The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
Children's literature
The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and
came to the place where the black man was. And the stature of the
black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented
to him. They came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the
valley, till they reached the green tree, where they saw the fountain
and the bowl and the slab. And upon that Kay came to Arthur, and spoke
to him. "My lord," said he, "I know the meaning of all this, and my
request is that thou wilt permit me to throw the water on the slab,
and to receive the first adventure that may befall." And Arthur gave
him leave.
Then Kay threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there
came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And such a
thunderstorm they had never known before. After the shower had ceased,
the sky became clear, and on looking at the tree, they beheld it
completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon the tree. And the
song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard
before. Then they beheld a knight, on a coal-black horse, clothed in
sating coming rapidly towards them. Kay met him and encountered him,
and it was not long before Kay was overthrown. The knight withdrew,
and Arthur and his host encamped for the night.
When they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat
upon the lance of the knight. Then, one by one, all the household of
Arthur went forth to combat the knight, until there was not one that
was not overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gawain. And Arthur armed
himself to encounter the knight. "O my lord," said Gawain, "permit me
to fight with him first." And Arthur permitted him. He went forth to
meet the knight, having over himself and his horse a satin robe of
honor, which had been sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyr,
and in this dress he was not known by any of the host. And they
charged each other, and fought all that day until the evening. And
neither of them was able to unhorse the other. And so it was the next
day; they broke their lances in the shock, but neither of them could
obtain the mastery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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