Book VIII · ANTIKONIE, part 5 of 7

¶Thus he spake for all men to hear him, for the time of speech was come, 'Now if strife ever call upon me, if the battle be lost or won, If I fight as beseems a hero, or fly as a coward flies, If the meed of my warlike bearing be honour in all men's eyes, 360 Then reward me I pray, Sir Landgrave, with rewarding as I shall win; But if honour or praise be withholden I count it not me for sin!'

¶Nor here did his speech find ending. 'If Turnus thou fain wouldst be, Then good, thou shalt find me Tranzes; thou mayst well wreak thy will on me, If so be thou hast aught against me, but 'tis thou who dost boast too loud, 365 Yea, e'en an thou wert the highest of my peers, these princes proud; For Prince am I too, and Landgrave, and I have in Galicia's land Many Burgs so fair and stately that e'en far as Vedrun stand. And tho' thou and this Breton stranger were minded to work me ill, Yet not even a fowl for thy threatening would fly, but abide thee still!' 370

¶'He came from the land of the Breton whom thou hither for strife didst hale. Take thou vengeance for king and kinsman, if such vengeance may aught avail; With him, not with me, thy quarrel, avenge thou thine uncle's life On him who of life hath robbed him, it toucheth me not, this strife, For I wot well in naught I wronged him, and none for such wrong makes moan. 375

¶What need to bewail thine uncle? His son sitteth on his throne, And I ask for no higher ruler, since Fleurdamur, the queen, Was his mother, his sire Kingrisein, and his grandsire Gandein hath been. And still in my mind it dwelleth how Galoes and Gamuret, Those heroes twain, were his uncles, nor lie I, nor truth forget. 380 And I think me that in all honour my castles and lands so wide I may take from his hand, with their banners, and serve him whate'er betide!'

¶'Let him fight who hath lust for fighting, for weary of strife am I, Tho' I know well who fame in battle doth win, for his victory Hath reward from the lips of women, yet for never a maiden's sake 385 Will I evil entreat this body, or bid it such ill-road take. Nay, why should I be a Wolfhart? Since barred is the battle way, And no lust of strife hath beguiled me that I know not the thing I say. If thou shouldst for aye despise me, yet Rumolt I'll take as guide, Who gave counsel unto King Gunther, ere yet to the Huns he hied. 390 For he bade him in Worms abide still, where was plenty and e'en to spare, And content his soul with the flesh-pots and the riches of Rhineland fare!'

¶But ready of wit was the Landgrave, and he spake, 'Yea, the tale be told E'en to day, and no man shall marvel, for we know well thy ways of old. Thou wouldst urge me to strife, yet thy counsel is e'en what a cook once gave 395 To the Nibelung lord, little recked he such counsel, the hero brave. For he and his, little doubting, went boldly to meet their fate, And avenged was the death of Siegfried, and sated was Kriemhild's hate! And Sir Gawain, I ween, must give me my death, or himself must feel The weight of my bitter vengeance as we battle for woe or weal!' 400

¶'Thou dost well,' Liddamus made answer, 'yet I think me of treasure fair, All that Arthur might hold, or India, if one such to my feet should bear, And say 'twas mine own, he might have it ere I fought e'en for such a prize. An thou wilt, win thee fame and honour, I, I think me, am all too wise. God knoweth, no Segramor am I, whom men must with fetters bind 405 So keenly for strife he lusted, far other was aye my mind. Yet mine be my monarch's favour, for Sibech ne'er drew a sword, But ever he fled with the flying, yet men hearkened well his word; And many for counsel prayed him, and great gifts and lands enow The hand of Ermenrich gave him, tho' no helmet e'er felt his blow. 410 And Sir Kingrimursel, I rede thee, thou shalt mark me with never a scar!' Then out spake King Vergulacht sternly, as he ended their wordy war:

¶'Peace, peace, nor so loudly wrangle, Sir Knights, all too bold are ye, For too near is your monarch's presence, and of speech are ye both too free; And that thus ye should strive before me, tho' your strife be of word, not deed, 415 Ill beseemeth both king and vassal, so hearken my word, and heed.'

¶This befell in the hall of the palace, 'neath the eyes of his sister fair, And Gawain stood beside the maiden, and heroes and knights were there. Quoth the king to his gentle sister, 'Now take thou with thee thy guest And the Landgrave, while I bethink me the word that shall 'seem me best. 420 And all ye who wish well unto me, shall follow and give me rede.' Quoth the maid, 'Of good faith seek counsel, for better 'twill serve thy need!' Gat the king to his council-chamber; the king's daughter had comrades three, Cousin, and guest, and beside them black care bare them company. Gawain, as right well beseemed her, by the hand to her bower she led. 425 And she quoth, 'Now shall all lands rue it if here thou shalt be ill-sped!' And the son of King Lot, Sir Gawain, with the maiden went hand in hand, And none thought them shame, for so gracious was the custom of that fair land.

¶So passed they unto her chamber, the queen and those heroes twain, And that none 'gainst her will should enter was the care of her chamberlain. 430 Only her bower maidens as befitted them there might be, And the queen, in all love and honour, her guest tended royally. And the Landgrave in naught gainsaid her, for belike did he bear a part In the fear for her guest's well-doing that lay dark on the maiden's heart. So the twain with the queen abode there till the strife of the day was o'er, 435 And the night and the hour of feasting had come in their course once more. Then the slender maidens bare them sweet drinks, and the wine so red, And with fish and fowl in plenty, I ween, was the table spread. Fair and white was the bread to look on, and the Landgrave and Knight Gawain, Who had passed thro' such deadly peril, to taste of the food were fain. 440 And each as the queen might bid him ate that which should please him best, And no lack did they find, for right queenly the maid did entreat her guest, And vainly the heroes prayed her to cease from her kindly care. Of the many who knelt before them no maid but was young and fair; Yea, fair with the opening beauty of the rose that is yet unblown, 445 And soft lay their locks as the feathers of a falcon the knight hath flown.