Ah, brother, said the Queen unto King Arthur, and unto Sir Gawaine, and
to all her sons, ye did yourself great shame when ye amongst you kept
my son in the kitchen and fed him like a poor hog. Fair sister, said
King Arthur, ye shall right well wit I knew him not, nor no more did
Sir Gawaine, nor his brethren; but sithen it is so, said the king, that
he is thus gone from us all, we must shape a remedy to find him. Also,
sister, meseemeth ye might have done me to wit of his coming, and then
an I had not done well to him ye might have blamed me. For when he came
to this court he came leaning upon two men’s shoulders, as though he
might not have gone. And then he asked me three gifts; and one he asked
the same day, that was that I would give him meat enough that
twelvemonth; and the other two gifts he asked that day a twelvemonth,
and that was that he might have the adventure of the damosel Linet, and
the third was that Sir Launcelot should make him knight when he desired
him. And so I granted him all his desire, and many in this court
marvelled that he desired his sustenance for a twelvemonth. And
thereby, we deemed, many of us, that he was not come of a noble house.
Sir, said the Queen of Orkney unto King Arthur her brother, wit ye well
that I sent him unto you right well armed and horsed, and worshipfully
beseen of his body, and gold and silver plenty to spend. It may be,
said the King, but thereof saw we none, save that same day as he
departed from us, knights told me that there came a dwarf hither
suddenly, and brought him armour and a good horse full well and richly
beseen; and thereat we all had marvel from whence that riches came,
that we deemed all that he was come of men of worship. Brother, said
the queen, all that ye say I believe, for ever sithen he was grown he
was marvellously witted, and ever he was faithful and true of his
promise. But I marvel, said she, that Sir Kay did mock him and scorn
him, and gave him that name Beaumains; yet, Sir Kay, said the queen,
named him more righteously than he weened; for I dare say an he be
alive, he is as fair an handed man and well disposed as any is living.
Sir, said Arthur, let this language be still, and by the grace of God
he shall be found an he be within this seven realms, and let all this
pass and be merry, for he is proved to be a man of worship, and that is
my joy.
CHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur sent for the Lady Lionesse, and how she
let cry a tourney at her castle, whereas came many knights.
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