Four Arthurian Romances
needed. When they had finished and when the table was cleared, Erec thus
addressed his host, the master of the house: "Tell me, fair host." he
asked, "why your daughter, who is so passing fair and clever, is so
poorly and unsuitably attired." "Fair friend," the vavasor replies,
"many a man is harmed by poverty, and even so am I. I grieve to see
her so poorly clad, and yet I cannot help it, for I have been so long
involved in war that I have lost or mortgaged or sold all my land. [19]
And yet she would be well enough dressed if I allowed her to accept
everything that people wish to give her. The lord of this castle himself
would have dressed her in becoming fashion and would have done her every
manner of favour, for she is his niece and he is a count. And there is
no nobleman in this region, however rich and powerful, who would not
willingly have taken her to wife had I given my consent. But I am
waiting yet for some better occasion, when God shall bestow still
greater honour upon her, when fortune shall bring hither some king or
count who shall lead her away, for there is under Heaven no king or
count who would be ashamed of my daughter, who is so wondrous fair that
her match cannot be found. Fair, indeed, she is; but yet greater far
than her beauty, is her intelligence. God never created any one so
discreet and of such open heart. When I have my daughter beside me, I
don't care a marble about all the rest of the world. She is my delight
and my pastime, she is my joy and comfort, my wealth and my treasure,
and I love nothing so much as her own precious self."
(Vv. 547-690.) When Erec had listened to all that his host told him, he
asked him to inform him whence came all the chivalry that was quartered
in the town. For there was no street or house so poor and small but it
was full of knights and ladies and squires. And the vavasor said to him:
"Fair friend, these are the nobles of the country round; all, both young
and old, have come to a fete which is to be held in this town tomorrow;
therefore the houses are so full. When they shall all have gathered,
there will be a great stir to-morrow; for in the presence of all the
people there will be set upon a silver perch a sparrow-hawk of five or
six moultings--the best you can imagine. Whoever wishes to gain the hawk
must have a mistress who is fair, prudent, and courteous. And if there
be a knight so bold as to wish to defend the worth and the name of the
fairest in his eyes, he will cause his mistress to step forward and
lift the hawk from the perch, if no one dares to interpose. This is the
custom they are observing, and for this each year they gather here."
Thereupon Erec speaks and asks him: "Fair host, may it not displease
you, but tell me, if you know, who is a certain knight bearing arms of
azure and gold, who passed by here not long ago, having close beside him
a courtly damsel, preceded by a hump-backed dwarf." To him the host then
made reply: "That is he who will win the hawk without any opposition
from the other knights. I don't believe that any one will offer
opposition; this time there will be no blows or wounds. For two years
already he has won it without being challenged; and if he wins it
again this year, he will have gained permanent possession of it. Every
succeeding year he may keep it without contest or challenge." Quickly
Erec makes reply: "I do not like that knight. Upon my word, had I some
arms I should challenge him for the hawk. Fair host, I beg you as a boon
to advise me how I may be equipped with arms whether old or new, poor or
rich, it matters not." And he replies to him generously: "It were a pity
for you to feel concern on that score! I have good fine arms which I
shall be glad to lend you. In the house I have a triple-woven hauberk,
[110] which was selected from among five hundred. And I have some fine
valuable greaves, polished, handsome, and light in weight. The helmet
is bright and handsome, and the shield fresh and new. Horse, sword, and
lance all I will lend you, of course; so let no more be said." "Thank
you kindly, fair gentle host! But I wish for no better sword that this
one which I have brought with me, nor for any other horse than my own,
for I can get along well enough with him. If you will lend me the rest,
I shall esteem it a great favour. But there is one more boon I wish to
ask of you, for which I shall make just return if God grant that I come
off from the battle with honour." And frankly he replies to him: "Ask
confidently for what you want, whatever it be, for nothing of mine shall
lack you." Then Erec said that he wished to defend the hawk on behalf
of his daughter; for surely there will be no damsel who is one hundredth
part as beautiful as she. And if he takes her with him, he will have
good and just reason to maintain and to prove that she is entitled to
carry away the hawk. Then he added: "Sire, you know not what guest you
have sheltered here, nor do you know my estate and kin. I am the son of
a rich and puissant king: my father's name is King Lac, and the Bretons
call me Erec. I belong to King Arthur's court, and have been with him
now three years. I know not if any report of my father or of me has ever
reached this land. But I promise you and vow that if you will fit me out
with arms, and will give me your daughter to-morrow when I strive for
the hawk, I will take her to my country, if God grant me the victory,
and I will give her a crown to wear, and she shall be queen of three
cities." "Ah, fair sir! Is it true that you are Erec, the son of Lac?"
"That is who I am, indeed" quoth he. Then the host was greatly delighted
and said: "We have indeed heard of you in this country. Now I think all
the more of you, for you are very valiant and brave. Nothing now shall
you be refused by me. At your request I give you my fair daughter."
