BOOKS WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY
HOWARD PYLE
PUBLISHED BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS.
THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ROUND TABLE.
THE STORY OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND HIS COMPANIONS.
THE STORY OF THE GRAIL AND THE PASSING OF ARTHUR.
THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, OF GREAT RENOWN IN
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
THE GARDEN BEHIND THE MOON. A REAL STORY OF THE MOON ANGEL.
OTTO OF THE SILVER HAND.
[Illustration: Sir Galahad of the Grail.]
[Illustration: The Story _of_
the Grail
_and the
Passing of_
Arthur.
_by_
HOWARD PYLE.
NEW YORK:
_CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS_
1910]
_Copyright, 1910
By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS_
Published September, 1910
[Illustration] Foreword.
_In this volume there follows the fourth and last series of those
histories relating to the life and to the kingship of Arthur, King of
England. In this it shall first be told how it befell with Sir Geraint;
then it shall be told how the Holy Grail was achieved by Sir Galahad,
the son of Sir Launcelot; and then it shall be told how King Arthur
passed from this life, and how, after doing battle right royally for his
crown and having overcome his enemies, he was slain by one of them whom
he had wounded to death.
Much in this is sad, but much is not sad; for all endings are sad, and
the passing of any hero is a sad thing to tell of; but the events and
the adventures and the achievements of such a man are not sad. Thus it
is here said that much of this is sad, but much is not sad.
Now I have for seven years been writing these four books, and in them I
have put the best that I have to say concerning such things. Wherefore I
now hope that you may like that which I have thus written, for if you do
not like it, then I have written in vain; but if you do like these
narratives, and the several various incidents in them recounted, then
you put the seal of your approval upon my work, and my reward is full._
_Know you that it is a very glorious thing for any man to achieve the
approval of others; for all men write for approval, and all would win
approval of their fellows if they were able to do so; wherefore, it is
my strong hope that you may set the seal of your approval upon these
books.
Be it said that some things in these histories are not recounted in
other histories of this momentous reign, but that most of the things
that I have written are recounted in such histories, and all those
things so recounted I have told to you as they have been aforetime
written by other men. In this I have shaped them and adapted them from
the ancient style in which they were first written so as to fit them to
the taste of those who read them to-day.
And I thank God that He has spared my life to finish this work, and also
I hope that He may spare me that life still further, to achieve other
works which I desire to undertake. But nevertheless it would have been a
great regret to me to leave these books unfinished. For I have made a
study of this history and have read much concerning it; wherefore, it
was my earnest wish to finish that which I had begun if God would spare
me my life to do so. This He has done.
So now I take leave of you upon the threshold of this book, and bid you
godspeed in reading it. And the first of these adventures that you shall
read shall be “The Story of Sir Geraint,” which was the first time
written in the ancient Welsh, but which is here re-written for your
delectation in the manner which I here set it forth._
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Contents]
PART I
THE STORY OF SIR GERAINT
Chapter First
_How Sir Geraint followed the knight and the lady to whom the dwarf
belongeth. How he lodged in a ruined castle, and how he found armor to
wear._ _9_
Chapter Second
_How Sir Geraint fought with the knight of the Sparrow-Hawk; how he set
right the wrongs of the earldom and how he returned to the Court of the
King._ _17_
Chapter Third
_How Sir Geraint lived with the Lady Enid at Camelot. How he suspected
her truth; how his suspicions were confirmed, and how he departed with
her in search of adventure. Also how they met with three unusual
adventures in the forest._ _27_
Chapter Fourth
_How Sir Geraint and Enid came forth out of the forest into the land of
an earl. How they abided at an inn, and of what befell them thereafter._
_39_
Chapter Fifth
_Sir Geraint is wounded in his encounter with another knight. He is
discovered by the Court of King Arthur and is healed of his wounds._
_49_
Chapter Sixth
_How Sir Geraint destroyed three giants of the highway. How he was hurt,
and how he and the Lady Enid were carried off by a knight of that
country. Also how Sir Geraint slew the knight._ _59_
PART II
THE STORY OF SIR GALAHAD
Chapter First
_How Sir Galahad was made a knight; how he came to the Court of King
Arthur, and of the several miracles that happened at that time._ _67_
Chapter Second
_How Sir Galahad was led by a strange lady to a monastery of White
Friars. How he met there two other Knights of the Round Table. How King
Bagdemagus wore the shield, and how it was taken from him and given unto
Sir Galahad. Also the story of the shield._ _79_
Chapter Third
_How Sir Galahad met with Sir Melyas. How Sir Melyas was overthrown, and
how Sir Galahad overthrew his enemies. Also how Sir Galahad did at the
Castle of Maidens._ _91_
Chapter Fourth
_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival met Sir Galahad, and what befell
them. Also how Sir Launcelot beheld the Grail in a dream._ _101_
Chapter Fifth
_How Sir Percival findeth a horse that nearly bringeth him to
destruction. Also he meeteth a fair damsel and feasts with her. Finally
he enters a boat and there finds rest and comfort._ _111_
Chapter Sixth
_How Sir Bors confessed himself to the Hermit of the Forest. How he
overthrew a knight, and how he came to the seashore and of what befell
him there._ _119_
Chapter Seventh
_How Sir Galahad smote down Sir Gawaine, and how he accompanied a fair
lady to the seashore. And of what happened thereafter._ _133_
PART III
THE PASSING OF ARTHUR
Chapter First
_How Queen Guinevere visited Sir Launcelot in the forest; how Sir
Launcelot returned to Court as aforetime, and how he fled once more from
the Court._ _147_
Chapter Second
_How Queen Guinevere held a feast, and how Sir Patrice of Ireland was
poisoned at that feast._ _155_
Chapter Third
_How Sir Bors was relieved of the defence of the Queen, and of how Sir
Mador de la Porte was overthrown._ _163_
Chapter Fourth
_How there came quarrels at the Court, and how Sir Launcelot of the
Lake was assaulted by the brothers of Sir Gawaine._ _173_
Chapter Fifth
_How King Arthur attacked Sir Launcelot at Joyous Gard; how Sir Lionel
was slain and how Sir Bors was wounded._ _185_
Chapter Sixth
_Sir Launcelot brings the Queen to King Arthur at Camelot. He quitteth
England, and King Arthur and Sir Gawaine pursue him._ _199_
Chapter Seventh
_Of the battle betwixt Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine. Also how King
Arthur returned to Little Britain._ _211_
Chapter Eighth
_How King Arthur returned to England. How he fought his last battle with
Sir Mordred._ _223_
Chapter Ninth
_How King Arthur slew Sir Mordred, and how he himself was wounded so
that he was upon the edge of death. How his sword Excalibur was cast
away, and how three queens came from Avalon and took him away with
them._ _237_
Chapter Tenth
_How Sir Launcelot came to Queen Guinevere, and how Queen Guinevere
remained a nun. How Sir Launcelot went into the forest and became a
hermit, and how seven of his fellows joined him there. Also of the death
of Sir Launcelot of the Lake._ _249_
[Illustration]
[Illustration] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
_Sir Galahad of the Grail_ _Frontispiece_
PAGE
_Head Piece--Foreword_ _vii_
_Tail Piece--Foreword_ _viii_
_Head Piece--Table of Contents_ _ix_
_Tail Piece--Table of Contents_ _xiv_
_Head Piece--List of Illustrations_ _xv_
_Tail Piece--List of Illustrations_ _xviii_
_Sir Geraint, Son of Erbin_ _2_
_Head Piece--Prologue_ _3_
_Tail Piece--Prologue_ _6_
_Enid and Geraint in the Garden_ _8_
_Head Piece--Part I_ _9_
_Sir Geraint and the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk_ _16_
_Sir Geraint lies asleep_ _26_
_Enid talks with the Earl_ _38_
_Enid and Geraint ride past the Town bridge_ _48_
_The King’s physicians attend Sir Geraint_ _58_
_Tail Piece--Part I_ _64_
_Sir Galahad cometh with the Hermit of the Forest_ _66_
_Head Piece--Part II_ _67_
_The Lady of the Lake and Sir Galahad_ _78_
_Sir Galahad meets Sir Melyas_ _90_
_The Grail is manifested, and Sir Launcelot Sleepeth_ _100_
_Sir Percival rideth the black horse_ _110_
_Sir Bors rides with the white knight_ _118_
_Sir Galahad rides with the Lady_ _132_
_Tail Piece--Part II_ _144_
_The Queen’s pages clothe Sir Launcelot_ _146_
_Head Piece--Part III_ _147_
_Sir Mador de la Porte_ _154_
_Sir Mador begs for his Life_ _162_
_Sir Launcelot defends the door_ _172_
_The Bishop of Rochester and the King_ _184_
_Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Launcelot_ _198_
_The Passing of Sir Gawaine_ _210_
_Sir Mordred the traitor_ _222_
_The Passing of Arthur_ _236_
_The Passing of Guinevere_ _248_
_Tail Piece--Part III_ _258_
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Sir Geraint, Son of Erbin]
[Illustration] Prologue
[Sidenote: _King Arthur proclaims a hunting._]
Upon a certain time, at Michaelmas tide, King Arthur held a high hunting
near to his court at Carleon-upon-Usk. Upon the morning of the day
appointed for this hunting, all the attendants of the King were gathered
in the courtyard of the castle ready to depart. The King cast his eyes
about him, but he did not see the Queen near at hand. Quoth he, “Where
is the Queen this morning, that I do not see her here?” One replied to
him, “Lord, she is yet abed and asleep; shall we go wake her?” The King
said, “No, if she would rather sleep than hunt, let her lie abed.”
Then another said, “Lord, Sir Geraint is not here either. Shall we call
him?” King Arthur laughed. “Nay,” quoth he, “let him also lie abed if he
be drowsy.” Therewith they took horse and rode away into the dewy
sweetness of the early morning; the birds chaunting their roundelays and
the sun bathing the entire earth as in a great bath of golden radiance.
Anon and after they had thus all departed, Queen Guinevere bestirred
herself and awoke, and she said to her attendants, “Where is the King?”
They say to her, “Lady, he hath ridden into the forest with his court.”
At that the Queen was vexed, and she said, “Why was I not awakened?”
They say to her, “Lady, the King forbade that you should be disturbed.”
“Well,” said she, “let that be as it may, but I shall yet go to view the
hunting.” So she arose and clad herself in a robe of sea-green taffeta,
and she belted herself with a belt of gold, and she had her lady to
enmesh her hair in a net of gold. And after she had broken her fast,
she and her court took horse, and rode forth to the woodlands to find
the King and his court.
[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere and her attendants ride into the forest._]
[Sidenote: They meet Sir Geraint.]
Now as the Queen and her ladies and their attendants wended onward in a
sedate and quiet fashion, they were presently aware of one who came
riding after them at a hand gallop. Then the Queen drew rein, and said
to her attendant ladies, “Who is yonder gentleman who follows us at a
hand gallop?” One of her attendants said, “Methinks, Lady, yonder is Sir
Geraint.” The Queen said, “Yea, it is indeed Sir Geraint,” so they all
drew rein and waited until Sir Geraint overtook them. Then the Queen
said to him, “Sir Geraint, I am glad that thou too art a sluggard, for
now, as a penance, we shall hold thee in attendance upon us.” “Lady,”
quoth Sir Geraint, “that is no penance but a pleasure, for what pleasure
could be greater than to wait upon you and your court upon so fair and
sweet a morning as this?”
“Sir,” said the Queen, “that is very well said. Now I bid you to ride
beside me, and so together we will seek the King.”
So Sir Geraint rode with the Lady Guinevere in that wise, and as they
rode they discoursed together concerning many things of interest.
Now as they ambled thus through the forest they presently perceived a
small company of riders who came the other way through the checkered
lights of the woodland.
The first of these riders was a very strong, powerful and lordly knight
in armor. Beside him rode a fair lady clad all in scarlet, and following
after these two there came a deformed and crooked dwarf clad in green.
And the dwarf sat perched upon a great tall horse like a toad upon a
mountain.
Then the Lady Guinevere said, “What company is yonder?” But no one could
answer her question. Then the Queen said to one of her damsels, “Go,
maiden, and ask the dwarf who is the knight whom he follows.”
[Sidenote: _The maiden bespeaks the dwarf._]
So the maiden to whom the Queen spake made forward to meet that party,
and she accosted the dwarf, saying, “Sirrah, I pray you tell me, who is
the lordly knight whom you follow?” The dwarf said, “I will not tell
you, for it is not needful that you should know.” The maiden said,
“Then, since you are so ungentle to me, I will e’en go and ask the
knight his own name. For I do not think he will be so discourteous as
not to tell me his name and his degree.” The dwarf said, “I forbid you
to do that, and I will not permit you to ride forward, for my lord is of
such quality that the likes of you are not fit to speak with him.” And
when he saw that the Queen’s maiden was of a mind to follow the knight,
he catched the horse by the bridle rein and forced it backward so that
the maiden was in danger of falling.
Then the maiden said, “Let go thy hold upon my horse!” and when the
dwarf had released her she drew rein and returned to the Queen
complaining of the discourtesy of the dwarf, and saying, “Lady, yonder
is a most rude and uncivil atomy, for he forbade me to speak to his
master, and when I would have done so in spite of him he catched my
horse by the bridle rein and forced him backward so that I well-nigh had
a fall.”
The Queen frowned and was very much displeased, and she said, “Sir
Geraint, go you and find for me who is yonder knight.” And Sir Geraint
said, “I will do so.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bespeaks the dwarf._]
So Sir Geraint rode down to where the others were, and he followed after
the three until he had overtaken them. Then he rode up to the dwarf and
he said, “Sirrah, tell me the name of yonder knight.” The dwarf said, “I
will not do so, for it is not befitting that I should speak his name to
you.”
Sir Geraint said, “Then I will ask for myself.” Therewith he set spurs
to his horse and drove forward toward the knight. But the dwarf, seeing
his intent, spurred his horse across the way, so that Sir Geraint could
not pass. And he cried out, “Sir Knight, forbear, for you know not what
you do.”
