When the strife but leisure gave him to gaze on the maid aright, Her lips so red and glowing, her eyes so soft and bright-- 200 More slender was she and shapely than ever a lowland hare That ye truss on the spit, so graceful her limbs, and her form so fair; Full well might her charms awaken desire in the heart of man. And smaller, I ween, the maiden, where her golden girdle ran Around her waist, than ants are, and their slender shape ye know-- 205 The sight wrought in Gawain courage his foemen to overthrow, For she shared his need; his chastising none other than death should be, And help was there none--Then his anger flamed high and wroth was he As he looked on that gentle maiden, and no fear was his but hate, And sorely his foemen rued it who met at his hand their fate. 210 Came King Vergulacht, and he saw well how his folk 'gainst Gawain did fight; Nor do I in this deceive ye, nor can I account him right That not as a host he bare him, when he saw his gallant guest Thus stand, as one man against many--But straight thro' the throng he pressed, In such wise, I must mourn for Gandein, the monarch of Anjou fair, 215 That his daughter, so true a lady, so faithless a son must bear. From the strife his folk he called not, short space must they stay their hand While the king would don his armour, he lusted to lead the band. Too mighty the force for Gawain, nor I ween shall ye count it shame That he closed the door upon them--Then in wrath and haste there came 220 The knight who to battle bade him 'fore Arthur at Plimizöl But short time back--They called him the Landgrave Kingrimursel, And sore did Gawain's need vex him, he wrung his hands amain, For in sooth had he pledged his honour his foe should in peace remain Till _one_ man alone o'ercame him--Old and young from the tower he drave, 225 Yet the portal would they force open, as their king commandment gave.