Latest / Tales Of King Arthur And The Round Table / 06 - Part 1 Story 5 What Beaumains Asked Of The King Parts 1-2
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- 0:00Speaker 1: Part one, Story five of Tales of King Arthur and
- 0:03Speaker 1: the Round Table by Andrew Lang. This LibriVox recording is
- 0:07Speaker 1: in the public domain. Part one, Story five What Beaumains
- 0:12Speaker 1: Asked of the King Part one. As Pentecost drew near,
- 0:17Speaker 1: King Arthur commanded that all the knights of the Round
- 0:20Speaker 1: Table should keep the feast at a city called ken
- 0:23Speaker 1: Kennedon Harred by the sands of Wales, where there was
- 0:27Speaker 1: a great castle. Now it was the king's custom that
- 0:30Speaker 1: he would eat no food on the day of Pentecost,
- 0:33Speaker 1: which we call whit Sunday, until he had heard or
- 0:36Speaker 1: seen some great marvel. So on that morning Sir Gawaine
- 0:40Speaker 1: was looking from the window a little before noon, when
- 0:43Speaker 1: he espied three men on horseback, and with them a
- 0:46Speaker 1: dwarf on foot, who held their horses when they alighted.
- 0:50Speaker 1: Then Sir Gawaine went to the King and said, Sir,
- 0:53Speaker 1: go to your food, for strange adventures are at hand.
- 0:57Speaker 1: And Arthur called the other kings that were in the castle,
- 1:00Speaker 1: and all the knights of the round Table that were
- 1:03Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty, and they sat down to dine.
- 1:07Speaker 1: When they were seated, there entered the hall. Two men
- 1:10Speaker 1: well and richly dressed, And upon their shoulders leaned the
- 1:14Speaker 1: handsomest young man that ever was seen of any of them,
- 1:18Speaker 1: higher than the other two by a cubit. He was
- 1:22Speaker 1: wide in the chest and large handed, but his great
- 1:25Speaker 1: height seemed to be a burden and a shame to him.
- 1:28Speaker 1: Therefore it was he leaned on the shoulders of his friends.
- 1:32Speaker 1: As soon as Arthur beheld him, he made a sign,
- 1:36Speaker 1: and without more words, all three went up to the
- 1:39Speaker 1: high dais where the king sat. Then the tall young
- 1:42Speaker 1: man stood up straight and said, King Arthur, God bless
- 1:46Speaker 1: you and all your fair fellowship, and in especial the
- 1:50Speaker 1: fellowship of the table round. I have come hither to
- 1:53Speaker 1: pray you to give me three gifts, which you can
- 1:56Speaker 1: grant me honorably, for they will do no hurt to
- 1:59Speaker 1: you or to any one, ask answered Arthur, and you
- 2:02Speaker 1: shall have your asking. Sir. This is my petition for
- 2:06Speaker 1: this feast. For the other two I will ask after
- 2:10Speaker 1: give me meat and drink for this one twelvemonth, well,
- 2:14Speaker 1: said the King. You shall have meat and drink enough
- 2:16Speaker 1: for that I give to every man, whether foe or friend.
- 2:20Speaker 1: But tell me your name. I cannot tell you that
- 2:24Speaker 1: answered he. That is strange, replied the King, But you
- 2:27Speaker 1: are the goodliest young man I ever saw. And turning
- 2:31Speaker 1: to Sir Kay, the steward charged him to give the
- 2:34Speaker 1: young man to eat and drink of the best, and
- 2:36Speaker 1: to treat him in all ways as if he were
- 2:39Speaker 1: a lord's son. There is little need to do, that,
- 2:42Speaker 1: answered Sir Kay, for if he had come of gentlemen
- 2:45Speaker 1: and not of peasants, he would have asked of you
- 2:48Speaker 1: a horse and armor. But as the birth of a
- 2:51Speaker 1: man is, so are his requests. And seeing that he
- 2:54Speaker 1: has no name, I will give him one, and it
- 2:57Speaker 1: shall be bowman's or fair hands. And he shall sit
- 3:01Speaker 1: in the kitchen and eat broth, and at the end
- 3:04Speaker 1: of a year he shall be as fat as any
- 3:06Speaker 1: pig that feeds on acorns. So the young man was
- 3:10Speaker 1: left in charge of Sir Kay that scorned and mocked him.
- 3:14Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth when they heard
- 3:18Speaker 1: what Sir Kay said, and bade him leave off his mocking,
- 3:22Speaker 1: for they believed the youth would turn out to be
- 3:24Speaker 1: a man of great deeds. But Sir Kay paid no
- 3:27Speaker 1: heed to them, and took him down to the great
- 3:30Speaker 1: hall and set him among the boys and lads, where
- 3:33Speaker 1: he ate sadly. After he had finished eating, both Sir
- 3:37Speaker 1: Launcelot and Sir Gawaine bade him come to their room,
- 3:41Speaker 1: and would have had him eat and drink there, but
- 3:44Speaker 1: he refused, saying he was bound to obey Sir Kay,
- 3:47Speaker 1: into whose charge the King had given him. So he
- 3:51Speaker 1: was put into the kitchen by Sir Kay and slept
- 3:54Speaker 1: nightly with the kitchen boys. This he bore for a
- 3:57Speaker 1: whole year, and was always mild and gentle, and gave
- 4:00Speaker 1: hard words to no one. Only whenever the knights played
- 4:04Speaker 1: at tourney, he would steal out and watch them, And
- 4:08Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot gave him gold to spend and clothes to wear,
- 4:12Speaker 1: and so did Gawaine. Also, if there were any games held,
- 4:16Speaker 1: whereat he might be, none could throw a bar nor
- 4:19Speaker 1: cast a stone as far as he by two good yards.
- 4:24Speaker 1: Thus the year passed by till the feast of Whitsuntide
- 4:27Speaker 1: came again, and this time the king held it at Carleon.
- 4:31Speaker 1: But King Arthur would eat no meat at Whitsuntide till
- 4:35Speaker 1: some adventure were told him, And glad was he when
- 4:38Speaker 1: a squire came and said to him, Sir, you may
- 4:41Speaker 1: go to your food, for here is a damsel with
- 4:44Speaker 1: some strange tale. At this the damsel was led into
- 4:48Speaker 1: the hall and bowed low before the King and begged
- 4:51Speaker 1: he would give her help. For whom, asked the King,
- 4:54Speaker 1: And what is the adventure, sir answered she. My sister
- 4:59Speaker 1: is a noble lady of great fame, who is besieged
- 5:02Speaker 1: by a tyrant and may not get out of her castle.
