CHAPTER VI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE THREE KNIGHTS AND THE THREE DAMSELS,
KING ARTHUR was exceedingly wrathful against his sister Morgan le Fay,and because he suspected that her son, Sir Ewaine, was aware of herplots, he banished him from the court. In this he was wrong, for SirEwaine ever held by his father and King Arthur, and hated his mother'streachery. When Sir Gawaine heard that his cousin Ewaine was to bebanished, he made ready to go with him, for he said, "Whoso banisheth mycousin, banisheth me also."
So the two set out together, and they rode till they came to a greatforest, and presently they saw a tower in a valley. By the tower weretwo knights, armed and on horseback, and twelve fair damsels, who keptgoing to and fro by a tree. Gawaine and Ewaine went nearer, and thenthey saw that the damsels were throwing mire on a white shield that washanging on the tree "Wherefore do you thus offer despite to the shield?"said Ewaine.
"Sirs," answered one of the damsels, "there is a knight in this countrythat is the owner of this shield, and he is a very good knight of hishands, but he hates all ladies and gentlewomen, and therefore do wedefile his shield. His name is Sir Marhaus, and he is brother to thewife of King Anguisance of Ireland."
"I know him well," said Sir Ewaine; "he is one of the best knightsliving."
While they spoke, they saw Sir Marhaus riding toward them. Then all thedamsels fled into the tower; but one of the knights of the tower put hisspear in rest, and cried aloud, "Sir Marhaus, defend thee." Then theyran together, and Sir Marhaus smote that knight so hard that he hurledhim from his horse and broke his neck. Thereupon the other knight of thetower came on, and him also Sir Marhaus overthrew. After that he tookdown the white shield from the tree and put in its place the one he hadcarried before. Then he rode up to Sir Gawaine and Sir Ewaine, andasked them what they did there. They answered that they came from KingArthur's court to seek adventures.
"Well," said Marhaus, "here am I ready to fulfil any adventure that yourequire of me;" and he rode back a little way, to get space to run acourse with them. Sir Ewaine did not wish that they should joust withhim, but Gawaine said they should be shamed if they did not assay him.Then said Ewaine, "I will meet him first, for I am weaker than you; andif he smite me down, then you may perchance avenge me."
So Sir Marhaus and Sir Ewaine came together, and Sir Marhaus smotedown Ewaine, horse and man, and hurt him in the side. Then he turnedto Gawaine, who met him fiercely, but when they came together Gawaine'sspear broke, and Sir Marhaus overthrew him also. Sir Gawaine spranglightly to his feet, and drew his sword, bidding Sir Marhaus alight,or he would slay his horse. Marhaus dismounted, and tied his horse toa tree; then he also pulled out his sword, and they fought eagerlytogether, giving each other many sore strokes. As it was after nineo'clock in the morning, Gawaine's strength ever increased, and SirMarhaus marvelled at it. But he was a knight of great prowess, and hewithstood Sir Gawaine mightily. At noon they were still fighting, andthen Gawaine began to grow more feeble, till at last he could no longerendure.
"Sir," said Marhaus, "I have well felt that you are a passing goodknight, and a man of marvellous might as ever I met. Our quarrel is notso great that it need be fought to the death, and I should be loath todo you hurt, for I perceive you are very feeble."
"Ah, gentle knight," said Gawaine, "you are more courteous than I."
Then they took off their helmets, and kissed one another, and swore thatthey would henceforth be as brethren. Then Marhaus asked Gawaine andEwaine to lodge with him that night, and he took them to a good lodginghe had near by. As they rode, Gawaine asked him why, being so valiant aknight, he hated all ladies. But Sir Marhaus said he did not hate all,but only the damsels of the tower, and such as they, who were nothingbut witches and enchantresses. The two knights lodged with him for aweek, till their wounds were well healed; but when he knew that theywere King Arthur's nephews, he gave them the best entertainment hecould. When they were whole again, he said he would ride with themthrough the forest. So the three travelled for seven days, till theycame to a country that was called Arroy, which was always full ofstrange adventures. And as they were riding along, they came to a fairfountain, at the side of which sat three damsels. One was threescoreyears of age, and the second thirty, and the third but fifteen yearsof age. The knights saluted them, and asked them why they were sittingthere.
"We are here," said the eldest damsel, "to show strange adventures toerrant knights. As ye are seeking adventures, each of you must chooseone of us, and go forth by a separate way; and this day twelvemonth wewill all meet here again to tell our adventures."
