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As they came by the forest side, Their orisons for to make, The noblest knight then saw they ride That ever was in erthe shape; His loreme lemed all with pride; Steed and armour all was blake; His name is nought to hele and hide: He hight Sir Launcelot du Lake! What wonder was though they were blithe, When they their master see with sight! On knees fell they as swithe, And thanked all to God All-might. Joy it was to here and lithe The meeting of the noble knight; And after he asked also swithe: "How now fares my lady bright?" Bors then told him all the right, It was no lenger for to hide, How there died a Scottish knight, At the mete the queen beside: "Today, sir, is her deth all dight, It may no lenger be to bide, And I for her have take the fight. "Sir Mador, strong though that he be, I hope he shall well prove his might." "To the court now wend ye three And recomfort my lady bright; But look ye speke no word of me; I will come as a strange knight." Launcelot, that was mikel of might, Abides in the forest green; To the courte went these other knightes For to recomfort the queen. To make her glad with all their might Grete joy they made them between; For-why she ne sholde drede no wight, Of good comfort they bade her ben. Bordes were set and clothes spredde; The king himself is gone to sit; The queen is to the table led, With cheekes that were wan and wet; Of sorrow were they never unsad; Might they neither drink ne ete; The queen of dethe was sore adredde, That grimly teres gan she let. And as they were at the thridde mese, The king and all the court bydene, Sir Mador all redy was, With helm and sheld and hauberk sheen; Among them all before the dese, He bloweth out upon the queen To have his right withouten lees, As were the covenantes them between. The king looked on all his knightes; Was he never yet so wo; Saw he never on him dight Against Sir Mador for to go. Sir Mador swore by Goddes might, As he was man of herte thro, But yif he hastely have his right Among them all he sholde her slo. Then spake the king of mikel might, That ay was courtais and hende: "Sir, let us ete and sithen us dight; This day nis not yet gone to the end. Yet might there come such a knight, Yif Goddes will were him to send, To finde thee thy fill of fight Ere the sun to grounde wend. Bors then lough on Lionel; Wiste no man of their hertes word; His chamber anon he wendes til, Withoute any other word, Armed him at all his will, With helm and hauberk, spere and sword; Again then comes he full still And set him down to the borde. The teres ran on the kinges knee For joy that he saw Bors adight; Up he rose with herte free And Bors in armes clippes right, And said: "Bors, God foryeld it thee, In this need that thou wolde fight; Well acquitest thou it me That I have worshipped any knight!" Then as Sir Mador loudest spake The queen of tresoun to becall, Comes Sir Launcelot du Lake, Ridand right into the hall. His steed and armour all was blake, His visor over his eyen fall; Many a man began to quake; Adrede of him nigh were they all. Then spake the king, mikel of might, That hende was in ich a sithe: "Sir, is it your will to light, Ete and drink and make you blithe?" Launcelot spake as a strange knight: "Nay, sir," he said as swithe, "I herde tell here of a fight; I come to save a ladyes life. "Ivel hath the queen beset her deedes That she hath worshipped many a knight, And she hath no man in her needes That for her life dare take a fight. Thou that her of tresoun gredes 34 Hastely that thou be dight; Out of thy wit though that thou wedes, Today thou shalt prove all thy might." Then was Sir Mador also blithe As fowl of day after the night; To his steed he went that sithe, As man that was of muche might. To the feld then ride they swithe; Them followes both king and knight, The batail for to see and lithe; Saw never no man stronger fight! Unhorsed were bothe knightes keen, They metten with so muche main, And sithe they fought with swordes keen. Both on foot, the sooth to sayn. In all the batailes that Launcelot had been, With hard acountres him again, In pointe had he never been So nigh-hand for to have been slain. There was so wonder strong a fight, O foot nolde nouther flee ne found, 35 From lowe noon til late night, But given many a woful wound. Launcelot then gave a dint with might; Sir Mador falles at last to ground; "Mercy!" cries that noble knight, For he was seke and sore unsound. Though Launcelot were breme as bore, Full sternely he gan up stand; O dint wolde he smite no more; His sword he threw out of his hand. Sir Mador by God then swore: "I have fought in many a land, With knightes both less and more, And never yet ere my match I fand; "But, Sir, a prayer I wolde make, For thing that ye love most on life, And for Our Sweete Lady sake, Your name that ye wolde me kithe." Launcelot gan his visor up take, And hendely him shewed that sithe; When he saw Sir Launcelot du Lake, Was never man on molde so blithe. "Lord," then said he, "Wele is me, Mine avauntement that I may make That I have stande one dint of thee, And foughten with Launcelot du Lake; My brothers deth forgiven be To the queen for thy sake." Launcelot him kist with herte free, And in his armes gan him up take. King Arthur then loude spake Among his knightes to the queen: "Ya, yonder is Launcelot du Lake, Yif I him ever with sight have seen!" They riden and ronne then for his sake, The king and all his knightes keen; In his armes he gan him take; The king him kist and court bydene. Then was the queene glad ynow, When she saw Launcelot du Lake, That nigh for joy she fell in swough, But as the lordes her gan up take. The knightes alle wept and loughe For joy as they togeder spake; With Sir Mador, withouten wo, Full soon acordement gonne they make. It was no lenger for to abide But to the castle they rode as swithe, With trompes and with mikel pride, That joy it was to here and lithe; Though Sir Mador might not go ne ride, To the court is he brought that sithe, And knightes upon ich a side To make him both glad and