Book XIII · KLINGSOR, part 8 of 10

¶Gawain, by the mouth of Bené, his host Plippalinòt prayed 575 To hold vessel and boat in safe keeping that no crossing that day be made. And the maid from the hand of Gawain took the first gift of his rich store, 'Twas a swallow, the harp was costly, such as harpers in England bore.

¶Then joyful, she sought her father, and Gawain, he gave command To shut fast the outer portals, since a host at the gate did stand; 580 And old and young they listed the word that he courteous spake: 'On the further side of the river an army its camp doth make, And never, by land or by water, a mightier host I saw, Would they fight, then I pray ye help me my knighthood to prove once more!'

¶With one voice did they make the promise--Then they asked of the Duchess fair, 585 If the host should be hers? But she answered, 'Believe me, of all men there I know neither shield nor bearer; perchance he who wrought me ill Hath entered my land, and thought him to bow Logrois unto his will. He hath found it right well defended! My people might well defy, From their tower and their battlements lofty, e'en such army as here doth lie! 590 Hath he wrought there fresh deeds of knighthood, then King Gramoflanz sure hath thought To revenge himself for the garland that my knight from his tree hath brought. But whoever they be, I know well, they shall many a joust have seen, And many a spear at Logrois by mine army hath splintered been.'

¶And never a lie had she spoken--For Arthur must peril face 595 As he rode thro' the land of Logrois; and many of Breton race In knightly joust had fallen--But Arthur their ill repaid In the self-same coin, and on both sides sore stress on the host was laid.

¶Battle-weary, so came they hither of whom one full oft must hear That they sold their lives full dearly, and did never a foeman fear. 600 And either side had suffered, both Garel and Gaherjet, King Meljanz of Lys, and Iofreit, son of Idol, in durance set Ere even the end of the Tourney--From Logrois they captive bare The Duke of Vermandois, Friam, and Count Richard, he of Nevers, Who naught but one spear had needed ere he against whom he rode 605 Had fallen 'neath his stroke so mighty, and no man his joust abode. With his own hand King Arthur made him his captive, this gallant knight; Then, dauntless, they spurred them onward, and the armies they met in fight, And a forest, methinks, it cost them! For no man the jousts might know That were ridden, a rain of splinters fell thick at each mighty blow; 610 And the Bretons, they bore them bravely 'gainst the Lady of Logrois' host, And Arthur himself the rear-guard would keep at sore conflict's cost. And in this wise they fought and they vexed them through the hours of the livelong day, Till the greater part of the army outwearied with conflict lay.

¶And well might Gawain have told her, the Duchess, that to his aid 615 They had ridden her land, then, I wot well, no strife had their way delayed, But he would that no lips should tell her till her own eye the truth had seen-- Then he dealt as should well befit him had King Arthur his foeman been, And made ready to march against him with rich tents and warlike gear. And no man of them all repented that he came as a stranger here, 620 For with open hand Sir Gawain his gifts upon all did shower In such wise that ye might have deemed well he drew nigh to his dying hour. And servant, and knight, and lady, they looked on his gifts so fair, And all, with one mouth, they praised him who brought help in their sore despair;

¶And all, for his sake, were joyful--Then the hero he bade prepare 625 Strong chargers, and well-trained palfreys, such as well might a lady bear. Nor the knights should be lacking armour--Strong squires in coat of mail Were ready to do his bidding, nor should one of their number fail. And in this wise he gave his orders, four knights he aside did take: His chamberlain one; and another, cup-bearer he fain would make; 630 The third he would make his steward; and his marshal the fourth should be, For this was his prayer, and the four knights said 'Yea' to him willingly.

¶At peace lay King Arthur's army, and no greeting did Gawain send, Yet I wot well it sorely grieved him! With the morning the host did wend, With the blast of many a trumpet, their way unto Ioflanz' plain, 635 And the rear-guard was armed, yet no foeman did they find in their path again.

¶Then Gawain took his office-bearers, and in this wise to them he spake, The marshal, he bade him straightway to Ioflanz his way to take, 'There a camp of my own prepare me--The host that thou here didst see Shall unto that plain have ridden, and its lord will I name to thee, 640 For 'tis well that thou too shouldst know him, he is Arthur, my kinsman true, In whose court and whose care from my childhood I unto my manhood grew. Now do this thing in which I trust thee, rule my journey in such a wise, With such riches and pomp, that my coming be stately in all men's eyes; But within the walls of this castle no word of the truth be told-- 645 That the king for my sake cometh hither, this must thou for secret hold!'

¶So did they as Gawain bade them, and Plippalinòt he found Little space had he now for leisure, since his lord was on journey bound. For large and small his vessels, both boat and skiff, must fare O'er the water, and troops well armèd, ahorse and afoot they bare. 650 And the marshal the squires and footmen on the track of the Bretons led, And hither and thither riding behind them the army sped.

¶And they bare with them, so 'twas told me, the tent that in days of yore Fair Iblis had sent to Klingsor, as pledge of the love she bore. By the sending of this love-token their secret to men was told, 655 And the favour they bare each other in the days that have waxen old. And no cost had they spared who had wrought it, and no better was ever seen Save the tent of Eisenhart only--Then apart on the grass so green They set up the tent, and around it many others in goodly ring, And so great was the pomp and the riches that men deemed it a wondrous thing. 660