horned marvel, since the truth I am fain to tell, The knight of my love and desiring,--for whose fate maids may weep full well, Thro' its virtue I ween it dieth--And I, I was as his heart, And my body was he! Ah! woe is me, that I must from such true love part! And King Gramoflanz, he slew him, the knight thou but now didst see, 475 And the bough thou hast brought unto me from the tree of his ward shall be.'

¶'Sir Knight, did I ill-entreat thee, I did it for this alone, I would prove if thine heart were steadfast, and my love might to thee atone. I know well my words did wound thee, yet they were but to prove thee meant, And I pray thee, of this thy goodness, be thine anger with pity blent, 480 And forgive me the ill I did thee. I have found thee both brave and true, As gold that is tried in the furnace shineth forth from the flame anew, So, methinks, doth it shine, thy courage. He, for whose harm I brought thee here, As I thought me afore, and I think still, his valour hath cost me dear.'

¶Quoth Gawain, 'If awhile death spare me, such lesson I'll read the king 485 As shall put to his pride an ending, and his life in sore peril bring. My faith as a knight have I pledged him, hereafter, a little space, To meet him in knightly combat, nor our manhood shall we disgrace. And here I forgive thee, Lady, and if thou wilt not disdain My counsel so rough, I'll tell thee wherewith thou mayst honour gain, 490 What shall 'seem thee well as a woman, nor in aught shall unfitting be, Here we twain are alone, I pray thee show favour and grace to me!' But she quoth, 'In an arm thus mail-clad but seldom I warmly lay; Yet would I not strive against thee, thou shalt on a fitting day Win rewarding for this thy service--Thy sorrow will I bemoan, 495 Till thou of thy wounds art healèd and all thought of thine ill be flown; To Château Merveil I'll ride with thee.' 'Now waxeth my joy indeed!' Quoth the hero, of love desirous, and he lifted her on her steed, And close clung his arm around her: 'twas more than she deemed him worth When first by the spring she saw him, and mocked him with bitter mirth. 500

¶Then joyful Gawain he rode hence; yet the lady she wept alway, And he mourned with her woe, and he prayed her the cause of her grief to say, And in God's Name to cease from weeping! Then she quoth, 'I must mourn, Sir Knight, Because of the hand that slew him, the knight of my love, in fight; For that deed to my heart brought sorrow, tho' I naught but delight had known 505 When Eidegast's love rejoiced me; yet was I not so o'erthrown But since then I might seek his mischief, whatever the cost might be, And many fierce jousts have been ridden that were aimed at his life by me. And here, methinks, canst thou aid me, and avenge me on him, my foe, And repay me for this sore sorrow that my heart doth for ever know.' 510