blithe. The squiers then were taken all, And they are put in harde pain, Which that had served in the hall When the knight was with poisun slain. There he graunted among them all 36 (It might no lenger be to laine) How in an apple he did the gall, And had it thought to Sir Gawain. When Sir Mador herde all the right, That no guilt had the lady sheen, For sorrow he lost main and might And on knees fell before the queen. Launcelot then him held up right, For love that was them between; He kist both king and knight And sithen all the court bydene. The squier then was done to shende, As it was bothe law and right, Drawen and honged and for-brende, Before Sir Mador, the noble knight. In the castel they gonne forth lende, The Joyous Gard then was it hight; Launcelot, that was so hende, They honoured him with all their might. A time befell, sooth to sayn, The knightes stood in chamber and spake, Both Gaheriet and Sir Gawain, And Mordred, that mikel couthe of wrake, "Alas!" then said Sir Agravain, "How false men shall we us make? How long shall we hele and laine The tresoun of Launcelot du Lake? "Well we wote, withouten ween, The king Arthur our eme sholde be, And Launcelot lies by the queen; Again the king traitour is he, And that wote all the court bydene, And iche day it here and see; To the king we sholde it mene, Yif ye will do by the counsel of me." "Well wote we," said Sir Gawain, "That we are of the kinges kin, And Launcelot is so mikel of main That suche wordes were better blinne. Well wot thou, brother Agravain, Thereof sholde we but harmes win; Yet were it better to hele and laine Than war and wrake thus to begin. "Well wot thou, brother Agravain, Launcelot is hardy knight and thro; King and court had oft been slain Nadde he been better than we mo, And sithen might I never sayn The love that has been between us two; Launcelot shall I never betrayn, Behind his back to be his fo. "Launcelot is kinges son full good, And thereto hardy knight and bold, And sithen, and him need bestood, Many a land wolde with him hold. Shed there sholde be mikel blood For this tale, yif it were told; Sir Agravain, he were full wode, That such a thing beginne wolde." Then thus-gates as the knightes stood, Gawain and all the other press, In come the king with milde mood; Gawain then said: "Fellowes, pees!" The king for wrath was nighe wode For to wite what it was; Agravain swore by Cross and Rood: "I shall it you tell withoute lees." Gawain to his chamber went; Of this tale nolde he nought here; Gaheriet and Gaheries of his assent, With their brother went they there; Well they wiste that all was shent, And Sir Gawain by God then swere: "Here now is made a comsement That beth not finished many a yere." Agravain told all bydene To the king with simple cheer, How Launcelot ligges by the queen, And so has done full many a yere, And that wot all the court bydene And iche day it see and here: "And we have false and traitours been That we ne wolde never to you diskere." "Alas!" then said the kinge there, "Certes, that were grete pitee; So as man nadde never yet more Of beautee ne of bountee, Ne man in world was never yet ere Of so mikel nobilitee. Alas, full grete dole it were In him sholde any tresoun be! "But sithe it is so, withouten fail, Sir Agravain, so God thee rede, What were now thy best counsel, For to take him with the deed? He is man of such apparail, Of him I have full mikel drede; All the court nolde him assail Yif he were armed upon his steed." "Sir, ye and all the court bydene Wendeth tomorrow on hunting right, And sithen send word to the queen That ye will dwell without all night, And I and other twelve knightes keen Full prively we shall us dight; We shall him have withouten ween Tomorrow ere any day be light." On the morrow with all the court bydene The king gan on hunting ride, And sithen he sent word to the queen That he wolde all night out abide. Agravain with twelve knightes keen Atte home beleft that ilke tide Of all the day they were not seen, So privily they gonne them hide. Tho was the queene wonder blithe That the king wolde at the forest dwell; To Launcelot she sent as swithe And bade that he sholde come her til. Sir Bors de Gawnes began to lithe, Though his herte liked ill; "Sir," he said, "I wolde you kithe A word, yif that it were your will. "Sir, tonight I rede ye dwell; I drede there be some tresoun dight With Agravain, that is so fell, That waites you both day and night. Of all that ye have gone her til, 37 Ne greved me never yet no wight, Ne never yet gave mine herte to ill, So mikel as it doth tonight." "Bors," he said, "holde still; Such wordes are not to kithe; I will wend my lady til, Some new tithandes for to lithe; I ne shall nought but wite her will; Look ye make you glad and blithe; Certainly I nill not dwell, But come again to you all swithe." For-why he wend have comen soon For to dwell had he not thought, None armour he did him upon But a robe all single wrought; In his hand a sword he fone, Of tresoun dredde he him right nought; 38 There was no man under the moon He wend with harm durst him have sought. When he come to the lady sheen He kist and clipped that sweete wight; For sooth, they never wolde ween That any tresoun was there dight; So mikel love was them between That they not departe might; To bed he goeth with the queen, And there he thought to dwell all night. He was not busked in his bed, Launcelot in the queenes bowr, Come Agravain and Sir Mordred, With twelve knightes stiff in stour; Launcelot of tresoun they begredde, Calld him false and kinges traitour, And he so strongly was bestedde, There-in he had none armour. "Wele-away," then said the queen, "Launcelot, what shall worthe of us two? The love that hath been us between, To such ending that it sholde go! With Agravain, that is so keen, That night and day hath been our foe, Now I wot, withouten ween, That all our wele is turned to wo!" "Lady," he said, "thou must blinne; Wide I wot these wordes beth rife; 39 But is here any armour in That I may have to save my life?" "Certes, nay," she said then, "This aunter is so wonder