To this the knights assented; and Sir Ewaine, because he was theyoungest and the least experienced, chose the eldest damsel. Sir Marhaustook the second, as her age was the most fitting to his; so the youngestand fairest was left to Gawaine, of which he was well pleased. Then eachknight took his damsel, and Sir Ewaine took a way that went west, andSir Marhaus a way that went south, and Sir Gawaine went north. As heand his damsel rode, they came to a cross by the wayside, and while theywere there a knight passed them, the fairest and comeliest they had everseen, making great moan and sorrow. He saluted Gawaine courteously andwished him much worship, and Gawaine returned him the like wish.
"Alas!" answered the knight, "that may not be for me."
Then, as he went on, there came against him ten knights, one after theother, and he smote them all down with one spear. When they were all onfoot, they went to him, and he sat still as a stone, and suffered themto pull him off his horse, bind him hand and foot, tie him under hishorse's belly, and so lead him away.
"Surely," said Gawaine, "that is a doleful sight, to see that knight sotreated."
"Sir," said his damsel, "it would be to your worship and honour to helpthat dolorous knight, for he is one of the best knights that ever I saw."
"I would be glad to help him," answered Sir Gawaine, "but it seems to methat he would not have my help."
But the damsel said sharply, "It seems to me that you have no heart tohelp him." And she was wroth with Gawaine. While they talked there cametwo knights armed at all points, one of whom cried out, "Sir Gawaine,knight of King Arthur, make thou ready to joust with me." So they rantogether so mightily that both were overthrown. Then they drew theirswords and fought hard together. In the meanwhile, the other knight cameto Gawaine's damsel, and asked her to abide with him, promising to beher faithful knight. She said she would go with him, for she liked notSir Gawaine, because he would not strive for the knight that wasled away by the ten knights he had overthrown. So while Gawaine wasfighting, the damsel went away with her new companion.
Gawaine and the other knight fought together a long time, and then theyagreed together, and the knight took Gawaine to his manor that was nearby. As they went, Gawaine asked what knight that was who smote down theten knights, and afterwards suffered himself to be so shamefully ledaway.
"Ah," said the other, "that is the best knight I ever saw, and I do notbelieve there is a better in the world. His name is Sir Pelles, andhe loves a great lady in this country that is called Ettarde. He firstbeheld her at a tournament which was held near this place, at whichwere many ladies and five hundred knights. He who proved to be the bestknight was to have a good sword, and a circlet of gold to give to thelady present at the tournament whom he held to be the fairest. SirPelles was by far the best that was there; no man could withstand him,and each of the three days the tournament lasted he struck down morethan twenty knights. So he won the prize, and forthwith he laid thecirclet at the feet of the Lady Ettarde, and said openly that shewas the fairest, and he would prove it on the body of any knight thatgainsaid him. So he chose her for his sovereign lady, and loved herexceedingly. But she is very proud, and she made scorn of Sir Pelles,and said she would never love him. But he followed her to her own manor,and now he is lodged at a priory near her. Every day she sends knightsto fight with him; but he always puts them to the worse, and thensuffers them to take him prisoner and lead him to her unworthily,because in no other way can he
gain a sight of his lady-love."
When Gawaine heard this, he was full sorry for the knight Sir Pelles,and said that the next day he would seek him, and offer him what help hecould. In the morning he took leave of his host, and sought Sir Pelles,whom he found sorrowing in the forest. Then had they much talk together,and Sir Pelles told Gawaine all that the other knight had told him theday before.
"Now," said Sir Gawaine, "leave off your mourning, and I promise you bythe faith of my body that I will do all that lies in my power to get youthe love of your lady."
"Ah, my good friend," said Pelles, "I pray you tell me who you are."
This Gawaine told him, and Sir Pelles entreated him to do as he hadpromised, and not to betray him. To that Gawaine made oath; and thensaid he would take Pelles's horse and armour, and ride to the LadyEttarde, saying he had slain Pelles. In this way he would gain access toher, and would then strive all he could to win her love for his friend.So they changed horses and armour, and Gawaine rode to Ettarde's castle.When he told her that he had slain Pelles, she received him cordially,the more when he told her his name, and that he was King Arthurs nephew.She said it was a pity that Pelles was slain, for he was a good knight,but that while he lived she could never have peace; so she entertainedGawaine with the best cheer she had.
