'Sire, King Arthur hath hither sent us, and ever hath he been known As one whom all men have honoured, and whom all shall as victor own. Yea, honour enow is his portion--And yet wouldst thou mar his fame, Since upon the son of his sister thou thinkest to bring this shame! 80 And e'en had Sir Gawain wrought thee worse ill by far, I ween, That the fame of the great Round Table might here for a shield have been. For brotherhood all have sworn him who sit at that noble board, And stainless shall be their knighthood who own Arthur for king and lord! Quoth the king, 'The strife I sware him e'en to-day my hand shall dare, 85 And Gawain to-day shall face me, if well or if ill he fare. For this hath been truly told me, that King Arthur draweth near With his queen, and his host of warriors; I bid them welcome here! Tho' it may be the angry Duchess shall counsel him to mine ill, Yet hearken and heed, ye children, the strife shall be foughten still. 90 For here have I many a follower, and hindered of none will be, What _one_ man can do unto me that bear I right joyfully! And if now I should fear to face that to which I my pledge have sworn, Of Love's service and Love's rewarding henceforward were I forlorn! In her favour I found aforetime my life and my life's best bliss-- 95 God knoweth how _he_ hath pleased her, she oweth me much for this!-- And tho' ever I did disdain me to fight with one man alone, Yet Gawain hath so bravely borne him that him as I my peer I'll own. And I think me I shame my manhood when such easy strife I fight; And yet have I fought, believe me, (ye can ask if it seem ye right,) 100 With folk whom mine hand hath proven to be valiant men and true, But ne'er have I fought but _one_ man! No praise shall be here my due, From the lips of gracious women, tho' the victory be mine to-day-- And greatly my heart rejoiceth that her bands have been reft away For whose sake I fight this conflict; so many a distant land 105 Are vassals unto King Arthur, and pay tribute unto his hand, It may well be with him she cometh, for whose sake both joy and pain Unto death I would gladly suffer, if she be for my service fain. And what better fate can befall me than that this my fair lot shall be, That she looketh upon my service, and her eyes shall my victory see!' 110