And in this wise he called upon them, 'Fie! Fie! on ye, coward knights! Hold ye not Gawain for a marvel? Have ye not in a hundred fights 80 Won honour and fame as heroes, who fight for a hero king? Know now that ye stand dishonoured, and broken your goodly ring!' Ah! then there arose a clamour, and none but was fain to know Of the deed of knightly prowess, that should shame their honour so. When they heard how but one knight dared them, that but one knight a foe did wait, 85 Then sorely they mourned the promise that they sware to their king of late. Then Knight Segramor sprang swiftly from amid the angry throng, He ran, for in sooth he walked not, and ever his heart did long To be in the midst of conflict, where conflict might chance to be, An they failèd with cords to bind him, in the thick of the fight was he! 90 And nowhere the Rhine's swift waters may flow so strong and wide, Tho' the stream should run swift between them, an men fought on the further side, He stayed not to test the waters, if the current be hot or cold, But straightway the stream he breasted, as fitted a swimmer bold! Swift-foot to the tent of the monarch, the eager youth he sped, 95 For the day was but yet in its dawning, and the king he lay yet abed. Then straight thro' the lists he hied him, and he gat him thro' the door, And the covering all of sable, with hasty hand he tore From the twain who lay warm beneath it, and slumbered a slumber deep, Yet his haste moved them but to laughter, tho' he waked them from out their sleep! 100 And loudly he cried on his cousin--'Queen, Lady, Guinevere, Since the world knoweth well our kinship, thou must do me this service here, Speak thou for me to thine husband, and pray thou of him this grace, Since a knightly venture nears us, my lot _first_ the foe to face!' Yet Arthur spake, 'Now bethink thee of the oath thou didst swear to me, 105 In all things my will to follow, nor rashly to venture thee; For if thou a joust now ridest, hereafter shall many a knight Crave leave at mine hand to ride forth, and seek for fame in fight, And 'twere ill thus our force to weaken, for know thou that near at hand, Anfortas of Monsalväsch with a mighty host doth stand. 110 This wood of his he guardeth, and since we but little know Where he and his force shall hold them, such chance well might work us woe!'