Book XIV · GRAMOFLANZ, part 8 of 11
¶Quoth Arthur, 'Fair niece, thou saidst truly, he greeteth thee without guile 605 Such tale doth this letter tell me that never, at any while, Have I found of true love such marvel! His grief shalt thou put away, As he too shall cure thy sorrow, so do thou thy weeping stay, And trust unto me, this combat shall be hindered--Yet say thou here, Thou wert captive, how hath it chanced then that ye hold each other dear? 610 Thou shalt give him thy fair love's payment, that he do thee service true.'-- Spake Itonjé, 'See, here she standeth who us twain together drew, Our love, it had else been hidden--If thou will that I now may see Him whom my heart desireth she will summon him unto me!'
¶Quoth Arthur, 'Now, show her to me; if I may, I this thing will guide 615 That your will shall be done, and hereafter ye twain shall in joy abide!' Quoth Itonjé, ''Twas none but Bené; and two of his squires are here, If thou wilt, do this thing, (for I think me my life shall to thee be dear,) Thou shalt see that the king cometh hither, that he looketh upon my face In whom all my joy is hidden, and my life shall be in his grace!' 620
¶Then Arthur, the wise and courteous, would speak with the squires without, He greeted them as he saw them, and boldly the one spake out, 'Sire, King Gramoflanz, he prays thee, for thine honour as knight and king, That the oath sworn 'twixt him and Gawain thou wilt to fulfilment bring. And further, Sire, he prays thee that none other with him shall fight, 625 So great is thine host, must he face all, methinks it would scarce be right! But Gawain shalt thou send against him, for he willeth no other foe, And Gawain alone hath he challenged, as thyself thou shalt surely know!'
¶Quoth King Arthur unto the pages, 'I will free us from blame alway, And sorely it grieved my nephew that he fought not the strife to-day. 630 And the knight who fought with your monarch, to victory was he born, The son of Gamuret is he--Three armies are here this morn, And from many a land came they hither, but never a man hath seen In combat so brave a hero, and glorious his deeds have been. He is Parzival, my kinsman, ye shall see him, the fair of face,-- 635 For the faith and the need of Gawain will I do to the king this grace.'
¶Then King Arthur and maiden Bené, with the squires they rode here and there, And in sooth those squires they looked on full many a lady fair, And they saw on the jewelled helmets many proud crests and knightly wave, And few for such sight shall vex them, for he who is rich as brave 640 Full many a friend he findeth! They 'lighted not from their steed, And the bravest men of the armies that lay camped on the flowery mead King Arthur would show unto them, they might gaze on them at their will, Knights, ladies, and gentle maidens, of beauty they saw their fill!
¶In three portions it lay, the army, and two spaces there were between-- 645 Then away from the camp rode King Arthur, far out on the plain so green, And he quoth, 'Now sweet maiden Bené, her plaint didst thou hear alway, Itonjé, the child of my sister, her weeping she will not stay. These my comrades who ride beside me, if they will, they may well believe Of her beauty their king hath robbed her, so sorely the maid doth grieve! 650 Now help me, ye twain, and thou, Bené, that the king he shall hither ride, E'en to-day, tho' the strife to-morrow he may, if he will, abide. I will bring Gawain to meet him on the plain, as he prayed but now-- If he cometh to-day to mine army 'gainst the morn is he armed I trow, For Love such a shield shall give him that his foeman may ill withstand 655 The courage that Love doth kindle, and that nerveth anew the hand. And his princes shall he bring with him, for here would I do as best Doth lie in my power that the Duchess shall hearken to my behest, And peace shall be sealed between them--Now strive ye, my comrades dear, With skill for such happy ending, 'twill be to your honour here. 660 And further I make my mourning, wherein shall have been my sin That I wrought 'gainst your king that he beareth, in such measure, against my kin, Both love alike and hatred? Methinks, he doth hold us light! Another king, mine equal, had thought more of this my right. Doth he think to repay with hatred her brother, who loves him well? 665 If his heart such thought shall teach him, then he knoweth not true Love's spell!'
¶Quoth one of the squires to King Arthur, 'What my king did to thee of ill, That, Sire, shall he do no longer, for courteous shall he be still. But thou knowest well the old hatred, and 'twere better the king should stay Within his camp, I think me, than ride to thine host to-day. 670 Of the same mind is still the Duchess, that she counteth him for her foe, And maketh her plaint against him, as many a man doth know!' 'With but few folk shall he come hither,' quoth Arthur, 'the while I'll pray Of that high and noble lady that her anger she put away. And an escort good I'll send him, Beau-corps, my sister's son, 675 Shall meet him half-way, and his journey shall under my care be done. Nor as shame shall he look upon it, for brave men and true I'll send'-- Then leave did they take of King Arthur, and their way to the camp they wend.
¶Alone did they leave the monarch, and Bené and the pages twain Rode swiftly unto Rosche Sabbins, on the further side of the plain. 680 'Twas the fairest day of his life-time, so thought the joyful king, When his squires and the maiden Bené such tidings to him might bring. And e'en as he hearkened to them his heart spake, in sooth to-day Good Fortune had thought upon him, and his sorrow was put away!
¶Then he spake, 'He would come, right gladly,' and he chose to him comrades three, 685 A prince of his land was each one who bare the king company. Brandelidelein, his uncle, with his nephew was fain to ride, Affinamus of Clitiers, and Count Bernard of Riviers rode beside. And each man he chose another who should be for such journey meet, And twelve in all might ye reckon who rode hence the king to greet. 690 And many a squire went with them, and many a footman strong, Well armèd, as should befit them, did unto the train belong.