- 5:06Speaker 1: And it is because your knights are said to be
- 5:08Speaker 1: the noblest in all the world that I came to
- 5:10Speaker 1: you for aid. What is your sister's name? And where
- 5:14Speaker 1: does she dwell? And who is the man that besieges her?
- 5:18Speaker 1: And where does he come from? Sir King answered she.
- 5:22Speaker 1: As for my sister's name, I cannot tell it you now,
- 5:25Speaker 1: but she is a lady of great beauty and goodness,
- 5:28Speaker 1: and of many lands. As for the tyrant who besieges her,
- 5:33Speaker 1: he is called the Red Knight of the Red Lawns.
- 5:36Speaker 1: I know nothing of him, said the King. But I
- 5:39Speaker 1: know him, cried Sir Gawaine. And he is one of
- 5:42Speaker 1: the most dangerous knights in the world. Men say he
- 5:45Speaker 1: has the strength of seven And once when we had
- 5:48Speaker 1: crossed swords. I hardly escaped from him with my life.
- 5:53Speaker 1: Fair damsel, then said the King. There are many knights
- 5:56Speaker 1: here who would go gladly to the rescue of your lady,
- 6:00Speaker 1: but none of them shall do so with my consent
- 6:03Speaker 1: unless you will tell us her name and the place
- 6:05Speaker 1: of her castle. Then I must speak further, said the damsel.
- 6:10Speaker 1: But before she had made answer to the king, up
- 6:13Speaker 1: came Boumens and spoke to Arthur, saying, Sir King, I
- 6:17Speaker 1: thank you that for this whole year I have lived
- 6:20Speaker 1: in your kitchen and had meat and drink. And now
- 6:23Speaker 1: I will ask you for the two gifts that you
- 6:25Speaker 1: promised me on this day ask them, answered the King, Sir,
- 6:31Speaker 1: these shall be my two gifts. First, grant me the
- 6:34Speaker 1: adventure of this damsel, for it is mine by right,
- 6:38Speaker 1: you shall have it, said the King. Then, sir, you
- 6:41Speaker 1: shall bid Sir Launcelot du Lake to make me knight,
- 6:44Speaker 1: for I will receive knighthood at the hands of no other.
- 6:47Speaker 1: All this shall be done, said the King. Fly on you,
- 6:51Speaker 1: cried the damsel, will you give me none but a
- 6:53Speaker 1: kitchen boy to rescue my lady? And she went away
- 6:57Speaker 1: in a rage and mounted her horse. No sooner had
- 7:00Speaker 1: she left the hall. Then a page came to Bowmens
- 7:03Speaker 1: and told him that a horse and fair armor had
- 7:05Speaker 1: been brought for him. Also, there had arrived a dwarf,
- 7:09Speaker 1: carrying all things that a knight needed, And when he
- 7:12Speaker 1: was armed, there were few men that were handsomer than he,
- 7:16Speaker 1: and the court wondered greatly whence these splendid trappings had come.
- 7:21Speaker 1: Then Bowmens came into the hall and took farewell of
- 7:24Speaker 1: the King and Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot, and prayed
- 7:28Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot that he would follow after him. So he
- 7:31Speaker 1: departed and rode after the damsel. Many looked upon him
- 7:35Speaker 1: and marveled at the strength of his horse and its
- 7:38Speaker 1: golden trappings, and envied Bowmens his shining coat of mail,
- 7:42Speaker 1: but they noted that he had neither shield nor spear.
- 7:46Speaker 1: I will ride after him, laughed Sir Kay, And see
- 7:49Speaker 1: if my kitchen boy will own me for his better
- 7:52Speaker 1: leave him and say at home, said Sir Gawaine and
- 7:55Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, But Sir Kay would not listen, and sprang
- 7:59Speaker 1: upon his horse horse. Just as Bowmens came up with
- 8:02Speaker 1: the damsel. Sir Kay reached Bowmens and said, Bowmens, do
- 8:06Speaker 1: you not know me? Bowmans turned and looked at him
- 8:09Speaker 1: and answered, yes, I know you for an ill mannered knight.
- 8:12Speaker 1: Therefore beware of me. At this, Sir Kay put his
- 8:16Speaker 1: spear in rest and charged him, and Bowmans drew his
- 8:19Speaker 1: sword and charged Sir Kay and dashed aside the spear
- 8:23Speaker 1: and thrust him through the side till Sir Kay fell
- 8:26Speaker 1: down as if he had been dead, and Bowmans took
- 8:29Speaker 1: his shield and spear for himself. Then he sprang on
- 8:33Speaker 1: his own horse, bidding first his dwarf take Sir Kay's horse,
- 8:37Speaker 1: and rode away. All this was seen by Sir Launcelot,
- 8:41Speaker 1: who had followed him, and also by the damsel, and
- 8:44Speaker 1: a little while Bowmens stopped and asked Sir Launcelot if
- 8:47Speaker 1: he would tilt with him, and they came together with
- 8:51Speaker 1: such a shock that both the horses and their riders
- 8:53Speaker 1: fell to the earth and were bruised sorely. Sir Launcelot
- 8:58Speaker 1: was the first to rise, and he helped Bowmens from
- 9:00Speaker 1: his horse, and Bowmans threw his shield from him and
- 9:04Speaker 1: offered to fight on foot. And they rushed together like
- 9:07Speaker 1: wild wars, turning and thrusting and parrying for the space
- 9:11Speaker 1: of an hour, and Sir Launcelot marveled at the young
- 9:14Speaker 1: man's strength and thought he was more like a giant
- 9:18Speaker 1: than a knight. And dreading lest he himself should be
- 9:21Speaker 1: put to shame, he said, Bowmans, do not fight so hard.
- 9:25Speaker 1: We have no quarrel that forbids us to leave off.
- 9:28Speaker 1: That is true, answered Bowmens, laying down his arms. But
- 9:32Speaker 1: it does me good, my lord, to feel your might, well,
- 9:35Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot. I promise you I had much ado
- 9:38Speaker 1: to save myself from you unshamed. Therefore, have no fear
- 9:42Speaker 1: of any other knight. Do you think I could really
- 9:46Speaker 1: stand against a proved knight, asked Bowmans, Yes, said Launcelot.
- 9:51Speaker 1: If you fight as you have fought to day, I
- 9:53Speaker 1: will be your warrant against any one. Then, I pray you,
- 9:57Speaker 1: cried Bowmans, give me the order of knighthood. You must
- 10:00Speaker 1: first tell me your name, replied Launcelot. And who are
- 10:04Speaker 1: your kindred? You will not betray me if I do,
- 10:07Speaker 1: asked Bowmans. No, that I will never do till it
- 10:12Speaker 1: is openly known, said Sir Launcelot. Then, Sir, my name
- 10:16Speaker 1: is Gareth, and Sir Gawaine is my brother, Ah, Sir
- 10:20Speaker 1: cried Sir Launcelot, I am more pleased with you than ever.