strife That I ne may to none armour win Helm ne hauberk, sword ne knife." Ever Agravain and Sir Mordred Calld him recreant false knight, Bade him rise out of his bed, For he moste needes with them fight. In his robe then he him cledde, Though he none armour gette might; Wrothly out his sword he gredde; The chamber door he set up right. An armed knight before in went And wend Launcelot well to slo, But Launcelot gave him such a dint, That to the grounde gan he go; The other all again then stent; After him durste follow no mo; To the chamber door he sprent And clasped it with barres two. The knight that Launcelot has slain, His armour fand he fair and bright; Hastely he hath them off-drayn And there-in himselfe dight. "Now know thou well, Sir Agravain, Thou prisouns me no more tonight!" Out then sprang he with mikel main, Himself against them all to fight. Launcelot then smote with herte good; Wite ye well, withouten lees, Sir Agravain to dethe yode, And sithen all the other press; Was none so strong that him withstood, By he had made a little rese, But Mordred fled as he were wode, To save his life full fain he was. Launcelot to his chamber yode, To Bors and to his other knightes; Bors, armed, before him stood; To bedde yet was he not dight. The knightes for fere was nighe wode, So were they dreched all that night; But blithe wexed they in their mood When they their master saw with sight. "Sir," said Bors, the hardy knight, "After you have we thought full long; To bedde durst I me not dight, For drede ye had some aunter strong; Our knightes have be dreched tonight That some naked out of bedde sprong, For-thy we were full sore affright, Lest some tresoun were us among." "Ya, Bors, drede thee no wight, But beth of herte good and bold, And swithe awaken up all my knightes And look which wille with us hold; Look they be armed and redy dight, For it is sooth that thou me told; We have begonne this ilke night That shall bring many a man full cold." Bors then spake with drery mood: "Sir," he said, "sithe it is so, We shall be of hertes good, After the wele to take the wo." The knightes sprent as they were wode, And to their harnes gonne they go; At the morrow armed before him stood A hundreth knightes and squiers mo. When they were armed and redy dight, A softe pas forth gonne they ride, As men that were of mikel might, To a forest there beside. Launcelot arrayes all his knightes, And there they lodgen them to bide. Til they herde of the lady bright, What aunter of her sholde betide. Mordred then took a way full gain, And to the forest went he right, His aunters told, for sooth to sayn, That were befallen that ilke night. "Mordred, have ye that traitour slain, Or how have ye with him dight?" "Nay, sir, but dede is Agravain, And so are all our other knightes." When it herde Sir Gawain, That was so hardy knight and bold: "Alas! Is my brother slain?" Sore his herte began to colde: "I warned well Sir Agravain, Ere ever yet this tale was told, Launcelot was so much of main Against him was strong to hold." It was no lenger for to bide; King and all his knightes keen Took their counsel in that tide, What was best do with the queen. It was no lenger for to bide; That day forbrent sholde she ben. The fire then made they in the feld; There-to they brought that lady free; All that ever might wepen weld About her armed for to be. Gawain, that stiff was under sheld, Gaheriet, ne Gaheries ne wolde not see; In their chamber they them held; Of her they hadde grete pitee. The king Arthur that ilke tide Gawain and Gaheries for sent; Their answers were not for to hide; They ne wolde not be of his assent; Gawain wolde never be ner beside There any woman sholde be brent; Gaheriet and Gaheries with little pride, All unarmed thider they went. A squier gan tho tithandes lithe, That Launcelot to court hath sent; To the forest he went as swithe, There Launcelot and his folk was lente, Bade them come and haste blithe: "The queen is ledde to be brent!" And they to horse and armes swithe, And ich one before other sprent. The queen by the fire stood, And in her smok all redy was; Lordinges was there many and good, And grete power, withouten lees; Launcelot sprent as he were wode; Full soone parted he the press; Was none so stiff before him stood By he had made a little rese. There was no steel stood them again, Though fought they but a little stound; Lordinges that were much of main, Many good were brought to ground; Gaheriet and Gaheries both were slain With many a doleful dethes wound; The queen they took withoute laine, And to the forest gonne they found. The tithinges is to the kinge brought, How Launcelot has tan away the queen: "Such wo as there is wrought! Slain are all our knightes keen!" Down he fell and swooned oft; Grete dole it was to here and seen; So ner his herte the sorrow sought, Almost his life wolde no man ween. "Jesu Crist! What may I sayn? In erthe was never man so wo; Such knightes as there are slain, In all this world there is no mo. Let no man telle Sir Gawain Gaheriet his brother is dede him fro, But wele-away, the rewful reyne, That ever Launcelot was my fo!" Gawain gan in his chamber him hold; Of all the day he nolde not out go; A squier then the tithandes told; What wonder though his herte were wo? "Alas," he said, "My brother bold, Were Gaheriet be dede me fro?" 40 So sore his herte began to colde, Almost he wolde himselfe slo. The squier spake with drery mood To recomfort Sir Gawain: "Gaheriet ailes nought but good; 41 He will soon come again." Gawain sprent as he were wode To the chamber there they lay slain; The chamber floor all ran on blood And clothes of gold were over them drayn. A cloth he heves then upon height; What wonder though his herte were sore, So dolefully to see them dight, That ere so doughty knightes were! When he his brother saw with sight, A word might he speke no more; There he lost both main and might And over him fell in swooning there. Of swooning when he might awake, The hardy knight, Sir Gawain, By God he swore and loude spake, As man that muche was of main: "Betwix me and Launcelot