Now the Lady Ettarde was exceedingly fair, and when Gawaine saw her heloved her sorely, so that he no longer heeded the oath he had sworn toSir Pelles, but wooed the lady for himself, and she was gracious to him.They lived together in a pavilion outside the castle, for Ettarde nolonger feared Pelles, thinking that he was dead. For three days andnights they stayed there; and then Sir Pelles, who had been waiting forGawaine at his lodging, could endure no longer, but armed himself, andmounted his horse and rode to the castle. When he came to the pavilion,both Gawaine and the lady were asleep; and when Pelles saw them, hisheart was like to burst for grief, and also because Gawaine had betrayedhim and forsworn himself. At first he thought to slay them, and drew hissword; but he could not bring himself to slay them sleeping, so he laidhis naked sword across the lady's throat, and rode away making greatsorrow. When Ettarde woke and saw the naked sword at her throat, sheknew it was Pelless, and then she perceived that Gawaine had betrayedher. She gave him many reproaches, and Gawaine could say nothing forhimself, but armed himself and rode away into the forest, well knowingthat he had stained his knightly honour.
But one of the damsels of the lake, named Nimue, met a knight of SirPelles in the forest, and learned all that had passed, and also thatPelles was lying in his bed, dying out of pure sorrow because he hadbeen betrayed. So she undertook to heal him, and the knight broughther to Sir Pelles, and by her enchantments she wrought so that he lovedEttarde no longer. Also, she brought Ettarde to him, and made her lovehim out of measure. When Pelles awoke and saw Ettarde, all the love hadgone out of his heart, and he hated her more than any woman alive, andsaid, "Go thy way hence, thou traitress; come no more in my sight."So she wept bitterly, and implored him for his love; but he would havenothing to do with her, and gave his love to the Lady Nimue, who lovedhim faithfully in return. And afterwards Ettarde died of grief, butPelles lived happily with the lady of the lake.
Of what befell Sir Gawaine after this till the year was out no mentionis made in the old chronicles.
Sir Marhaus, it will be remembered, went with the damsel of thirty yearsby a way that led south. The road took them into a thick forest, andwhen night fell they knew not where they were. At last they came to asmall lodge in the wood, but the man that dwelt there would not givethem shelter at any price. At last he said, "If you will take theadventure of your lodging, I will bring you where you will be lodged."
"What is the adventure?" asked Sir Marhaus.
"That you will know when you come to the place," answered the other.
"Whatever it may be, do thou show us the place," said the knight; "formy lady and I and my horse are all weary, and rest we must have."
Then the man took them a little way farther to a fair castle, and hecalled the porter, and bid him tell his lord that a knight-errant anda fair damsel were waiting without, and would lodge with him. "Let themcome in," answered the lord, "but it may happen that they will repentit." So then Sir Marhaus and his damsel were shown into a great hall,where the lord of the castle was, with many young men about him. Thelord asked Sir Marhaus who he was and whence he came.
"Sir," said Marhaus, "I am a knight of King Arthur's, and I was born inIreland."
"That will be the worse for thee," answered the other grimly, "for Ilove not thy lord nor the company of the Round Table. Make what cheerthou canst to-night, for to-morrow thou wilt have to meet me and my sixsons."
"Is there no other choice but that I must have to do with you and yoursix sons all at once?" asked Sir Marhaus.
"No," answered the lord; "and for this reason, that Sir Gawaine onceslew seven of my sons in an encounter, and I vowed to have my revenge onany knight of King Arthur's that might come into my power."
Then Sir Marhaus asked him his name, and he said he was called the Dukeof the South Marches. "Ah," said Sir Marhaus, "I have heard of you erethis as a great foe to King Arthur and all his knights."
"That shall you feel to-morrow," said the duke.
So that night Sir Marhaus and his damsel were well lodged, and the nextmorning the knight armed himself, and met the duke and his six sons inthe courtyard of the castle. He let them all break a spear upon him,and never moved; and then with one spear he smote them all from theirsaddles. Then he went to the duke, and called on him to yield; but someof the sons began to recover themselves, and would have set upon SirMarhaus. "Bid your sons stand back," said Sir Marhaus to the duke, "orI will do the uttermost to you all." So when the duke saw that otherwisehe could not escape death, he yielded, and bade his sons do the like.And Sir Marhaus bound them all never more to be foes to King Arthur orhis knights, and at the next Feast of Pentecost to present themselves atthe court and make submission to the king.