- 10:24Speaker 1: I was sure you came of good blood, and that
- 10:27Speaker 1: you did not come to the court for meat and
- 10:29Speaker 1: drink only. And he bade him kneel and gave him
- 10:32Speaker 1: the order of knighthood. After that, Sir Gareth wished to
- 10:36Speaker 1: go his own ways, and departed. When he was gone,
- 10:39Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot went back to Sir Kay and ordered some
- 10:43Speaker 1: men that were by to bear him home on a shield,
- 10:46Speaker 1: And in time his wounds were healed. But he was
- 10:49Speaker 1: scorned of all men, and especially of Sir Gawaine and
- 10:52Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, who told him it was no good deed
- 10:55Speaker 1: to treat any young man so, and no one could
- 10:58Speaker 1: tell what his birth might be, or what had brought
- 11:01Speaker 1: him to the court. Then Bowmans rode after the damsel,
- 11:06Speaker 1: who stopped when she saw him coming. What are you
- 11:10Speaker 1: doing here? Said she? Your clothes smell of the grease
- 11:13Speaker 1: and tallow of the kitchen. Do you think to change
- 11:16Speaker 1: my heart towards you because of Yonder Knight, whom you slew. No,
- 11:20Speaker 1: truly I know well who you are, you turner of spits.
- 11:24Speaker 1: Go back to King Arthur's kitchen, which is your proper place, Damsel,
- 11:29Speaker 1: replied Bowmans. You may say to me what you will,
- 11:32Speaker 1: but I shall not quit you whatever you may do,
- 11:35Speaker 1: For I have vowed to King Arthur to relieve the
- 11:38Speaker 1: lady in the castle, and I shall set her free
- 11:41Speaker 1: or die fighting for her. Fie on you, Scullion, answered she.
- 11:46Speaker 1: You will meet with one who will make you such
- 11:48Speaker 1: a welcome that you would give all the broth you
- 11:52Speaker 1: ever cooked never to have seen his face. I shall
- 11:55Speaker 1: do my best to fight him, said Bowmans, and held
- 11:58Speaker 1: his peace. Soon they entered the wood, and there came
- 12:01Speaker 1: a man flying towards them, galloping with all his might.
- 12:05Speaker 1: Oh help, help, lord, cried he, for my master lies
- 12:08Speaker 1: in a thicket, bound by six thieves, and I greatly
- 12:11Speaker 1: fear they will slay him. Show me the way, said
- 12:15Speaker 1: Sir Bowmans, and they rode together till they reached the
- 12:17Speaker 1: place where the Knight lay bound. Then Sir Bawmans charged
- 12:21Speaker 1: the six thieves and struck one dead, and another and
- 12:25Speaker 1: another still, and the other three fled. Not liking the battle,
- 12:30Speaker 1: Sir Bowmans pursued them till they turned at bay, and
- 12:33Speaker 1: fought hard for their lives. But in the end Sir
- 12:36Speaker 1: Bowmans slew them and returned to the knight and unbound him.
- 12:40Speaker 1: The knight thanked Bowmens heartily for his deliverance, and prayed
- 12:44Speaker 1: him to come to his castle, where he would reward him.
- 12:47Speaker 1: Sir said Bowmans, I was this day made knight by
- 12:51Speaker 1: noble Sir Launcelot, and that is reward enough for anything
- 12:55Speaker 1: I may do. Besides, I must follow this damsel. But
- 12:59Speaker 1: when he came near her, she reviled him as before
- 13:03Speaker 1: and bade him ride far from her. Do you think
- 13:06Speaker 1: I set store by what you have done? You will
- 13:09Speaker 1: soon see a sight that will make you tell a
- 13:11Speaker 1: very different tale. At this the knight, whom Bowmans had rescued,
- 13:16Speaker 1: rode up to the damsel and begged that she would
- 13:18Speaker 1: rest in his castle that night. As the sun was
- 13:22Speaker 1: now setting, The damsel agreed, and the knight ordered a
- 13:26Speaker 1: great supper and gave Sir Bowmans a seat above the
- 13:29Speaker 1: seat of the damsel, who rose up in anger. Fie fie,
- 13:34Speaker 1: Sir Knight cried she you are uncourteous to set a
- 13:37Speaker 1: mere kitchen page before me. He is not fit to
- 13:40Speaker 1: be in the company of high born people. Her words
- 13:44Speaker 1: struck shame into the Knight, and he took Bowmans and
- 13:47Speaker 1: set him at a side table, and seated himself before him.
- 13:52Speaker 1: In the early morning, Sir Bowmans and the damsel bade
- 13:55Speaker 1: farewell to the Knight and rode through the forest till
- 13:58Speaker 1: they came to a great river, where stood two knights
- 14:01Speaker 1: on the further side, guarding the passage. Well what do
- 14:05Speaker 1: you say now, asked the damsel, Will you fight them
- 14:08Speaker 1: or turn back? I would not turn if there were
- 14:11Speaker 1: six more of them, answered Sir Bawmans, and he rushed
- 14:14Speaker 1: into the water, and so did one of the knights.
- 14:17Speaker 1: They came together in the middle of the stream, and
- 14:20Speaker 1: their spears broke in two with the force of the charge,
- 14:24Speaker 1: and they drew their swords, hitting hard at each other
- 14:27Speaker 1: at length. Sir Bowmans dealt the other knight such a
- 14:30Speaker 1: blow that he fell from his horse and was drowned
- 14:33Speaker 1: in the river. Then Bowmans put his horse at the bank,
- 14:37Speaker 1: where the second Knight was waiting for him, and they
- 14:40Speaker 1: fought long together till Sir Bawmans clave his helmet in two,
- 14:45Speaker 1: so he left him dead and rode after the damsel.
- 14:49Speaker 1: Alas she cried that even a kitchen page should have
- 14:53Speaker 1: power to destroy two such knights. You think you have
- 14:56Speaker 1: done mighty things, but you are wrong. As to the first.
- 15:00Speaker 1: First night, his horse stumbled and he was drowned before
- 15:03Speaker 1: you ever touched him, And the other you took from
- 15:06Speaker 1: behind and struck him when he was defenseless. Damsel answered, Bowmens,
- 15:11Speaker 1: you may say what you will. I care not what
- 15:14Speaker 1: it is, so I may deliver this lady, five foul
- 15:18Speaker 1: kitchen knave. You shall see knights that will make you
- 15:21Speaker 1: lower your crest. I pray you be more civil than
- 15:24Speaker 1: your language, answered Boehmens, for it matters not to me
- 15:28Speaker 1: what knights they be. I will do battle with them.
