Then aside with few folk he stepped him, and straitly he prayed this grace, That the strife, at the hour appointed, he in Gawain's stead might face, 'Right gladly will I defy him, King Gramoflanz, in his pride; I brake from his tree this morning a bough ere I thence did ride, 360 And for that he of need must fight me--For conflict I sought his land, And for nothing else came I hither but to fight with his strong right hand. I thought not I here should find thee, my cousin, it grieves me sore, For this king did I surely take thee, who never from strife forbore. Now let me, I prithee, fight him; if ever he know defeat 365 My hand shall such lesson teach him as he findeth not over sweet! They have given me back mine honour, and thy brother knight am I, And thy kinsman true, fair cousin, so grant to me, cousinly, That this combat be mine--I swear thee for us twain will I face the foe, And there do such deeds of valour that all men shall my manhood know!' 370 Quoth Gawain, 'In the court of King Arthur have I many a brother dear, And kinsman true, yet to no man may I grant what thou prayest here. My cause is so good, I think me, that Fate so shall rule the fight That I stand at the last the victor, tho' my foe be a man of might. God reward thee that thou, of thy kindness, this conflict for me wouldst face, 375 But the day is not yet in its dawning when another may take my place!' Now Arthur the prayer had hearkened, of their speech he an end would make, Once more in the ring beside them his seat did the monarch take. And the cup-bearers did not tarry, the noble youths they bare Many golden cups so precious, and wroughten with jewels fair, 380 Nor one alone could fill them--and when their task was o'er The folk uprose, and gat them each one to his rest once more.