[Sidenote: _The dwarf strikes Sir Geraint._]
Sir Geraint said, “Sirrah, bear back!” and therewith would have
over-ridden the dwarf. Then the dwarf, in a rage, rose in his stirrups
and smote Sir Geraint in the face with a whip which he held in his hand.
And the whip struck Sir Geraint across the cheek and the eyelid, so that
a great red line immediately started out across his face.
Then when Sir Geraint felt the smart of that blow he was filled with
rage and he turned upon the dwarf, clapping hand upon his sword. But he
straightway withdrew his hand, saying, “Sirrah, this shall be a sad day
for your knight!” Therewith he turned his horse and rode back to where
Queen Guinevere was waiting for him. Then he said to her, “Lady, I could
not learn the knight his name, but if I have your leave I will follow
after him, and when I come to some inhabited place I will purvey me
armor, and then I will compel him to return to you and to tell you his
name, and to ask pardon for the insult which his dwarf offered your
maiden.”
Then the Lady Guinevere beheld Sir Geraint’s face, and the weal where
the dwarf had struck him, and she cried out, “Sir Geraint, what ails
your face?” Sir Geraint said, “The dwarf smote me with a whip.” The
Queen said, “What did you do to him for that blow?” Sir Geraint replied,
“I did nothing to him, for I will deal with the knight who is his
master, and not with him.” “Sir,” said the Lady Guinevere, “you did
right in that matter. So I pray you to follow after those people and to
do as you are able with the knight who is the master of the dwarf.”
Sir Geraint said very proudly, “I need no revenge for the blow of such a
mannikin, but I would fain compel this knight to come to you, to
disclose to you his name, and to ask pardon of this maiden for the
discourtesy of his attendant.” The Queen said, “Go; follow him.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint departs after the knight._]
So Sir Geraint departed after the knight, and the lady, and the dwarf,
as the Queen bade him to do.
* * * * *
So begins the Adventure of Sir Geraint, concerning which you will learn
much more if you will read this narrative to its conclusion.
[Illustration]
PART I
The Story of Sir Geraint
_Here beginneth the story of Sir Geraint, which same hath been noted in
many ancient histories of the reign of King Arthur, and which is here
inserted because it belongeth to the story of King Arthur at this place,
as follows:--_
[Illustration: Enid and Geraint in the garden:]
[Illustration] Chapter First
_How Sir Geraint followed the knight and the lady to whom the dwarf
belongeth. How he lodged in a ruined castle, and how he found armor to
wear._
So Sir Geraint followed after that knight and the lady and the dwarf,
and they led him at first toward Camelot. Then they turned aside and led
him in another direction. For, by and by, they came to a cross-road and
they turned into it, and later they came to a high ridge of land that
overlooked a valley. And the valley was spread out beneath them, meadow
and dale, woodland and fallow, as though it had been carved very
minutely in ivory or in some sort of wood, very hard and fine, and so
exquisitely and wonderfully modelled that it was as though a man might
have covered it with the palm of his hand.
Then, after awhile, they quitted this open ridge of land and entered a
woodland. Here they beheld no other thing than trees and green leaves,
for all else was shut from sight. And no other sound disturbed the ear
saving only the sweet song of the woodland birds, chaunting their pretty
roundelay. Anon they descended from these places, and so at last came to
a high-road that led beside a wide and brightly shining river, where
slow-moving barges and quick wherries drew silvery threads across the
smoothly mirroring surface.
Thus, by highland and lowland, by farm and woodland and waterway, the
knight, the lady and the dwarf travelled for all that day; and for all
that day Sir Geraint followed patiently after them.
So toward eventide they came to a town set on a hill. And overlooking
the town was a high grey castle, and there was a wall drawn all about
the castle and the town. And over against the town and the castle and
set up on a hill opposite to them was another castle, very ruinous and
neglected.
[Sidenote: _The knight enters the town._]
The knight, the lady, and the dwarf entered the town, and Sir Geraint
followed after them. And he followed them through the streets, and
everywhere he beheld great crowds of people, and his ears were confused
by the constant and continuous sound of laughing and chatting and
calling of voice to voice. For all these people cheered and applauded
the knight with his lady and the dwarf, when they entered the
town--crowding after them and about them, seeking to touch the knight or
his horse. And everywhere the lights of forge fires were burning, and
the bellows were blowing, and the anvils were ringing with the continual
beating of hammers upon armor. For all the town was in a bustle and
uproar, as though preparing an army for battle.
Meantime the knight, the lady and the dwarf made their way through the
throng and the turmoil, which every moment became greater and greater
about them. For the street was presently full of people, and other
people appeared at the windows and looked out and down upon them as they
went forward upon their way. And some waved scarves and others cheered,
and everywhere there was an uproar around about that place.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint inquires concerning the knight._]
Then Sir Geraint said to one who was near to him, “I prithee, friend,
what is all this bustle and noise and what does it all portend?” Quoth
he to whom Sir Geraint spoke, “The Sparrow-Hawk! The Sparrow-Hawk!” and
hurried away.
Then Sir Geraint queried of another, “What is all this to do?” Quoth he,
“The Sparrow-Hawk, good friend, the Sparrow-Hawk!” and he also hurried
away.
Then there came by a stout red-faced man, and of him Sir Geraint asked,
“What is all this noise and bustle? I prithee tell me.” Quoth the fat
man, “The Sparrow-Hawk, good sir, the Sparrow-Hawk.”
Then Sir Geraint was angry, and he reached down from his horse and
caught the fat man by his collar, and held him fast. And he said,
“Sirrah, I will not let you go until you tell me what is the meaning of
all this tumult. Who is yonder knight, and whither goeth he?”
“Hah! Sir! Do you not know?” said the fat man. “Yonder knight is the
Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, and he goeth to the castle where he shall
lodge until the battle of to-morrow.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint inquires concerning lodging._]
“Well,” said Sir Geraint, “that is something to know. Now I bid you tell
me where I may find lodgings in this town and where I may find arms
wherewith a knight may arm himself.”
Quoth the fat man, “There is no lodging to be had in this town at such a
time as this, nor are there any arms to be found at any place. But if,
fair sir, you will cross the valley, to yonder ruined castle, you will
doubtless find lodgings for the night, and maybe you may find arms, and
to-morrow you may behold the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk overthrow in the
lists all who come against him.”
Then Sir Geraint, seeing that the three whom he followed were now at the
ending of their day’s journey, let go the man, who immediately ran away
into the crowd that still followed after the knight, the lady, and the
dwarf.
So Sir Geraint drew rein and he turned his horse and he quitted that
town and crossed over the valley to the ruined castle upon the other
side as he had been advised to do.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint approaches the ruined castle._]
[Sidenote: _He bespeaks the old man._]
As Sir Geraint drew near to the castle, he was aware of an old man who
walked along upon the parapet of the wall. When this old and reverend
man beheld Sir Geraint, that he approached, he descended from the wall
and he came down to the gate and there met Sir Geraint. And Sir Geraint
beheld that the old man was tall and lordly in his appearance and that
he had a noble and stately countenance. But Sir Geraint beheld that he
was clad in poor and simple garments, grey in color, and patched in
places, and worn and threadbare at the seams. Sir Geraint said to him,
“Sir, I pray you tell me--shall I find lodgings at this castle for
to-night? And I pray you also tell me if you know where I may procure a
suit of armor fit for me to wear?”
Quoth the old man, “Fair Sir Knight, it hath been long since any of your
quality hath been to this place. For this is a poor and ruined house of
a poor and ruined man. Ne’ertheless, such as it is, you are welcome
hither. I pray you come in. As for armor, I have every belief that I
shall be able to supply you with the same, provided you will accept that
which is old and out of date.”
Thus saying, the old man took the horse of Sir Geraint by the bridle
and he led it into the courtyard of the castle, and when he was come
there he set his fingers to his lips and whistled very loud and shrilly.
Anon a side door of the castle opened and there came forth a maiden both
young and graceful, very tall and slender. And she was clad in a plain
blue garment, straight and slim, and girdled with a girdle of blue
leather. Her hair was plaited and twisted, and was without any net or
ornament of any sort. But Sir Geraint looked at her very searchingly,
because it appeared to him that this was the most beautiful young maiden
whom he had ever beheld in all of the world.
When the maiden had come to them the old man bade her to take the horse
of Sir Geraint to the stable and to see that it was fittingly groomed
and cared for.
Then Sir Geraint would have protested at this service, but the old man
said, “Sir, I pray you to let be, for we have no servants in this house,
and we deem it a shame for a guest to do himself his own service.
Wherefore my daughter shall find it a pleasure for to serve our guest.”
[Sidenote: _The maiden stables the horse of Sir Geraint._]
So Sir Geraint dismounted from his horse and the maiden led it away to
the stable. Then the old lord took Sir Geraint into the castle and he
conducted him to an upper room wherein he was to lodge. And he prepared
a tepid bath for Sir Geraint, and he brought him a loose garment, faded
in color but trimmed with fur that had once been handsome and of rich
texture, and the garment was very soft and comfortable.
Then the old man called to his wife and he gave some money into her
hand, and he said to her, “Go down into the town and procure the best
that you are able with this money, for it hath been many days since we
have had a guest of so much worth and nobility as this gentleman appears
to possess.”
So the old gentlewoman went down into the town, and after a little she
returned again with a porter bearing a great hamper of food.
Meanwhile, whilst this food was preparing for supper, Sir Geraint and
the old lord of the castle walked in the garden talking together.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint inquires concerning the knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk._]
Quoth Sir Geraint, “Sir, I pray you tell me several matters. First, I
pray you tell me of this Sparrow-Hawk concerning whom yonder place
appears to have gone mad?”
“Messire,” said the old lord, “I will tell you. Some years ago I was the
earl and overlord of yonder town. But my younger brother undermined me
with the inhabitants, and lately he hath gathered all of my power into
his hands. Wherefore he is there, lodged in all splendor, and I am here,
as thou seest.
“Now you are to know that my brother hath a mind to assemble a court of
very worthy knights about him. Wherefore he hath had made a sparrow-hawk
of pure silver which same is mounted at the top of a silver staff. For
this sparrow-hawk many knights have come jousting; for what knight
soever gaineth it and keepeth it for three years in succession, that
knight shall be known as the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk. Wherefore many
have contested for it.
“For two years now a knight, hight Sir Gaudeamus of the Moors, hath
overcome all who have come against him, and if he overcometh all the
knights contestant again for this year, he shall be acknowledged as the
true Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint asks for armor._]
Thus spake the old lord of the ruined castle, and when he had done Sir
Geraint said, “Sir, with that armor which you say you have, I think that
I myself will contend with that knight to-morrow day. So I pray you to
let that armor be sent to my room, where I may have it to hand when I
want it.”
Quoth the old lord, “Messire, I have, as I told you, such a suit of
armor, but it is of a sort that I know not whether you will wear it or
not, for it is old and beaten; but if so be you are not ashamed to wear
such ancient armor, I shall be glad to purvey it for you.”
“Sir,” said Sir Geraint, “I give you high thanks. And now come I to
another matter. A short while ago I saw a maiden whom I thought was the
most beautiful that ever mine eyes beheld. Now if that damsel hath no
knight to serve her, I pray you tell me if I may fight for her sake
to-morrow in the field of the Sparrow-Hawk?”
Said the old man, “Sir, that maiden is my daughter and my only child.
Her name is Enid. If so be she shall accept you for her knight, then
shall I be more than glad for her to do so. But I will send her to you,
and you may break that matter to her yourself.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bespeaks Enid the Fair._]
With this, the old lord took his departure; anon came Enid the Fair into
the garden where Sir Geraint awaited her, and when he beheld her coming,
his heart was very glad. So she came to him, and he took her very gently
by the hand, and he said to her, “Lady, here am I, a knight of King
Arthur’s Round Table and of his Court. I am of good repute and I believe
am not altogether unworthy of my belt and my spurs. You, I think, are
not more than twenty years of age, and I have nearly twice those years,
yet I find that I have great pleasure in gazing upon you. Now I pray
you, tell me if your heart may incline unto me sufficiently to suffer me
to be your knight in the tournament to-morrow day. For I purpose then to
endeavor for this Sparrow-Hawk, and I have no lady whom I might
consider as the lady of my heart upon such an occasion.”
At this address Enid was very much astonished and abashed. She uplifted
her eyes and looked at Sir Geraint very steadily for a little. And she
beheld that he was tall and powerful of frame and that he possessed a
strong and very noble face. Wherefore her heart went out to him and she
said, “Noble Lord, it will give me great pleasure to accept you for my
knight champion, if it so be that one of your high nobility and splendid
distinction shall regard my poor estate. For my father hath not money to
buy him clothes for us all, nor hath he any honor or estate saving only
this ruined castle wherein we dwell. Wherefore it is not meet for me to
lift mine eyes to one of your high estate and exalted quality.”
Then Sir Geraint regarded her very earnestly, and he found her to be
still more beautiful than he had at first thought her to be; and he
said, “Enid, it may be that thy present estate and quality is not very
great, yet thy face is more beautiful than that of any woman whom I ever
yet beheld, wherefore I would fain have thee to consign thyself for my
true and only lady. If thou wilt do this, it may be that I shall be able
to be of great help and assistance both to thee and to thy father.”
She said to him, “Lord, I will accept thee for my true and faithful
knight.”
[Sidenote: _Enid gives Sir Geraint her belt._]
Then Sir Geraint said, “Now I have no favor of thine to wear. I pray
thee give me that belt thou wearest about thy waist, for I myself will
wear it twisted about mine arm to-morrow.” So Enid gave him her belt of
leather and he buckled it about his arm.
Then he gave her his hand and she gave her hand to him. So, hand in
hand, they departed from that place and entered the castle.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Sir Geraint and the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk]
[Illustration] Chapter Second
_How Sir Geraint fought with the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk; how he set
right the wrongs of the earldom and how he returned to the Court of the
King._
Now tell we of that notable battle betwixt Sir Geraint and the Knight of
the Sparrow-Hawk.
