(Herr Hartmann von Aue, and thy lady, the queenly Guinevere, And thy gallant lord, King Arthur, a guest do I bring ye here; No tool is he for your mocking, nay, never a harp or lute, 520 Ye shall choose ye some other plaything, such as courtesy well doth suit; Else will I thy lady Enid, and her mother Karnafite Pass under the mill, and their honour with bitter scorn I'll smite-- Tho' I tune my song to mocking, and thy lips with mockery seal, Yet here will I guard my hero lest thy scorn he perchance should feel!) 525 When the lad with his guide so humble to the city walls drew near, And Nantes might be well discernèd in the morning light so clear, 'God keep thee, boy,' said the fisher, 'thou seest where thou must ride.' Quoth the lad yet scant in knowledge, 'Yet nearer must thou be guide!' 'Nay, nay, so proud as these court-folk, such folly be far from me, 530 An' a peasant came nigh unto them, his welcome would sorry be!' So alone the lad rode onward o'er a plain that was none too wide, And the flowers stood fair around him and blossomed on every side, No Kurwenal was his teacher and of courtesy knew he naught-- They know it not, the untravelled, till the world hath wisdom taught-- 535 Of hempen twist his bridle, and feeble and faint his steed, And oft it fell, as stumbling it went o'er the flowery mead. And nowhere upon his saddle fair leather and new was seen; And of samite fair and ermine full great his lack had been. No mantle clasp he needed, nor knightly garb he wore, 540 Of blazoned coat or surcoat; his javelin alone he bore. He whose deeds were praised of all men, his father so brave and wise, Was robed in far other fashion on the carpet 'fore Kanvoleis! He who ne'er felt the sweat of terror, to him did a knight draw near; Then he greeted him, 'May God keep thee! thus bade me my mother dear.' 545 'God reward thee, lad, and thy mother,' swift answer the knight would bring, (Uther Pendragon reared him, he was cousin unto the king, And unto the land of Bretagne did the self-same knight lay claim) He was Ither of Gaheviess, 'The Red Knight' they called his name.