'And its end is of sorrow woven--One death all my joy doth lame, The death of my son so gallant, Schenteflur did they call his name; When Kondwiramur her kingdom and herself would withhold with strife From Klamidé the king, and Kingron, in her aid did he lose his life, And my heart with the thrust of sorrow, as a hedge is it piercèd thro'. 1090 Now all too soon dost thou leave me since no comfort from thee I drew, Ah! would Death were here my portion since Liassé, that maiden bright, And the land I had deemed so goodly find no favour in this thy sight!' 'My other son, Count Laskoit, by Idêr son of Noit was slain Anent a hawk--Little gladness from his death I methinks might gain-- 1095 Gurzgrei did they call my third son, to whom Mahaut gave her heart, As his wife did he win the maiden from her brother proud Ekunât. 'Gainst Brandigan on a venture for Schoie-de-la-kurt he'ld ride, And the Prince Mabonagrein smote him, and there by his hand he died. And Mahaut she lost her beauty, and his mother, my wife, lay dead, 2000 For thro' sorrow and bitter yearning the days of her life were sped.' Then the guest saw his host's deep sorrow as he told unto him his woe, And he quoth, 'Little wisdom have I, yet if ever the day I know When I win knightly fame and honour, so that maiden I well may woo, Thou shalt give unto me Liassé, thy daughter so fair and true. 2005 Thou hast told me of o'er-much sorrow; if thy grief I may lift from thee From the load of so sore a burden I gladly will set thee free!' Then leave from the prince so kindly the young knight that morn would pray, And from all his gallant vassals; and he rode from their land away; And the prince, in the game of sorrow, tho' heavy before his throw, 2010 Had lost yet more, for from threefold to fourfold his grief must grow. BOOK IV KONDWIRAMUR ARGUMENT