Now they brought Birdalone into a very fair chamber, where was
presently everything she might need, save a tiring woman, which,
forsooth, was no lack unto her, since never had she had any to help her
array her body. So she did what she might to make herself the trimmer;
and in a while came two fair swains of service, who brought her in all
honour into the great hall, where were the three lords abiding her.
There were they served well and plenteously, and fair was the converse
between them; and in especial was the talk of Arthur the Black Squire
goodly and wise and cheery, and well-measured; and the Green Knight’s
speech merry and kind, as of an happy child; and the Golden Knight
spake ever free and kindly, though not of many words was he. And who
was happy if Birdalone were not?
But when they had eaten and washed their hands, then spake the Golden
Knight: Dear maiden, now are we ready to hear the innermost of thine
errand, all we together, if thou wilt.
Birdalone smiled and reddened withal, as she said: Fair lords, I doubt
not but ye are even they unto whom I was sent, but they who sent me,
and who saved me from death and worse, bade me do mine errand in such a
way, that I should speak with each one of you privily, and that for a
token each should tell me a thing known but to him and his love, and to
me unto whom she hath told it. Now am I all ready to do mine errand
thus, and no other wise.
Laughed they now, and were merry, and the Green Knight blushed like a
maiden; forsooth like to his very speech-friend Viridis. But the Black
Squire said: Fair fellows, get we all into the pleasance this fair
morn, and sit there on the grass, and our sweet lady shall take us one
after other into the plashed alley, and have the tokens of us.
Even so they did, and went into the pleasance, which was a goodly
little garth south of the castle, grassed, and set thick with roses and
lilies and gillyflowers, and other fragrant flowers. There then they
sat on the daisied greensward, the three lords together, and Birdalone
over against them, and they three watched her beauty and loveliness and
wondered thereat.
But she said: Now it comes to the very point of mine errand; wherefore
I bid thee, Baudoin the Golden Knight, to come apart with me and answer
to my questions, so that I may know surely that I am doing mine errand
aright.
Therewith she arose to her feet, and he also, and he led her into the
plashed alley, out of earshot of the other twain, who lay upon the
grass biding their turn with but little patience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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