After that Sir Marhaus departed, and two days afterwards his damselbrought him to a place where a great tournament was held. The prize forthe best knight was a circlet of gold worth a thousand byzants. At thistournament Sir Marhaus did right nobly, and smote down forty knights, sothe prize was awarded to him. Then he and his damsel again rode forth,and after a long journey they reached the castle of a rich earl namedFergus. Near by there dwelt a giant called Taulurd, who wrought muchevil against the earl and wasted his lands, and Fergus complained of himto Sir Marhaus.
"Does he fight on foot or on horseback?" asked the knight.
"On foot," answered Earl Fergus, "for he is so large that no horse couldbear him."
"Then will I fight him on foot," answered Marhaus. And the next day hewent to seek for the giant, and found him sitting under a tree, withgreat clubs of iron lying about him. When the giant saw Marhaus cominghe sprang up, seized a club, and rushed against him. His first blow wasso mighty that it crushed Marhaus's shield to pieces; and thereafterthe knight was in great peril, for the giant was both strong and a wilyfighter. At last, however, Sir Marhaus smote off his right arm above theelbow; and then he fled away, and ran into a pool of water that was sodeep the knight could not follow him. Then Marhaus made the earl'smen bring him heavy stones, and with these he pelted the giant till heknocked him down in the water and drowned him. Then Sir Marhaus wentto the giant's castle, where he found many knights and ladies, whom hedelivered, and so much riches that he was never afterwards in need ofwealth to the end of his life.
Sir Marhaus dwelt a long time with the Earl Fergus to recover from hiswounds, for he had been sorely bruised by the giant. When he was whole,he and his damsel set out, and reached the fountain that was theirtrysting-place on the appointed day.
Sir Ewaine, who had ridden westward with his damsel of threescore years,went first to a tournament that was held in a place near the marches ofWales. There he did great deeds, and smote down thirty knights, sothat he took the prize, which was a gerfalcon and a
white steed withtrappings of cloth of gold. After that his damsel brought him to thecastle of a great lady in that country, called the Lady of the Rock. Nowthere were two perilous knights that dwelt nigh the Lady of the Rock,named Sir Edward and Sir Hue of the Red Castle, and they had despoiledthe lady of much of her lands. So she complained to Sir Ewaine; and heblamed the knights that they had done that which was contrary to theiroaths. He said he would first entreat them to restore to her that whichwas her right; and if they were not to be persuaded, then he would dobattle with them. The knights were sent for accordingly, and they cameto the castle with a hundred horsemen. But they cared nothing for SirEwaine's reproaches, and said they would keep what they had.
"Well," said Sir Ewaine, "then will I fight with either of you, andprove upon his body that you do wrong to this lady."
"That we will not assent to," answered the brothers, "for if we dobattle, we will both fight with one knight at once; and if thou wiltmeet us both, and can conquer us, the lady shall have her lands again."
To that Sir Ewaine agreed, and the battle was appointed for the nextday. When the knights met, both Sir Edward and Sir Hue broke theirspears on Sir Ewaine without unhorsing him; but he smote them both down,the one after the other. Then he alighted on foot, and fought them withhis sword. They gave him many sore wounds, but at last he struck SirEdward so hard on the helm that he clove his head to the shoulders, andthen he forced Sir Hue to yield. So the lady was restored to her lands,and Sir Hue was sworn to make his submission to King Arthur at theensuing Feast of Pentecost. But in this battle Sir Ewaine was somuch hurt that he could undertake no other adventure before the timeappointed for the three knights and the damsels to meet at the fountain.
But on that day all the knights were there, and all the damsels, onlySir Gawaine did not bring his damsel, nor had she much worship to say ofhim. Then the knights bade farewell to the ladies, and rode again intothe forest; but they were met by messengers from King Arthur commandingthem to return to the court. When they came there, the king and allelse made them heartily welcome, and they were sworn to tell all theiradventures. At the Feast of Pentecost came the Lady Nimue, and broughtwith her Sir Pelles; and King Arthur held a great tournament, where SirPelles won the first prize, and Sir Marhaus the second, so they wereboth made Knights of the Round Table in room of two that had been slainduring the twelvemonth. King Arthur was glad that he had got two suchgood knights; but Sir Pelles never afterwards loved Sir Gawaine, andthough he spared him for the king's sake, ofttimes he overthrew himat jousts and tournaments. And Sir Pelles was ever a knight of greatworship; for when Sir Lancelot grew to be the knight of most prowess,the Lady Nimue so contrived that Sir Pelles never had to do with him,and she would not suffer him to be at any tournament where Sir Lancelotwas, unless it were to fight on the same side.