To the prince did she tell, the minstrel, all that his daughter said-- 405 Now to win so rich a booty that his hirelings may be well paid, The need right well he knoweth who hath ridden forth to war, And Lippaut, the prince so faithful, by his soldiers was pressed full sore-- Then he thought, 'I must win this treasure or by love or by force to-day.' And swiftly he rode; but Scherules, he met him upon his way, 410 'Now whither dost ride so swiftly?' 'A knave would I here pursue, A false coiner is he, I think me, if the tale I have heard be true! Now guiltless in sooth was Gawain, 'twas but thro' his steeds and gold That suspicion on him had lighted--Then loud laughed the Burg-grave bold, And he quoth, 'Nay, sire, they misled thee, they lied who thus told the tale 415 Were it wife, or man, or maiden--Nor knighthood my guest shall fail, Far otherwise shalt thou judge him, no die he methinks shall hold; Ne'er bare he the purse of the changer, if the tale shall aright be told. Look thou on his mien, and hearken his word, in my house is he, An knighthood aright thou readest then thou knighthood in him shalt see, 420 And ne'er was he bold in falsehood--Whoever hath done him wrong, An my child it were, or my father; whose wrath waxeth fierce and strong, An my kinsman it be, or my brother, then the rudder of strife shall turn 'Gainst myself, for I will defend him from the wrong that he ne'er did earn, If I with thy will may do so. The knight's garb would I gladly change 425 For the hermit's robe of sackcloth, and afar thro' the wide world range In a land where none may know me, than here thou shouldst reap thee shame! Methinks it would better fit thee to welcome such guests as came, Who have heard the tale of thy sorrow, than to rob them of goods and gold; 'Twould better beseem my master as treason such deed to hold!' 430 The prince spake, 'I fain would see him.' 'Methinks 'twill not harm my guest.' So he rode where he looked on Gawain, and two eyes and a heart confessed (The eyes and the heart of Lippaut) that the stranger was fair to see, And knighthood and manly virtue the mate to his mien should be.