Gramoflanz the cost had given, since from him had the challenge come, A hundred in all the tree-trunks, and brightly they shone each one. And no man should come within them, and the place between was wide, Full forty lengths from each other stood the fifty on either side, 190 Each blazoned with many colours; and here should the combat be; And on either side the army from the strife should hold them free. As by moat and rampart sundered, so should they in peace remain, In this wise they sware, the foemen, King Gramoflanz and Gawain. To this combat, by none awaited, came the folk from either side, 195 At the self-same hour, fain were they to know what should there betide, For they marvelled much who had fought here, and had shown such knightly skill; Or who should such strife have challenged, for alone was it foughten still, And neither side their comrades had bidden unto the ring, But alone had each knight come hither, and men deemed it a wondrous thing. 200 But now as the fight was foughten on the flower-besprinkled plain, Came King Gramoflanz, to wreak vengeance for the garland upon Gawain; And he heard what thing had chanced there, that so fierce the fight had been That never a fiercer conflict with sword might a man have seen, And the twain who fought together had never a cause to fight-- 205 Then the king, from out his army, rode straight to the gallant knights; And he found them battle-weary, and much he mourned their pain; Tho' scarcely his strength might bear him, up-sprang the knight Gawain, And the twain they stood together--Now Bené rode with the king, And with him, as the strife was ended, she came to the battle-ring, 210 And she saw Gawain all powerless, whom, for honour and fair renown, O'er all the world had she chosen to crown with joy's fairest crown. With a cry of heartfelt sorrow from her palfrey the maiden sprung, And she spake, as her arms around him in a close embrace she flung, 'Accurst be the hand that such sorrow on so fair a form hath brought, 215 For in sooth all manly beauty its mirror in thee hath sought!' On the sward did she bid him seat him, and, the while that she wept full sore, With tender hand from his eyelids she wiped the sweat and gore;