[Sidenote: _Of the place of battle._]
In the level field below the town there was a fine field of green grass,
such as was well fitted for knights to tilt upon. Here there was a high
seat arranged for the earl of that town, and for his court, and that
seat was hung and draped with crimson cloth embroidered with silver
gryphons (which same was the emblazonment of the earl). Below the place
of tilting and hard by that place was the silver sparrow-hawk under
guard of six esquires clad all in crimson embroidered with silver
gryphons. The sparrow-hawk was of pure silver, shining very brightly in
the glorious sunlight. And it was set upon a cross-bar of pure silver,
and the cross-bar of silver was supported by a rod of silver thrust into
the earth.
Already the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk had fought with several opponents
that morning and had overthrown them all, the one after the other. So
now, as none came against him, he waited in his pavilion till noon,
against which time the silver sparrow-hawk should be assigned to him;
and as to the people who were gathered to view the sport, they were
grown restless and moved about and conversed together, for it seemed to
them that no one would come to contest again with Sir Gaudeamus.
[Sidenote: _How Sir Geraint and his companions arrive at the place of
battle._]
But of a sudden, a little group of four figures suddenly appeared coming
across the meadowland beyond. The first of these was the old Earl of
that town. Beside him rode a knight, tall and strong of figure, and
behind these two came the lady of the Earl and his daughter. These
presented a very dull and motley appearance, for the Earl was clad in
frayed and weather-worn black, and Sir Geraint was clad in the ancient
and battered armor of the Earl that had been given to him. In this he
presented a very singular appearance, as though he had stepped from an
olden painting.
When those who were there perceived how poor and ancient was the armor
that Sir Geraint wore, there began a ripple of laughter that spread and
grew in magnitude until it was like a torrent of high sounding mirth.
But ever the Earl of the town did not join in this mirth, otherwise he
sat with great dignity in his seat, and neither laughed nor smiled,
although all of his court made great mirth and applauded at Sir Geraint
as though he were some jester clad in armor for their sport.
But Sir Geraint paid no heed to all this merriment; otherwise he rode
forward through the field. And after he had found place for the old Lord
who was with him, and for the lady of that Earl and for Enid, he rode up
to the high seat of the Earl and bespoke him thus:
“Lord, here stand I, a knight of the Court of King Arthur, and of his
Round Table, to do battle upon behalf of the Lady Enid of this place for
yonder silver sparrow-hawk. Now I pray thee tell me, have I thy
permission to engage in that battle?”
But now no longer was there any sound of laughter or of jeering from the
lords and the ladies of that court; otherwise, all stood up to look upon
him, although they could see naught of his face by reason that the visor
of his helmet was lowered.
“Sir Knight,” said the Earl, “this contest is open to all, wherefore it
is also free to thee.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint challenges the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk._]
Then Sir Geraint saluted the Earl and his court, and riding across the
meadow of battle to the pavilion of Gaudeamus, the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk, he smote with his spear upon the shield of that knight
with all his might and main so that it rang again like a bell. Then the
Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk appeared at the door of his pavilion, and he
said, “Who art thou in that ancient, outland armor who smites my shield
with thy lance? Art thou a jester? If so, I think thy jest will cost
thee very dear.”
Quoth Sir Geraint, “I am not a jester, but am one who hath come to do
battle with thee. Therefore, prepare thyself to meet me, for I have
great reason to be offended with thee. If fortune betide me, this day
shalt thou do penance to a great lady for thy dwarf and for his
discourtesy to her.”
“Hah!” quoth the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, “this is a very strange
thing, that thou shouldst have taken up such a quarrel as this against a
strange and misshapen dwarf. As for thy challenge, it shall be answered
immediately.” Therewith he of the Sparrow-Hawk went back into his
pavilion again to put on his helmet and to make him ready for combat.
Meantime Sir Geraint rode to his stand, which he assumed in due order,
preparing himself in all wise for this encounter that was about to
befall.
Anon came the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, armed cap-a-pie in shining and
very splendid armor. Upon his shield he had emblazoned a silver
sparrow-hawk, and the crest upon his helmet was also a silver
sparrow-hawk wreathed with a thin silver scarf. And all who beheld those
two figures could not but applaud the splendor of his appearance, as
they could not but laugh at the quaint appearance of Sir Geraint.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint engages the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk._]
So when these two knights were in all wise ready, each in his place, the
trumpets of the marshals of the list sounded the assault, and they
rushed together like thunder and so that the earth trembled and shook
beneath the trampling of their horses’ hoofs.
So they crashed together in the midst of the course with a roar and a
crackle of splintered lance.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint overthrows the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk._]
For in that assault the lance of the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk was
broken into as many as twenty pieces, but the lance of Sir Geraint held,
so that it pierced through the shield of the other knight, lifting him
completely out of the saddle and casting him with great violence to the
earth so that he rolled three times over ere he ceased to fall.
But when the people of the town beheld their champion thus cast to the
earth by that strange knight in ancient armor they were very greatly
displeased and murmured together saying, the one to the other, “What
knight is this? Who is this clad in outland armor who overthroweth our
champion? Is he a hero? Is he Sir Launcelot of the Lake; or who is he?”
But even whilst they thus spoke the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk recovered
from the terrible violence of his fall. His wits returned to him like a
flock of scattered birds, and with them a knowledge of the shame of his
overthrow. Then he leaped to his feet and drew his sword, crying out,
“Sir Knight! Come down and do me battle afoot! For though thou hast
overthrown me with thy lance, yet thou hast not yet conquered me.”
And with that, others of those who were there assembled began to cry
out, “Come down, Sir Knight! Come down, and fight him afoot!”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint does battle with the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk._]
So Sir Geraint leaped down from his horse and drew his sword. And he set
his shield before him and so approached his enemy, and meantime Sir
Gaudeamus had made ready for that assault. Then suddenly they sprang
together like two wild bulls in battle; lashing and lashing again and
again. The dust arose up around them and for a time no onlooker could
tell which had the better of that fight. But at last Sir Geraint waxed
very angry at being so withstood, wherefore he rained blow upon blow
like the continual crashing of thunder. Then the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk grew weak in his assault. He bore back and held his shield
full low. Upon that Sir Geraint uplifted his strength and smote his
enemy with so furious a might that Sir Gaudeamus let fall his shield
from his defence. Then again Sir Geraint smote him with all his might
upon the crown of his undefended helmet, so woful a blow that the blade
bit through the iron of the headpiece and deep into the bone of the
brain pan.
[Sidenote: _He overcomes that knight._]
With that blow the brains of the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk swam like
water; the strength left his limbs; his thighs trembled and he fell down
upon his knees and sought to catch hold of the thighs of Sir Geraint.
But Sir Geraint avoided him, and reaching forward, he catched him by the
helmet and snatched it from off his head. Then he catched the Knight of
the Sparrow-Hawk by the hair of the head and he drew his neck forward as
though to smite off his head upon the ground. But the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk, beholding death hovering above him, cried out in a muffled
voice, “Spare me, Sir Knight, spare my life!”
Then Sir Geraint cried out, “I will not spare thy life, Sir Knight,
unless thou wilt thus, upon thy knees, tell me thy name.”
[Sidenote: _The knight proclaims his name._]
“My name,” said the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, “is Sir Gaudeamus of the
Moors.”
“Still will I not spare thee,” said Sir Geraint, “unless thou wilt bind
thyself with a pledge to go to the Court of King Arthur and there tell
to Queen Guinevere thy name and thy degree of arms.”
“All this,” said the other, “I promise in full.”
“Still I will not spare thee,” said Sir Geraint, “unless thou wilt
engage that thy dwarf shall go with thee to earn forgiveness for his
discourtesy to the damsel of the queen whom he hath offended.”
“This also,” said the knight, “I will engage for him to do.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint spares the knight his life._]
Then Sir Geraint said, “Arise, Sir Gaudeamus, for I spare thee.” And
therewith Sir Gaudeamus arose and stood upon his feet, still trembling
with the weakness of his battle, and the blood running in torrents from
the great wound upon his head. Then came several esquires and Sir
Geraint said to them, “Take him away and look to his hurts,” and they
did so.
Now, after this, there came an herald upon the field of battle, and he
approached Sir Geraint and said to him, “Sir Knight, the earl of this
town hath sent me to beseech you to come to him.” Sir Geraint said,
“Take me to him.”
So the herald led the way and Sir Geraint followed after him until he
stood face to face with the Earl. The Earl said to him, “Sir Knight, I
make my vow thou art a strong and terrible knight. I pray thee, tell me
thy name that I may know to whom I am to give the prize of battle.”
“Sir,” said Sir Geraint, “I am called Geraint, and am the son of the
King of Erbin, and I am a Knight of King Arthur’s Court and of his Round
Table.” “Hah!” said the Earl, “then it is small wonder that thou didst
win thy battle so easily, for thy deeds are famous in all the courts of
chivalry. Now I pray thee, Sir, that thou wilt come to my castle and
will feast with me to-night, so that I may do honor to so famous a
knight, for all the world knoweth of thee and of thy deeds.”
Then Sir Geraint looked at him very sternly and he said, “Messire, I
will not sit down with thee at table unless I know by what right thou
assumest thy state as earl, and by what right thou hast dispossessed the
former earl of his state and his property.”
At this the Earl’s face fell, but he presently said, “Well, I will tell
all these and several other things to thee if thou wilt come with me to
my castle. And my brother the old Earl and his wife and his daughter
shall also come. And when we sit at feast, I will lay all things before
thee and thou shalt judge betwixt the old Earl and me, and I will abide
by what thou decidest as to the rights of this case.”
“Then,” said Sir Geraint, “we will come to thy castle with thee.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint feasts with the young Earl._]
So that night there was a great feast prepared in honor of Sir Geraint,
and Sir Geraint and the old Earl and his countess and their daughter
Enid sat with the Earl and his court at the castle of the Earl. Sir
Geraint sat upon the right hand of the Earl, and upon his left hand sat
the old Earl.
So after they had eaten and whilst they sat with their wine before them,
quoth Sir Geraint, “I pray thee now, my Lord Earl, for to tell me what
thou promised to do; to wit, how it stands with thee and the old Earl of
this city.”
“Sir Knight,” said the young Earl, “I will do so. Thus it was: When our
father died he left this town to my brother, whilst to me he left that
ruined castle yonderway across the valley.
“Now my brother was a very passive man and would do little to benefit
this place either by regulating its laws or by punishing its criminals;
or by establishing in it a court of chivalry.
[Sidenote: _The young Earl tells his story._]
“All the affairs of state were left to my command, whilst my brother
contented himself with his domestic life and did very little to regulate
the affairs of the state. Hence it befell that the people of this town
looked to me to help them and to advise with them. Thus, at last, I
became the real ruler of all our affairs. This continued for several
years; then at last the people said, ‘Why should we support our Earl who
does nothing for us, whilst this lord whom we do not support giveth us
all that he hath in him to give?’ So the people arose one night, and
drove their earl and his wife and his daughter out of the castle and out
of the town, and since that time he hath been dwelling in that old
ruined castle that one time belonged to me, where thou didst find him;
and I have been dwelling here. This, Sir Geraint, is the true story of
our affairs.”
Then Sir Geraint turned to the old Earl and he said, “Sir, I pray you
tell me, is this true?” The old Earl said, “Methinks it is true.”
“Then,” said Sir Geraint, “this is the doom that I pronounce: That the
present Earl shall rule this town as he hath ruled it heretofore, but
that he shall give to the old Earl the one-half of all the money
receipts of the town, so that he may support the style of living
befitting his rank. And I furthermore ordain that this Earl who rules
this city shall transmit the rule thereof to whatsoever heirs or assigns
he may elect to succeed him.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint proclaims the doom of the two Earls._]
So Sir Geraint decided his doom, and that which he said was satisfactory
to all. And he abided several days at that place, and during that time
he saw much of Enid and the more he saw of her the more he loved her.
So one day, they two walking in the garden of the old castle alone
together, he said to her, “Lady, I have seen many fair dames in my day,
but never did I behold one who was so dear to my heart as thou art. Now
I pray thee tell me, have I found favor in thy sight?” She said, “Yea,
Lord, thou hast found great favor.” Said Sir Geraint, “Have I found such
favor that thou wilt depart hence with me as my wife?” Enid said, “Lord,
if it is thy desire to have me do so I will gladly become thy wife, and
will depart with thee whithersoever thou dost command; for, in truth, I
have now no other thought in all the world but of thee.”
Then Sir Geraint kissed her and thus was their troth plighted.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint is betrothed to Enid._]
So they were wedded, and before they were wedded the young Earl said,
“Sir Geraint, suffer that I purvey thy lady with a robe of cloth of gold
meet for such an one to wear upon the occasion of her marriage.” But Sir
Geraint said to him, “Not so, Messire, for I won her whilst she was clad
in this robe of plain blue cloth. Thus will I take her to the Court of
King Arthur and thus will I present her to Queen Guinevere, and I will
have it that Queen Guinevere will provide her with fresh raiment meet
for her to wear.”
Then the young Earl bowed his head and said, “As thou sayst, so let it
be.”
Thus it befell that Sir Geraint was married, and the morning after his
marriage he and his lady departed from that town. And he seated his lady
before him upon the saddle and turned his horse’s head toward the Court
of King Arthur and so rode away.
* * * * *
Now return we to Queen Guinevere and to the Court of the King.
[Sidenote: _Sir Gaudeamus arrives at the court of Queen Guinevere._]
Three days after the departure of Sir Geraint the Queen was riding
abroad, and several of her court attendants were with her, and amongst
them was the young damsel who had inquired of the dwarf concerning the
name of the knight whom he followed. As they rode talking and laughing
together--chattering in clear voices, like a bevy of bright and
gloriously tinted birds--they perceived coming toward them a procession.
First they beheld a litter borne by several bearers and on the litter
was a wounded knight. Behind the litter came the horse of the knight,
and the horse was laden with his bright and shining armor, and led by an
esquire. Behind the horse there came a fair young lady clad in scarlet
riding upon a white palfrey, and behind her a small misshapen dwarf.
