Then King Arthur and maiden Bené, with the squires they rode here and there, And in sooth those squires they looked on full many a lady fair, And they saw on the jewelled helmets many proud crests and knightly wave, And few for such sight shall vex them, for he who is rich as brave 640 Full many a friend he findeth! They 'lighted not from their steed, And the bravest men of the armies that lay camped on the flowery mead King Arthur would show unto them, they might gaze on them at their will, Knights, ladies, and gentle maidens, of beauty they saw their fill! In three portions it lay, the army, and two spaces there were between-- 645 Then away from the camp rode King Arthur, far out on the plain so green, And he quoth, 'Now sweet maiden Bené, her plaint didst thou hear alway, Itonjé, the child of my sister, her weeping she will not stay. These my comrades who ride beside me, if they will, they may well believe Of her beauty their king hath robbed her, so sorely the maid doth grieve! 650 Now help me, ye twain, and thou, Bené, that the king he shall hither ride, E'en to-day, tho' the strife to-morrow he may, if he will, abide. I will bring Gawain to meet him on the plain, as he prayed but now-- If he cometh to-day to mine army 'gainst the morn is he armed I trow, For Love such a shield shall give him that his foeman may ill withstand 655 The courage that Love doth kindle, and that nerveth anew the hand. And his princes shall he bring with him, for here would I do as best Doth lie in my power that the Duchess shall hearken to my behest, And peace shall be sealed between them--Now strive ye, my comrades dear, With skill for such happy ending, 'twill be to your honour here. 660 And further I make my mourning, wherein shall have been my sin That I wrought 'gainst your king that he beareth, in such measure, against my kin, Both love alike and hatred? Methinks, he doth hold us light! Another king, mine equal, had thought more of this my right. Doth he think to repay with hatred _her_ brother, who loves him well? 665 If his heart such thought shall teach him, then he knoweth not true Love's spell!'