du Lake, Nis man on erthe, for sooth to sayn, Shall trewes set and pees make Ere either of us have other slain!" A squier that Launcelot to court had sent Of the tithandes gan he lithe; To the forest is he went And told Launcelot also swithe How lordinges that were rich of rent, Fele good had lost their life, Gaheriet and Gaheries sought their end; But then was Launcelot nothing blithe. "Lord," he said, "What may this ben?" Jesu Crist! What may I sayn? The love that hath betwixt us been! That ever Gaheriet me was again! Now I wot for all bydene A sorry man is Sir Gawain; Accordement thar me never ween Til either of us have other slain." Launcelot gan with his folk forth wend, With sorry herte and drery mood. To queenes and countesses fele he send And grete ladies of gentle blood, That he had oft their landes defend And foughten when them need bestood. Ichon her power him lend And made his party stiff and good. Queenes and countesses that riche were Send him erles with grete meyne; Other ladies that might no more Sent him barons or knightes free. So mikel folk to him gan fare Hidous it was his host to see; To the Joyous Gard went he there And held him in that strong citee. Launcelotes herte was full sore For the lady fair and bright; A damesel he did be yare, In rich apparail was she dight, Hastely in message for to fare To the king of mikel might, To prove it false - what might he more? - 42 But profferes him therefore to fight. The maiden is redy for to ride, In a full rich apparailment Of samite green, with mikel pride, That wrought was in the Orient; A dwarf sholde wende by her side; Such was Launcelotes commaundement; So were the manneres in that tide, When a maid on message went. To the castle when she come, In the palais gan she light; To the king her errand she saide soon (By him sat Sir Gawain the knight), Said that lies were said him upon; Trew they were by day and night; To prove it as a knight sholde don Launcelot profferes him to fight. The king Arthur spekes there Wordes that were keen and thro: "He ne might prove it never more, 43 But of my men that he wolde slo. By Jesu Crist," the king swore And Sir Gawain then also, "His deedes shall be bought full sore, But yif no steel nill in him go!" 44 The maiden hath her answer; To the Joyous Gard gan she ride; Such as the kinges wordes were She told Launcelot in that tide. Launcelot sighed wonder sore, Teres from his eyen gan glide. Bors de Gawnes by God then swore: "In middes the feld we shall them bide!" Arthur wolde no lenger abide, But hastes him with all his might. Messengeres did he go and ride, That they ne sholde let for day ne night, Throughout Yngland by ich a side, To erle, baron, and to knight, Bade them come that ilke tide, With horse strong and armour bright. Though the knight that were dede them fro, 45 Thereof was all their mikel care, Three hundreth they made mo, Out of castle ere they wolde fare, Of Yngland and Ireland also, Of Wales and Scottes that beste were, Launcelot and his folkes to slo With hertes breme as any bore. When this host was all boun, It was no lenger for to bide, Raises spere and gonfanoun, As men that were of mikel pride; With helm and sheld and hauberk brown, Gawain himself before gan ride To the Joyous Gard, that riche town, And set a sege on ech a side. About the Joyous Gard they lay Seventeen weekes and well more, Til fell upon a day Launcelot home bade them fare: "Breke your sege! Wendes away! You to slay grete pitee it were." He said: "Alas and wele-away, That ever began this sorrow sore!" Ever the king and Sir Gawain Calld him false recreant knight, And said he had his brethern slain, And traitour was by day and night, Bade him come and prove his main In the feld with them to fight. Launcelot sighed, for sooth to sayn; Grete dole it was to see with sight. So loud they Launcelot gonne ascry, With vois and hidous hornes bere, Bors de Gawnes standes him by, And Launcelot makes ivel cheer. "Sir," he said, "wherefore and why Sholde we these proude wordes here? Me think ye fare as cowardly As we ne durst no man nighe ner. "Dight we us in rich array, Both with spere and with sheld, As swithe as ever that we may, And ride we out into the feld. While my life laste may, This day I ne shall my wepen yeld; Therefore my life I dare well lay We two shall make them all to held." "Alas," quod Launcelot, "Wo is me, That ever sholde I see with sight Again my lord for to be, The noble king that made me knight! Sir Gawain, I beseeche thee, As thou art man of muche might, In the feld let not my lord be, 46 Ne that thyself with me not fight." It may no lenger for to bide, But busked them and made all boun; When they were redy for to ride, They raised spere and gonfanoun; When these hostes gan samen glide, With vois and hidous hornes soun, Grete pitee was on either side, So fele good there were laid down. Sir Lionel with muche main, With a spere before gan found; Sir Gawain rides him again, Horse and man he bore to ground, That all men wend he had been slain; Sir Lionel had such a wound Out of the feld was he drayn, For he was seke and sore unsound. In all the feld that ilke tide Might no man stand Launcelot again, And sithen as fast as he might ride 47 To save that no man sholde be slain. The king was ever ner beside And hew on him with all his main, And he so courtais was that tide O dint that he nolde smite again. Bors de Gawnes saw at last, And to the king then gan he ride, And on his helm he hit so fast That ner he lost all his pride; The steede rigge under him brast, That he to grounde fell that tide; And sithen wordes loud he cast, With Sir Launcelot to chide: "Sir, shaltou all day suffer so That the king thee assail, And sithe his herte is so thro, Thy courtaisy may not avail? Batailes shall there never be mo, And thou wilt do by my counsel: Giveth us leve them all to slo, For thou hast vanquished this batail." "Alas," quod Launcelot, "Wo is me, That ever sholde I see with sight Before me him unhorsed be, The noble king that made me knight!" He was then so courtais and free That down of his steed he light; The king