King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

of knights, followed by a squire, who led a Spanish charger, and about whose neck was hung a sh

ir, Meliance of Lis, a

you belong?" S

"my master is Teudaves, a k

Gawain. "Whither faret

taken against Thiébault of Tintagel. If you will take my advice you wil

the house of this Thiébault th

ardent, forthwith had himself knighted, and then returned to the maiden. 'Nay,' answered the girl to his renewed suit, 'it shall never be, until in my presence you shall have achieved such feats of arms that I will know my love hath cost you somewhat; for those things which come suddenly are not so sweet as those we earn. If you wish my love, take a tournament of my father

of you, and let my affairs be." So the squire departed, and Gawain ro

op that bore his harness, for there was no other road within seven leagues. He found the postern shut and so he turned into a close below the tower, that was fenced with a palisade. He dismounted under an oak and hung up his shields. Thither came the folk from the castle, most of them sorry that the tourney had been abandoned; in the fortress was an aged nobleman, great in land and lineage, whose word no one disputed. A long way off the troop had been

the meadow, they saw the arms of Sir Gawain, and at first thought that there were two knights, because two shields hung from the tree. They cried out that they were fortunate to see two such knights arm. So some thought; but others exclaimed, "Fair L

called the Maid with the Narrow Sleeves, for she wore them tight. Dames and damsels climbed the tower with them, and the tourney was joined in front of the castle. None bore himself so well as Meliance of Lis, by the testimony of his fair friend, who sa

he elder maiden was angry and rose to strike her sister. But the ladies interfe

rd ground. If his lance broke, he dealt great blows with his sword; and he bore himself better than any other knight on either side, to the great joy of his fair friend, who could not res

d, "I see a handsomer one

d! Take that, to teach you better another time!" So saying, she slapped her sister, so hard that she left on t

was ruder, exclaimed, "He hath sworn to keep the peace." And a third added, "He is a merchant. Don't tell me that he desireth to joust; he bringeth horses to

huge lances? You tire me to death, talking such nonsense! By the faith that I owe the Holy Spirit, he se

follow that he is so. He putteth it on because he wisheth to cheat the tariff. But in s

hat he lay under an accusation of treason, and that it was his duty to keep his pledge or forever disgrace himself and his

ce and bore on his neck a steel cap. One of the ladies, who was foolish, called to him, saying, "Sir squire, so God help me, it is foolish of you to make prize of that tester, those arms and croup-piece. If you do a squire's duty you deserve a squire's wage. Below, in yonder mead

, crying, "Vassal, are you sick that all day long you gape here a

o you why I tarry? You shall know, but n

s not the type of man to whom he w

uld meet again and continue the encounter. So for that night they separated and those who had sallied forth returned to the castle, followed by Sir Gawain. At the gate he met the nobleman who had advised his lord to engage in the tou

rcy!" said Gawain. "I

how he had been accused of treason and was bound to be on his guard against prison and wounds until he could free himself from the repro

Gawain, on account of her sister, with whom she was angry. "Sir," she said to her father, "on this day you have suffered no loss, but made a gain, greater than you think; you have only to go and take it. The man who hath brought it will not dare to defend it, for he is wily. Lances and sh

ck gate and straight down the hill to the house of Garin, who had two fair daughters. When these saw their little lady the

ay there they met Thiébault and saluted him. He asked whither Garin was going and said he had intended to pay him a visi

t, "to arrest him. He is a merchant who se

nd you are my master, but on the spot I renounce your homage, and in the nam

ing. Neither you nor your house shall ever receive aught but ho

he nobleman. "It will be my hon

eats beside him. Then the nobleman, who was the lord of that country, asked why he had taken no part in the tourney, and Gawain narrated how a knight had accused him o

ng of Cavalon, whit

you must needs pass through a poor country, I wil

pt anything, for if it could be bought he w

saw come his little daughter, who embraced Gawain's leg, and said, "Fair sir, listen!

head, while the girl pulled him, saying, "To you, fair sir, I complain of my sis

with that? How can I do you

hild's entreaty, and said, "Girl, who bade

sweet sir, is this

what she says. A girl

ot do what she desires. Tell me, my sweet child and fai

for love of me, bear

Gawain, "have you ever before

, s

aimed her father. "Pay

little a girl, she hath spoken very well, and I will not r

ried the child, who was overjoy

lared that Meliance of Lis was the best of all the knights; and I, who had seen this knight in the meadow, could not help saying that I had seen a fairer, whereupon my sister called me a silly girl and beat me. Fie on me, if I take it from her! I would cut off both

d and allow you, in courtesy, to send hi

you bid me. But my sleeves are so small, I should not li

d kissing her, until he came in front of his palace. But when his elder daughter saw him approach, with the child before him, she was vexed, and exclai

is better than you are. You pulled her hair and beat her,

ther's rebuke, the ma

d long. Then he called his daughter and said, "Child, to-morrow rise betimes and visit the knight before he leaveth hi

y would have her love them. They did as she wished, and when it dawned caused her to wake and dress. All alone she went to the house where Sir Gawain lodged, but, early though it was, the knights had risen and gone to the monastery to hear mass sung. She wait

he answered; "fri

ut of the town, while the damsels again went up to the walls and the

ft the rest in the rear, two rods and more. When his maiden saw her friend she could not

e to a varlet, bidding him take it to the lady on whose account he had entered the tourney, and say that his master had sent her the first spoil he had made that day. The youth took the charger, saddled as it was, and led it towards the girl, who was sitting at the window of th

to stand on!" "Oh, sister," answered the little girl, "remember God! You ought not to beat me because I told you the truth. I saw him tumble as well as y

r, had she been able, but the l

n charge. The squire returned to tell his master, who seemed the lord of the tournament, for there was no knight so gallant that he did not cast from the saddle, if he reached him with the

asking who he was and of what land. At the gate of his hostel he was met by the damsel, who did naught but grasp his stirrup, salute him, and cry, "A thousand mercies, fair sweet sir!" He answered frankly, "

st he begged, that if his guest pleased, he would tell his name. Sir Gawain answered, "Sir, I am

laimed, "Sir, be pleased to lodge with me, and accept my service. Hitherto I have done y

ng him to God. Sir Gawain asked why she had done that, and the girl replied that she had kissed his foot in order that he should r

hers, who one and all commended him to God. That night

ONS OF THE