Now when this party had come a little nigher, Queen Guinevere perceived
the face of the dwarf more clearly and she knew him for that dwarf who
had rebuffed her damsel as aforetold. And she said to that one of her
attendants who had aforetime met the dwarf, “Is not that the dwarf who
rebuffed thee a few days ago?” The damsel said, “Yea, Lady.” “Then,”
said the Queen, “meseems the knight his master hath met Sir Geraint and
hath suffered in his encounter and is coming here to bespeak me. Let us
go forward to meet them.”
So the Queen and her court hurried forward until they had come beside
the litter. Then the Queen said, “Sir Knight, I pray you tell me, what
is it that ails you?” “Lady,” said he, “I am a knight who hath suffered
in battle. Now I pray you tell me, where may I find Queen Guinevere?”
The Queen said, “Messire, I am she.” Quoth the knight, “Lady, is it
truth you are telling me or are you making sport of me?” The Queen said,
“Sir, it is the truth.”
Then Sir Gaudeamus raised himself upon his elbow in the litter, and he
said, “Lady, I come to thee upon command of Sir Geraint, who hath
overthrown me in battle; and upon his command I am to tell thee that my
name is Sir Gaudeamus of the Moors, and upon his command I am to seek
for the damsel to whom my dwarf was rude.”
Said Queen Guinevere, “This is she.”
Then Sir Gaudeamus said to the maiden, “Fair damsel, of thee I am to ask
pardon for the rudeness of my dwarf, and to crave of thee that thou from
thy grace and kindness wilt forgive his offence.”
Then the heart of Queen Guinevere was moved with pity for the knight,
and she said to him, “Messire Sir Gaudeamus of the Moors, thou and thy
dwarf are fully forgiven by her and by me. Now I pray you to come
straightway to the castle where your hurts may be examined and cured.”
So the Queen led the way to the castle of the King, and all they went
thitherward. And after they had come to the castle she had the wounded
knight laid upon a couch in a bright and cheerful room, and she had the
king’s physician to come and to look at his hurts and to dress them. And
so Sir Gaudeamus was made in all ways as comfortable as might be.
So passed three or four days.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid arrive at the castle of King Arthur._]
One morning the Queen looked out from her bower window and she beheld a
knight riding toward the castle. And there sat before him upon his
saddle a fair lady with golden hair, and the lady was clad in blue. The
Queen called to her bower women and said, “Who is that knight coming
yonder?” Said one of the women, “That, methinks, is Sir Geraint.” The
Queen said, “Yea, that is true. Methought it was he; let us hasten to
meet him.”
So she and her ladies made haste and they met Sir Geraint and Enid at
the gateway of the castle. The Queen said, “Sir Geraint, who is it that
thou hast with thee?” He said, “Lady, this is my wife, to whom I am but
newly married. I have brought her here clad in blue cloth as I first
beheld her. And I have hope that thou wilt clothe her as beseemeth her
estate as the daughter of an earl, the lady of a knight-royal, and as my
wife.”
Then the Queen said, “Welcome! welcome, Lady! I give thee welcome!” And
after that she assisted Enid to dismount from the horse. Thereafter she
took her to her bower, and there she clad her in the richest robes that
could be furnished for her. And the face of Enid shone from out of that
raiment of silver and gold as the face of the moon upon a summer night
shines from the thin and golden clouds that surround but do not obscure
it.
Thus was the Fair Enid brought to the Court of King Arthur.
[Illustration: Sir Geraint lies asleep]
[Illustration] Chapter Third
_How Sir Geraint lived with the Lady Enid at Camelot. How he suspected
her truth; how his suspicions were confirmed, and how he departed with
her in search of adventure. Also how they met with three unusual
adventures in the forest._
It is not always well for a man to be married to a woman of half his
age; for that which he thinks and loves she may neither think nor love,
and that which she thinks and loves, he maybe does not think and does
not love.
Now Sir Geraint was serious, as became his years, and Enid was gay and
debonaire as became her youth, so that there were many sports and
pastimes that she engaged in that he looked upon remotely and from afar,
and not always without displeasure.
Amongst the lords of the Court of King Arthur was a young knight and
lord, hight Sir Peregrans, who was son to King Ludd of Cornwall. This
noble young knight-royal was very full of joy and gladness. He was
ruddy-cheeked and gay, with broad black eyebrows and curly black hair,
and he was ever ready for any sport or pastime that fell his way.
It befell that he and Enid were much together in company and sports of
several kinds, and though Sir Geraint was too proud to appear to observe
this, yet he did observe it and was much affected by it. For he would
sometimes say to himself, “What pity it is that this dear lady of mine
should be bound to my age and sobriety instead of to one like this Sir
Peregrans who is in all ways suited to her!” Yet Sir Geraint would say
nothing to Enid concerning his thoughts, but only kept those thoughts
locked in his own heart, and so withdrew himself from her afar off.
This and several other things the Lady Enid observed, and it sometimes
seemed to her either that her lord was in trouble or that he was
offended, yet she wist not what offence she could have given to him in
any way. For it did not seem to her that it could be any offence for her
to play in the same sports with Sir Peregrans, but only that it was
natural and seemly upon her part to do so.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint sits in thought._]
Now one day Sir Geraint sat meditating concerning these things, and as
he sat he gazed out of the window at the King’s Castle. What time his
eyes beheld a wide and fruitful stretch of meadow-land and fields, of
glebe and of a river that wound through all this fair level fruitful
campagne like to a ribbon of pure and shining silver. The sun at that
hour shot his slanting rays across the earth, so that all this fair
prospect appeared, as it were, to be bathed in a pure golden brightness.
From the level stretch of horizon, great clouds climbed up into the blue
and radiant sky, peeping, as it were, over one another’s shoulders down
upon the peaceful earth.
All this the eyes of Sir Geraint beheld, yet he saw nothing of it. For
the sight of his soul was turned away from such things, and was directed
inward upon himself, and there he beheld naught but gloom and darkness.
To that place where he sat came the Lady Enid, and she beheld him where
he was, but he did not turn his eyes upon her, nor seem to know that she
was there.
[Sidenote: _Enid comes to Sir Geraint._]
Then she came to him and seated herself upon his knee. She put her thin
fair arms about his neck, and interwove her fingers into one another.
Then she said, “Dear my Lord, I pray thee tell me in what way I have
offended thee. Thou art no longer toward me as thou wert when first I
came hitherward to this court.”
He said to her, speaking very gently, “Enid, thou hast in no wise
offended me.”
Then she said, “What is it that troubles thee, my husband?”
He said, “I have no trouble.” Then, as in a second thought, he said,
“Enid, I will tell thee somewhat.” Therewith he unlocked her two hands
and sat, holding one of them in his. “Sometimes,” quoth he, “a man
loveth the home that is his very own. So love I the home of my childhood
and of my youth. There my father dwelleth in honor, and my mother also.
It hath been many years since I have seen it and I long to see it now.”
She said, “Dear Lord! Let us go thither.”
He said, “Wouldst thou like to go, Enid? Well, then, we shall do so, and
that as soon as my Lord the King shall grant us leave to depart.”
So that very day Sir Geraint asked leave of King Arthur to leave the
court for awhile, and King Arthur gave him permission to withdraw.
[Sidenote: _They two depart for the castle of Sir Geraint._]
So the day after that day Sir Geraint and Enid departed from the Court
of King Arthur, and travelling with a small party of noble attendants
betook their way to Amadora (which was the name of the castle of Sir
Geraint’s father), which place they reached within three days of easy
journeying.
There they abided for several months, in which time there was hunting
and hawking and jousting, so that the days were as full of joy and
pleasure as it was possible to be.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint takes sport at his castle._]
But in all that while Sir Geraint did nothing of knightly daring or
adventure, so that by and by the people of Amadora began to talk to one
another concerning the matter, saying, “How is this? Our Prince, the
Lord Geraint, is surely besotted concerning his wife, for he is with her
all the while. The time was when he took his joys, but when the time of
those joys was past then he performed many works of knightly daring, so
that all we of this place were very proud of him. When now doth he enter
into any such undertaking? Never. He is always the first in the chase or
with the hawk or in the joust, yet his youthful glory is now departed
from him, so that he lieth forever, as it were, with his head upon the
knees of his wife.”
Thus the people talked amongst themselves, and at last such words, or
words like these, came to the ears of the Lady Enid and troubled her
very sorely.
[Sidenote: _Enid regards Sir Geraint whilst he sleeps._]
One day in the summer weather she awoke very early in the morning and
the Lord Geraint lay upon his bed beside her. He had thrown aside the
coverlets and he now lay with his great breast and his arms and
shoulders bare to the softness of the air. These she beheld, how huge
and mighty they were and how comely in their strength and power. Then
she looked at her own arm, how slender and white it was, how lacking of
strength, how feeble and childish in its weakness, and she thought to
herself, “Is it then true what they say--that my white and tender limbs
may hold my husband away from those great adventures to which he
belongs? Is it then true that mine arms confine him in a little and
narrow circumference? Alas! Is it true that the love of a woman can sap
a man of all purpose and ambition in his life of activity? Nay; it is
not true, for many knights who are wedded to other ladies are still
noble knights in the field of adventure. Alas and alas! The weakness of
my lord must indeed reside in me.” Here she sighed very deeply and with
the deepness of that sigh Sir Geraint awoke from his slumbers and lay
with his eyes still closed. Then she said, whispering as though to
herself, “I am at fault and am no true, right wife for this noble hero.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint hears her words._]
Now Sir Geraint, lying with his eyes closed, overheard these last words
that she thus whispered to herself. He heard her say that she was no
true, right wife to him, and it seemed to him that she thus confessed
that she was unfaithful to him. This thought was, as it were, a dagger
thrust into his life, sudden, shining and very deep. And though he still
lay with his eyes closed, he said to his heart, “Is she then false, and
was I too late in bringing her away from the Court of King Arthur? Woe
is me!”
Thereupon he opened his eyes, and looked her full in the face, and she,
seeing that he was awake, smiled into his eyes. But he did not smile
upon her in return, otherwise he said, “Lady, art thou there?” Then the
smile slowly faded from her eyes, for she saw that he was in an angry
mood. And so they regarded one another.
Then suddenly he arose and began dressing himself, and he said to her,
“Arise, Lady, and clothe yourself.” And she did as he commanded. He upon
his own part accoutred himself in his full armor, that hung erstwhile
shining against the stone wall of the room.
When they were thus apparelled he said to her, “Follow me.” She said,
“Whither, Lord?” but he made no reply to her. So they went forth
together out of that apartment. And she followed him down the stairway
to the courtyard, and she followed him from the courtyard to the stable,
and still in all that while he spoke no further word to her.
Now this time was still very early in the morning, for the sun had only
just arisen, round and red and full of the glory of daylight. The birds
were chaunting with might and main, but all of the castle folk were yet
asleep. All was cool and balmy and exceedingly pleasant, and the silence
of the early daytime was full of the remote sound of the river below the
castle, where it rushed down, roaring, through its deep and mossy gorges
of green and slimy rocks and stones.
Sir Geraint entered the stables and Enid awaited him what he would do;
and that while she stood not far off from the stable. After awhile he
came forth from the stable again and by one hand he led the horse of
Enid by the bridle, and by the other hand he led his own horse by the
bridle.
He said to Enid, “Mount thy horse, Lady,” and giving her his hand he
lifted her very lightly to her saddle. Then he in his turn mounted his
own horse.
[Sidenote: _They depart from the castle._]
Then when he was seated in his saddle, he said to the Lady Enid his
wife, “Lady, for this day and haply for several days I will endeavor to
prove to thee that strength and life have not yet left me, but that I am
still a strong and able knight and as well worth the love of any woman
as I was in the full heyday of my youth. Ride you forth and lead the
way, and I will follow after you. But make yourself well acquainted with
this: that under no circumstances are you to speak a word to me unless I
give you leave to speak to me. Only ride straight forward, anywhither
you may be inclined.”
She said to him, “Lord, I will fulfil your commands.”
So they rode away from the castle without any one knowing that they were
gone, for there stood no guard at the gateway at that hour and the
porter drowsed in his lodge.
* * * * *
So, according to the command of Sir Geraint, the Lady Enid rode ahead of
him and he himself followed after her some considerable distance behind.
Thus they went forward for several leagues, and meantime the sun rose
very full and round and shone down hotly upon the earth. So by and by
they approached the purlieus of a thick dark forest, and as they drew
near to it the Lady Enid was aware of the sudden shining of armor
through the leaves, wherefore she wist that some threatening of danger
must lie before them. As they drew still nearer to that place, she
perceived that there were three armed men hidden in the thickets, and
anon she heard them speaking the one to the other. And she heard the
voice of him who was the chief of the three say to the other two,
“Hitherward cometh good fortune to us this morning. For here is one man,
well appointed in all ways, but sunk very deep in brooding thought, and
with him is a fair lady. Now if we engage him as three against one, it
is not likely that he can withstand our assault, and so he and his horse
and his armor and his lady shall be ours by right of battle.”
[Sidenote: _Enid overhears the words of the robber chief._]
These words, or words like these, the Lady Enid overheard the chief of
the robbers speak to the other two who were with him; and she said to
herself, “Here is great danger threatening my dear Lord. Well, if I warn
him he may be very angry with me and may even chastise me for disobeying
his command. But even if this is so, what will it matter?” So therewith
she turned her horse and rode back toward Sir Geraint.
[Sidenote: _She tells Sir Geraint of the ambush._]
He, when he beheld her coming, appeared to be very angry, and he said,
“Lady, what is it disturbs you?” She said, “Dear Lord, have I your
permission to speak?” Quoth he, “It seems that you have taken that
permission yourself. Well, say on.” She said, “Lord, at the edge of
yonder wood I perceived three men of ill intent hidden in the thicket. I
overheard them to say that they purposed presently to assail you.
Wherefore I deemed it expedient that I should warn you of their
presence.”
Then Sir Geraint frowned so that his eyes shone with a bright green
light. “Lady,” said he, “it may perhaps be that you would not be
displeased to see me fall before the attack of those three men.
Nevertheless, I have hopes that I shall not fail in this encounter.
