Then they took their spears and ran each at other with all the might
they had, and smote each other through their shields into their
shoulders, wherefore anon they pulled out their swords, and smote great
strokes that the fire sprang out of their helms. Then Sir Gawaine was
all abashed, and with Galatine his good sword he smote through shield
and thick hauberk made of thick mails, and all to-rushed and break the
precious stones, and made him a large wound, that men might see both
liver and lung. Then groaned that knight, and addressed him to Sir
Gawaine, and with an awk stroke gave him a great wound and cut a vein,
which grieved Gawaine sore, and he bled sore. Then the knight said to
Sir Gawaine, bind thy wound or thy blee[ding] change, for thou
be-bleedest all thy horse and thy fair arms, for all the barbers of
Brittany shall not con staunch thy blood, for whosomever is hurt with
this blade he shall never be staunched of bleeding. Then answered
Gawaine, it grieveth me but little, thy great words shall not fear me
nor lessen my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen and sorrow or we
depart, but tell me in haste who may staunch my bleeding. That may I
do, said the knight, if I will, and so will I if thou wilt succour and
aid me, that I may be christened and believe on God, and thereof I
require thee of thy manhood, and it shall be great merit for thy soul.
I grant, said Gawaine, so God help me, to accomplish all thy desire,
but first tell me what thou soughtest here thus alone, and of what land
and liegiance thou art of. Sir, he said, my name is Priamus, and a
great prince is my father, and he hath been rebel unto Rome and
overridden many of their lands. My father is lineally descended of
Alexander and of Hector by right line. And Duke Joshua and Maccabaeus
were of our lineage. I am right inheritor of Alexandria and Africa, and
all the out isles, yet will I believe on thy Lord that thou believest
on; and for thy labour I shall give thee treasure enough. I was so
elate and hauteyn in my heart that I thought no man my peer, nor to me
semblable. I was sent into this war with seven score knights, and now I
have encountered with thee, which hast given to me of fighting my fill,
wherefore sir knight, I pray thee to tell me what thou art. I am no
knight, said Gawaine, I have been brought up in the guardrobe with the
noble King Arthur many years, for to take heed to his armour and his
other array, and to point his paltocks that long to himself. At Yule
last he made me yeoman, and gave to me horse and harness, and an
hundred pound in money; and if fortune be my friend, I doubt not but to
be well advanced and holpen by my liege lord. Ah, said Priamus, if his
knaves be so keen and fierce, his knights be passing good: now for the
King’s love of Heaven, whether thou be a knave or a knight, tell thou
me thy name. By God, said Sir Gawaine, now I will say thee sooth, my
name is Sir Gawaine, and known I am in his court and in his chamber,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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