'And our queen who hath ne'er known falsehood, thy sister, Antikonie, See there as she standeth by him and weepeth full bitterly. 250 Canst thou see such sight without rueing, since one mother bare ye both? And bethink thee, sire, thou art wise else, thou didst send him, nothing loth, Alone to this gentle maiden, nor further a guardian gave; For _her_ sake it were well to spare him!' Then the king bade those warriors brave To call a truce--He'ld bethink him how vengeance he best might take 255 For his father's death--Yet all guiltless Gawain, for another's sake, Must he bear the shame; with a lance-thrust by Ekunât was he slain As to Barbigöl Prince Iofreit, a prisoner, he would have ta'en, Who had ridden erewhile with Gawain--In such wise the chance befell That they deemed that _Gawain_ had slain him--So men do the venture tell. 260 And scarce was the truce bespoken ere of men was the field bereft, Each betook him unto his lodging, nor one on the ground was left. Then the queen threw her arms around him, and with many a kiss so sweet She gave to her gallant cousin such rewarding as seemed her meet, Since so bravely he stood by Gawain, and sheltered the twain from wrong, 265 And she spake, 'Now art thou my cousin, nor unfaith shall to thee belong.' Now hearken and I will read ye that word which I spake of late, How a true heart sore was darkened--I ween 'twas an evil fate That led Vergulacht to Schamfanzon; such deed he ne'er did learn From sire or aye from mother, with shame did the young knight burn, 270 And torment sore and suffering his better self must know As his sister 'gan upbraid him, small mercy the maid would show.