- 15:32Speaker 1: I am trying to turn you back for your own good,
- 15:34Speaker 1: answered she, for if you follow me, you are certainly
- 15:38Speaker 1: a dead man as well. I know all you have
- 15:41Speaker 1: won before has been by luck. Say what you will,
- 15:44Speaker 1: Damsel said he, But where you go, I will follow you.
- 15:48Speaker 1: And they rode together till eventide, and all the way
- 15:52Speaker 1: she chid him and gave him no rest. At length,
- 15:56Speaker 1: they reached an open space where there was a black lawn,
- 15:59Speaker 1: and on the lawn a black hawthorn, whereon hung a
- 16:03Speaker 1: black banner on one side, and a black shield, and spear,
- 16:07Speaker 1: big and long. On the other. Close by stood a
- 16:10Speaker 1: black horse covered with silk, fastened to a black stone.
- 16:15Speaker 1: A knight covered with black armor sat on the horse,
- 16:19Speaker 1: and when she saw him, the damsel bade him ride away,
- 16:22Speaker 1: as his horse was not saddled. But the knight drew
- 16:26Speaker 1: near and said to her damsel, have you brought this
- 16:29Speaker 1: knight from King Arthur's court to be your champion? No, truly,
- 16:33Speaker 1: answered she. This is but a kitchen boy, fed by
- 16:36Speaker 1: King Arthur for charity. Then why is he clad an armor?
- 16:40Speaker 1: Asked the knight. It is a shame that he should
- 16:43Speaker 1: even bear you company. I cannot be rid of him,
- 16:46Speaker 1: said she. He rides with me against my will. I
- 16:50Speaker 1: would that you were able to deliver me from him,
- 16:53Speaker 1: either slay him or frighten him off, for by ill fortune,
- 16:57Speaker 1: he has this day slain the two knights of the passage.
- 17:02Speaker 1: I wonder much, said the black knight, that any man
- 17:05Speaker 1: who is well born should consent to fight with him.
- 17:08Speaker 1: They do not know him, replied the damsel, and they
- 17:12Speaker 1: think he must be a famous knight because he rides
- 17:14Speaker 1: with me. That may be, said the black knight. But
- 17:18Speaker 1: he is well made and looks likely to be a
- 17:20Speaker 1: strong man. Still, I promise you I will just throw
- 17:25Speaker 1: him to the ground and take away his horse and armor,
- 17:28Speaker 1: for it would be a shame to me to do more.
- 17:31Speaker 1: When Sir Bowmans heard him talk, thus, he looked up
- 17:34Speaker 1: and said, sir Knight, you are lightly disposing of my
- 17:38Speaker 1: horse and armor. But I would have you know that
- 17:40Speaker 1: I will pass the lawn against your will or not,
- 17:43Speaker 1: and you will only get my horse and armor if
- 17:46Speaker 1: you win them in fair fight. Therefore, let me see
- 17:49Speaker 1: what you can do, say you, so answered the Knight.
- 17:54Speaker 1: Now give up the lady at once, for it ill
- 17:57Speaker 1: becomes a kitchen page. To ride with the lady of
- 17:59Speaker 1: high degree, it is a lie, said Bowmans. I am
- 18:03Speaker 1: a gentleman born, and my birth is better than yours,
- 18:06Speaker 1: as I will prove upon your body. With that, they
- 18:10Speaker 1: drew back their horses so as to charge each other hotly,
- 18:14Speaker 1: and for the space of an hour and a half
- 18:16Speaker 1: they fought fiercely and well. But in the end a
- 18:19Speaker 1: blow from Bowmans threw the Knight from his horse, and
- 18:22Speaker 1: he swooned and died. Then Bowmans jumped down, and, seeing
- 18:27Speaker 1: that the Knight's horse and armor were better than his own,
- 18:30Speaker 1: he took them for himself and rode after the damsel.
- 18:34Speaker 1: While they were thus riding together, and the damsel was
- 18:37Speaker 1: chiding him as ever she did, they saw a knight
- 18:40Speaker 1: coming towards them, dressed all in green. Is that my brother,
- 18:44Speaker 1: the black Knight, who is with you, asked he of
- 18:47Speaker 1: the damsel. No, indeed, she replied, this unhappy kitchen knave
- 18:52Speaker 1: has slain your brother. To my great sorrow. Alas sighed
- 18:56Speaker 1: the Green Knight. That my brother should die so meanly
- 18:59Speaker 1: at the hand of a kitchen knave traitor, he added,
- 19:03Speaker 1: turning to Bowmans, thou shalt die for slaying my brother,
- 19:07Speaker 1: for he was a noble knight, and his name was
- 19:09Speaker 1: Sir Percard. I defy you, said Bowmans, for I slew
- 19:13Speaker 1: him as a good knight should. Then the Green Knight
- 19:17Speaker 1: seized a horn which hung from a thorn tree, and
- 19:20Speaker 1: blew three notes upon it, and two damsels came and
- 19:23Speaker 1: armed him and fastened on him a green shield and
- 19:26Speaker 1: a green spear. So the fight began and raged long,
- 19:31Speaker 1: first on horseback and then on foot, till both were
- 19:35Speaker 1: sore wounded. At last the damsel came and stood beside them,
- 19:39Speaker 1: and said, my lord the Green Knight, Why for very
- 19:43Speaker 1: shame do you stand so long fighting a kitchen knave.
- 19:47Speaker 1: You ought never to have been made a knight at all.
- 19:49Speaker 1: These scornful words stung the heart of the Green Knight,
- 19:53Speaker 1: and he dealt a mighty stroke which cleft asunder the
- 19:56Speaker 1: shield of Bowmans. And when Bowmans saw this, he struck
- 20:00Speaker 1: a blow upon the Knight's helmet, which brought him to
- 20:03Speaker 1: his knees, and Bowmans leapt on him and dragged him
- 20:06Speaker 1: to the ground. Then the Green Knight cried for mercy
- 20:09Speaker 1: and offered to yield himself prisoner. Unto Bowmans. It is
- 20:13Speaker 1: all in vain, answered Boeumans, unless the damsel praise me
- 20:17Speaker 1: for your life. And therewith he unlaced his helmet as
- 20:20Speaker 1: though he would slay him fly upon thee false kitchen page,
- 20:25Speaker 1: said the damsel. I will never pray to save his life,
- 20:28Speaker 1: for I am sure he is in no danger. Suffer
- 20:31Speaker 1: me not to die, entreated the knight. When a word
- 20:34Speaker 1: may save me, fair knight, he went on, turning to Boehmens,
- 20:39Speaker 1: save my life, and I will forgive you the death
- 20:41Speaker 1: of my brother, and will do you service forever, and
- 20:45Speaker 1: will bring thirty of my knights to serve you. Likewise,
- 20:48Speaker 1: it is a shame, cried the damsel, that such a
- 20:51Speaker 1: kitchen knave should have you and thirty knights besides, Sir Knight,
- 20:56Speaker 1: said Bowmans. I care nothing for all this, but if
- 20:59Speaker 1: I am to spare your life, the damsel must ask
- 21:03Speaker 1: for it, and he stepped forward as if to slay him.