there-on then horses he, And bade him flee, yif that he might. When the king was horsed there, Launcelot lookes he upon, How courtaisy was in him more Than ever was in any man. He thought on thinges that had been ere; The teres from his eyen ran; He said, "Alas," with sighing sore, "That ever yet this war began!" The parties arn withdrawen away, Of knightes were they wexen thin; On morrow on that other day Sholde the batail eft begin; They dight them on a rich array And parted their hostes both in twinne; He that began this wretched play, What wonder though he had grete sin? Bors was breme as any bore, And out he rode to Sir Gawain; For Lionel was wounded sore, Venge his brother he wolde full fain. Sir Gawain gan again him fare, As man that muche was of main; Either through other body bore That well ner were they bothe slain. Both to ground they fell in fere; Therefore were fele folk full wo. The kinges party redy were Away to take them bothe two. Launcelot himself come ner, Bors rescues he them fro; Out of the feld men him bere; So were they wounded bothe two. Of this batail were to tell A man that it well understood, How knightes under saddles fell And sitten down with sorry mood; Steedes that were bold and snell Among them waden in the blood; But by the time of even-bell Launcelot party the better stood. Of this batail was no more, But thus departen they that day; Folk their frendes home led and bore, That slain in the feldes lay. Launcelot gan to his castle fare, The batail vanquished, for sooth to say; There was dole and weeping sore; Among them was no childes play. Into all landes north and south Of this war the word sprong, And yet at Rome it was full couthe In Yngland was such sorrow strong; There-of the Pope had grete rewth; A letter he seled with his hand: But they accorded well in trewth 48 Enterdite he wolde the land. Then was a bishop at Rome, Of Rochester, withouten lees; Til Yngland he, the message, come, To Carlisle there the king was; The Popes letter out he nome, In the palais, before the dese, And bade them do the Popes doom And hold Yngland in rest and pees. Redde it was before all bydene, The letter that the Pope gan make, How he must have again the queen And accord with Launcelot du Lake, Make a pees them between For ever more, and trewes make, Or Yngland enterdited sholde ben And turn to sorrow for their sake. The king again it wolde not ben, To do the Popes commaundement, Blithely again to have the queen; Wolde he not that Yngland were shent; But Gawain was of herte so keen That to him wolde he never assent To make accord them between While any life were in him lente. Through the sent of all bydene, Gan the king a letter make; The bishop in message yede between To Sir Launcelot du Lake, And asked if he wolde the queen Courtaisly to him betake, Or Yngland enterdite sholde ben And turn to sorrow for their sake. Launcelot answerd with grete favour, As knight that hardy was and keen: "Sir, I have stand in many a stour, Both for the king and for the queen; Full cold had been his beste towr Yif that I nadde myselfe been; He quites me with little honour, That I have served him all bydene." The bishop spake withoute fail, Though he were nothing afrought: "Sir, think that ye have vanquished many a batail, Through grace that God hath for you wrought; Ye shall do now by my counsel; Think on Him that you dere bought; Women are frele of their entail; Sir, lettes not Yngland go to nought!" "Sir Bishop, castelles for to hold, Wite you well, I have no need; I might be king, yif that I wolde, Of all Benwick, that riche thede, Ride into my landes bold, With my knightes stiff on steed; The queen, yif that I to them yolde, Of her life I have grete drede." "Sir, by Mary, that is maiden flowr, And by God that all shall rede and right, She ne shall have no dishonour; There-to my trowth I shall you plight, But boldly brought into her bowr, To ladies and to maidens bright, And holden in well more honour Than ever she was by day or night." "Now, yif I graunt such a thing That I deliver shall the queen, Sir Bishop, say my lord, the king, Sir Gawain and them all bydene, That they shall make me a sekering, A trews to holde us between." Then was the bishop wonder blithe That Launcelot gave him this answer; Til his palfrey he went as swithe, And til Carlisle gan he fare. Tithandes soon were done to lithe, Which that Launcelotes wordes were; The king and court was all full blithe; A trews they set and sekered there. Through the assent of all bydene A seker trews there they wrought; Though Gawain were of herte keen, There-against was he nought, To hold a trewes them between While Launcelot the queen home brought; But cordement thar him never ween Ere either other herte have sought. 49 A seker trews gonne they make And with their seles they it band; There-to they three bishoppes gonne take, The wisest that were in all the land, And sent to Launcelot du Lake; At Joyous Gard then they him fand; The lettres there they him betake, And there-to Launcelot held his hand. The bishoppes then went on their way, To Carlisle there the king was; Launcelot shall come that other day, With the lady proud in press. He dight him in a rich array, Wite ye well, withouten lees; An hundreth knightes, for sooth to say, The best of all his host he chese. Launcelot and the queen were cledde In robes of a riche weed, Of samite white, with silver shredde, Ivory saddle and white steed, Sambues of the same thred, That wrought was in the hethen thede; Launcelot her bridle led, In the romaunce as we rede. The other knightes everychone, In samite green of hethen land, And in their kirtels ride alone, And iche knight a green garland; Saddles set with riche stone; Ichon a braunch of olive in hand; All the feld about them shone; The knightes rode full loud singand. To the castle when they come In the palais gonne they light; Launcelot the queen off her palfrey nome; They said it was a seemly sight. The king then salues he full soon, As man that was of muche might; Fair wordes were there fone, But weeping stood there many a knight. Launcelot spake, as