Meantime, continue here and consider you of your disobedience in
breaking my command laid upon you not to speak to me without my
permission.” Having thus spoken Sir Geraint closed and latched the visor
of his helmet, and then with spear in hand he rode forward toward the
edge of the woods.
Now when Sir Geraint had come pretty close to the woodland, all three of
those armed men suddenly burst forth from their covert and bore down
upon him in full charge, whilst he, upon his part, drave spurs into his
war-horse and charged against them. So they met in the midst of the
course with such violence that a clap of thunder could not have been so
great. All three of their spears struck Sir Geraint upon the shield, but
he turned them so that all three were broken into a very great many
pieces. But the spear of Sir Geraint held against him toward whom it was
directed, so that it penetrated his shield and it penetrated his armor
and it penetrated his body, so that he was lifted out of his saddle and
cast dead the length of a spear and an arm’s length behind his horse.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the robbers._]
Then Sir Geraint threw aside his spear and drew his bright shining
sword. And he whirled his horse and with his sword in hand he bare down
upon those other two villains. Then he arose in his saddle, crying out,
“Hah, villain!” and therewith he smote down one. Then whirling about, he
cried out again, “Hah, villain!” and so crying he smote down the other.
Each man fell with a single blow of his sword. Thus in a little space of
time, he slew all three of those villains who had for a long time
infested those parts.
When Sir Geraint had thus ended this work, he wiped his sword and
returned it to its scabbard. Then he removed the armor from each of the
fallen men, and he lashed the armor to the saddle-bow of the horse to
which it belonged. Then he tied all three bridle reins together and
returned to where Enid sat watching him with terror and admiration
commingled. And Sir Geraint said to her, “Lady, take thou the bridle
reins of these three horses. Then ride forward as before, and this time
bear well in mind that thou turn not to speak to me under any condition
whatsoever. Once I have forgiven thee; twice I may not do so.”
To this speech Enid made no reply, but taking the bridle reins of the
three horses into her fair white hand, she rode forward into the forest,
leading those three horses, Sir Geraint following after her as
aforetime.
Thus they proceeded onward for a very considerable length of time and
until high noontide, beholding nothing but the forest before them or
behind them or on either side of them.
[Sidenote: _Enid overhears the words of the four men._]
Thus they came almost to the centre of that wood where was a sudden turn
in the high-road, which here entered into a defile between two high and
very precipitous banks. At this place Enid perceived, not far away,
four armed and mounted men of a very evil appearance, and she overheard
these men talking among themselves. The one who was chief of them was
saying to his companions, “Look! yonder cometh a good prize for us to
take. For there is a very beautiful damsel and three sets of fine armor
and three horses. And all this is guarded only by one armed man. Let us
slay him and all these will be ours to do with as we choose.”
Then Enid said to herself, “Well, I can die but once, and even though my
lord shall slay me for breaking his command, yet it would be by his
beloved hands that I should die. So I will turn back and tell him of
this.”
Therewith she turned her horse about and rode backward to Sir Geraint,
and he, when he saw her coming, frowned very darkly. But she said,
speaking very steadily, “Lord, have I your leave to speak?”
He said with great bitterness, “Lady, it appears that it does not need
my leave for you to speak whensoever you choose to speak. Say on.”
[Sidenote: _She tells Sir Geraint._]
She said, “Lord, I have to tell you that there are four very powerful
and fully armed men yonder. And I overheard the chief of them to say to
his fellows that their intent is to slay you so that they may have your
horse and your armor and me and these three horses and this armor to
dispose of as they see fit.”
“Is that all,” quoth he, “that thou hast to tell me? It seems that thy
delight in talking is so great that thou canst not be checked. Bide thou
here and I will go forward and deal with these men, and so will clear
thy path for thee.”
Thereupon he closed the visor of his helmet and latched it. Then he set
spurs to his horse, and being thus in all ways prepared, he drave
forward to meet his enemies.
Suddenly they appeared bearing down upon him and riding two together
(because of the narrowness of the way that prevented them from riding
all four abreast).
Then Sir Geraint drave his war-horse to the charge and so they came
together with a great crash and uproar, their spears striking him in the
centre of the shield.
But in that encounter both their spears brake into several pieces, but
Sir Geraint’s spear did not break. Otherwise it held and burst through
the shield against which it was directed, and it burst through the armor
and pierced through the body of the man within the armor so that he was
cast dead upon the ground.
Then Sir Geraint threw aside his spear and drew his sword, and rising in
his stirrups he smote the other man so fierce and direful a blow that
he split asunder his shield and his helmet and pierced through the
brain-pan of the head and into the brains themselves, so that he who was
thus smitten cried out most dolorously, “I die! I die!” and thereupon
fell grovelling to the earth.
Then Sir Geraint whirled his horse and setting spurs to its flanks he
thundered down upon the other two, who sat beholding aghast how easily
and quickly he had overthrown their comrades. Nor hardly had they
recovered themselves than he was upon them, smiting to the right hand
and to the left. Then observing an opening in the defence of one of
them, he whirled upon him and smote with might and main, and the blade
of the sword clave that man through from the shoulder to the midriff.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the four men._]
Then the fourth villain, seeing his companions fall thus terribly into
death, would have escaped away, but death was upon him. For he beheld
Sir Geraint rise in his stirrups with sword lifted. Then the sword
descended like a thunderbolt, and he too fell with his brain dissolving
into death.
Then Sir Geraint dismounted from his steed and wiped his terrible blade,
and thrust it back into its scabbard. And he stripped the armor off the
dead bodies, and tied each suit of armor upon the horse to whom it
appertained. After that he tied the reins of the four horses the one
with the other, and gave them all to Enid, and he said to her, “I call
upon thee to observe that I yet possess my knightly manhood, and that I
am not yet altogether devoid of strength and even of youth. Take thou
now these four horses together with the three horses which thou hast and
ride on before me as heretofore, leading all seven horses. And see to it
that this time thou dost not turn to me to say a word of any sort. For I
find that the anger of battle is upon me, and in my rage I may smite
thee with my sword in haste and ere I am able to control myself.”
She said, “Lord, I will do as thou dost command.”
So she rode on before Sir Geraint, and though she rode in silence yet
her heart sank within her, for she said to herself, “Did ever any lady
before me possess such a high-exalted and noble lord as this lord of
mine?”
[Sidenote: _Enid overhears the words of the five outlaws._]
Now as Enid rode forward thus exulting she heard of a sudden the sound
of voices talking together in the thickets near at hand. The one voice
said to the other voices, “Look! hither cometh a beautiful damsel,
leading seven good horses laden each with a noble suit of armor, and
here is only one man in guard of all this train. Let us five make here
an ambushment, and let us fall upon him from behind and from before. So
we shall easily overcome him and obtain all those things for
ourselves.”
Then Enid said to herself, “It may be that my lord will do as he said,
and will strike me with his sword in his haste if I disobey him for the
third time by speaking to him. But what matters that? Rather would I die
by his hands than suffer his anger without his love.”
So she turned her horse and rode back to him and when she had come to
him she said, “Lord, suffer me to speak to thee?”
He said, “Did I not tell thee to speak to me no more?”
She said, “Lord, this time I must speak to thee, for I cannot do
otherwise.”
He said, “So it appeareth. Well, then, say on!”
[Sidenote: _She tells Sir Geraint what they say._]
She said, “Lord, this is what I have to say, that ahead of thee are five
men lying in ambushment against thee with intent to destroy thee.”
Sir Geraint said, “Is this all that thou hast to say?” To which she
replied, “Yea, Lord.” He said, “Abide here with thy horses for a little
and suffer me to go forward alone, to clear thy path for thee.”
So Enid abided at that place, and Sir Geraint rode forward into the
ambushment that was prepared for him.
So he reached that ambushment, and of a sudden there leaped all those
five men out against him and about him.
Then there followed a great and bitter fight betwixt Sir Geraint and
those who thus assailed him. And sometimes he might be seen and at other
times he might not be seen for the press that gathered about him. His
sword flashed like lightning and at every blow he uttered a great and
terrible cry of war, for the fury of battle was now fully upon him. At
first there were five against him and then there were but four, then
three, then two and at last only one who cried out in terror, “Spare me,
Lord! For I yield myself to thee.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the five men._]
[Sidenote: _Enid leads the twelve horses._]
Sir Geraint said, “I will not spare thee,” and therewith he struck him
so dreadfully that he clave his head asunder and he fell down dead upon
the ground. After he had thus overthrown all five of his enemies, he
wiped his sword, panting, and put it away into its sheath. Then he
stripped the armor from off the dead bodies of the five, and bound a
suit of armor upon each horse. Then tying all five bridle reins
together, he attached them to the bridle reins of the other horses and
gave all twelve into Enid’s hands, saying to her, “Lead them forward and
speak to me no more, I charge thee.”
* * * * *
So they travelled upon their way through the wood, and anon the day
began to draw to a close, and the grey of twilight to descend. And Enid
led the twelve horses with difficulty. This Sir Geraint observed, and
was sorry for her, but still they rode onward. Then the darkness fell
and the moon arose, very bright and clear and round, silvering the tops
of the trees and laying patches of silver upon the earth between the
shadows of the leaves.
Then Sir Geraint called to Enid and he said to her, “Lady, I do not
think we shall get out of this woods to-night. Let us rest here until
to-morrow.”
She said to him, “Lord, may I speak?” He said, “Say on.” She said, “What
will we do to eat?” Quoth he, “Lady, it oftentimes happens when a knight
travelleth errant, as I have travelled to-day, that he goeth without
food to eat for the entire day--and sometimes for even longer than that.
Let that suffice.”
Therewith she fell silent and sighed, for she was very hungry.
Meantime Sir Geraint gathered the leaves together into a sort of bed and
he spread a cloak upon them. Then seeing that Enid was very weary and in
pity of her weariness, he said, “Lie thou here, Lady, and I will keep
watch for the night.”
[Sidenote: _They abide that night in the forest._]
So Enid laid herself down upon the bed of leaves and she was very sick
for weariness. And for awhile she watched her lord, Sir Geraint, as he
stood a little distance away, and she beheld how the moonlight flashed
and sparkled upon his polished armor whensoever the soft night wind of
summer stirred the leaves; and she heard the rustling and the stamp of
the horses as they moved at their stations; and she heard a distant
nightingale, singing from afar, now and then heard in the darkness, and
the murmurous silence, and now and then silent again. Then all these
things blended together, the darkness disappeared and she slept.
* * * * *
This was the first day of that journeying. Now if you would read of the
second day thereof, I pray you to peruse that which hereinafter
followeth, and which I have writ for your pleasure.
[Illustration: Enid talks with the Earl]
[Illustration] Chapter Fourth
_How Sir Geraint and Enid came forth out of the forest into the land of
an earl. How they abided at an inn, and of what befell them thereafter._
When the next morning had come Sir Geraint, very early, awoke Enid from
her slumbers. The pangs of hunger were great upon her but she made no
complaint thereof. Otherwise, she mounted her horse and took the reins
of the twelve horses into her hands and rode away, followed by Sir
Geraint as upon the former day.
[Sidenote: _Geraint and Enid come into the open country again._]
Anon and after awhile the trees of the woodland grew thinner and the
sunlight came more freely through their branches. Anon again and the
trees of the forest ceased altogether, and so Enid and Geraint came
forth out of the woodland and into the open plains once more.
Here were hedgerows upon either side of the way, and there were fields
and open country beyond the hedgerows; and there were meadow-lands, and
the mowers were mowing in the meadows.
[Sidenote: _They cross the river._]
Before them lay a river and toward that they took their way. And there
was a ford to the river and they entered the river, and all the horses
bowed their heads and drank of the water. Afterward they crossed the
ford and ascended a steep high bank upon the other side of the river.
At the top of this bank there stood a slender youth with yellow hair.
And the youth had a satchel of leather slung over his shoulder, and in
his hands he carried an earthenware crock of milk.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bespeaks the youth._]
Sir Geraint spoke to the youth, saying to him, “Whence cometh thou, fair
youth?” Quoth the youth, “I come from the town which you cannot behold
from here, but which you may behold from the crest of yonder hill when
you have reached it. And now, Lord, if it be not too venturesome for me
to ask, I pray you to tell me whence you have come?”
Said Sir Geraint, “Fair youth, we came from the forest yonder. All day
yesterday we travelled through the forest and all night we slept there
beneath the trees.”
“Well,” said the youth, “I daresay you had but small entertainment at
that place, and I daresay also you are very hungry to-day.”
“I would,” said Sir Geraint, “find food for this lady if it be possible
to do so.” Said the youth, “we are then well met, for in this satchel I
have bread and cheese, which I am taking to the mowers for their
breakfast; and in this crock I have milk, which also I am taking to them
for their breakfast. If you will partake of these things, I will gladly
give you to eat and to drink.” “I give thee thanks, fair friend,” said
Sir Geraint, “and gladly will I accept the offer of thy hospitality.”
[Sidenote: _The youth gives them to eat._]
So the youth assisted the Lady Enid to dismount from her saddle, and she
and Sir Geraint took their station at the roadside beneath the shade of
a crab-apple tree. And the youth gave them to eat of the white bread and
cheese from his satchel and he gave them to drink of the milk from the
crock, and they were both greatly refreshed.
After the two had thus satisfied their hunger the youth said, “Now, Sir
Knight, by thy leave I will depart for more food for the mowers.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint gives the youth a horse and the armor thereof._]
Sir Geraint said, “Fair youth, I pray you to return to the town whence
you came and to procure for us the best lodgings that are to be found at
that place. And I also pray you that you will, in return for these
courtesies of yours, choose whichsoever horse and suit of armor that
best pleases you out of all those that the lady is conducting, and I
pray you that you will keep that horse and armor for yourself.” “Lord,”
said the youth, “what have I done for such a great reward? That is too
much to accept for so small a service.” “Nevertheless,” said Sir
Geraint, “I pray you to do as I bid you.”
So the youth joyfully chose a horse and a suit of armor that pleased him
the best, and leading these he departed for the town to fulfil Sir
Geraint’s behest as to securing him lodgings.