- 21:06Speaker 1: Let be foul knave, then said the damsel, do not
- 21:10Speaker 1: slay him. If you do, you will repent it. Damsel
- 21:14Speaker 1: answered Bowmans. It is a pleasure to me to obey you,
- 21:17Speaker 1: and at your wish, I will save his life. Sir
- 21:20Speaker 1: Knight with the green arms, I release you at the
- 21:23Speaker 1: request of this damsel, and I will fulfill all she
- 21:27Speaker 1: charges me. Then the Green Knight kneeled down and did
- 21:31Speaker 1: him homage with his sword. I am sorry, said the damsel,
- 21:35Speaker 1: for the wounds you have received and for your brother's death,
- 21:38Speaker 1: for I had great need of you both, and have
- 21:41Speaker 1: much dread of passing the forest fear nothing, answered the
- 21:44Speaker 1: Green Knight. For this evening you shall lodge in my house,
- 21:48Speaker 1: and tomorrow I will show you the way through the forest.
- 21:51Speaker 1: And they went with the Green Knight, but the damsel
- 21:54Speaker 1: did not mend her ways with Bowmens, and evermore reviled him,
- 21:58Speaker 1: till the Green Knight rebuked her, saying Bowmens was the
- 22:01Speaker 1: noblest knight that held a spear, and that in the
- 22:04Speaker 1: end she would find he had sprung from some great king.
- 22:08Speaker 1: And the Green Knight summoned the thirty knights who did
- 22:11Speaker 1: him service, and bade them henceforth to do service to
- 22:15Speaker 1: Bowmans and guard him from treachery, and when he had
- 22:19Speaker 1: need of them, they would be ready to obey his orders.
- 22:22Speaker 1: So they bade each other farewell, and Bowmans and the
- 22:25Speaker 1: Damsel rode forth anew. In like manner did Sir Bowmans
- 22:29Speaker 1: overcome the Red Knight, who was the third brother, And
- 22:33Speaker 1: the Red Knight cried for mercy and offered to bring
- 22:36Speaker 1: sixty knights to do him service. And Bowmans spared his
- 22:39Speaker 1: life at the request of the Damsel. And likewise it
- 22:43Speaker 1: so happened to Sir percent of Indie and of Part
- 22:48Speaker 1: one Story five, Part one Part one Story five of
- 22:57Speaker 1: Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table by Andrew
- 22:59Speaker 1: Lane Sang. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
- 23:03Speaker 1: Part one Sorry five What Bowmans Asked of the King
- 23:07Speaker 1: Part two, and this time the damosel prayed Bowmens to
- 23:12Speaker 1: give up the fight, saying, Sir, I wonder who you
- 23:16Speaker 1: are and of what kindred you have come. Boldly you speak,
- 23:20Speaker 1: and boldly you have done. Therefore I pray you to
- 23:23Speaker 1: depart and save yourself while you may, for both you
- 23:27Speaker 1: and your horse have suffered great fatigues, and I fear
- 23:30Speaker 1: we delay too long. For the besieged castle is but
- 23:34Speaker 1: seven miles from this place, and all the perils are past,
- 23:37Speaker 1: save this one. Only I dread sorely lest you should
- 23:41Speaker 1: get some hurt. Yet, this sir person of Indie, is
- 23:44Speaker 1: nothing in might to the knight who has laid siege
- 23:48Speaker 1: to my lady. But Sir Baeumans would not listen to
- 23:51Speaker 1: her words, and vowed that by two hours after noon
- 23:54Speaker 1: he would have overthrown him, and that it would still
- 23:57Speaker 1: be daylight when they reached the castle. What sort of
- 24:00Speaker 1: man can you be, answered the damsel, looking at him
- 24:03Speaker 1: in wonder, For never did a woman treat a knight
- 24:06Speaker 1: as ill and shamefully as I have done you. While
- 24:09Speaker 1: you have always been gentle and courteous to me, And
- 24:13Speaker 1: no one bears himself like that, save he who is
- 24:16Speaker 1: of noble blood. Damsel replied, Bowmans, your hard words only
- 24:21Speaker 1: drove me to strike the harder. And though I ate
- 24:24Speaker 1: in King Arthur's kitchen, perhaps I might have had as
- 24:27Speaker 1: much food as I wanted elsewhere. But all I have
- 24:30Speaker 1: done was to make proof of my friends. And whether
- 24:34Speaker 1: I am a gentleman or not, fair Damsel, I have
- 24:37Speaker 1: done you gentlemen's service, and may perchance do you greater
- 24:40Speaker 1: service before we part from each other. Alas, fair Bowmans,
- 24:45Speaker 1: forgive me all that I have said and done against
- 24:47Speaker 1: you with all my heart, he answered. And since you
- 24:51Speaker 1: are pleased now to speak good words to me, know
- 24:55Speaker 1: that I hear them gladly. And there is no knight living,
- 24:58Speaker 1: but I feel strong enough to meet him. So Bowmans
- 25:01Speaker 1: conquered Sir Persant of Indi, who brought a hundred knights
- 25:05Speaker 1: to be sworn into his service, and the next morning
- 25:08Speaker 1: the damosel led him to the castle where the Red
- 25:10Speaker 1: Knight of the Red Lawn held fast. The Lady Heaven
- 25:14Speaker 1: defend you, cried Sir Percint when they told him where
- 25:17Speaker 1: they were going. That is the most perilous knight now living,
- 25:21Speaker 1: for he has the strength of seven men. He has
- 25:24Speaker 1: done great wrong to that lady who is one of
- 25:27Speaker 1: the fairest in all the world, and it seems to
- 25:29Speaker 1: me that this damsel must be her sister. Is not
- 25:33Speaker 1: her name Linnette, Yes, sir, answered she and my lady
- 25:37Speaker 1: my sister's name is Dame Lionesse. The Red Knight has
- 25:41Speaker 1: drawn out the siege for two years, said Sir Persin,
- 25:44Speaker 1: though he might have forced an entrance many a time,
- 25:47Speaker 1: but he hoped that Sir Launcelot du Lake, or Sir
- 25:50Speaker 1: Tristram or Sir Gawaine should come to do battle with him.