I you mene, To the king of mikel might: "Sir, I have thee brought thy queen, And saved her life with the right, As lady that is fair and sheen And trew is both day and night; If any man sayes she is not clene, I proffer me therefore to fight." The king Arthur answeres there Wordes that were keen and thro: "Launcelot, I ne wend never more That thou wolde me have wrought this wo; So dere as we samen were, There-under that thou was my fo; But nought-for-thy me rewes sore That ever was war betwixt us two." Launcelot then answerd he, When he had listened long: "Sir, thy wo thou witest me, And well thou wost it is with wrong; I was never fer from thee When thou had any sorrow strong; But liers listenes thou to lie, Of whom all this word out sprong." Then bespake him Sir Gawain, That was hardy knight and free: "Launcelot, thou may it not withsayn That thou hast slain my brethern three; For-thy shall we prove our main In feld whether shall have the gree. 50 Ere either of us shall other slayn, Blithe shall I never be." Launcelot answerd with herte sore, Though he were nothing afrought: "Gawain," he said, "Though I were there, Myself thy brethern slogh I nought; Other knightes fele there were That sithen this war dere han bought." Launcelot sighed wonder sore; The teres of his eyen sought. Launcelot spake, as I you mene, To the king and Sir Gawain: "Sir, shall I never of cordement ween, That we might frendes be again?" Gawain spake with herte keen As man that muche was of main: "Nay, cordement thar thee never ween 51 Til one of us have other slain!" "Sithe it never may betide That pees may be us between, May I into my landes ride, Safely with my knightes keen? Then will I here no lenger bide, But take leve of you all bydene; Where I wend in worlde wide, Yngland will I never sen." The king Arthur answerd there - The teres from his eyen ran - "By Jesu Crist," he there swore, "That all this world wrought and won, Into thy landes when thou wilt fare, Thee shall let no livand man." He said, "Alas!" with sighing sore, "That ever yet this war began!" "Sithe that I shall wend away, And in mine owne landes wonne, May I safely wonne there ay, That ye with war not come me on?" Sir Gawain then said: "Nay, By Him that made sun and moon, Dight thee well as ever thou may, For we shall after come full soon." Launcelot his leve hath taken there; It was no lenger for to bide; His palfrey fand he redy yare, Made him redy for to ride; Out of the castel gonne they fare; Grimly teres let they glide; There was dole and weeping sore; At the parting was little pride. To the Joyous Gard, the riche town, Rode Launcelot, the noble knight; Busked them and made all boun, As men that were of muche might. With spere in hand and gonfanoun (Let they neither day ne night) To an haven hight Kerlioun; Rich galleys there they fande dight. Now are they shipped on the flood, Launcelot and his knightes hende; Wederes had they fair and good Where their will was for to wend, To an haven there it stood, As men were levest for to lende; 52 Of Benwick blithe was their mood, When Jesu Crist them thider send. Now are they arrived on the strand; Of them was fele folk full blithe; Grete lordes of the land, Again him they come as swithe, And fellen him to foot and hand; 53 For their lord they gonne him kithe, At his doomes for to stand, And at his lawes for to lithe. Bors made he king of Gawnes, As it was both law and right; Lionel made king of Fraunce, By olde time Gawle hight; All his folk he gan avaunce And landes gave to ich a knight, And stored his casteles for all chaunce, For mikel he hoped more to fight. Ector he crownes with his hand, So says the book, withouten lees, Made him king of his fader land, And prince of all the riche press, Bade nothing him sholde withstand, But hold him king, as worthy was, For there no more himself wolde fonde Til he wiste to live in pees. Arthur will he no lenger abide; Night and day his herte was sore. Messengeres did he go and ride, Throughout Yngland to fare, To erles and barons on ich a side, Bade them busk and make all yare, On Launcelot landes for to ride, To bren and slee and make all bare. At his knightes all bydene The king gan his counsel take, And bade them ordain them between Who beste steward were for to make, The reme for to save and yeme, And beste were for Britaines sake; Full mikel they drede them all bydene, That aliens the land wolde take. The knightes answerd, withoute lees, And said, for sooth, that so them thought That Sir Mordred the sekerest was Though men the reme throughoute sought, To save the reme in trews and pees. Was a book before him brought; Sir Mordred they to steward chese; That many a bold sithen abought. It was no lenger for to bide, But buskes them and made all boun; When they were redy for to ride, They raised spere and gonfanoun; Forth they went with mikel pride Til an haven hight Kerlioun, And graithes by the lande side Galleys grete of fele fasoun. Now are they shipped on the se And wenden over the water wide; Of Benwick when they mighte see, With grete rout they gonne up ride; Withstood them neither stone ne tree, But brent and slogh on ich a side; Launcelot is in his best citee; There he batail will abide. Launcelot clepes his knightes keen, His erles and his barons bold; Bade them ordain them between, To wite their will, what they wolde, To ride again them all bydene Or their worthy walles hold, For well they wiste, withouten ween, For no fantysé Arthur nolde fold. 54 Bors de Gawnes, the noble knight, Sternly spekes in that stound: "Doughty men, that ye be dight, Foundes your worship for to fonde With spere and sheld and armes bright, Again your fomen for to founde; King and duke, erl and knight, We shall them bete and bring to ground!" Lionel spekes in that tide, That was of warre wise and bold: "Lordinges, yet I rede we bide And our worthy walles hold; Let them prik with all their pride, Til they have caught both hunger and cold; Then shall we out upon them ride, And shred them down as sheep in fold." Sir Bangdemagew, that bolde king, To Launcelot spekes in that tide: "Sir, courtaisy and your suffering Has wakend us wo full wide; Avise you well upon this thing; Yif that they over our landes ride, All to nought they might us bring, While we in holes here us hide." Galyhod, that ay was good, To Launcelot he spekes there: "Sir, here are knightes of kinges blood, That long will not droop and dare; Give me leve, for Cross on Rood, With my men to them to fare; Though they be worse than outlawes wode, I shall them slee and make full bare." Of North-Gales were brethern seven, Ferly mikel of strength and pride; Not full fele that men coude neven Better durst in batail bide; And they said with one steven: "Lordinges, how long will ye chide? Launcelot, for Goddes love in Heven, With Galyhod forth let us ride!" Then spake the lord that was so hende, Himself, Sir Launcelot du Lake: "Lordinges, a while I rede we lende And our worthy walles wake; A message will I to them send, A trews between us for to take; My lord is so courtais and hende That yet I hope a pees to make. "Though we might with worship win, Of a thing mine herte is sore: This land is full of folk full thin, Batailes have made it full bare; Wite ye well it were grete sin Cristen folk to slee thus more; With mildeness we shall begin And God shall wisse us well to fare." And at this assent all they were, And set a watch for to wake, Knightes breme as any bore And derf of drede as is the drake; A damesel they did be yare, And hastely gonne her lettres make; A maid sholde on the message fare, A trews between them for to take. The maid was full sheen to shew, Upon her steed when she was set; Her parail all of one hew, Of a green velvet; In her hand a braunch new, For-why that no man sholde her let; There-by men messengeres knew, In hostes when that men them met. The king was loked in a feld, By a river brode and dregh; A while she hoved and beheld, Paviliouns that were pight on high; She saw there many comely telde, With pommels bright as goldes bee; 55 On one hung the kinges sheld; That pavilioun she drew her nigh. The kinges banner out was set; That pavilioun she drew her ner; With a knight full soon she met, Hight Sir Lucan de Botteler; She hailsed him and he her grette, The maid with full mild cheer; Her errand was not for to let; He wiste she was a messenger. Sir Lucan down gan her take And in his armes forth gan lede; Hendely to her he spake, As knight that wise was under weed: 56 "Thou comest from Launcelot du Lake, The best that ever strode on steed; Jesu, for his Moderes sake, Give thee grace well to speed!" Fair was pight upon a plain The pavilioun in rich apparail; The king himself and Sir Gawain Comely sitten in the hall; The maiden kneeled the king again, So low to grounde gan she fall; Her lettres were not for to laine; They were yredde among them all. Hendely and fair the maiden spake, Full fain of speche she wolde be speed: 57 "Sir, God save you all from wo and wrake, And all your knightes in riche weed; You greetes well Sir Launcelot du Lake, That with you hath been ever at need; A twelve-month trews he wolde take, To live upon his owne lede, "And sithen, yif ye make an hest, He will it hold with his hand Between you for to make pees, Stabely ever for to stand; He will rap him on a rese Mildly to the Holy Land, There to live, withouten lees, While he is man livand." The king then cleped his counsel, His doughty knightes all bydene; First he said, withouten fail: "Me think it were best to sen; He were a fool, withouten fail, So fair forwardes for to fleme." The king the messenger thus did assail: "It were pity to set war us between." "Certes, nay!" said Sir Gawain, "He hath wrought me wo ynow, So traitourly he hath my brethern slain, All for your love, sir; that is trouth! To Yngland will I not turn again Til he be hanged on a bough; While me lasteth might or main, There-to I shall find peple ynow." The king himself, withouten lees, And ich a lord, is not to laine, All they spake to have pees, But himselfe, Sir Gawain; To batail hath he made his hest, Or elles never to turn again. They made them redy to that rese; Therefore was fele folk unfain. The king is comen into the hall, And in his royal see him set; He made a knight the maiden call, Sir Lucan de Botteler, withouten let: "Say to Sir Launcelot and his knightes all, Such an hest I have him hette, That we shall wend for no wall, 58 Til we with mightes ones have met." The maid had her answer; With drery herte she gan her dight; Her fair palfrey fand she yare, And Sir Lucan led her thider right. So through a forest gan she fare And hasted her with all her might, There Launcelot and his knightes were, In Benwick the brough with bemys bright. Now is she went within the wall, The worthy damesel fair in weed; Hendely she came into that hall; A knight her took down off her steed. Among the princes proud in palle She took her lettres for to rede; There was no counsel for to call, But redyly buskes them to that deed. As folkes that preste were to fight, From felde wolde they never flee; But by the morrow that day was light, About beseged was all their fee; Ichon them rayed in all rightes; 59 Neither party thought to flee. Erly as the day gan spring, The trompets upon the walles went; There might they see a wonder thing, Of teldes rich and many a tent. Sir Arthur then, the comely king, With his folkes there was lente, To give assaut, without leesing, With alblasters and bowes bent. Launcelot all forwondered was Of the folk before the wall; But he had rather knowen that rese 60 Out had run his knightes all. He said: "Princes, beth in pees, For follies fele that might befall; Yif they will not their sege sese, Full sore I hope forthink them shall." Then Gawain, that was good at every need, Graithed him in his good armour, And stiffly stert upon a steed, That seker was in ilk a stour; Forth he sprang as spark on glede, Before the gates again the towr; He bade a knight come kithe main, A course of war for his honour. Bors de Gawnes buskes him boun, Upon a steed that sholde him bere, With helme, sheld, and hauberk brown, And in his hand a full good spere; Out he rode a grete randoun; Gawain kydde he coude of war; Horse and man both bore he down, Such a dint he gave him there. Sir Lionel was all redy then, And for his brother was wonder wo; Redyly with his steed out ran, And wend Gawain for to slo. Gawain him kept as he well can, 61 As he that ay was keen and thro; Down he bore both horse and man, And every day some served he so. And so more than half a yere, As long as they there layn, Every day men might see there Men wounded and some slain; But how that ever in world it were, Such grace had Sir Gawain, Ever he passed hole and clere; There might no man stand him again. |
