Book III · GURNEMANZ, part 3 of 13

¶Then spake this flower of all knighthood, 'Say, boy, did they pass thy way? Two knights who have shamed their knighthood, nay, robbers I ween are they, For they bear a maiden with them, and she rideth against her will!' Yet the boy, tho' he spake with a man's tongue, as a god must account him still; 170 For he thought how Queen Herzeleide had told him that God was Light And dwelleth in Light for ever; and so to his dazzled sight This knight, in his shining armour in the glow of the summer's day, Was the God of his mother's lesson, and he knelt him again to pray.

¶But the prince he spake full gently, 'Fain am I to do God's will, 175 And yet for no God I hold me, but a sinful mortal still. Nay, wert thou more clear of vision, thou wouldst see, an thou sawest aright, No Lord of the host of Heaven, but only a humble knight!'

¶'Knight?' quoth the boy in answer, 'Nay! I wot not what that may be, Is thy strength not of God, but of knighthood, then I would such were given to me!' 180 'Then wend thy way to King Arthur, an thou camest unto his court, A noble knight he would make thee, ashamed and afeared for naught, For sure, now I look upon thee, thou com'st of a noble strain.' Then his knights they turned their bridles, and gazed at the boy again. Full well might they look and wonder, at the work that God's Hand had wrought, 185 For they say, who tell this story, that never could human thought Have dreamed of aught so goodly, since ever the world began, For of all men beloved by women, was there never so fair a man! Loud they laughed as the boy spake further, 'Good knight, what may these be? These rings that so close around thee, above and below I see.' 190 Then he handled, with curious finger, the armour the knight did bear, His coat of mail close-linkèd as behovèd a knight to wear; And he spake as he looked on the harness, 'My mother's maidens string On their chains, and around their fingers, full many a shining ring, But they cling not so close to each other as these rings that here I see, 195 I cannot force them asunder, what good are they then to thee?'

¶Then the prince drew forth from its scabbard his shining blade so keen, 'Now see, he who fights against me, must withstand my sword I ween, And lest he, on his part, should slay me, it is fit that with mail and shield, I ward me against his spear-thrusts, and the blows that his arm may wield.' 200 Swiftly the lad made answer, 'Little good would it do the deer An their coats were e'en such as thine is, they would fall still beneath my spear.'

¶Full wroth were the knights and scornful that their lord thus long had talked With this lad with the face of an angel, and the speech as of one distraught; Then the prince he spake full gently, 'God keep thee in His good grace, 205 I would that my shield's bright mirror might show me as fair a face! Nay, an the Giver of all gifts but gave thee wit enow To match with a mien so goodly, full rich wert thou then I trow! May He keep all sorrow from thee, and thy life be a summer's day--' And with that he turned his bridle, and wended once more his way. 210 Then adown the woodland pathway they rode, till they came full soon Where the carles of Queen Herzeleide toiled hard thro' the sultry noon: The fields must they plough and harrow, if a harvest they hoped to reap, So they goaded the patient oxen to their toil on the hillside steep.

¶Then the prince he gave them 'Good-morrow,' and asked if there passed that way 215 A maiden in need and sorrow? and they dared not to say him nay; But they answered him e'en as he prayed them, and they spake 'Yea, at early morn Two knights and a maiden passed here, and the maiden, she wept forlorn, And the knights as they rode beside her, spurred ever her flying steed.' Then the prince knew his foe, Meljakanz, and his wrath waxed hot indeed, 220 On his tracks he followed swiftly, and they who this venture tell, Say he won back in fight the maiden ere the shadows of evening fell.

¶But sore were the queen's folk troubled that the heroes had chanced that way, And they spake, 'God forbid that our queen's son fall in with these knights to-day! An he chances to light upon them in the pride of their warlike gear, 225 It will anger full sore our mistress if by hap she the tale should hear: And ill-luck will it bring upon us that, ere ever the dawn of day, With us while his mother slumbered, to the woods he stole away!' Little recked the boy of their trouble as he chased the flying deer, And shouted in youthful gladness, as they fell before his spear 230 Then homeward he sped to his mother, but ere he his tale might tell She was smitten with deadly terror, and low at his feet she fell.

¶Then soon as Queen Herzeleide found hearing and speech once more Her boy was she fain to question tho' her heart it misgave her sore; 'Who spake to thee, son, of knighthood? What knowest thou of such-like rede?' 235 'I met in the woods, sweet mother, four men I deemed gods indeed, So light were they all and shining, God Himself ne'er could brighter be, And of knighthood they spake and King Arthur, who might well make a knight of me!' Then her sorrow of old-time wakened, and the queen in her heart she sought For some cunning wile of woman, that her boy from his will be brought. 240

¶When the simple lad and gallant would crave from her hand a steed, Tho' heavy her heart, she bethought her in naught to gainsay his need, 'Yet not as he asks will I give him, no mother's gifts be mine, But ever the worst and the meanest that my skill may aye divine.' And she thought her, Queen Herzeleide, 'Many folk thro' the world shall fare 245 Who love mocking--On his fair body my son shall a Fool's dress wear, Then sure when the mockers see him, and to scoff at his garb are fain, An he at their hands be smitten, then he cometh to me again!' Alas! for a woman's cunning, and the cruelty of mother's love, She chose from her stores a sackcloth, the coarsest that might be wove, 250 And a garment of this she made him that should reach e'en unto his knee; For his sunny hair such covering as on fools men are wont to see; And instead of hose she bound him on his limbs so strong and fair Leggings of undressed calf-skin--And all wept who beheld him there.