- 25:54Speaker 1: My Lord, Sir Percint of Indi said the damsel. I
- 25:57Speaker 1: bid you, Knight, this gentleman, before he fight with the
- 26:00Speaker 1: Red Knight, that I will gladly, replied Sir Percint, if
- 26:05Speaker 1: it please him to take the order of knighthood from
- 26:07Speaker 1: so simple a man as I am, Sir answered Bowmens,
- 26:11Speaker 1: I thank you for your good will. But at the
- 26:14Speaker 1: beginning of this quest I was made a knight by
- 26:16Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot. My name is Sir Gareth of Orkney, and
- 26:20Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine is my brother, though neither he nor King Arthur,
- 26:24Speaker 1: whose sister is my mother, knows of it. I pray
- 26:27Speaker 1: you to keep it close also. Now word was brought
- 26:31Speaker 1: under the besieged lady by the dwarf that her sister
- 26:34Speaker 1: was coming to her with a knight sent by King Arthur.
- 26:38Speaker 1: And when the lady heard all that Bowmans had done,
- 26:41Speaker 1: and how he had overthrown all who stood in his way,
- 26:44Speaker 1: she bade her dwarf take baked venison and fat capons,
- 26:48Speaker 1: and two silver flagons of wine and a gold cup,
- 26:51Speaker 1: and put them into the hands of a hermit that
- 26:53Speaker 1: dwelt in a hermitage close by. The dwarf did so,
- 26:57Speaker 1: and the lady then sent him to greet her sister
- 27:00Speaker 1: and Sir Bowmans, and to beg them to eat and
- 27:02Speaker 1: drink in the hermit's cell and rest themselves, which they did.
- 27:07Speaker 1: When they drew near the besieged castle, Sir Baumans saw
- 27:11Speaker 1: full forty knights with spurs on their heels and swords
- 27:15Speaker 1: in their hands, hanging from the tall trees that stood
- 27:18Speaker 1: upon the lawn. Fair Sir, said the damsel. These knights
- 27:22Speaker 1: came hither to rescue my sister, Dame Lionesse, And if
- 27:27Speaker 1: you cannot overthrow the Knight of the Red Lawn, you
- 27:30Speaker 1: will hang there too, truly, answered Boumens it is a
- 27:34Speaker 1: marvel that none of King Arthur's knights has dealt with
- 27:37Speaker 1: the Knight of the Red Lawn. Ere this, and they
- 27:40Speaker 1: rode up to the castle, which had round it high
- 27:42Speaker 1: walls and deep ditches, till they came to a great
- 27:45Speaker 1: sycamore tree, where hung a horn. And whoso desired to
- 27:49Speaker 1: do battle with the Red Knight must blow that horn loudly, sir,
- 27:54Speaker 1: I pray you, said linet, as bowmans bent forward to
- 27:58Speaker 1: seize it. Do not blow it till it is full noontide.
- 28:02Speaker 1: For during three hours before that, the Red Knight's strength
- 28:05Speaker 1: so increases that it is as the strength of seven men.
- 28:09Speaker 1: But when noon is come, he has the might of
- 28:12Speaker 1: one man. Only. Ah for shame Damsel to say such words.
- 28:18Speaker 1: I will fight him as he is, or not at all.
- 28:20Speaker 1: And bowmans blew such a blast that it rang through
- 28:23Speaker 1: the castle, and the Red Knight buckled on his armor
- 28:27Speaker 1: and came to where bowmens stood. So the battle began,
- 28:30Speaker 1: and a fierce one it was, and much ado had
- 28:33Speaker 1: bowmans to last out till noon, when the Red Knight's
- 28:37Speaker 1: strength began to wane. They rested and came on again,
- 28:41Speaker 1: and in the end the Red Knight yielded to Sir Bowman's,
- 28:44Speaker 1: and the lords and barons in the castle did homage
- 28:47Speaker 1: to the victor and begged that the Red Knight's life
- 28:50Speaker 1: might be spared, on condition they all took service with Bowmen's.
- 28:54Speaker 1: This was granted to them, and Linnett bound up his
- 28:57Speaker 1: wounds and put ointment on them, and so she did
- 29:01Speaker 1: likewise to Sir Bowmans. But the Red Knight was sent
- 29:04Speaker 1: to the court of King Arthur and told him all
- 29:08Speaker 1: that Sir Bowmyns had done, and King Arthur and his
- 29:11Speaker 1: knights marveled. Now, Sir Boewmaans had looked up at the
- 29:15Speaker 1: windows of Cassoperilus before the fight and had seen the
- 29:19Speaker 1: face of the Lady Lionesse, and had thought it the
- 29:22Speaker 1: fairest in all the world. After he had subdued the
- 29:26Speaker 1: Red Knight, he hasted into the castle, and the Lady
- 29:29Speaker 1: Lionesse welcomed him, and he told her he had bought
- 29:32Speaker 1: her love with the best blood in his body. And
- 29:36Speaker 1: she did not say him nay, but put him off
- 29:38Speaker 1: for a time. Then the king sent letters to her
- 29:42Speaker 1: to bid her, and likewise Sir Gareth come to his court,
- 29:46Speaker 1: and by the counsel of Sir Gareth. She prayed the
- 29:49Speaker 1: King to let her call a tournament, and to proclaim
- 29:52Speaker 1: that the knight who bore himself best, should, if he
- 29:55Speaker 1: was unwedded, take her and all her lands. But if
- 29:59Speaker 1: he had a while already, he should be given a
- 30:02Speaker 1: white gerfalcon, and for his wife a crown of gold
- 30:06Speaker 1: set about with precious stones. So the Lady Leones did
- 30:10Speaker 1: as Sir Gareth had counseled her, and answered King Arthur
- 30:14Speaker 1: that where Sir Gareth was she could not tell, but
- 30:17Speaker 1: that if the King would call attorney, he might be
- 30:20Speaker 1: sure that Sir Gareth would come to it. It is
- 30:23Speaker 1: well thought of, said Arthur, and the Lady Leones departed
- 30:27Speaker 1: unto Castle Perilous, and summoned all her knights around her,
- 30:31Speaker 1: and told them what she had done, and how they
- 30:33Speaker 1: were to make ready to fight in the tournament. She
- 30:36Speaker 1: began at once to set her castle in order, and
- 30:39Speaker 1: to think what she should do with the great array
- 30:41Speaker 1: of knights that would ride hither from the furthest parts
- 30:45Speaker 1: from Scotland and Wales and Cornwall, and to lodge fitly
- 30:49Speaker 1: the King's dukes, earls and barons that should come with
- 30:53Speaker 1: Arthur Queen Guinevere also she awaited, and the Queen of Orkney,
- 30:58Speaker 1: Sir Gareth's mother. But Sir Gareth entreated the Lady Lionesse
- 31:02Speaker 1: and those knights that were in the castle with him
- 31:05Speaker 1: not to let his name be known, and this they
- 31:08Speaker 1: agreed to. Sir Gareth said, Dame Lionesse, I will lend
- 31:12Speaker 1: you a ring, which I beseech you for the love
- 31:15Speaker 1: you bear me, to give me back when the tournament
- 31:18Speaker 1: is done, for without it I have but little beauty.
