Book VI · ARTHUR, part 5 of 12

¶'No joust shalt thou ride at my urging, for roughly he greets his foe, 345 Who holdeth without his station, and rideth nor swift nor slow. And I think me, of maidens' tresses, tho' frail be such cord and fair, Enough from such strife to bind thee, the chain of a single hair! And the man who shall show such meekness, he well doth his mother love, Since his sire would fain in the conflict his knightly mettle prove. 350 But follow thou aye thy mother, Sir Gawain, list well her rede. Turn thou pale at the glancing sword-blade, and shrink from the manly deed!'

¶And thus on the gallant hero the bitter words he spake Fell sharply, he looked not for them, nor on Kay might he vengeance take, Full seldom a knight may do so, since shame on his lips setteth seal, 355 But they who thus speak discourteous, such shame shall they never feel.

¶Then Gawain he quoth in answer, 'Where men knightly sword might bear, And have foughten, and I fought with them, then no man beheld me there, And saw that my cheek waxed paler at sight of wound or blow. I was ever thy friend--'twas needless that thou shouldst reproach me so!' 360 Then he strode from the tent, and he bade them bring hither his charger good, Nor spur on his heel he buckled, unarmed he his steed bestrode.

¶So came he unto the Waleis (whose sense was of love held fast), And his shield to all eyes bare witness of three spears thro' its circle passed, For three jousts of late had he ridden, and he rode them with heroes twain, 365 Of Orilus too was he smitten--Then gently uprode Gawain, And he spurred not his steed to gallop, nor conflict nor strife he sought, For he rode but in love and in kindness, to seek him who here had fought. Fair spake Gawain the stranger, to greeting deaf was he, Frau Minne yet held him captive, how other might it be? 370 True son of Herzeleide, to this lot was he born, To lose himself for love's sake; such passion as had torn The hearts of these his parents, afresh in his heart awoke, And but little his ear might hearken what the mouth of Gawain spoke.

¶Quoth King Lot's son unto the Waleis,' Sir Knight, here thou doest ill 375 In that thou withholdest greeting--tho' patient I wait thy will Far otherwise can I bear me! Know thou that to friend and king, Yea, to all whom I count my fellows, thy deed doth dishonour bring, And our shame ever waxeth greater; yet prayed I for thee this grace, The king of free heart forgives thee, if now thou shalt seek his face. 380 So hearken, I pray, my counsel, and do thou as I shall say, And ride thou with me to King Arthur, nor too long shalt thou find the way.'

¶Nor threatening nor prayer might move him, this fair son of Gamuret: Then the pride of King Arthur's knighthood his memory backward set, And he thought of Frau Minne's dealings, and the time when the knife's sharp blade 385 He drave thro' his hand unwitting, thro' the love of a gracious maid. And that time when from death's cold clutches, a queen's hand had set him free, When of Lähelein was he vanquished, and captive in joust was he, And a queen in the day of his danger must pledge her fair life for his, And her name shall of men be praisèd, Queen Ingus of Bachtarliess. 390 Thought Gawain, 'It may be Frau Minne dealeth so with this goodly man, As she dealt with me of old time, so claspeth him in the ban Of her magic spells fair-woven, that his spirit within the snare She holdeth fast entangled'--Then his eyes on the snow-flakes fair He cast, and he knew the token, and swift from the spell-bound sight 395 With cloth of fair silk and sendal, he covered the blood-drops bright.

¶The blood-stained snow was hidden, nor longer its spell was seen, And his sight and his sense unclouded she gave him, his wife and queen; Yet his heart did she hold in her keeping, and its dwelling was Pelrapär, And he cried aloud in his sorrow thro' the silent summer air; 400 'Alas! who of thee hath robbed me, who erewhile wast my queen and wife, For thy love, thy crown, and thy kingdom my right hand hath won in strife. Say, say, am I he who saved thee from Klamidé the warrior king? Yea, sorrow and bitter sighing, and grief that the heart doth wring Are the guerdons I won in thy service, and now from mine eyes be-dazed 405 Art thou reft, and thy place I know not, tho' but now on thy face I gazed.'

¶Then he quoth, 'Now, where shall my spear be, since I wot well I brought it here?' Quoth Gawain, 'A joust hast thou ridden, and splintered shall be thy spear.' 'With whom should I joust?' quoth the Waleis, 'thou bearest nor sword nor shield, And little had been mine honour, an thou to my hand didst yield! 410 Yet bear I awhile thy mocking, nor will I thy friendship pray, Tho' many a joust have I ridden, yet my saddle I kept alway. An thou be not for jousting minded, and I find not in thee a foe, Yet the world lieth wide before me, and hence on my way I go; For labour and strife am I seeking and fain would I win me praise, 415 Be anguish or joy my portion; nor unfruitful shall be my days.'

¶Quoth Gawain, 'What I spake aforetime I spake of true heart and free, Nor my thoughts were the thoughts of evil, for well would I deal with thee; And the boon that I crave will I win me, my monarch with many a knight Lieth here at hand with his army, and with many a lady bright, 420 An it please thee, Sir Knight, to betake thee to our goodly company, From all strife shall this right hand guard thee, and gladly I'll ride with thee.' 'I thank thee, Sir Knight, fair thou speakest, yet say ere with thee I ride, Who the monarch may be whom thou servest? and who rideth here at my side?'

¶'A man do I hail as master, thro' whose fame much fame I won, 425 Nor here shall my mouth keep silence on the things he for me hath done. For dear hath he ever held me, and as true knight did me entreat: (His sister King Lot hath wedded, and the twain I as parents greet.) And the good gifts God gave unto me, to his service I yield them all, For my hand and my heart he ruleth, whom men do King Arthur call. 430 Nor mine own name need here be hidden, nor a secret shall long remain, For the folk and the lands that know me, they call on me as Gawain: And fain would I do thee service, alike with my hand and name, If thou turnest here at my bidding, nor bringest upon me shame!'