Now they came to the camp of King Arthur, who Gramoflanz' message bore, By the silken tent they dismounted; there sat Bené before the door, 530 And within spake the maid to King Arthur, 'If my brother shall slay my king To pleasure his faithless Duchess, doth he deem that shall honour bring? He might know of himself it were ill-done--He hath wronged him no whit I ween, That he doeth to _me_ true service, his safety might well have been! If my brother be yet in his senses he doth of our true love know, 535 How pure it is, and how faithful, and this venture should work him woe. A bitter death shall it bring me, the hand that my love doth kill-- Sir King, thou shalt mourn my sorrow, and I think not that such thy will,' Spake the fair maid unto King Arthur, 'Forget not that thou shalt be Mine uncle, and stay this combat which worketh such ill to me!' 540 Quoth Arthur aloud in his wisdom, 'Alas, thou fair niece of mine, That thus young thou canst love so dearly, for sorrow shall sure be thine, As sorrow befell thy sister, Surdamur, for her love so true To the Emperor of Greece--Sweet maiden, thy will might I surely do, And hinder this strife, if I knew well that ye twain were but one in heart-- 540 Yet King Irot's son, he is valiant, and courage in him hath part, And this combat he'll fight, full surely, an Love stay not his hand so bold-- Did he ne'er, in a joyful moment, thy fair face and sweet lips behold?' And she spake, 'Nay, we love, but neither as yet hath the other seen, Tho' of true love many a token from his hand hath my portion been. 550 And tokens true have I sent him, that no doubt should betwixt us lie-- No falsehood my king's heart ruleth, but he loveth me steadfastly!'