- 31:21Speaker 1: This ring is like no other ring. It will turn green, red,
- 31:26Speaker 1: and blue white, and the bearer shall lose no blood,
- 31:30Speaker 1: however sore he may be wounded. Truly my own lady,
- 31:34Speaker 1: answered Sir Gareth, this ring will serve me well, and
- 31:38Speaker 1: by its help I shall not fear that any man
- 31:41Speaker 1: shall know me. And Sir gringamore, brother to the Lady Lionesse,
- 31:46Speaker 1: gave him a bay horse and strong armor, and a
- 31:49Speaker 1: sharp sword that had once belonged to his father. On
- 31:53Speaker 1: the morning of the fifteenth of August, when the feast
- 31:55Speaker 1: of the Assumption was kept, the king commanded his heralds
- 31:59Speaker 1: to blow loudly their trumpets so that every knight might
- 32:02Speaker 1: know that he must enter the lists. It was a
- 32:05Speaker 1: noble sight to see them flocking, clad in shining armor,
- 32:09Speaker 1: each man with his device upon his shield, and the
- 32:12Speaker 1: heralds marked who bare them best and who were overthrown.
- 32:17Speaker 1: All marveled as to who the knight could be, whose
- 32:20Speaker 1: armor sometimes seemed green and sometimes white, But no man
- 32:25Speaker 1: knew it was Sir Gareth. And whosoever Sir Gareth tilted
- 32:29Speaker 1: with was straightway overthrown of a truth, cried King Arthur,
- 32:34Speaker 1: that knight with the many colors is a good knight.
- 32:37Speaker 1: And he called Sir Launcelot and bade him to challenge
- 32:40Speaker 1: that knight to combat. But Sir Launcelot said that though
- 32:43Speaker 1: the Knight had come off victor in every fight, yet
- 32:46Speaker 1: his limbs must be weary, for he had fought as
- 32:49Speaker 1: a man fights under the eyes of his lady. And
- 32:52Speaker 1: for this day, said Sir Launcelot, he shall have the honor.
- 32:56Speaker 1: Though it lay in my power to put it from him,
- 32:59Speaker 1: I would not. Then they paused for a while to rest,
- 33:03Speaker 1: and afterwards the tournament began again, more fiercely than before,
- 33:08Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot was set upon by two knights at once.
- 33:12Speaker 1: When Sir Gareth saw that he rode in between them,
- 33:15Speaker 1: but no stroke would he deal Sir Launcelot, which Sir
- 33:19Speaker 1: Launcelot noted and guessed that it was the good knight
- 33:22Speaker 1: Sir Gareth. Sir Gareth went hither and thither, smiting any
- 33:26Speaker 1: one that came in his way, and by fortune he
- 33:29Speaker 1: met with his brother, Sir Gawaine, and knocked off his helmet.
- 33:33Speaker 1: Now it happened that while he was fighting, a knight
- 33:36Speaker 1: dealt Sir Gareth a fierce blow on his helm, and
- 33:40Speaker 1: he rode off the field to mend it. Then his dwarf,
- 33:43Speaker 1: who had been watching eagerly, cried out to Sir Gareth
- 33:46Speaker 1: to leave the ring with him, lest he should lose
- 33:49Speaker 1: it while he was drinking, which Sir Gareth did, And
- 33:53Speaker 1: when he had drunk and mended his helm, he forgot
- 33:55Speaker 1: the ring, at which the dwarf was glad, for he
- 33:59Speaker 1: knew his name would no longer be hid. And when
- 34:02Speaker 1: Sir Gareth returned to the field, his armor shone yellow
- 34:06Speaker 1: like gold, and King Arthur marveled what knight he was,
- 34:09Speaker 1: for he saw by his hair that he was the
- 34:11Speaker 1: same knight who had worn the many colors. Go, he
- 34:15Speaker 1: said to his heralds ride near him, and see what
- 34:18Speaker 1: manner of knight he is, for none can tell me
- 34:21Speaker 1: his name. So a herald drew close to him and
- 34:24Speaker 1: saw that on his helm was written in golden letters.
- 34:28Speaker 1: This helm belongs to Sir Gareth of Orkney. And the
- 34:31Speaker 1: herald cried out and made proclamation, and the kings and
- 34:34Speaker 1: knights pressed to behold him. And when Sir Gareth saw
- 34:38Speaker 1: he was discovered, he struck more fiercely than before and
- 34:42Speaker 1: smote down Sir Sagamore and his brother, Sir Gawaine. O brother, said,
- 34:48Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine, I did not think you would have smitten me.
- 34:51Speaker 1: When Sir Gareth heard him say that, he rode out
- 34:54Speaker 1: of the press and cried to his dwarf, boy, you
- 34:57Speaker 1: have played me foul, for you have kept mine ring.
- 35:00Speaker 1: Give it to me now that I may hide myself.
- 35:03Speaker 1: And he galloped swiftly into the forest, and no one
- 35:06Speaker 1: knew where he had gone. What shall I do next,
- 35:10Speaker 1: asked he of the dwarf. Sir answered the dwarf, Send
- 35:13Speaker 1: the lady Lionesse back her ring. Your counsel is good,
- 35:17Speaker 1: said Gareth. Take it to her and commend me to
- 35:20Speaker 1: her grace, and say I will come when I may,
- 35:23Speaker 1: and bid her to be faithful to me as I
- 35:26Speaker 1: am to her. After that, Sir Gareth rode deeper into
- 35:29Speaker 1: the forest. Though Sir Gareth had left the tournament, he
- 35:33Speaker 1: found that there were as many fights awaiting him as
- 35:36Speaker 1: if he had remained there. He overcame all his foes
- 35:40Speaker 1: and sent them and their followers to do homage to
- 35:43Speaker 1: King Arthur, but he himself stayed behind. He was standing
- 35:48Speaker 1: alone after they had gone, when he beheld an armed
- 35:51Speaker 1: knight coming towards him. Sir Gareth sprang on his horse,
- 35:55Speaker 1: and without a word, the two crashed together like thunder,
- 35:59Speaker 1: and strove hard guard for two hours, till the ground
- 36:02Speaker 1: was wet with blood. At that time, the damosel Annett
- 36:06Speaker 1: came riding by and saw what was doing, and knew
- 36:09Speaker 1: who were the fighters, and she cried, Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine,
- 36:13Speaker 1: leave fighting with your brother, Sir Gareth. Then he threw
- 36:17Speaker 1: down his shield and sword and ran to Sir Gareth,
- 36:20Speaker 1: and first took him in his arms, and next kneeled
- 36:23Speaker 1: down and asked mercy of him, Why do you, who
- 36:27Speaker 1: were but now so strong and mighty, so suddenly yield
- 36:30Speaker 1: to me? Asked Sir Gareth, who had not perceived the damsel. Oh, Gareth,
- 36:35Speaker 1: I am your brother, and have had much sorrow for
- 36:38Speaker 1: your sake. At this, Sir Gareth unlaced his helm and
- 36:42Speaker 1: knelt before Sir Gawaine, and they rose and embraced each other. Ah,
- 36:47Speaker 1: my fair brother, said Sir Gawaine, I ought rightly to
- 36:51Speaker 1: do you homage, even if you were not my brother,
- 36:54Speaker 1: For in this twelvemonth you have sent King Arthur more
- 36:57Speaker 1: knights than any six of the best men of the
- 37:00Speaker 1: round table. While he was speaking, there came the Lady
- 37:04Speaker 1: Linet and healed the wounds of Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine.
