Book XIII · KLINGSOR, part 9 of 10

¶And they spake before King Arthur that the marshal of Gawain came, And his lord the same day would follow, and encamp him upon the plain. 'Twas the talk of all the vassals--Then Gawain, from falsehood free, Rode forth from his home and there followed a goodly company. And their train was so richly ordered that marvels I here might tell! 665 With church gear and chamber hangings the pack-steeds were burdened well; And some were with harness laden, and above the harness bare Full many a crested helmet, and shield that was blazoned fair. And many a gallant war-horse was led by the bridle rein, And behind them both knight and lady rode close in the glittering train. 670 Would ye measure the length? a mile long, methinks, had it stretched, and more, And Sir Gawain, I ween, forgat not that a gallant knight should draw His rein by the side of each lady, and ever of love they spake, Or one scant of wit had deemed them! And in this wise the road they take, The Turkowit, brave Florand, for companion upon his way 675 Had the daughter of Queen Arnivé, Sangivé of Norroway, And Lischois, who was ne'er unready, he rode at sweet Kondrie's side, And by Gawain the maid Itonjé, his sister, perforce must ride. At the same time the Queen Arnivé and the Duchess of fair Logrois Rode gaily the one by the other, for in such wise they made their choice. 680

¶Beyond the camp of King Arthur the tents of Gawain they lay, And they who were fain to reach them thro' the army must take their way. 'Twas a sight for all men to gaze at! Ere the folk to their journey's end Might come, of a courteous custom, to do honour unto his friend, Gawain by the tent of Arthur bade the first maiden take her stand, 685 Then the marshal so did his office that the second, to her right hand, And the third beside the second, should unto each other ride, And none of them all delayed them--So made they a circle wide, Here the matrons, and there the maidens, and by each of them rode a knight Who would fain do the lady service, and would for her favours fight. 690 And thus round the tent of the monarch stood the ladies, a goodly ring, And to Gawain, the rich in gladness, fair welcome would Arthur bring.

¶To the ground sprang Gawain and Arnivé, and her daughters with children twain, The Lady of Logrois, and the heroes he o'erthrew on the grassy plain, Lischois and the gallant Florand; then unto those heroes brave 695 Stepped Arthur from his pavilion, and a kindly welcome gave; And the queen, she greeted Gawain, and she welcomed him and his Of true heart, and from many a lady, I ween, was there many a kiss!

¶Quoth Arthur unto his nephew, 'Say, who shall thy comrades be?' Quoth Gawain, 'A kiss of greeting from my lady I fain would see, 700 'Twere ill an she should refuse it, for noble are both I ween.' Then Florand and the Duke of Gowerzein were kissed by the gracious queen.

¶Then into the tent they gat them, and to many the fair field wide Was as if it were full of maidens, so close stood they, side by side. Then not as the heavy-footed sprang Arthur upon his steed, 705 And he turned to the knights and the ladies in the ring with a kindly heed, And he rode from one to the other, and gracious the words he spake, From the lips of the king so kindly each one must his welcome take. For this was the will of Gawain that no man from hence should ride Till he himself rode with them, but courteous his coming bide. 710

¶Then the king would dismount, and straightway he entered the tent again, And he sat him beside his nephew, and straitly he prayed Gawain To say who were these five ladies, whom hither the knight did bring. Then Gawain he looked on the eldest and he spake to the Breton king, 'Didst thou know Uther Pendragon? 'Tis Arnivé, his queen and wife, 715 And well mayst thou look upon her, from the twain didst thou draw thy life. And there standeth the Queen of Norway, and I am the son she bare, And these twain they shall be my sisters; say, are they not maidens fair?'

¶Ah! then once again they kissed them, and sorrow and joy were seen Of all those who looked upon them, from Love this their lot had been; 720 And they laughed, and they cried together, and their lips spake of joy and woe, And I ween that with tears of gladness their bright eyes must overflow. Then Arthur he spake to Gawain, 'Nephew, unknown to me Is the fifth of these lovely ladies, I prithee who may she be?'

¶'The Duchess, is she, of Logrois,' quoth Gawain in his courtesy, 725 'In her service have I come hither, and, so it was told to me, Thou thyself hast sought her dwelling, and how it rejoiced thee there, Thou canst without shame declare us, as a widower dost thou fare.' Quoth Arthur, 'She doth, as her captive, thy kinsman Gaherjet hold, And Garel, who in many a conflict hath shown h'm a hero bold; 730 From my very side was he taken, one charge had we made so nigh That almost we gained the portal, when lo! from the gate did fly Meljanz of Lys! How he battled! On high flew a banner white And the host who fought beneath it took captive my gallant knight. And the banner it bare a blazon of crimson, a bleeding heart, 735 And right through the midst was it pierced by the shaft of a sable dart, As one who to death is smitten--'Lirivoin' was the battle-cry Of the army who fought beneath it, and their hand did the victory buy. My nephew, Iofreit, was taken, and grief for his sake I know-- Yestreen did I keep the rear-guard, and the chance it hath worked me woe!' 740

¶Sore mourned the king for his sorrow--quoth the Duchess, with courteous mien, 'Sire, I speak thee free of all shaming, I had greeted thee not, I ween. Thou mayst well have wrought me evil, tho' no wrong had I done to thee, And I would that God's wisdom teach thee that harm to make good to me. The knight to whose aid thou camest, if combat with me he dared, 745 Hath found me, methinks, defenceless, with side to the foeman bared. If yet for such strife he lusteth, nor of conflict hath had his fill, With never a sword or a weapon I think to withstand him still.' Then Gawain, he quoth to King Arthur, 'Wilt thou that we fill the plain With knights? For we well can do so--I think me such grace to gain 750 From the Duchess that all the captives from thine host she will swiftly free, And, many a new spear bearing, her knighthood we here may see.' 'Yea, such were my will,' quoth Arthur; then the Duchess she gave command, And many a gallant hero she summoned from Logrois' land-- And I wot well a host so goodly the earth ne'er had seen before-- 755 Then Gawain, he prayed leave of the monarch, he would to his tent withdraw, And the king's will was e'en as Gawain's, and all they who hither rode With the knight, they turned their bridles, and with him in his camp abode. And his tent was so rich and so goodly, as befitted a gallant knight, That afar from its costly trappings had poverty taken flight. 760