Whereat the Baron saying, "I well believe

You be of Arthur's Table," a light laugh Broke from Lynette, "Ay, truly of a truth,

And in a sort, being Arthur's kitchenknave!

But deem not I accept thee aught the more,

Scullion, for running sharply with thy spit

Down on a rout of craven foresters. 820 A thresher with his flail had1 scattered them.

Nay-for thou smellest of the kitchen still.

But an this lord will yield us harborage, Well."

So she spake. A league beyond the wood,

All in a full-fair manor and a rich, His towers, where that day a feast had been

Held in high hall, and many a viand left, And many a costly cate,2 received the three.

And there they placed a peacock in his pride

Before the damsel, and the Baron set 830 Gareth beside her, but at once she rose.

"Meseems, that here is much discourtesy,

Setting this knave, Lord Baron, at my side.

Hear me this morn I stood in Arthur's hall,

And prayed the King would grant me Lancelot

To fight the brotherhood of Day and Night

The last a monster unsubduable

Of any save of him for whom I calledSuddenly bawls this frontless kitchenknave,

"The quest is mine; thy kitchen-knave am I,

840

And mighty thro' thy meats and drinks am I.'

Then Arthur, all at once gone mad, replies,

'Go therefore,' and so gives the quest to him

Him-here-a villain fitter to stick swine

I had. Would have.

2 cate. Dainty.

3 frontless. Shameless.

Avoid: for it beseemeth not a knave To ride with such a lady."

"Dog, thou liest! I spring from loftier lineage than thine own."

He spake; and all at fiery speed the two Shocked on the central bridge, and either spear

Bent but not brake, and either knight at

once,

940 Hurled as a stone from out of a catapult Beyond his horse's crupper and the bridge,

Fell, as if dead; but quickly rose and drew, And Gareth lashed so fiercely with his brand

He drave his enemy backward down the bridge,

The damsel crying, "Well-stricken, kitchen-knave!"

Till Gareth's shield was clover; but one stroke

Laid him that clove it grovelling on the ground.

Then cried the fall'n, "Take not my life: I yield."

949 And Gareth, "So this damsel ask it of me Good-I accord it easily as a grace." She reddening, "Insolent scullion: I of thee?

I bound to thee for any favor asked!" "Then shall he die." And Gareth there unlaced

His helmet as to slay him, but she shrieked,

"Be not so hardy, scullion, as to slay One nobler than thyself." "Damsel, thy charge

Is an abounding pleasure to me. Knight, Thy life is thine at her command. Arise And quickly pass to Arthur's hall, and say

960

His kitchen-knave hath sent thee. See thou crave

His pardon for thy breaking of his laws. Myself, when I return, will plead for thee. Thy shield is mine-farewell; and, damsel, thou,

Lead, and I follow."

And fast away she fled. Then when he came upon her, spake, "Methought,

Knave, when I watched thee striking on the bridge

The savor of thy kitchen came upon me

All sun; and Gareth's eyes had flying blots

Before them when he turned from watching him.

He from beyond the roaring shallow roared,

"What doest thou, brother, in my marches2 here?"

And she athwart the shallow shrilled again,

"Here is a kitchen-knave from Arthur's hall

ΙΟΙΟ

Hath overthrown thy brother, and hath his arms."

"Ugh!" cried the Sun, and vizoring up a red

And cipher face of rounded foolishness, Pushed horse across the foamings of the ford,

Whom Gareth met mid-stream: no room was there

For lance or tourney-skill: four strokes they struck

With sword, and these were mighty; the new knight

Had fear he might be shamed; but as the Sun

Heaved up a ponderous arm to strike the fifth,

The hoof of his horse slipped in the stream, the stream Descended, and the Sun was washed away.

1020

Then Gareth laid his lance athwart the ford;

So drew him home; but he that fought no more,

As being all bone-battered on the rock, Yielded; and Gareth sent him to the King. "Myself when I return will plead for thee"

"Lead, and I follow." Quietly she led. "Hath not the good wind, damsel, changed again?"

"Nay, not a point: nor art thou victor here.

I The dandelion.

2 marches. Territory.

Pavilion, forth a grizzled damsel came, And armed him in old arms, and brought a helm

With but a drying evergreen for crest, And gave a shield whereon the Star of Even

Half-tarnished and half-bright, his emblem, shone.

1090 But when it glittered o'er the saddle-bow, They madly hurled together on the bridge;

And Gareth overthrew him, lighted, drew, There met him drawn, and overthrew him again;

But up like fire he started: and as oft
As Gareth brought him grovelling on his

knees,

So many a time he vaulted up again; Till Gareth panted hard, and his great heart,

Foredooming all his trouble was in vain, Labored within him, for he seemed as one That all in later, sadder age begins IIOI To war against ill uses of a life,

But these from all his life arise, and cry, "Thou hast made us lords, and canst not put us down!"

He half despairs; so Gareth seemed to strike

Vainly, the damsel clamoring all the while, "Well done, knave-knight, well stricken, O good knight-knave

O knave, as noble as any of all the knights

Shame me not, shame me not. I have prophesied

Strike, thou art worthy of the Table

Round

His arms are old, he trusts the hardened skin

Strike strike the wind will never

change again."

And Gareth, hearing, ever stronglier smote,

And hewed great pieces of his armor off him,

But lashed in vain against the hardened skin,

And could not wholly bring him under,