Then taking her by the hand, he says: "Here, I give her to you." Erec
received her joyfully, and now has all he desired. Now they are all
happy there: the father is greatly delighted, and the mother weeps for
joy. The maiden sat quiet; but she was very happy and glad that she was
betrothed to him, because he was valiant and courteous: and she knew
that he would some day be king, and she should receive honour and be
crowned rich queen.
(Vv. 691-746.) They had sat up very late that night. But now the
beds were prepared with white sheets and soft pillows, and when the
conversation flagged they all went to bed in happy frame. Erec slept
little that night, and the next morn, at crack of dawn, he and his host
rose early. They both go to pray at church, and hear a hermit chant the
Mass of the Holy Spirit, not forgetting to make an offering. When they
had heard Mass both kneel before the altar and then return to the house.
Erec was eager for the battle; so he asks for arms, and they are given
to him. The maiden herself puts on his arms (though she casts no spell
or charm), [111] laces on his iron greaves, and makes them fast with
thong of deer-hide. She puts on his hauberk with its strong meshes, and
laces on his ventail. The gleaming helmet she sets upon his head, and
thus arms him well from tip to toe. At his side she fastens his sword,
and then orders his horse to be brought, which is done. Up he jumped
clear of the ground. The damsel then brings the shield and the strong
lance: she hands him the shield, and he takes it and hangs it about his
neck by the strap. She places the lance in his hand, and when he had
grasped it by the butt-end, he thus addressed the gentle vavasor: "Fair
sire," quoth he, "if you please, make your daughter ready now; for
I wish to escort her to the sparrow-hawk in accordance with our
agreement." The vavasor then without delay had saddled a bay palfrey.
There can nothing be said of the harness because of the dire poverty
with which the vavasor was afflicted. Saddle and bridle were put on, and
up the maiden mounted all free and in light attire, without waiting
to be urged. Erec wished to delay no longer; so off he starts with the
host's daughter by his side, followed by the gentleman and his lady.
(Vv. 747-862.) Erec rides with lance erect and with the comely damsel by
his side. All the people, great and small, gaze at them with wondering
eyes as they pass through the streets. And thus they question each
other: "Who is yonder knight? He must be doughty and brave, indeed, to
act as escort for this fair maid. His efforts will be well employed in
proving that this damsel is the fairest of them all." One man to another
says: "In very truth, she ought to have the sparrow-hawk." Some praised
the maid, while many said: "God! who can this knight be, with the fair
damsel by his side?" "I know not." "Nor I." Thus spake each one. "But
his gleaming helmet becomes him well, and the hauberk, and shield, and
his sharp steel sword. He sits well upon his steed and has the bearing
of a valiant vassal, well-shapen in arm, in limb and foot." While all
thus stand and gaze at them, they for their part made no delay to take
their stand by the sparrow-hawk, where to one side they awaited the
knight. And now behold! they see him come, attended by his dwarf and his
damsel. He had heard the report, that a knight had come who wished to
obtain the sparrow-hawk, but he did not believe there could be in the
world a knight so bold as to dare to fight with him. He would quickly
defeat him and lay him low. All the people knew him well, and all
welcome him and escort him in a noisy crowd: knights, squires, ladies,
and damsels make haste to run after him. Leading them all the knight
rides proudly on, with his damsel and his dwarf at his side, and he
makes his way quickly to the sparrow-hawk. But all about there was such
a press of the rough and vulgar crowd that it was impossible to touch
the hawk or to come near where it was. Then the Count arrived on the
scene, and threatened the populace with a switch which he held in his
hand. The crowd drew back, and the knight advanced and said quietly
to his lady: "My lady, this bird, which is so perfectly moulted and so
fair, should be yours as your just portion; for you are wondrous fair
and full of charm. Yours it shall surely be so long as I live. Step
forward, my dear, and lift the hawk from the perch." The damsel was on
the point of stretching forth her hand when Erec hastened to challenge
her, little heeding the other's arrogance. "Damsel," he cries, "stand
back! Go dally with some other bird, for to this one you have no right.
In spite of all, I say this hawk shall never be yours. For a better one
than you claims it--aye, much more fair and more courteous." The other
knight is very wroth; but Erec does not mind him, and bids his own
maiden step forward. "Fair one." he cries, "come forth. Lift the bird
from the perch, for it is right that you should have it. Damsel, come
forth! For I will make boast to defend it if any one is so bold as
to intervene. For no woman excels you in beauty or worth, in grace or
honour any more than the moon outshines the sun." The other could suffer
it no longer, when he hears him so manfully offer himself to do battle.
"Vassal," he cries, "who art thou who dost thus dispute with me the
hawk?" Erec boldly answers him: "A knight I am from another land. This
hawk I have come to obtain; for it is right, I say it in spite of all,
that this damsel of mine should have it." "Away!" cries the other, "it
shall never be. Madness has brought thee here. If thou dost wish to have
the hawk, thou shalt pay fight dearly for it." "Pay, vassal; and how?"
"Thou must fight with me, if thou dost not resign it to me." "You talk
madness," cries Erec; "for me these are idle threats; for little
enough do I fear you." "Then I defy thee here and now. The battle is
inevitable." Erec replies: "God help me now; for never did I wish for