And so when this solemnization was done, then came in the Green Knight,
Sir Pertolepe, with thirty knights, and there he did homage and fealty
to Sir Gareth, and these knights to hold of him for evermore. Also Sir
Pertolepe said: I pray you that at this feast I may be your
chamberlain. With a good will, said Sir Gareth sith it liketh you to
take so simple an office. Then came in the Red Knight, with three score
knights with him, and did to Sir Gareth homage and fealty, and all
those knights to hold of him for evermore. And then this Sir Perimones
prayed Sir Gareth to grant him to be his chief butler at that high
feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, that ye have this office, and it
were better. Then came in Sir Persant of Inde, with an hundred knights
with him, and there he did homage and fealty, and all his knights
should do him service, and hold their lands of him for ever; and there
he prayed Sir Gareth to make him his sewer-chief at the feast. I will
well, said Sir Gareth, that ye have it and it were better. Then came
the Duke de la Rowse with an hundred knights with him, and there he did
homage and fealty to Sir Gareth, and so to hold their lands of him for
ever. And he required Sir Gareth that he might serve him of the wine
that day of that feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, and it were
better. Then came in the Red Knight of the Red Launds, that was Sir
Ironside, and he brought with him three hundred knights, and there he
did homage and fealty, and all these knights to hold their lands of him
for ever. And then he asked Sir Gareth to be his carver. I will well,
said Sir Gareth, an it please you.
Then came into the court thirty ladies, and all they seemed widows, and
those thirty ladies brought with them many fair gentlewomen. And all
they kneeled down at once unto King Arthur and unto Sir Gareth, and
there all those ladies told the king how Sir Gareth delivered them from
the dolorous tower, and slew the Brown Knight without Pity: And
therefore we, and our heirs for evermore, will do homage unto Sir
Gareth of Orkney. So then the kings and queens, princes and earls,
barons and many bold knights, went unto meat; and well may ye wit there
were all manner of meat plenteously, all manner revels and games, with
all manner of minstrelsy that was used in those days. Also there was
great jousts three days. But the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to
joust, because of his new bride; for, as the French book saith, that
Dame Lionesse desired of the king that none that were wedded should
joust at that feast.
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