foot high off the ground and thinketh to carry him to his hold that was
within the rock. And as he goeth thither he falleth, Messire Gawain
and all, and he lieth undermost. Howbeit, he thinketh to rise, but
cannot, for Messire Gawain sendeth him his sword right through his
heart and beyond. Afterward, he cut off the head and cometh there
where the King's child lay dead, whereof is he right sorrowful. And he
beareth him on his neck, and taketh the Giant's head in his hand and
returneth there where he had left his horse and shield and spear, and
mounteth and cometh back and bringeth the King's son before the King
and the head of the Giant hanging.
VI.
The King and all they of the castle come to meet him with right great
joy, but when they see the young man dead, their great joy is turned
into right great dole thereby. And Messire Gawain alighteth before the
castle and presenteth to the King his son and the head of the Giant.
"Certes," said he, "might I have presented him to you on live, much
more joyful should I have been thereof."
"This believe I well," saith the King, "Howbeit, of so much as you have
done am I well pleased, and your guerdon shall you have."
And he looketh at his son and lamenteth him right sweetly, and all they
of the castle after him. Thereafter he maketh light a great show of
torches in the midst of the city, and causeth a great fire to be made,
and his son be set thereon in a brazen vessel all full of water, and
maketh him be cooked and sodden over this fire, and maketh the Giant's
head be hanged at the gate.
VII.
When his son was well cooked, he maketh him be cut up as small as he
may, and biddeth send for all the high men of his land and giveth
thereof to each so long as there was any left. After that he maketh
bring the sword and giveth it to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain
thanketh him much thereof.
"More yet will I do for you," saith the King. He biddeth send for all
the men of his land to come to his hall and castle.
"Sir," saith he, "I am fain to baptize me."
"God be praised thereof," saith Messire Gawain. The King biddeth send
for a hermit of the forest, and maketh himself be baptized, and he had
the name of Archis in right baptism; and of all them that were not
willing to believe in God, he commanded Messire Gawain that he should
cut off their heads.
VIII.
In such wise was this King baptized that was the lord of Albanie, by
the miracle of God and the knighthood of Messire Gawain, that departeth
from the castle with right great joy and rideth until he has come into
the land of the King of Wales and bethought him he would go fulfil his
pledge. He alighted before the hall, and the King made right great
cheer when he saw him come. And Messire Gawain hath told him: "I come
to redeem my pledge. Behold, here is the sword."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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