Quoth Gawain unto Arnivé, 'Give me, Lady, a messenger!' 645 Then straightway she sent a maiden, and the maid brought again with her A footman, both true and manly, as behovèd him well to be. And an oath did he swear unto Gawain, to serve him right faithfully, And, were it for joy or for sorrow, his errand to secret hold From all men, both there and elsewhere, till he came where it might be told. 650 Then they brought to him ink and parchment, and Gawain, King Lot's fair son, Wrote clear with his hand the message, and thus did the writing run-- To them who abode in Löver's fair country, King Arthur brave And his queen, with a faith unstainèd, true service and good he gave; And he said, had he fame deservèd, and they would not his praise were slain, 655 They should come to his aid in his trouble, and show to him truth again, And with following of knights and ladies to Ioflanz their way should wend, Where he came himself, and his honour would in mortal strife defend. And further, this thing he told them, the foemen on either side Had pledged themselves in all honour and pomp to the field to ride; 660 And therefore he, Gawain, prayed them, both lady alike and knight, If they bare goodwill towards him, with their king to behold the fight. For so should it be to their honour. He commended him to them all Who were of his service worthy, for the strife that should there befall!-- No seal did he put to the letter, yet token enough it bare 665 Of him who should be the writer. Quoth Gawain to the footman there, 'No longer shalt thou delay thee, the king and the queen abide In the city of Bems by the Korka; seek the queen in the morning-tide And the thing she shall bid thee, do thou. But this shalt thou secret hold, That I in this land am master shall unto no ear be told. 670 Nor of this thing be thou forgetful, that thou shalt my servant be, And do thou, without delaying, the errand I give to thee!' Then the footman from thence he gat him, and Arnivé she softly went, And she asked of him what was his errand? and whither his road was bent? And he quoth, 'Nay, I may not tell thee, for an oath have I sworn to-day, 675 God keep thee, for I must ride hence!' To the army he took his way. BOOK XIII KLINGSOR ARGUMENT