THE LADIES' KNIGHT
The King was wedded unto Dame Guenever at Camelot with great solemnity.
Just as all were sitting at the high feast that followed the marriage,
there came running into the hall a white hart, followed by a whole pack
of hounds with a great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round.
At a fierce bite from one of the dogs the hart made a great leap, and
overthrew a knight that sat at the table, and so passed forth out of
the hall again, with all the dogs after him. When they were gone the
King was glad, for they made such a noise, but Merlin said, "Ye may not
leave this adventure so lightly. Let call Sir Gawaine, for he must
bring again the white hart."
"I will," said the King, "that all be done by your advice." So Sir
Gawaine was called, and he took his charge and armed himself for the
adventure. Sir Gawaine was one of King Arthur's nephews, and had just
been made a knight, for he had asked of the King the gift of knighthood
on the same day that he should wed fair Guenever.
So Sir Gawaine rode quickly forth, and Gaheris his brother rode with
him, instead of a squire, to do him service. As they followed the hart
by the cry of the hounds, they came to a great river. The hart swam
over, and they followed after, and so at length they chased him into a
castle, where in the chief courtyard the dogs slew the hart before Sir
Gawaine and young Gaheris came up. Right so there came a knight out of
a room, with a sword drawn in his hand, and he slew two of the
greyhounds even in the sight of Sir Gawaine, and the remnant he chased
with his sword out of the castle.
When he came back he said, "O my white hart, me repenteth that thou art
dead, for my sovereign lady gave thee to me, and poorly have I kept
thee. Thy death shall be dear bought, if I live."
Anon he came fiercely towards Sir Gawaine, and they struck mightily
together. They clove their shields and broke their helms and hauberks
so that the blood ran down to their feet. At the last Sir Gawaine
smote the knight so hard that he fell to the earth; and then he cried
for mercy and yielded himself, and besought Sir Gawaine as he was a
knight and gentleman to save his life.
"Thou shalt die," said Sir Gawaine, "for slaying of my hounds."
"I will make amends," said the knight, "unto my power."
Sir Gawaine would no mercy have, but unlaced his helm to strike off his
head, when at that instant came his lady out of a chamber. She fell
upon her husband just as the blow descended, and so Sir Gawaine smote
off her head by misadventure, and the knight was saved.
"Alas!" said Gaheris, "that is foul and shamefully done; that shame
shall never depart from you. Ye should give mercy unto them that ask
mercy, for a knight without mercy is without honour."
Sir Gawaine was so astonished at the death of the fair lady that he
knew not what he did, and he said unto the knight, "Arise, I will give
thee mercy; and go thou unto King Arthur, and tell him how thou art
overcome by the knight that went in the quest of the white hart."
"I care not for mercy now," said the knight, "for thou hast slain my
lady that I loved best of all earthly things it matters not whether I
live or die."
Then Sir Gawaine went into the castle and made ready to rest there all
night.
"What will ye do?" said Gaheris; "will ye unarm you in this country?
Ye may believe ye have many enemies here."
He had no sooner said that word than there came four knights well
armed, and anon they made Sir Gawaine and Gaheris yield themselves as
prisoners, in spite of the brave battle wherein Sir Gawaine was sore
wounded in the arm.
Early on the morrow there came to Sir Gawaine in the prison one of the
ladies of the castle, and said, "Sir Knight, what cheer?"
"Not good," said he.
"It is your own fault," said the lady, "for ye have done a passing foul
deed in the slaying of the lady, which will be great disgrace unto you.
Be ye not of King Arthur's kin?"
"Yes, truly," said Sir Gawaine. "My name is Gawaine, and my mother is
King Arthur's sister."
"Ah, then are ye nephew unto King Arthur," said the lady, "and I shall
so speak for you that ye shall have conduct to King Arthur, for love of
him."
Then anon they delivered Sir Gawaine under this promise, that he should
bear the dead lady to the court, the severed head hanging about his
neck. Right so he rode forth unto Camelot, and Merlin made him tell of
his adventure, and how he slew the lady, and how he would give no mercy
unto the knight, whereby the lady was slain. Then the King and the
Queen were greatly displeased with Sir Gawaine, and by ordinance of the
Queen there was set a quest of ladies on Sir Gawaine, and they ordered
him for ever while he lived to be with all ladies, and to fight for
their quarrels; and that ever he should be courteous, and never refuse
mercy to him that asketh mercy. Thus was Gawaine sworn upon the four
Evangelists that he should never be against lady nor gentlewoman,
except if he fought for a lady and his adversary fought for another.
Thus endeth the adventure of Sir Gawaine, that he did at the marriage
of King Arthur.