_How king Pelleas suffered himself to be taken prisoner because he
would have a sight of his lady, and how Sir Gawaine promised him for
to get to him the love of his lady._
And so he chose her for his sovereign lady, and never to love other but
her. But she was so proud that she had scorn of him, and said she would
never love him, though he would die for her. Wherefore all ladies and
gentlewomen had scorn of her that she was so proud, for there were
fairer than she, and there was none that was there but and Sir Pelleas
would have proffered them love, they would have loved him for his noble
prowess. And so this knight promised the lady Ettard to follow her into
this country, and never to leave her till she loved him. And thus he is
here the most part nigh her, and lodged by a priory, and every week she
sendeth knights to fight with him. And when he hath put them to the
worse, then will he suffer them wilfully to take him prisoner, because
he would have a sight of this lady. And alway she doth him great
despite, for sometimes she maketh her knights to tie him to his horse
tail, and some to bind him under the horse belly. Thus in the most
shamefullest wise that she can think he is brought to her. And all she
doth it for to cause him to leave this country, and to leave his
loving. But all this cannot make him to leave, for and he would have
fought on foot he might have had the better of the ten knights as well
on foot as on horseback. Alas! said Sir Gawaine, it is great pity of
him, and after this night I will seek him to-morrow in this forest, to
do him all the help that I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine took his
leave of his host Sir Carados, and rode into the forest. And at the
last he met with Sir Pelleas making great moan out of measure, so each
of them saluted other, and asked him why he made such sorrow. And as it
is above rehearsed, Sir Pelleas told Sir Gawaine: But alway I suffer
her knights to fare so with me as ye saw yesterday, in trust at the
last to win her love, for she knoweth well all her knights should not
lightly win me and me list to fight with them to the uttermost.
Wherefore I loved her not so sore I had lever die an hundred times, and
I might die so oft, rather than I would suffer that despite; but I
trust she will have pity upon me at the last, for love causeth many a
good knight to suffer to have his intent, but, alas! I am unfortunate.
And therewith he made so great dole and sorrow that unnethe he might
hold him on horseback. Now, said Sir Gawaine, leave your mourning, and
I shall promise you by the faith of my body, to do all that lieth in my
power to get you the love of your lady, and thereto I will plight you
my troth. Ah, said Sir Pelleas, of what court are ye? tell me, I pray
you, my good friend. And then Sir Gawaine said, I am of the court of
king Arthur, and his sister’s son, and king Lot of Orkney was my
father, and my name is Sir Gawaine. And then he said, My name is Sir
Pelleas, born in the Isles, and of many isles I am lord, and never have
I loved lady nor damsel till now in an unhappy time; and Sir knight,
since ye are so nigh cousin unto king Arthur, and a king’s son,
therefore betray me not but help me, for I may never come by her but by
some good knight, for she is in a strong castle here fast by within
this four mile, and over all this country she is lady of. And so I may
never come to her presence but as I suffer her knights to take me, and
but if I did so that I might have a sight of her, I had been dead long
or this time, and yet fair word had I never of her, but when I am
brought tofore her she rebuketh me in the foulest manner. And then they
take my horse and harness, and put me out of the gates, and she will
not suffer me to eat nor drink, and always I offer me to be her
prisoner, but that she will not suffer me, for I would desire no more
what pains soever I had, so that I might have a sight of her daily.
Well, said Sir Gawaine, all this shall I amend, and ye will do as I
shall devise. I will have your horse and your armour, and so will I
ride to her castle, and tell her that I have slain you, and so shall I
come within her to cause her to cherish me, and then shall I do my true
part that ye shall not fail to have the love of her.