- 37:08Speaker 1: What are you going to do now? Asked she. It
- 37:11Speaker 1: is time that King Arthur had tidings of you both,
- 37:14Speaker 1: and your horses are not fit to bear you ride.
- 37:18Speaker 1: I pray you, said Sir Gawaine, to my uncle King Arthur,
- 37:22Speaker 1: who was but two miles away, and tell him what
- 37:25Speaker 1: adventure has befallen me. So she mounted her mule, and
- 37:29Speaker 1: when she had told her tale to King Arthur, he
- 37:32Speaker 1: bade them saddle him a palfrey, and invited all the
- 37:35Speaker 1: knights and ladies of his court to ride with him.
- 37:38Speaker 1: When they reached the place, they saw Sir Gareth and
- 37:41Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine sitting on the hillside. The King jumped off
- 37:45Speaker 1: his horse and would have greeted them, but he swooned
- 37:47Speaker 1: away for gladness, and they ran and comforted him, and
- 37:52Speaker 1: also their mother. The two knights stayed in King Arthur's
- 37:56Speaker 1: court for eight days and rested themselves and grew strong.
- 38:00Speaker 1: Then said the King to Linet, I wonder that your
- 38:03Speaker 1: sister Dame Lionesse does not come here to visit me,
- 38:07Speaker 1: or more truly, to visit my nephew, Sir Gareth, who
- 38:10Speaker 1: has worked so hard to win her love. My Lord
- 38:13Speaker 1: answered Lynet, you must, by your grace hold her excuse,
- 38:17Speaker 1: for she does not know that Sir Gareth is here.
- 38:20Speaker 1: Go and fetch her. Then, said Arthur, that I will
- 38:24Speaker 1: do quickly, replied Linet, and by the next morning she
- 38:27Speaker 1: had brought Dame Lionesse and her brother, Sir Gringamore, and
- 38:30Speaker 1: forty knights. But among the ladies, Dame Lionesse was the fairest,
- 38:34Speaker 1: save only Queen Guinevere. They were all welcomed of King Arthur,
- 38:39Speaker 1: who turned to his nephew Sir Gareth and asked him
- 38:42Speaker 1: whether he would have the lady to his wife. My
- 38:45Speaker 1: lord answered Sir Gareth, you know well that I love
- 38:47Speaker 1: her above all the ladies in the world. And what
- 38:50Speaker 1: say you, fair lady, asked the king, My most noble king,
- 38:55Speaker 1: said Dame Lionesse. I would sooner have Sir Gareth as
- 38:58Speaker 1: my husband than any king or prince that may be christened.
- 39:02Speaker 1: And if I may not have him, I promise you
- 39:05Speaker 1: I will have none, for he is my first love
- 39:08Speaker 1: and shall be my last. And if you will suffer
- 39:11Speaker 1: him to have his will and choice, I dare say
- 39:14Speaker 1: he will have me. That is truth, said Sir Gareth.
- 39:18Speaker 1: What nephew, cried the King sits the wind in that door,
- 39:22Speaker 1: then you shall have all the help that is in
- 39:24Speaker 1: my power. And so said Gareth's mother. And it was
- 39:28Speaker 1: fixed that the marriage should be at Michaelmas at Kinkenadund
- 39:32Speaker 1: by the sea shore, and thus it was proclaimed in
- 39:35Speaker 1: all places of the realm. Then Sir Gareth sent his
- 39:38Speaker 1: summons to all the knights and ladies that he had
- 39:41Speaker 1: won in battle, that they should be present, and he
- 39:44Speaker 1: gave a rich ring to the Lady Lionesse, and she
- 39:47Speaker 1: gave him one likewise. And before she departed, she had
- 39:51Speaker 1: from King Arthur a shining gold bee as a token.
- 39:56Speaker 1: After that, Sir Gareth set her on her way towards
- 39:59Speaker 1: Sir Castle and returned unto the King. But he would
- 40:02Speaker 1: ever be in Sir Launcelot's company, for there was no
- 40:05Speaker 1: knight that Sir Gareth loved so well as Sir Launcelot.
- 40:09Speaker 1: The days drew fast to Michaelmas, and there came the
- 40:13Speaker 1: Lady Lionesse, with her sister Linet and her brother, Sir Gringamore,
- 40:17Speaker 1: to kin Kenned and by the sea, and there were
- 40:20Speaker 1: they lodged by order of King Arthur. And upon Michaelmas day,
- 40:25Speaker 1: the Bishop of Canterbury wedded Sir Gareth and the Lady
- 40:28Speaker 1: Lionesse with great ceremonies, and King Arthur commanded that Sir
- 40:32Speaker 1: Gawaine should be joined to the damsel Linet, and Sir
- 40:35Speaker 1: Agravaine to the niece of Dame Lionesse, whose name was Laurel.
- 40:41Speaker 1: Then the knights whom Sir Gareth had won in battle
- 40:44Speaker 1: came with their followings and did homage to him, and
- 40:47Speaker 1: the Green Knight besought him that he might act as
- 40:50Speaker 1: chamberlain at the feast, and the Red Knight, that he
- 40:53Speaker 1: might be his steward. As soon as the feast was ended,
- 40:57Speaker 1: they had all manner of minstrelsy, and gave dames and
- 41:00Speaker 1: a great tournament that lasted three days. But at the
- 41:03Speaker 1: prayer of Dame Lionesse, the King would not suffer that
- 41:07Speaker 1: any man who was wedded should fight at that feast.
- 41:12Speaker 1: End of Part one, sorry five. Part two