Book XIII · KLINGSOR, part 5 of 10

¶'And this will I further rede thee, make thou thy request to me Where I sit, and, amid my ladies, thy dealings may hear and see; And beseech us, as well thou knowest, for thy lord wouldst thou hearing gain. 325 But say, for as yet I know not, where abideth the knight Gawain?' 'Nay,' quoth the squire, 'I may not, ask not where my lord doth dwell, But think, an thou wilt, that good fortune is his, and he fareth well!' Then glad was the squire of her counsel, and he took from the queen his way In such wise as ye here have hearkened, and he came, e'en as she did say. 330

¶For e'en at the hour of noontide, not in secret but openly He came to the court, and the courtiers his garments eyed curiously, And they thought that they well beseemed him, and were such as a squire should wear, And his horse on each flank was wounded, where the spurs they had smitten fair. And, e'en as the queen had taught him, he sprang straightway unto the ground, 335 And a crowd of eager courtiers pressed, thronging, his steed around. Mantle, sword, and spurs, e'en his charger might be lost, he would little care But he gat thro' the crowd to the heroes, and the knights they besought him there, Brought he news of some gallant venture? For the custom was aye of yore, That they ate not, nor man nor maiden, save unto the court they bore 340 The news of some deed of knighthood, and the court might claim its right, If so be 'twas a worthy venture, and one that beseemed a knight. Quoth the squire, 'Nay, I naught may tell ye, for my haste doth not brook delay, Of your courtesy then forgive me, and lead to the king the way, For 'tis meet that I first speak with him, and mine haste it doth work me ill; 345 But my tale shall ye hear, and God teach ye to aid me with right goodwill!'

¶And so did his message urge him he thought not on the thronging crowd, Till the eyes of the king beheld him, and greeting he spake aloud. Then he gave to his hand the letter that bade to King Arthur's heart, As he read it, two guests, joy and sorrow, alike there the twain had part 350 And he spake, 'Hail! the fair day's dawning, by whose light I have read this word, And of thee, O son of my sister, true tidings at last have heard! If in manhood I may but serve thee as kinsman and friend, if faith Ever ruled my heart, 'twill be open to the word that Sir Gawain saith!'

¶Then he spake to the squire, 'Now tell me if Sir Gawain be glad at heart?' 355 'Yea, sire, at thy will, with the joyful I ween shall he have his part,' (And thus quoth the squire in his wisdom,) 'yet his honour he sure shall lose, And no man fresh joy may give him, if thine aid thou shalt here refuse. At thy succour his gladness waxeth, and from out of dark sorrow's door Shall grief from his heart be banished, if thou hearken his need so sore. 360 As of yore doth he offer service to the queen, and it is his will That the knights of the good Round Table as their comrade account him still, And think on their faith, nor let him be 'spoiled of his honour's meed, But pray thee his cry to hearken, and make to his aid good speed!'

¶Quoth King Arthur, 'Dear friend and comrade, bear this letter unto the queen, 365 Let her read therein, and tell us why our portion hath twofold been, And at one while we joy and we sorrow. How King Gramoflanz is fain In the pride of his heart, and his malice, to work ill to my knight, Gawain; He thinketh for sure that my nephew shall be Eidegast, whom he slew, Thence grief hath he won; deeper sorrow I'ld teach him, and customs new!' 370

¶Then the squire he would pass where a welcome so kindly he did receive, And he gave to the queen the letter, and many an eye must grieve, And with crystal tears run over, as with sweet lips she read so clear The words that within were written, and the need of Gawain they hear, And his prayer did she read before them; nor long would the squire delay 375 With skill to entreat the ladies, and aid at their hand to pray.

¶King Arthur, Sir Gawain's uncle, he wrought with a hearty will That his vassals might take the journey: nor did she abide her still, Guinevere, the wise and the courteous, for she prayed them make no delay, Her ladies, but bravely deck them, and get on their stately way. 380 Quoth Kay aloud in his anger, 'If ever I dared believe That so gallant a man as Gawain of Norway on earth should live I would cry to him, "Come thou nearer!" Fetch him swift, else he swift will go, As a squirrel away he flasheth, and is lost ere his place ye know!'

¶To the queen quoth the squire, 'Now, Lady, my lord must I swiftly seek, 385 His cause do I leave to thine honour!' To her chamberlain did she speak, 'See thou that this squire doth rest well, and look well unto his steed, Is it hewn with spurs, find another, the best that shall serve his need. And what else beside shall fail him, for his dress, or lest pledge he lose, Make ready as he shall ask thee, and naught unto him refuse!' 390 And she quoth, 'Thou shalt say unto Gawain, I am ever to serve him fain, Thy leave from the king will I care for, he greeteth thy lord again!'

¶Thus the king he was fain for the journey; and the feast it might now be served, Since the right of the good Round Table by this venture was well observed; And joy in their hearts awakened, since this gallant knight Gawain 395 Should be yet in life, and true tidings they might of his welfare gain. And the knights of that noble order, that even were glad at heart, And there sat the king, and those others who had in the ring their part, And they sat and they ate with their monarch who fame by their strife had won, And the news of this gallant venture wrought joy to them every one. 400