Book VI · ARTHUR, part 4 of 12

¶Now he rode forth in knightly armour to the strife that he sore did crave, And Gamuret's son, right willing, to his wish fulfilment gave. And wherever fair maids compelling, their voices uplift in prayer, And the grace they shall ask be granted, let them pray here for his welfare, Since it was thro' a woman's beauty, that the spell of a woman wrought 255 Love's magic, of senses robbed him--Then his charger to halt Kay brought; And he spake to the gallant Waleis, 'Sir Knight, since thou thus our king Hast shamed, thou shalt hear my counsel, for wisdom perchance 'twill bring; Thou shalt hang thee a hempen halter around thy neck straightway, For so may I lightly lead thee, and take thou with me thy way. 260 Nor think thou, thou canst escape me, but with me unto my lord Shalt thou go, as befits a captive, else worse may be thy reward!'

¶By love constrained, the Waleis nor word nor answer spoke, Kay gripped his spear-shaft tightly and he smote with a mighty stroke On the hero's head, till the helmet rang loudly beneath his hand; 265 And he quoth, 'Now will I awake thee! Dost think here to take thy stand, And standing sleep unsheeted? Nay, other shalt thou fare, Low on the snow I'll lay thee! The ass that is wont to bear The sack from the mill would rue it, did one smite him in such wise, As here I think now to smite thee, and thy sloth and thy sleep chastise!' 270

¶Frau Minne, now bethink thee, for sore this shameth thee, For an one should wrong a peasant, in this wise his speech will be, 'My lord will sure repay thee!' Vengeance from thee he'ld seek Methinks, this gallant Waleis, an thou wouldst let him speak! Now let him from out thy circle, and loose him from thy ban, 275 This stranger guest shalt prove him, a true and valiant man!

¶Swift rode Sir Kay unto him, and he turned his bridle round, And no more his longing glances their joy and their sorrow found, The white snow and blood-drops crimson, that mystic likeness bare To the queen of his love and his longing, the Lady of Pelrapär; 280 He knew all that passed around him--His charger Sir Kay addrest To jousting, he spurred him onward, and his spear he laid in rest.

¶In the joust, that which Kay had aimed at he smote, for his spear did pierce The Waleis' shield, yet swift payment was his, for in onslaught fierce The seneschal of King Arthur fell prone on the fallen tree, 285 Where the geese erewhile had hid them, and hurt full sore was he, And dead lay his gallant charger--''Twixt a stone and the saddle-bow, Right arm, and left leg had he broken--so mighty his overthrow That all that had decked his charger, girths, saddle, bells of gold, By the force of the fall were shattered, thus the stranger his payment told, 290 And with one blow, for twain repaid him--the one that erst for his sake, A maiden had borne and the other, which he from Kay's hand must take.

¶Thus he who knew naught of falsehood was guided of truth to know Her message in blood-drops threefold, on the white of the drifted snow. 'Twas tear-drops, not blood, that he saw there, and well might his senses fail, 295 And the thoughts of his heart wax heavy, as he mused on the wondrous Grail, And sorely the semblance grieved him that spake of his wife and queen. Yet tho' o'er the twain he sorrowed, the greater woe, I ween, Was the woe that Frau Minne wrought him, for there liveth not heart so strong, But longing and love united break its power, ere the time be long. 300 Count we here those twain as ventures? Nay, 'twere better methinks to hold, That they were naught but pain and sorrow, that vanquished the hero bold.

¶Now ye unto whom I tell this, I rede ye to mourn Kay's woe, For full oft as his manhood bade him, he many a strife did know. And in many a land they speak thus, that Kay, Arthur's seneschal, 305 Was a firebrand, hell-born, yet I wot well far other the tale I'ld tell. From reproach would I gladly free him, tho' few but should say me nay, Yet a gallant man and a worthy, I swear was this knight, Sir Kay. And my mouth to this truth beareth witness, and more would I tell to thee; Unto Arthur's Court came strangers in many a company, 310 And their manners and ways were diverse, nor all there might honour claim, But Kay an he saw false dealing, he counted such ways as shame, And his face he turned from the sinner, yet he who dealt courteously, And true man with true men would hold him, Kay served him right heartily.

¶And one who fall well discernèd the manner of men was Kay, 315 Thus he did to his lord good service, for his harsh words drave far away The men who would falsely vaunt them good knights and true to be, Ill was he to them as a hailstorm, sharp as sting of an angry bee. Small wonder that these deny him his honour and knightly fame, True servant and wise they found him, and for this cause upon his name 320 Their hatred doth still heap slander--Prince Herman, Thuringia's lord, Thou with vassals that crowd around thee, and strangers who seek thy board, Good service might Kay have done thee, since so free art thou aye of hand, That true men and men dishonoured, side by side in thine hall they stand; And therefore Knight Walter singeth, 'Now greeting to all I bring, 325 Men evil and good!' And I trow well, where a singer such song may sing, There the false are too highly honoured--Nay, far other Sir Kay had taught, (Yea, and Heinrich of Rispach also)--Now hearken ye in what sort On Plimizöl's plain men bare them; from the field Sir Kay was borne To the tent of his king, and around him, o'er his ill-fate his friends did mourn; 330 And maiden and knight they stood there; to the tent where his comrade lay Came Gawain, and he quoth in sadness, 'Alas! for the woeful day That so ill a joust was ridden that hath robbed me of a friend!' Then out spake Kay in his anger, 'Now make of thy moan an end, If comfort thou here wouldst bring me, do not as the women do, 335 Since thou art my monarch's nephew! I would do to thee service true, As of free heart I ever did it, in the day that God gave me power, Nor long for my aid hadst thou prayed me! There cometh, perchance, an hour When I, as of old, may serve thee: now cease thou thy moan I pray, For tho' mine be the pain, yet my monarch shall ne'er find another Kay, 340 And I wot that for mine avenger art thou all too nobly born; An yet hadst thou lost a finger I had counted myself forsworn An I risked not mine head to pay it! Let that be as it may, Believe me or not, as shall please thee, yet sooth are the words I say!'