Now as the youth entered the town a servant of the Earl of that town met
him and the servant of the Earl said to the youth, “Where got ye that
horse and that armor?” The youth said, “A noble and knightly lord, who
hath eleven other such horses and armor, gave this one to me.”
The servant said, “This is a strange saying. Come with me to the Earl
and tell him concerning these things.”
[Sidenote: _The youth tells the Earl of Sir Geraint._]
So the servant of the Earl took the youth to that lord, and the youth
told his story to the Earl of how he had met the lordly knight and the
lady, and of how the lady had led twelve horses loaded with armor, and
of how the lord had given him one of those horses and the suit of armor
that best pleased him. To all this the Earl hearkened, and then he said
to the youth, “Go you and fetch that lord hitherward, for I would fain
see him and his lady and entertain them at my castle. He shall lodge
here with me.”
So the youth hastened back to Sir Geraint where he sat with Enid resting
beneath the crab-apple tree, and he said to him, “Lord, the Earl of
yonder town hath sent me here to bid you come and lodge with him.”
Then Geraint was displeased and he said to the youth, “How is this? I
bade thee secure us lodgings, not with an earl but at some good inn. I
will not lodge with the Earl, but will go to such an inn.”
Then the youth was abashed, and he said, “I will take you to an inn.”
[Sidenote: _The youth conducts them to an inn._]
So the youth conducted Geraint and Enid into the town, and he conducted
him to the best inn in the town. Here the landlord came forth to meet
him and Geraint said, “Show us to the best room of this place,” and the
landlord did so. Geraint said to Enid, “Keep thou yonder to that side of
the chamber, and I will keep to this side, for I am weary and fain would
sleep.” And Enid said, “I will do so.” And Geraint said to the youth,
“When I awake, be thou here to serve me.”
The youth said, “I will be here; but meantime I would fain go and see
the Earl and tell him where you are lodged.” Sir Geraint said, “Go, but
return again.”
So whilst Sir Geraint slept, the youth hastened to the castle of the
Earl, and he said to the Earl, “Sir, certes this man is a prince or a
knight-royal, for he commandeth all things as he wills.” Then the Earl
said, “Where is he lodged?” And the youth told him, and the youth said,
“I go presently to serve him when he awakes, for now he sleepeth.”
“Commend me to him when he awakeneth,” said the Earl, and the youth
replied, “I will do so.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bids the landlord to summon his friends to a
feast._]
That afternoon when Geraint awoke, it was time for them to take their
food. So Sir Geraint summoned the landlord and bade him prepare him a
feast, and the landlord said he would do so. Then Sir Geraint inquired
of the landlord whether he had not some companions whom he would like to
entertain, and the landlord said, yea, that there were several. Upon
this Sir Geraint commanded the landlord to summon those companions and
to prepare for them the best that there was in the town both to eat and
to drink. “For,” quoth he, “though I be unhappy myself, yet do I love to
behold those about me as happy and as gay as may be.” So the landlord
went forth and bade many to come and feast with him, all these feasted
at Sir Geraint’s expense, so that the entire inn was full of light and
laughter and noise and merrymaking.
[Sidenote: _The Earl visits Sir Geraint._]
That evening the Earl came to visit Sir Geraint, and with him he brought
twelve of the worthiest knights of his court. Then Sir Geraint arose and
welcomed him, and the Earl greeted Sir Geraint and sat down and
conversed with him. And he asked Geraint the object of his journey, to
which Geraint replied, “I have no object, saving to seek adventure such
as may become the life of a knight-errant.”
Then the Earl cast his eyes upon Enid, and he looked at her very
steadily, and he thought that he had never beheld a lady so fair and so
beautiful as she. And as he gazed upon her his heart went out to her and
he found that he loved her very extremely. Then he said to Geraint,
“Have I thy permission to converse with yonder lady? For I see that she
is not with thee.” “Thou hast it gladly,” said Geraint.
[Sidenote: _The Earl bespeaks Enid the Fair._]
So the Earl went to where Enid sat, and he said to her, “Lady, thy hands
are soft and white and thy body is fragile and delicate; it cannot be
pleasant for thee to travel through the rough and cruel world with this
man.” She said, “It is not unpleasant for me to journey with him
whithersoever he goeth.”
The Earl said, “Lady, thou shouldst have youths and maidens to wait upon
thee and to attend thee and to serve thee.” She said, “It is pleasanter
to me to travel alone with yonder man than to live in state with youths
and maidens to wait upon me.”
“Listen,” said the Earl, “I will give thee good advice. Give up that man
and come with me. All my earldom will be at thy disposal if thou wilt do
so, and thou shalt be the mistress of it and of me and of my life.”
Then Enid was very angry, and she said, “Lord, I will not go with thee!
Know thou that yonder man is dearer to me than all the earth and its
kingdoms and principalities, its dukedoms and its earldoms. He was the
first man to whom I plighted my faith, and never hath it been withdrawn
from his keeping. Shall I then leave him now for the sake of this little
patch of ground, to live with thee in dishonor and suffer him to go
forth into the world alone?”
Then the Earl said, “Lady, thou art in the wrong in this, for if I slay
that man, then can I take thee by force. And if I take thee by force,
then, when I tire of thee, I shall cast thee off into the world. But if
thou comest to me willingly, then I will never cast thee off, but will
keep thee as my most precious treasure so long as I am permitted to
breathe the breath of life. Come thou with me, and yonder man may be
suffered to depart in peace, hale and strong in limb and body, but come
thou not with me and he shall die.”
Then Enid was greatly troubled at that which the Earl had said to her,
for she saw that he had the strength and the will and the power to do
with Sir Geraint whatsoever he chose. So at last she said to him,
“Listen, O great Lord and Earl. All this that I have said to thee I have
said for the sake of mine honor. But if thou art of the mind that thou
sayst, I would rather abide with thee. Come hither to-morrow morning
with twelve armed knights and bear me away as though by force. For thus
it shall appear that I have not yielded up to thee, except by force.” “I
will do so,” said the Earl. “This and all things shall be as thou
sayst.” After that, in a little while he arose and departed from that
place.
But of all that had passed Enid said nothing to Geraint, lest he should
be blinded by his rage against the Earl. Otherwise, she kept it secretly
in her heart for that time.
[Sidenote: _Enid prepares the armor of Sir Geraint._]
That night they both lay in the same chamber. In a little while Sir
Geraint fell asleep, but Enid did not sleep. When she heard his deep
breathing she arose very softly and she gathered his armor together
piece by piece. And she piled all the armor where he could easily lay
hand upon it. Then she lay down and slept.
[Sidenote: _Enid telleth Sir Geraint of the Earl._]
Before the day broke she arose and went softly to where Sir Geraint
slept, and touched her finger upon his breast and with that he awoke and
started up. “Lord,” said she, “knowest thou what the Earl of this town
said to me last night?” Geraint said, “Tell me.” So Enid told him all
that the Earl had proposed to her. Then Geraint was very angry, and he
said, “Thy beauty bringeth evil whithersoever thou bringest it. Now I
will slay this Earl ere I leave this place, for he hath proposed
dishonor to me.”
“Not so,” said Enid, “let be the Earl, for there are many scores against
thee, and thou art only one. Rather put thou on thy armor and let us go
hence with all the speed that we may, for there is yet time to escape,
and thus only may we escape in peace.”
Then Geraint perceived that what she said was very true, and that he was
at that place in a parlous state. So he arose and put on his armor and
he summoned the landlord and the landlord came to him.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint gives all the horses and all of the armor to the
landlord._]
Quoth Sir Geraint, “What do I owe thee, good fellow, for the
entertainment that I have had at this house?” Said the landlord, “Not a
great deal, Messire.” “Well,” said Sir Geraint, “take thou all those
eleven horses and the armor appertaining to them for thy reckoning. Will
that pay our score?” “Heaven bless thee, Messire,” cried the landlord,
“but that is far more than thou owest me; for thou hast not consumed in
this house the value of a single horse.” “Well,” said Sir Geraint, “in
that case thou wilt be all the richer. But put on thy cloak and thy hat
and conduct me out of this place by some way that is another way than
that by which we entered here, for I must hasten upon my quest.” Quoth
the landlord, “I will do so, Lord.”
With that he hurried away. Anon he returned again, clad as for a
journey. Then Sir Geraint mounted his horse and Enid mounted her horse,
and they departed from that place after the landlord.
[Sidenote: _The landlord leads them from the town._]
So the landlord led them by another highway from the town, and when the
sun arose Sir Geraint dismissed him from their service.
[Sidenote: _The Earl follows Sir Geraint and Enid the Fair._]
Now when the landlord returned to the inn he beheld that several men
surrounded that place. Those men were the Earl of that town, and the
twelve chief knights of his state, and all were clad in full armor. The
Earl was very wroth and when he beheld the landlord he cried out to him,
“Fellow, where is the knight and where is that lady who were with thee
last night?” “Lord,” quoth the landlord, “they have departed and by now
are many miles from this. For I myself conducted them far upon the way,
and am only now returned from guiding them.” Quoth the Earl, “What way
went they?” and the landlord told him. Then the Earl and his court of
knights departed thence. And they rode at a swift gallop upon the way
that the landlord directed them. Anon they beheld the marks of horses’
hoofs fresh upon the earth, wherefore they wist that they were upon the
right way.
* * * * *
Now as Enid and Sir Geraint rode onward upon their course, Enid looked
behind her many times. At last she beheld a cloud of dust that came
rapidly nearer, and she was aware that in that cloud of dust were the
Earl and his court of knights. Then she cried out to Sir Geraint, “Sir
Knight, prepare for battle, for yonder come thine enemies.”
Then Sir Geraint, who had been sunk in thought, became aware of the
coming of those others. Thereupon he closed the visor of his helmet and
prepared himself in all ways for the encounter. Thereafter he turned his
horse in the middle of the highway and stood waiting for his enemies.
Anon they reached him and drew rein a little distance away. Then the
Earl came forward and spake to Sir Geraint, saying, “Sir Knight, we mean
no harm to thee, but only ask thee that thou wilt give up that lady whom
thou hast with thee. For thou holdest her against her desire; her only
desire being to go with us.”
Then Sir Geraint turned to Enid and said, “Lady, is this true? If thou
desirest to go with yonder Lord thou hast my leave to do so.” “Nay,”
said she, “I do not desire to go with him. Rather would I go with thee
to death than to go with him to joy.”
So Sir Geraint said to the Earl, “Messire, the lady says thou art
mistaken and she does not desire to go with thee.”
The Earl said to Enid, “Lady, what didst thou tell me yesterday?” And
Enid said, “Messire, I told thee many things to mislead thee, for the
occasion called upon me to do so.”
Then the Earl talked aside for a little while with his followers. Anon
he called to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, I will not let thee go until thou
hast tried a fall or two with these knights of mine for the sake of thy
lady, her bright eyes and her slender body.” “Well,” said Sir Geraint,
“I am willing to do battle with thy knights now or at any time.” “And
this shall be the result of this battle,” said the Earl. “If thou
winnest this battle, thou mayst go free, but if we win then thy lady
must return with us.” Quoth Sir Geraint, “That is certes a hard saying.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint does battle with the followers of the Earl._]
So the strongest and most powerful of all those knights made him ready
for the assault, and when he was in all ways prepared, he and Geraint
made a violent charge, the one against the other. Three times they
charged and at the third assault Sir Geraint overthrew him so violently
that he lay like one dead in the middle of the high-road. Then one after
the other all the others of those twelve knights assaulted Sir Geraint,
and each in turn was overthrown very violently upon the earth.
Then the Earl said to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, thou hast fought well
and very valiantly for thy lady, and truly hast thou won her. Depart in
peace.” “Not so,” cried Sir Geraint in great passion, “for I have one
more to deal with, and that one is thou thyself. For I have yet to do
with thee ere I depart from this place.”
“Well,” said the Earl, “be it as thou sayst. For I will fight with thee
till either thee or I have overcome the other. And to that one who
overthroweth the other thy lady shalt belong.” “So be it,” said Sir
Geraint.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint overthrows the Earl._]
So each made him ready for the encounter, and when they were in all ways
prepared they set spur to flank and drave the one against the other with
such violence that they met with a crash as of thunder in the middle of
the course. In that encounter Sir Geraint was upborn by his passion so
that he smote true and fairly against his enemy’s shield. But the spear
of the Earl was shattered into a great many pieces. The spear of Sir
Geraint held, so that it pierced the shield of the Earl, and Sir Geraint
lifted the Earl out of his saddle and hurled him several ells behind
the crupper of his horse, where he lay like one dead upon the earth.
Then Sir Geraint ran to where the Earl was. And he rushed off his helmet
and he drew his sword and catching the Earl by the long hair of his head
he drew forward his neck so as to sever his head from his body.
Thereupon the Earl awoke from his swoon and perceiving that death loomed
very near to him, he clutched Sir Geraint about the thighs, clinging to
them and crying out, “Sir Knight, spare my life!” “Why should I spare
thee?” cried out Sir Geraint very violently. “Hast thou not attempted my
life and hast thou not attempted mine honor and the honor of my lady,
and were we not guests in thy town? I will not spare thy life!” And he
whirled his sword as though to strike.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint spares the life of the Earl._]
Then Enid came to where Sir Geraint was and clutched him by the arm and
she said, “Worthy knight, Sir Geraint! I pray thee spare this man his
life. For what canst thou gain by slaying him?” “Well,” said Sir
Geraint, “since this lady asks thy life at my hands I give it to her to
dispose of as she pleases.” Enid said, “I thank thee, Lord!” Then she
said to the Earl, “Arise, and go thou hence in peace!”
So after that Sir Geraint remounted his horse and he and Enid departed
from that place, riding as aforetime. That is, Enid rode a long distance
ahead and Geraint rode behind, following after her.
But of the knights whom he overthrew in that encounter it is to be
written that several were so sorely hurt that it was many weeks ere they
were sufficiently recovered to be abroad again.
