_How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant, and how he
fought and conquered him._
Then came to him an husbandman of the country, and told him how there
was in the country of Constantine, beside Britany, a great tyrant which
had slain, murdered, and devoured much people of the country, and had
been sustained seven year with the children of the commons of that
land, insomuch, that all the children be all slain and destroyed, and
now late he hath taken the duchess of Britany as she rode with her
train, and hath led her to his lodging which is in a mountain, for to
keep her to her life’s end; and many people followed her, more than
five hundred, but all they might not rescue her, but they left her
shrieking and crying lamentably, wherefore I suppose that he hath slain
her. She was wife unto thy cousin Sir Howell, whom we call full nigh of
thy blood. Now as thou art a rightful king have pity on this lady, and
revenge us all as thou art a noble conqueror. Alas! said king Arthur,
this is a great mischief, I had lever than the best realm that I have
that I had been a furlong way tofore him, for to have rescued that
lady. Now fellow, said king Arthur, canst thou bring me there as this
giant haunteth? Yea, Sir, said the good man, lo yonder where as thou
seest those two great fires, there thou shalt find him, and more
treasure than I suppose is in all France. When the king had understood
this piteous case he returned into his tent.
Then he called unto him Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them
secretly to make ready horse and harness for himself and them twain,
for after even-song he would ride on pilgrimage with them two only unto
Saint Michael’s mount. And then anon he made him ready and armed him at
all points, and took his horse and his shield. And so they three
departed thence, and rode forth as fast as ever they might till that
they came unto the foot of that mount. And there they alighted, and the
king commanded them to tarry there, for he would himself go up into
that mount. And so he ascended up into that hill till he came to a
great fire, and there he found a careful widow wringing her hands and
making great sorrow, sitting by a grave new made. And then king Arthur
saluted her, and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation:
to whom she answered and said, Sir knight, speak soft, for yonder is a
devil: if he hear thee speak he will come and destroy thee; I hold thee
unhappy; what dost thou here in this mountain? for if ye were such
fifty as ye be, ye were not able to make resistance against this devil:
here lieth a duchess dead, the which was the fairest of all the world,
wife to Sir Howell duke of Britany; he hath murdered her. Dame, said
the king, I come from the noble conqueror king Arthur, for to treat
with that tyrant for his liege people. Fie upon such treaties, said the
widow, he setteth not by the king, nor by no man else. But and if thou
have brought Arthur’s wife, dame Guenever, he shall be gladder than
thou hadst given to him half France. Beware, approach him not too nigh,
for he hath vanquished fifteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of
precious stones, embroidered with their beards, which they sent him to
have his love for salvation of their people at this last Christmas. And
if thou wilt, speak with him at yonder great fire at supper. Well, said
Arthur, I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words; and
went forth by the crest of that hill, and saw where he sat at supper
gnawing on a limb of a man, baking his broad limbs by the fire, and
three fair damsels turning three spits, whereon were broached twelve
young children late born, like young birds. When king Arthur beheld
that piteous sight he had great compassion on them so that his heart
bled for sorrow, and hailed him saying in this wise: He that all the
world wieldeth, give thee short life and shameful death, and the devil
have thy soul! Why hast thou murdered these young innocent children,
and murdered this duchess? Therefore arise and dress thee, thou
glutton; for this day shalt thou die of my hand. Then the glutton anon
start up and took a great club in his hand, and smote at the king that
his coronal fell to the earth. And the king hit him again that he
carved his belly that his entrails fell down to the ground. Then the
giant threw away his club, and caught the king in his arms that he
crushed his ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and called to
Christ for help and comfort of Arthur. And then Arthur weltered and
wrung that he was other while under and another time above. And so
weltering and wallowing they rolled down the hill till they came to the
sea mark, and ever as they so weltered Arthur smote him with his
dagger, and it fortuned they came to the place here as the two knights
were and kept Arthur’s horse. Then when they saw the king fast in the
giant’s arms they came and loosed him. And then the king commanded Sir
Kay to smite off the giant’s head, and to set it upon a truncheon of a
spear and bear it to Sir Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain,
and after let this head be bound to a barbican that all the people may
see and behold it; and go ye two up to the mountain and fetch me my
shield, my sword, and the club of iron. And as for the treasure take ye
it, for ye shall find there goods out of number. So I have the kirtle
and the club I desire no more. This was the fiercest giant that ever I
met with, save one in the mount of Arabe which I overcame, but this was
greater and fiercer. Then the knights fetched the club and the kirtle,
and some of the treasure they took to themselves, and returned again to
the host. And anon this was known through all the country, wherefore
the people came and thanked the king. And he said again, Give the
thanks to God, and part the goods among you. And after that, king
Arthur said and commanded his cousin Howell that he should ordain for a
church to be builded on the same hill, in the worship of Saint Michael.
And on the morn the king removed with his great battle and came into
Champayne, and in a valley, and there they pight their tents. And the
king being set at his dinner, there came in two messagers, of whom the
one was marshal of France, and said to the king that the emperor was
entered into France and had destroyed a great part, and was in
Burgoyne, and had destroyed and made great slaughter of people, and
burnt towns and boroughs; wherefore, if thou come not hastily, they
must yield up their bodies and goods.