The Story of King Arthur and his KnightsPyle, Howard
General
The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
Pyle, Howard
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
So, by and by, he could contain himself no longer, wherefore he took
five steps into that room and stood before Sir Gawaine and the Lady
Ettard. And, when they looked upon him in great surprise, he cast back
the hood from his face and they knew him. Then the Lady Ettard shrieked
with great vehemence, crying out, “I have been betrayed!” and Sir
Gawaine sat altogether silent, for he had not a single word to say
either to the lady or to Sir Pellias.
[Sidenote: _Sir Pellias places affront upon Sir Gawaine._]
Then Sir Pellias came close to the Lady Ettard with such a fell
countenance that she could not move for fear. And when he had come nigh
to her he catched that necklace of emeralds and opal stones and gold
with such violence that he brake the clasp thereof and so plucked it
from her neck. Then he said, “This is mine and thou hast no right to
it!” And therewith he thrust it into his bosom. Then he turned upon Sir
Gawaine where he sat, and he said, “Thou art false both unto thy
knighthood and unto thy friendship, for thou hast betrayed me utterly.”
Thereupon he raised his arm and smote Sir Gawaine upon the face with the
back of his hand so violently that the mark of his fingers was left in
red all across the cheek of Sir Gawaine.
Then Sir Gawaine fell as pale as ashes and he cried out, “Sir, I have in
sooth betrayed thee, but thou hast offered such affront to me that our
injury is equal.” To the which Sir Pellias made reply, “Not so; for the
injury I gave to thee is only upon thy cheek, but the injury thou gavest
to me is upon my heart. Ne’theless, I will answer unto thee for the
affront I have done thee. But thou also shalt answer unto me for the
offence thou hast done unto me, in that thou hast betrayed me.”
Then Sir Gawaine said, “I am willing to answer unto thee in full
measure.” And Sir Pellias said, “Thou shalt indeed do so.” Thereupon he
turned and left that place, nor did he so much as look again either at
Sir Gawaine or at the Lady Ettard.
But, now that the Lady Ettard no longer had the magic collar about her
neck, Sir Gawaine felt nothing of the great enchantment that had
aforetime drawn him so vehemently unto her. Accordingly, he now suffered
a misliking for her as great as that liking which had aforetime drawn
him unto her. Wherefore he said to himself, “How was it possible that
for this lady I could have so betrayed my knighthood and have done so
much harm unto my friend!” So he pushed back his chair very violently
and arose from that table with intent to leave her.
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine and the Lady Ettard speak bitterly together._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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