Book VIII · ANTIKONIE, part 3 of 7

¶Were it king, or queen, or castle, she hurled them against the foe, 185 Heavy and large the chess-men, and in sooth I would have ye know They who by her shaft were stricken must ever a fall abide. Right bravely the queen so gracious now fought by her hero's side, And she bare herself so knightly, that never the Burger maids Of Tollenstein at Shrove-tide such dauntless skill displayed. 190 And yet they but fight for folly, and weary themselves for naught-- An a woman bear trace of battle, on her womanhood shame is brought, (For I know what befits a woman,) unless love shall have bid her fight To prove her faith--Now faithful and true was that lady bright, As Schamfanzon might bear witness--Yet, tho' high of heart was she, 195 Many tears that conflict cost her; for in sooth shall it ever be That Love is brave as steadfast, yet tender and true of heart-- Would ye know how in such fierce conflict Sir Gawain would bear his part?

¶When the strife but leisure gave him to gaze on the maid aright, Her lips so red and glowing, her eyes so soft and bright-- 200 More slender was she and shapely than ever a lowland hare That ye truss on the spit, so graceful her limbs, and her form so fair; Full well might her charms awaken desire in the heart of man. And smaller, I ween, the maiden, where her golden girdle ran Around her waist, than ants are, and their slender shape ye know-- 205 The sight wrought in Gawain courage his foemen to overthrow, For she shared his need; his chastising none other than death should be, And help was there none--Then his anger flamed high and wroth was he As he looked on that gentle maiden, and no fear was his but hate, And sorely his foemen rued it who met at his hand their fate. 210

¶Came King Vergulacht, and he saw well how his folk 'gainst Gawain did fight; Nor do I in this deceive ye, nor can I account him right That not as a host he bare him, when he saw his gallant guest Thus stand, as one man against many--But straight thro' the throng he pressed, In such wise, I must mourn for Gandein, the monarch of Anjou fair, 215 That his daughter, so true a lady, so faithless a son must bear. From the strife his folk he called not, short space must they stay their hand While the king would don his armour, he lusted to lead the band.

¶Too mighty the force for Gawain, nor I ween shall ye count it shame That he closed the door upon them--Then in wrath and haste there came 220 The knight who to battle bade him 'fore Arthur at Plimizöl But short time back--They called him the Landgrave Kingrimursel, And sore did Gawain's need vex him, he wrung his hands amain, For in sooth had he pledged his honour his foe should in peace remain Till one man alone o'ercame him--Old and young from the tower he drave, 225 Yet the portal would they force open, as their king commandment gave.

¶Then the Landgrave he cried on Gawain, 'Sir Knight, I would in to thee As a friend, that this bitter conflict I may share, if it so must be, For then must my monarch slay me, or leave thee in life to-day.' Peace Gawain would swear unto him, and he made to the tower his way-- 230 Then doubtful, the foemen thronging, their hand for a space must hold, For their Burg-grave he was, and his bidding had they hearkened both young and old. Then, as ceased the noise of battle, thro' the doorway he sprang, Gawain, And the Landgrave, he stood beside him, swift and bold were those heroes twain.

¶Quoth King Vergulacht, 'Why tarry? Why stand we here as on guard, 235 When of foemen but two shall dare us, and none other the tower gates ward? Much my cousin doth take upon him, when he dareth to shield my foe, Yea, himself should wreak vengeance on him, if his faith he were fain to show!'

¶Of true heart then they chose a true man, and unto the king he spake, 'Now, Sire, upon our Landgrave no vengeance we think to take, 240 Nor shall harm at our hand befall him--May God so turn thy mind That, instead of shaming, honour thou shalt from this venture find. For shame shall it bring upon thee, and an ending to thy fair fame, If he who as host doth hail thee shall here at thine hand be slain. And thy kinsman is he, this other who hath brought him into this land; 245 So, lest cursing and shame be thy portion, we pray thee to stay thine hand, And grant thou a truce thro' the daylight, and the fleeting hours of night, Then bethink thee for shame or honour, and do as shall seem thee right!'

¶'And our queen who hath ne'er known falsehood, thy sister, Antikonie, See there as she standeth by him and weepeth full bitterly. 250 Canst thou see such sight without rueing, since one mother bare ye both? And bethink thee, sire, thou art wise else, thou didst send him, nothing loth, Alone to this gentle maiden, nor further a guardian gave; For her sake it were well to spare him!' Then the king bade those warriors brave To call a truce--He'ld bethink him how vengeance he best might take 255 For his father's death--Yet all guiltless Gawain, for another's sake, Must he bear the shame; with a lance-thrust by Ekunât was he slain As to Barbigöl Prince Iofreit, a prisoner, he would have ta'en, Who had ridden erewhile with Gawain--In such wise the chance befell That they deemed that Gawain had slain him--So men do the venture tell. 260

¶And scarce was the truce bespoken ere of men was the field bereft, Each betook him unto his lodging, nor one on the ground was left. Then the queen threw her arms around him, and with many a kiss so sweet She gave to her gallant cousin such rewarding as seemed her meet, Since so bravely he stood by Gawain, and sheltered the twain from wrong, 265 And she spake, 'Now art thou my cousin, nor unfaith shall to thee belong.'

¶Now hearken and I will read ye that word which I spake of late, How a true heart sore was darkened--I ween 'twas an evil fate That led Vergulacht to Schamfanzon; such deed he ne'er did learn From sire or aye from mother, with shame did the young knight burn, 270 And torment sore and suffering his better self must know As his sister 'gan upbraid him, small mercy the maid would show.