CHAPTER XII. How Sir Gawaine returned to King Arthur with his
prisoners, and how the King won a city, and how he was crowned Emperor.
Now thanked be God, said the noble King Arthur. But what manner man is
he that standeth by himself, him seemeth no prisoner. Sir, said
Gawaine, this is a good man of arms, he hath matched me, but he is
yielden unto God, and to me, for to become Christian; had not he have
been we should never have returned, wherefore I pray you that he may be
baptised, for there liveth not a nobler man nor better knight of his
hands. Then the king let him anon be christened, and did do call him
his first name Priamus, and made him a duke and knight of the Table
Round. And then anon the king let do cry assault to the city, and there
was rearing of ladders, breaking of walls, and the ditch filled, that
men with little pain might enter into the city. Then came out a
duchess, and Clarisin the countess, with many ladies and damosels, and
kneeling before King Arthur, required him for the love of God to
receive the city, and not to take it by assault, for then should many
guiltless be slain. Then the king avaled his visor with a meek and
noble countenance, and said, Madam, there shall none of my subjects
misdo you nor your maidens, nor to none that to you belong, but the
duke shall abide my judgment. Then anon the king commanded to leave the
assault, and anon the duke’s oldest son brought out the keys, and
kneeling delivered them to the king, and besought him of grace; and the
king seized the town by assent of his lords, and took the duke and sent
him to Dover, there for to abide prisoner term of his life, and
assigned certain rents for the dower of the duchess and for her
children.
Then he made lords to rule those lands, and laws as a lord ought to do
in his own country; and after he took his journey toward Rome, and sent
Sir Floris and Sir Floridas to-fore, with five hundred men of arms, and
they came to the city of Urbino and laid there a bushment, thereas them
seemed most best for them, and rode to-fore the town, where anon issued
out much people and skirmished with the fore-riders. Then brake out the
bushment and won the bridge, and after the town, and set upon the walls
the king’s banner. Then came the king upon an hill, and saw the city
and his banner on the walls, by which he knew that the city was won.
And anon he sent and commanded that none of his liege men should defoul
nor lie by no lady, wife nor maid; and when he came into the city, he
passed to the castle, and comforted them that were in sorrow, and
ordained there a captain, a knight of his own country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account