* * * * *
And now followeth the further adventures of Sir Geraint and of Enid at
this time; so I pray you to read that which hereinafter appeareth.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Enid and Geraint ride past the Town bridge]
[Illustration] Chapter Fifth
_Sir Geraint is wounded in his encounter with another knight. He is
discovered by the Court of King Arthur and is healed of his wounds._
So Sir Geraint and Enid travelled in that wise until at last they came
through a thin, small woods and so out into another open place.
Here they beheld before them a valley of singular beauty, for through
the centre of the valley there ran a wide, smoothly flowing river, and
upon either side of the river there were meadow-lands and fields, and
not far away from where they were there was a town, very large and
considerable. All around the town was a wall of stone, very high and
strong. And about the town was a fortress castle, tall and forbidding,
that looked down upon the town and upon the high-road. The high-road
upon which they travelled crossed a bridge over the river, and so
entered the town, but ere it reached the bridge it branched and one
branch ran down along one side of the river upon which they were. Upon
either side of the bridge head were two tall towers that overlooked the
bridge and guarded it.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint questions the horseman concerning the town._]
So Sir Geraint and Enid sat for awhile looking down upon that fair
prospect, and the more they looked upon it the more they delighted in
it. As they so sat, anon they beheld a horseman come from the town and
cross the bridge, and when he had crossed the bridge he turned him in
their direction. By and by he had approached closely enough for Sir
Geraint to speak to him, and thereupon Sir Geraint rode forth and met
him and they two saluted one another. Then Sir Geraint said to him,
“Sir, I pray you tell me; what town is that yonder, and who is the lord
of this fair and beautiful valley and of yonder town?” “Messire,” said
the other, “I will gladly tell thee that and anything else that I am
able. The town itself is called the Town of Redlands. The lord of all
this country is a very brave, renowned and valiant Earl called the
Little King. He is so called because he rules this place away from all
other lords as though he were king of it in his own right.”
Sir Geraint said, “May I pass by yonder bridge head where are the two
towers without crossing over the bridge and into the town?” The other
replied, “Messire, I will tell thee truly. The Little King hath ordained
it that no one shall pass into his land without his permission,
wherefore he will not allow that any knight shall pass by yonder bridge
and into the lands beyond it.” “Nevertheless,” said Sir Geraint, “I am
of a mind to pass by that bridge and into the country beyond it maugre
his will that wise or otherwise.” “If thou dost do so,” said the other,
“thou wilt in all likelihood meet with shame and disgrace.” “No matter
for that,” said Sir Geraint, “I shall assume even such a risk as that.”
At that the other laughed, and so they saluted each one the other again
and then the knight departed upon his way.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid pass by the bridge head._]
So Sir Geraint followed the Lady Enid and she preceded and he followed
after her. Thus together they went down to the river. Coming there, he
bade her not to cross the bridge, so in obedience to that command they
went past the bridge and past the two towers at the bridge head, and so
rode along beside the river. Thus with Enid riding before him and he
riding behind her, he had gone a considerable distance when he became
suddenly aware that some one was galloping behind them. Then Sir Geraint
turned him about and beheld that an armed knight was following after
them at a swift gallop.
So Sir Geraint drew rein and waited for the other to come up with them,
and when the other knight had come pretty close to where he stood, he
also drew rein. The Strange Knight said, “Sir Knight, is it through
ignorance or through presumption that you travel thus without leave
through my dominions?” Him Sir Geraint answered very proudly, saying,
“Messire, how should I know that this road was forbid to those who would
pass to travel along it?”
“Nay,” said the other fiercely, “thou didst know that it is forbidden to
any one to pass into my land without my permission and so thou hast
infringed the rules of my earldom. Hence thou shalt come now with me to
my court and do me satisfaction.” “I will not come with thee to thy
castle,” said Sir Geraint, “and I will not do thee any satisfaction. For
this is an high-road and it is free for any one to travel upon it who
chooses to do so.” “Well,” said the other, “let that be as it may; but I
tell thee that thou shalt this day do satisfaction to me or else I will
suffer defeat at thy hands.” “That,” said Sir Geraint, “shall be as
Heaven shall foreordain.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint does battle with the knight._]
So upon that each knight made him ready for the combat, and Enid stood
to one side to observe what happened. Anon they were in all ways
prepared, and each took post for a tilt. When all this was prepared,
each knight shouted to his horse, and each drave spurs into the flanks
of his steed and each launched the one against the other with wonderful
speed and vehemence. So they met in the midst of the course with a crash
like to thunder, and in that encounter the lance of each knight held so
that the horse of each sank back upon his haunches quivering from the
shock of that assault.
Then each knight threw aside his lance and sprang from his saddle, and
each drew his sword and each rushed the one against the other like two
fierce bulls raging for battle. Each lashed at the other many terrible
and severe strokes, and for a time neither had any advantage over the
other. Several times Geraint was wounded and several times more he
wounded his adversary. Thus they fought for a long while, and Geraint
suffered many wounds, until at last, because of the smart of those
wounds, his anger flamed up like fire and added strength to his
strength. Then he rained blows fast and furious upon his assailant,
striking him with terrible violence again and again and yet again, so
rapidly and so fiercely, violently and furiously that the Little King
bore back before him, holding his shield full low because of his
weariness and wounds. Then Geraint beheld the opening that the other
gave him, and with that he rushed in upon him, and he smote him with
might and main upon the crown of the helmet.
So terribly fierce was that blow that it split apart the helmet and the
iron cap beneath and cut deep into the bone beneath the cap.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint overthrows the knight._]
Then the wits of the Little King flew away from him like a flock of
flies, his strength deserted him, his thighs trembled and he sank down
upon his knees. Thereupon Geraint rushed upon him and plucked the helmet
off of his head. Then he catched him by the hair of the head and drew
his head forward, whirling his sword aloft as though to strike the head
off from the body.
At that the senses returned to the Little King, and he beheld that death
was very near to him. So he clutched Sir Geraint about the knees, and
cried out aloud, “Lord, spare me my life.” “I will spare thee,” said Sir
Geraint, “upon one condition, and that is that thou wilt swear to be
true fellow to me henceforth and shall be faithful to me as I shall be
to thee. For certes thou art the noblest, worthiest knight that ever I
have yet encountered.” Then the other arose from his knees. “Sir
Knight,” said he, “I know not who thou art.” “I am Sir Geraint,” said
Sir Geraint, “the son of King Erbin.”
“Well do I know of thee,” said the Little King. “Often have I heard of
thee, and had I known who thou wert, I would not have assaulted thee.”
Then the Little King said to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, Sir Geraint, I
perceive that thou art hurt in several places, and I am very sorry for
that. For lo, the leg-pieces of thine armor are all red with blood, and
blood is flowing from thy body armor from several wounds. Thou art not
fit to travel in the hot sun, so I pray thee that thou and thy lady will
return with me to my castle. There thou mayst refresh and recover
thyself from thy hurts, and rest and reinvigorate thyself for thy
continued journeyings.”
But Sir Geraint refused him. “Nay,” said he, “I will not go with thee to
thy castle, but instead of that I will go forward upon my way.”
Then the Little King looked at Enid, and when he beheld how fragile and
how beautiful she was, and when he beheld how grieved she was that
Geraint had suffered so many and such grievous wounds, he felt great
pity for her. “Messire,” he said to Sir Geraint, “thou dost wrong not to
rest thyself and have thy wounds looked to and dressed, for if thou
fallest in with another adventure such as this, it is not likely that
thou wilt be able to defend thyself from assault. Who then would have
care of thy lady if harm should befall thee?”
Then Sir Geraint cried out very fiercely, “Sir, already have I answered
thee that I will continue on my way, therefore do not try to dissuade me
any further, for both I and my lady are going forward upon our way!” So
saying he went to his horse and he mounted upon his saddle and he took
his spear in hand and rode away from that place, and he bade the Lady
Enid to ride on before him as aforetime she had ridden and so they
quitted that place.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint suffers because of his wounds._]
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint stands beneath a tree._]
Now the day was very hot so that the blood within the armor of Sir
Geraint when he ceased to bleed, it dried upon him by reason of the heat
of the sun. Then the wounds that Sir Geraint had suffered were glued
with blood to the armor, so that he suffered three times more pain from
those wounds now than he suffered when he had received them. But of this
he said naught, only he rode along very grimly. But at last he could
endure his pain no more, wherefore he called upon the Lady Enid to halt
for a little while at a certain place where the oak trees of a woodland
came down to the road and shaded the high-road. Then the Lady Enid would
have helped him to dismount, but he would not suffer her to do so but
forbade her, saying to her, “Go and stand aside under yonder tree, for
my wounds ache me and I would be alone for a little while.” So Enid went
to the other tree and stood there weeping, and Sir Geraint dismounted
from his horse and stood under his tree, suffering very bitter pain from
his wounds.
As they thus stood, there came the sound of a sudden tumult of horses
and of voices, and the cause of that tumult was that King Arthur and
his court were come hunting into the neighboring woodland. So whilst Sir
Geraint was considering which way he should go to escape from them, he
was espied by a foot-page who was attendant upon Sir Kay the Seneschal.
This page went to Sir Kay, and he said to him, “Sir, yonder under that
tree is a man in broken and defaced armor who appeareth to be wounded.”
Sir Kay said, “Where is he?” and then he too beheld Sir Geraint.
[Sidenote: _Sir Kay bespeaks Sir Geraint._]
So Sir Kay came to where Sir Geraint was, and at his coming the Lady
Enid slipped behind her tree, for she was ashamed for Sir Kay to behold
her weeping in that place. So Sir Kay did not know Sir Geraint, but Sir
Geraint knew Sir Kay. Sir Kay said to Sir Geraint, “Sir, how is this? I
perceive you are wounded! What art thou doing here?” Sir Geraint
replied, “I am standing under the shade of this tree so as to avoid the
heat. For in the sun my armor clings to my wounds so that they ache me.”
Said Sir Kay, “Whither dost thou journey, and who art thou?” Quoth Sir
Geraint, “It matters not who I am. As for my journeying, wist thou that
I am in search of adventure.” Said Sir Kay, “I wit thou hast had
adventures enough for one day. Come with me and I will take thee to King
Arthur, who is near by.” “I will not go with thee,” said Sir Geraint,
“for I am not fit to stand before the King.” Said Sir Kay, “Thou must
needs come with me.” And so saying, he advanced and laid hold of the arm
of Sir Geraint.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint strikes Sir Kay._]
Now in all this time, as hath been said, Sir Geraint knew Sir Kay who he
was, but Sir Kay knew not Sir Geraint because his shield was so defaced
with battle and his armor so stained with blood. But when Sir Kay laid
hold of Sir Geraint, the anger broke hot within the wounded man,
wherefore he lifted his spear, and he smote Sir Kay upon the head with
the butt of the spear (for he scorned to strike him with the point
thereof), and with the force of that blow Sir Kay fell down upon the
ground, like an ox when the butcher smites it with a mallet.
After a little while Sir Kay stirred and then he sat up. Then he awoke
and arose and went away, leaving Sir Geraint standing where he was.
Now it happened that the pavilion of Sir Percival was not far away.
Thither went Sir Kay, and Sir Percival was in his pavilion. Sir Kay said
to Sir Percival, “My page tells me that over yonder under that tree
there stands a wounded man in armor. Hadst thou not better go and see
who it is and bring him to King Arthur?” Sir Percival said, “Where is
he?” Sir Kay said, “Over yonder. But beyond doubt he is hasty of temper,
so be wary of thy approach to him.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Percival bespeaks Sir Geraint._]
Then Sir Percival went thither to that tree and he beheld where Sir
Geraint was standing, and he knew him not because his armor was so
defaced and wounded and stained. But Sir Geraint knew Sir Percival who
he was. Sir Percival said to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, wilt thou not
come to the tent of King Arthur and have thy wounds searched and
dressed?” “No,” said Sir Geraint, “I will not do so.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Percival knoweth Enid the Fair._]
Now the Lady Enid heard the voice of Sir Percival and knew it, so she
appeared from behind the tree and her face was all wet with weeping. And
she cried out to Sir Percival, “Sir Percival, I beseech thee to compel
him to go to King Arthur.”
Then Sir Percival knew the Lady Enid and he wist that the wounded man
must be Sir Geraint. So he cried out, “Sir Geraint, is it thou?” Sir
Geraint said, “Nay, I am not Sir Geraint.”
But Sir Percival put these words aside and he said, “What condition is
this that thou and thy lady are in, and whither wouldst thou go? If thou
goest forward, thou wilt die, and if thou stayest here thou wilt die.”
Sir Geraint said, “I will go forward,” and at those words Enid fell to
weeping again.
Now there was a page standing a little aside and Sir Percival beckoned
to him and the page came to Sir Percival. Sir Percival whispered to the
page, saying, “Go, find King Arthur and tell him that Sir Geraint is
standing here wounded,” and the page made haste and ran away.
Then Sir Percival spoke aside to the Lady Enid and he said to her, “How
is it that thou and thy lord are in this outland place?” Enid replied,
“I know not how it is, but my lord commanded me to ride errant with him
and I have done so.” Sir Percival said, “Certes, I think he is mad.”
[Sidenote: _King Arthur comes to Sir Geraint and Enid the Fair._]
Anon King Arthur and several of his court and Queen Guinevere and
several of her court came to that place. Sir Percival said to King
Arthur, “Lord, this is Sir Geraint whom thou seest here in such a sad
melancholy condition.” And Geraint said nothing, only he groaned very
dolorously. King Arthur said to the Lady Enid, “Enid, how came ye to
this pass?” “Lord,” said Enid, “I know not how it is, only that
whithersoever my lord goeth, thither also I am bound to go.” Then King
Arthur said to Queen Guinevere, “Lady, I pray thee take the Lady Enid
and care for her. As for Sir Geraint, him shall I put beneath the care
of my physicians.”
“Lord,” cried out Sir Geraint, “I beseech thee to let me go upon my way
thither I was going.” “I will not do so,” said King Arthur. “Thou art
mad, for that would let thee go to thy death. Thou canst not live with
such wounds as those that cover thee, fresh and undressed as they are.”
Then Sir Geraint said, “They are not so bad,” but King Arthur would not
listen to this.
