Book VII · OBILOT, part 1 of 11

¶ARGUMENT

¶The poet will now for a while recount the adventures of Gawain; whom many have held to be as valiant a knight as Parzival.

¶Book VII. tells how Gawain fell in with the army of King Meljanz of Lys, who would fain avenge himself on Duke Lippaut, whose daughter had scorned his love. How Gawain came to the beleaguered city of Beaurosch; how Obie scorned him; and how Obilot besought him to be her knight. How the heroes fought before the walls of Beaurosch, and of the valiant deeds of Gawain and the Red Knight. How Gawain took Meljanz of Lys captive; how Obilot made peace betwixt Obie and Meljanz, and how Gawain rode forth from Beaurosch.

¶BOOK VII

¶OBILOT

¶Awhile shall this venture follow the knight, who to fly was fain From shame, nor with guile had dealings, that hero bold, Gawain. For many a one hath held him for as brave, yea, for braver knight Than Parzival, who the hero of this wonder-tale is hight. Yet he who his friend would ever with his words to the heavens upraise 5 Is slow to speak well of another, or to yield him his meed of praise; But him shall the people follow whose praises with truth are wrought, Else whatever he speak, or hath spoken, shall ne'er under roof be brought. Who shall shelter the word of wisdom if wise men their aid withhold? But a song that is woven of falsehood is best left in the outer cold, 10 Homeless, upon the snowdrift, that the mouth may wax chill and sore That hath spread for truth the story--such rewarding hath God in store As all true folk must wish him whose guerdon in toil is told-- Who is swift to such deeds, I wot me, but blame for reward shall hold, And if good men and true shall praise him, then folly doth rule their mind; 15 He will flee such who true shame knoweth, and in knighthood his rule would find.

¶And true of heart was Sir Gawain, for courage as sentinel Had guarded his fame, nor shadow of cowardice across it fell. But his heart in the field of battle was strong as a mighty tower, Steadfast in sharpest conflict, yet foremost in danger's hour. 20 And friend and foe bare witness to the fame of his battle-cry; Fain was Kingrimursel to rob him of his glory thus waxen high-- Now far from the court of King Arthur for many a weary day, I know not their tale to tell ye, did the valiant Gawain stray; So rode he, the gallant hero, from out of a woodland shade, 25 And his folk they were close behind him as he wended adown the glade, And there on a hill before him he was 'ware of a goodly sight That would teach him fear, yet fresh courage it brought to the gallant knight.

¶For the hero he saw full clearly how a host on their way would fare With pomp of warlike pageant, and banners borne high in air. 30 Then he thought, 'I too far have journeyed this host in the wood to wait'-- And he bade them prepare the charger that was Orilus' gift of late, And red were its ears, and Gringuljet, I think me, they called its name, Without a prayer he won it--The steed from Monsalväsch came, Lähelein, in a joust he took it, when lifeless its rider fell 35 By the Lake of Brimbane--Hereafter Trevrezent would the story tell.

¶Thought Gawain, 'He who cowardly flieth ere the foe on his track shall be Flieth all too soon for his honour--this host would I nearer see Whatever may then befall me; they have seen me ere this I trow, And, for aught that may chance unto me, wit shall counsel me well enow.' 40 Then down he sprang from his charger as one who his goal hath found. Countless I ween the army that in troops was toward him bound, And he saw many robes fair fashioned, and shields with their blazon bright, But he knew them not, nor the banners that danced on the breezes light.

¶'Strange shall I be to this army,' quoth Gawain, 'strange are they to me, 45 If they count this to me for evil then a joust shall they surely see, And a spear will I break with these heroes ere yet on my way I ride!' Gringuljet too was ready when his master would strife abide, In many an hour of peril he the hero to joust had borne, As Gawain had well bethought him when the steed he would ride that morn. 50

¶There Gawain saw many a helmet, costly and decked full fair, And new spears white, unsplintered, in sheaves to their goal they bare; To the pages hands were given those blazoned with colours clear, And the badge might ye read on the pennons that floated from every spear.

¶And the son of King Lot, Sir Gawain, he saw there a crowded throng, 55 There were mules with harness laden; heavy wagons with horses strong, And they hasted them, fain for shelter; and behind them a wondrous store Of goods, borne by travelling merchants as was ever the way of yore. And women were there in plenty, and of knightly girdle bright The twelfth might some wear, the payment and pledge of love holden light. 60 Not queens were they hight, I think me, Vivandierès was their name-- And young and old behind them a rabble onward came, And they ran till their limbs were weary; and a rope had fit guerdon been For many who swelled this army, and dishonoured true folk I ween!

¶So they rode, and they ran, that army, and Gawain stood beside the way, 65 So it chanced they who saw the hero deemed him part of their host that day. And never this side of the water, or in lands that beyond it lie, So gallant a host had journeyed, great their strength and their courage high.

¶And close on their track there followed, spurring his steed amain, A squire of noble bearing, with a led horse beside his rein; 70 And a fair new shield he carried, and ever his spurs he plied, Nor thought to spare his charger, but swift to the strife would ride, And his raiment was fairly fashioned--Then Gawain his pathway crossed, And, greeting, he asked him tidings, who was lord of this goodly host?

¶Quoth the squire, 'Sir Knight thou mockest, were I lacking in courtesy, 75 And have chastisement earned, then I pray thee that my penance shall other be That shall wound not so sore mine honour--For God's sake lay thine hate aside, Methinks thou right well shalt know them, these knights that before us ride, Why askest thou me? Of a surety to each other shall ye be known As well, nay, a thousand times better, than I unto thee had shown!' 80