Thus they brought him before King Arthur, he whom God for a wonder chose, 610 And no man might bear him hatred--Then the queen from her seat arose And she gazed for a space upon him ere she passed from out the hall Where the wine from the golden goblet perforce on her robes must fall. Then Arthur he looked upon him--To the simple youth he spake, 'Now lad to thy kindly greeting a kindly answer take, 615 For this would I do thee service, yea with body alike and land; This I speak of a true heart truly, so my will doth toward thee stand!' 'Would to God that were true! Now I think me it well-nigh a year shall be That I fain would be knight, lacking knighthood all else seemeth ill to me! Now make thou no more delaying, be knighthood my lot straightway.' 620 Quoth the king, 'I were fain to do so if worth fail me not alway, So noble art thou to look on; and goodly gifts and rare Would I give thee; to do thee service I'll naught of my treasure spare. Yea, loath had I been to refuse thee, wait but for to-morrow's light, And I myself will dower thee with all that befits a knight.' 625 The lad like a bird new cagèd, he shook himself to and fro, And he quoth, 'For naught do I ask thee! But that knight who as fire doth glow If thou givest me not his armour no gift will I take from thee, My _mother_ will not withhold it--For a queen shall she surely be.' Then Arthur he quoth, 'That armour so gallant a knight doth wear 630 That to give thee a gift so goodly methinks I may hardly dare. And guiltless I live in sorrow since his homage I must forego, Ither he is of Gaheviess; thro' my joy hath he wrought me woe.' 'Now my King sure it were ungracious to say to his pleading nay, Thou shalt give him what he desireth, nor think it too great,' quoth Kay, 635 'Let him forth to the plain; bid him bring thee the cup if it be thy will! Here hast thou the whip, there the top is, let the child have of sport his fill. The women, forsooth, will praise him, and it seemeth good to me He should learn to take blows an he gives them, many such will his portion be. For the life of the twain what care I? Each of us needs must have his day, 640 If thy dogs for the spoil shall hunger, thou must e'en give thy dogs their way.' 'I were loath to refuse his pleading, yet I feared lest he here be slain, And to knighthood I fain had helped him.' Thus Arthur he spake again.