[Sidenote: _The physicians search the wounds of Sir Geraint._]
So King Arthur had a tent pitched at that place, and he had a soft couch
laid within the tent, and he had Sir Geraint laid upon the couch. And
the King had his own physicians come to search the wounds of Sir Geraint
and to anoint them and to bind them up, and so Sir Geraint was put in
great comfort from their attention.
Meanwhile the Queen brought the Lady Enid to her pavilion and she had
her change her riding robes for clothes of another sort. And she asked
Enid many things and Enid told her many things of her adventures, and
all marvelled at what the Lady Enid had to relate.
* * * * *
So Geraint and Enid remained at that woodland court of King Arthur for
nearly a month, and Enid was very well entertained by the court of the
King. And whilst it was so that she was not permitted to see Sir Geraint
nor to speak to him, yet she heard very intimately from him from day to
day, and wist that ever he was becoming healed of his wounds. For, after
that month was passed, Sir Geraint’s wounds were knit together and were
scarred over with fair white flesh. And even at that time Sir Geraint
grew restless, for as he grew stronger of body he remembered more and
more strongly the words that he had overheard the Lady Enid speak that
morning when he awakened, and again he doubted her.
So one day he said to King Arthur, “Lord, I pray thee let me depart from
this place, for I must be upon my journeying again.” King Arthur said,
“Messire, whither wouldst thou go?” Geraint said, “I know not, saving
only that I would go errant in search of adventure.”
King Arthur said, “Then let thy Lady abide at this place.” Quoth Sir
Geraint, “She cannot abide here, but she must travel abroad with me.”
King Arthur said, “Sir, this is not folly but madness, for thy lady’s
body is too soft and delicate for her to endure such hardships as thou
wilt have to endure.” “No matter,” said Sir Geraint, “she must travel
with me whithersoever I go.”
Then King Arthur considered a little and after a little he said, “Sir, I
will not let you go until my physicians declare you to be healed.” Quoth
Sir Geraint, “Call the physicians.”
So King Arthur summoned the physicians and he asked them if Sir Geraint
was healed of his wounds and the physicians declared that he was
healed.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid depart from the Court of the King._]
So King Arthur gave leave to Sir Geraint to depart and that day Sir
Geraint took leave of King Arthur and his court and he and the Lady Enid
departed as aforetime. That is to say, the Lady Enid rode some distance
ahead of Sir Geraint, and Sir Geraint rode some distance behind the Lady
Enid as it was before.
* * * * *
Here followeth the further adventures of these two which you may read if
you will peruse that which is herein written.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: The King’s physicians attend Sir Geraint.]
[Illustration] Chapter Sixth
_How Sir Geraint destroyed three giants of the highway. How he was hurt,
and how he and the Lady Enid were carried off by a knight of that
country. Also how Geraint slew the knight._
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint finds a lady in grief._]
Now after they had travelled in that wise for some time they came to a
wood, and the wood was very thick and dark and dismal, and some way in
the wood they heard the sound of a voice lifted in lamentation.
Thitherward they directed their steps and anon they came to an open
glade of the forest. Here they beheld a lady and two horses and the
figure of a knight who lay dead, all covered with blood, upon the
ground. Sir Geraint said to that lady, “Lady what ails thee?” “Alas!”
she said, “I have journeyed thitherward, but three gigantic oafs broke
out of the woodland upon us. Him they slew as thou beholdest and so I
sit mourning for him here.”
“What way went these giants of whom thou speakest?” said Sir Geraint.
“They went yonder way by that path,” said she.
Geraint said to Enid, “Bide thou here for a little while with this lady,
and I will ride forward and punish those three giants.” Enid said,
“Lord, remember thou art only now fresh from thy bed of pain.”
But Sir Geraint paid no heed to what Enid said, otherwise he rode
forward upon the path that the lady had pointed out. After awhile he
beheld before him the three gigantic men, walking side by side along the
way.
Each wore about his body a huge body-piece of armor, and each carried
over his shoulder a huge club shod with iron.
[Sidenote: _The giant strikes Sir Geraint._]
Upon them Sir Geraint charged, and the first of the three he ran through
his body with the lance. Then he withdrew the lance very quickly, and
charged the second of the three, and him also he transfixed with his
spear. But ere he could withdraw his lance again the third of the three
smote him a terrible buffet with his club so that his shield was split
and his helmet was split and the armor was beaten off from his shoulder.
Under that blow Sir Geraint fell upon his knees, and all his wounds
burst out bleeding as though they were freshly given. But quickly he
recovered himself. He drew his sword, and rushing at the giant he smote
him with the sword so that his head and his neck and his shoulders were
split asunder even to the pap of the breast, and that giant also fell
dead to the ground.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint swoons a death-swoon._]
Then leaving those three where they lay, Geraint mounted his horse again
and returned to where he had left Enid and the widowed lady. And when he
came to her he tried to speak but he could not speak. He began by saying
“Lady--” but then he stopped, and swaying from side to side, he fell
lifeless from his horse to the ground.
Then Enid ran to him and lifted his head and laid it in her lap. And
Enid thought that he was dead, for his face was the color of wax for
whiteness. Then believing him to be dead she lifted up her voice and
wept very loud and shrill.
Now it chanced that an earl known as the Earl of Limours was in that
part of the forest, and several of his attendant knights were with him.
These heard the loud piercing sound of Enid’s grief, and the Earl of
Limours said, “Hark! What is that sound?” And one of his attendant
knights said, “It is the sound of somebody in grief.” Quoth the Earl,
“Let us go thitherward.”
[Sidenote: _The Earl of Limours comes to that place._]
So the Earl of Limours and his attendants galloped toward that place,
and anon they came out into the forest glade. There they beheld the four
horses, and the two ladies and the two knights.
The Earl of Limours said to Enid, “Lady, what is the cause of thy
grief?” “Alas, Sir,” she cried, “the only man that I ever loved or ever
shall love is slain.” Then the Earl of Limours said to the other lady,
“What is the cause of thy grief?” Quoth she, “They have slain my husband
also.” “Who was it slew them?” said the Earl of Limours. “My husband,”
said the Lady, “was slain by three giants. This other knight pursued the
three giants, and when he returned he was as thou seest.” “Whither went
those giants?” said the Earl. She replied, “They went yonder ways.” “I
will go and see what has befallen them,” said the Earl of Limours.
[Sidenote: _The Earl finds the dead outlaws._]
So that Earl took several of his knights and he went in that direction,
and in a little while he found all three giants lying dead upon the
ground. “Pardee,” quoth he, “yonder was a parlous strong knight to slay
all three of those giants.”
[Sidenote: _The Earl carries Sir Geraint to his castle._]
After that he returned to the forest glade and he made examination of
the knights that lay there. The one knight he found was dead, but it
did not seem to him that Sir Geraint was altogether dead. So the one
knight he buried, but Sir Geraint he laid in the hollow of a shield with
his sword behind him. And he laid him upon a bier and so he bore him
away toward his castle, the two ladies accompanying them.
By and by, after a very long journeying, they came to the castle of the
Earl of Limours. And the castle was very large and comely and strong.
The Earl and those who were with him entered the castle and he had the
shield with Sir Geraint stretched upon it borne into the hall of the
castle. And he had his physician to come and examine Geraint and the
leech came and made examination of him. Then after due examination the
leech said that he was not yet dead, but that he was exceedingly near to
death.
Then the Earl bade the two ladies to go and change their clothes and to
assume garments that were more fitting to grace that hall, and the other
lady went as he bade, but Enid would not go.
The Earl of Limours said to her, “Lady, thou art not wise in this, for I
mean well by thee. Thou pleasest me very greatly by thy appearance. When
thy lord is dead, then will I marry thee and will bestow upon thee
myself and this castle and all these lands through which we passed
to-day, and all other things thou shalt have that are mine.” But Enid
only wept, and she said, “Alas! I know not what to do, for I am very
lonely. If my lord dieth, nevermore shall I have any more joy or
happiness as long as I shall live.”
The Earl of Limours said, “Take heart, my pretty one.” But she said, “I
cannot take any heart.” Then the Earl gave orders that a feast should be
made ready, and it was done according to his command. And when that
feast was ready, he said to Enid, “Come and sit here beside me and eat.”
She said, “I will not eat and I will not sit at table unless my lord
sits here also.” Then the Earl laughed, and he said, “Lady, thou art
very foolish in this, for thy knight will never sit at table again, for
he is dead, or else he is dying.” Then Enid wept again, very bitterly.
[Sidenote: _The Earl of Limours strikes Enid the Fair._]
The Earl said, “Come sit beside me, and I will have thy knight at table
also.” So he had them bring the bier whereon Sir Geraint lay to the side
of the table. Then he took Enid by the hand and led her to the table and
compelled her to sit beside him. But still she would not eat. Then the
Earl offered her a goblet of wine and he said, “Drink this wine, for it
will help thee to forget thy sorrows.” “I will not drink,” she said,
“until my husband shall arise and drink with me.” Then the Earl of
Limours became angry. “A plague upon thee and thy knight!” he cried,
and so crying he lifted his hand and delivered to her a box upon the
ear.
Then Enid felt her loneliness as never before. For she knew that had
Geraint been with her the Earl of Limours would not have dared to serve
her thus. So when she felt that blow upon her face she lifted up her
voice and shrieked aloud.
Now Geraint had been recovering from his swoon, but still he lay with
his eyes closed listening to what was said and done about him. And he
heard Enid how that she refused to eat or to drink, and he heard the
blow that the Earl of that place delivered upon her face, and he heard
her shriek with the pain thereof. At that the eyes of his soul were
opened, and he beheld how mad and how blind he had been, and he knew how
faithful to him Enid had been, maugre any words she might have uttered.
Then rage and shame flamed up like fire within him, the last vapors of
his swoon passed away, and he felt within him the strength of ten.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the Earl of Limours._]
Thereupon he grasped the sword that lay beside him in the hollow of the
shield and he arose from the shield all white and wan and smeared with
blood, and those who beheld him saw him arise as though from the dead.
Then they shrieked and screamed and fell aside before him. But Geraint
leaped from the hollow of the shield and he ran to where the Earl of
Limours sat, and crying out, “Wouldst thou dare to smite my wife?” he
smote him with all his might upon the head. So terrible was that blow
that it smote asunder the head and the neck and the breast of the Earl,
and was only stopped by the oaken board of the table against which the
sword blade smote in its descent.
Then all those who thus beheld the dead man arise from his death and
strike that blow, shrieked and roared aloud, and they fled away from
that place in terror and amazement, and no one was left but Geraint and
Enid, and the dead man sitting dreadfully in his seat.
Then Enid said, “O my lord! Art thou dead or art thou alive?” And
Geraint said, “Beloved, I am alive and well.” And Enid said, “I thank
God for that.” But Geraint said, “Let us hasten to escape from this
place whilst we may, for presently these people will return again.” And
he said to her, “Where are our horses?” She said, “I know not where is
my horse, but thy horse is in the house yonder, for I saw them put him
there.”
So Geraint and Enid went to the house that was near at hand and there
Geraint found his horse. And Geraint took his horse out of the stable
and he mounted upon his horse and he reached his hand to Enid and lifted
her up from the ground and placed her upon the horse behind him; and
she clasped her arms around his body and felt his body with her arms
with great joy and delight.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid depart from that place._]
So they rode away from that place and no one dared to stop them, for all
believed that it was the living riding with the dead.
Then, when they were come out into the sunlight again, Sir Geraint
turned his head and looked his lady, Enid, in the face, and he perceived
how she had lost her color and was grown thin and fragile because of the
hardships to which his anger and his injustice had subjected her. Then
he turned his own face away and bowed his head.
By and by he lifted his head and said to her, “Lady, canst thou forgive
me?” To that she smiled a little, but very faintly. “I do forgive thee,”
said she, “but never shall I forget.” Therewith the tears ran from her
eyes and fell like diamonds down her cheeks, and Sir Geraint turned away
his face again and again bowed down his head.
So they rode in silence, each occupied with his or her own thoughts,
until at last they came to a place where there were high hedges upon
either side of the way. At this place they heard the sound of many
horses coming toward them, and in a little while they perceived the
points of a number of spears between them and the sky over the top of
the hedge. So Geraint put Enid upon the other side of the hedge and made
him ready to face those who were coming.
[Sidenote: _The Little King finds Sir Geraint and Enid._]
Anon there came a small host of horsemen in armor into that road, and
the first of all those who came was the Little King. Then Geraint cried
out with joy, “Is that thou, the Little King?” And the other said, “Yea,
it is I, but who art thou?” For he did not know Sir Geraint because of
the blood that was upon him and because of his changed appearance. Then
Geraint said, “It is I, Geraint the son of Erbin.”
Then the Little King came forward, and embraced him. And Enid came forth
from her hiding, and the Little King paid his respects to her. Quoth the
Little King, “I was in search of thee, Sir Geraint, for I heard thou
wert in trouble. So I am here.” And Sir Geraint said, “That is according
to the conditions of our bond.”
So Sir Geraint and Enid and the Little King returned along the way
toward the castle of the Little King, and when they reached the castle
the wounds of Sir Geraint were searched and dressed and he was made in
all wise as comfortable as he could be.
[Illustration] Conclusion
Thus have I told you the story of Sir Geraint and of Lady Enid at this,
its fitting time.
[Sidenote: _Of the story, how it hath been sung of old._]
This story has been very often sung and told and so you have no doubt
heard of it or read it before this. For it hath been told by a great
poet, and it hath been told by the ancient bards of Wales, and both that
great poet and I have obtained it from those ancient chronicles of the
Welsh Mabinogi.
But as this story concerns the story of King Arthur and his court, so it
must be written when it cometh in its due place and so I have written
it.
So I pray you read it and consider it as a very famous story of one of
the chiefest knights of the Round Table of King Arthur.
And now I shall have to tell you of the coming of Sir Galahad and of the
Quest of the Grail by certain of the Knights of King Arthur and his
Round Table, and of how certain other knights failed in that quest. So
if you will read that which followeth you shall be informed of all those
very wonderful things which many people for many years believed to be
sooth and real.
[Illustration]