Book II · HERZELEIDE, part 2 of 10

¶Then he threw his leg o'er his charger, that hero so bold and fair, And boots did he wear of leather, or else had his limbs been bare. And his mouth it was e'en as a ruby, and red, as a fire doth burn, And full, not too thin; fair his body wherever the eye might turn; 80 And fair was his hair and curling, and wherever one saw the skin I ween 'twas as costly cover as ever a head might win. And of samite green was his mantle, and the sable shone dark thereon Tho' white was his vest, and the gazers they came in a goodly throng. And many must ask the question, 'Who was he, the beardless knight 85 Who rode with such pomp of riches?' Then the tale it was spread aright, For they spake it as truth who knew it--So they drew to the bridge anear The folk of the town, and his people; and so bright was the radiance clear That shone from the queen that it thrilled him thro' his strong limbs, that goodly knight, And he braced himself as a falcon that plumeth its wings for flight, 90 And the lodging he deemed it goodly; so thought he that hero wise; And his hostess with joy beheld him, the lady of fair Waleis!

¶Then the king of Spain he heard it, how there stood on the open plain The tent that at Rassalig's bidding Gamuret as his prize did gain At Patelamunt, and the tidings a knight to his lord would bring-- 95 Then he sped as a deer, joy's vassal I ween was the gallant king! And thus spake the knight, 'Thy kinsman, and the son of thine aunt I saw, And with pomp and in state as aforetime, so to-day doth he hither draw; There are floating a hundred pennons full fair by his knightly shield, And around his high pavilion they stand on the grassy field, 100 And green as the grass the pennons, and the hero bold doth bear Three anchors of snow-white ermine on every sendal fair.'

¶'Hath he come here arrayed for battle? Ah! then shall men see straightway How he spurreth him swift to the onslaught, how he striveth in knightly fray! Long time hath the proud King Hardeiss his anger against me shown, 105 Here in joust shall Gamuret fell him, and good fortune shall be mine own!'

¶Then straightway he sent a message to Gaschier, the Norman knight, Where he lay with many a vassal; and Killirjacac the fair and bright, For here had they come at his bidding--The twain at King Kailet's side Towards the fair pavilion with a goodly following hied. 110 And Zassamank's king was joyful, for he held them dear at heart: And the time over-long had seemed them since they must from each other part, This they spake of a true heart truly--And the king he was fain to know What knights should be here for the Tourney, who valour and skill should show. Then spake unto him his kinsmen, 'From distant lands they came, 115 The knights whom love's power hath brought here, many heroes of dauntless fame.'

¶'Here Uther Pendragon fighteth, and with him his Breton host; One grief as a thorn doth vex him, his wife hath the hero lost, The queen who was Arthur's mother; a clerk who all magic knew With him hath she fled, and Arthur doth after the twain pursue; 120 'Tis now the third year since he lost them, his son alike and wife-- And here is his daughter's husband, a hero well skilled in strife, King Lot is his name, of Norway--swift seeketh he knighthood's prize, But slow are his feet to falsehood, the knight so bold and wise. And here is his young son Gawain; as yet he too weak shall be 125 For any deed of knighthood--but now was the boy with me, And he spake, were he not too feeble a spear-shaft as yet to break He were fain to do deeds of knighthood, in the Tourney his part would take! His lust for strife waketh early! Here Patrigalt's king hath brought Of spears a goodly forest; yet their valour shall be as naught 130 When weighed against the gallant doings of the men of Portugal, Yea, bold we in truth may call them, and shields do they pierce right well. And here are the men of Provence, with many a blazoned shield; And here the Waleis, to their onslaught the foemen perforce must yield, And they ride at their will thro' the combat, for men of the land are they. 135 Many fight here for love's rewarding whose title I may not say, But all whom I here have named thee now lie, and the truth I tell, At great cost here within the city, for so the queen deemed it well.'

¶'And without on the plain they hold them who deem their prize lightly won, Proud Arragon's haughty monarch, and the brave king of Askalon. 140 Eidegast, he is there from Logrois, and the King Brandelidelein (The monarch is he of Punturtois), there too is bold Lähelein. And Morhold is there of Ireland, many pledges that knight hath ta'en; And many a haughty German doth camp on that battle plain. To this country the Duke of Brabant hath come thro' the King Hardeiss; 145 The king of Gascony gave him his sister the fair Aleiss, (Yet his service ere that won payment) wrath against me those princes drew: Now I trust thee to think of our kinship--For love's sake do me service true!' Quoth the king of Zassamank, 'Cousin, no thanks would I have from thee Whate'er I may do for thine honour, my will e'en as thine shall be. 150 Doth thine ostrich yet stand un-nested? Thou shalt carry its serpent's head 'Gainst thy foeman's demi-gryphon, my anchor shall swift be sped, And find in his onslaught landing; himself shall a haven seek Behind his steed on the gravel! If our wrath we be fain to wreak, And ride one against the other, I fell him, or he felleth me-- 155 On my knightly faith as a kinsman this word do I swear to thee!'

¶Then Kailet he sought his lodging, and his heart it was gay and light. Then arose on the plain a war-cry, 'fore the face of two gallant knights, They were Schyolarz of Poitou, and Gurnemanz of Graharz, On the plain did they meet together; ere the eventide might pass 160 The knights in their troops they rode forth, here by six and there by three, And they did gallant deeds of knighthood--nor otherwise might it be.