prayers created reins gleamed (see note) conceal hear; listen to meal prepared wait expect comfort foreign comfort So that; nothing be Tables afraid third course as well shining dais (raised platform) raises an outcry against agreements anyone prepare himself fierce slay afterwards prepare ourselves laughed spear tears prepared embraces reward you for it Well do you repay me for it honored accuse Riding directly eyes; was lowered Afraid; nearly every occasion alight foreign quickly To no effect; employed run mad bird hear met; force say encounters; against low noon (about ten a.m.) fierce A blow Lady's (i.e., Virgin Mary's) earth boast; (see note) stood; blow kissed Yea run kissed swoon laughed reconcilement trumpeters listen to walk squires Those who hide put the poison intended for bright kissed squire; put to death Drawn; hanged; burned castle; remain called courteous say knew much of trouble-making conceal and hide know; without doubt uncle tell great; power stopped hide; conceal fierce Had he not betray And, moreover, if he had need i.e., be his ally insane in this manner be still cross lies would not hear any lost commencement will not be innocent expression lies reveal no man ever had more in the act accomplishments outside (the court) secretly doubtless At home remained secretly to her listen it ill-pleased his heart tell i.e., if you please remain (here) By; fierce make known know what she wants will not remain Because; return immediately put upon himself uniquely made grasped kissed; embraced; creature expect He had hardly gotten in his bed bold in battle accused set upon become stop circumstance; very bad obtain (see note) perjured must; by necessity clad Fiercely; drew stood close to thought; slay stopped leaped locked; two bars the armor drawn off went then the rest of the gang By the time; attack eager went bed fear fierce encounter disturbed by dreams begun dreary harness (equipment) hundred At a gentle pace arranges in formation lodge chance direct adventures grow cold i.e., difficult to do weapon heard the news Whom stayed hasten quickly (see note) By the time; attack time without doubt go taken Almost no one expected him to live pitiful kingdom grow cold comfort with drawn lifts; up high There is no man truce property Many be was against me; (see note) I may never expect reconciliation many Each one; granted company could (send) Hideous (frightening) commanded to be ready (see note) silk travel customs; time as a messenger palace they (Lancelot and Guinevere) do bold stop on every side ready banner shining fortified place siege Break; Turn perjured call at braying of horns As if we dared approach no man dress weapon; surrender wager withdraw said hastened; ready banner together voice; hideous; sound many; slain strength thought would not strike in return he (Arthur) steed's backbone he (Bors) shalt thou; allow If slay said alighted courtesy are again in two fierce; boar Avenge; eagerly desired together fast wade well known pity Unless; truth; (see note) messenger took palace; dais Read; everyone he (Arthur) against command destroyed remained assent as a messenger went entrust interdicted stood; battle Destroyed; castle If I had not been there repays completely afraid frail; character castles nation; (see note) yield flower of maidens teach; guide word; pledge give me assurance truce Tidings; proclaimed truce; pledged themselves to it sure truce reconciliation; expected sure truce seals; bound found; (see note) deliver pledged himself the next day amidst the company Know chose clad material Saddle-clothes; thread heathen lands; (see note) romance (French book) every one silk; heathen gowns (i.e., without armor) singing alight took salutes tell pure fierce supposed were to each other I.e., despite this nevertheless it sorely pains me your troubles you blame on me you know well you do wrongly far you listen to lying liars slay afraid slew many have ran from his eyes reconciliation see No living man shall stop you dwell Prepare yourself quickly castle fortified place Hastened; ready banner Delayed named Caerleon; (see note) found prepared Weathers (winds) glad; mind sent quickly Gaul was called advance supplied; every emergency father's try [to do] knew [he could] commanded; walk hurry; ready burn; slay From; together realm; control most trustworthy as they bustle about banner Caerleon prepare many fashions company burned; slew; every calls together doubt time (see) that Prepare; test go beat war spur cut brought us great woe crouch from fear Body (?); Cross slay and plunder North Wales Wondrously great very many; name dare voice wrangle advise; remain truce; offer honor one i.e., starving slay direct guard; watch fearsome as the dragon travel offer be seen apparel branch; i.e., green stop By that (i.e., green branch) lodged wide paused pavilions; pitched tents nearer Called (see note) Mother's pitched read country promise i.e., swear hasten in a rush see (about this) To flee (reject) such fair offers i.e., address truth people doubt promise return for that attack unhappy seat; (i.e., throne) delay promise; promised prepare found; ready castle; trumpets brilliant costly cloth offered eager All their holdings were besieged trumpeters rich dwellings (tents) staying cross-bows amazed be still many cease I suppose they will regret it sorely Prepared every battle live coal next to prove his strength joust makes himself ready shining at a rapid pace proved he knew of war went bold lay (remained) |
