Four Arthurian Romances
it might please him to allow him to be married at the court. The King
vouchsafed him the boon, and sent through all his kingdom to search for
the kings and counts who were his liege-men, bidding them that none be
so bold as not to be present at Pentecost. None dares to hold back and
not go to court at the King's summons. Now I will tell you, and listen
well, who were these counts and kings. With a rich escort and one
hundred extra mounts Count Brandes of Gloucester came. After him came
Menagormon, who was Count of Clivelon. And he of the Haute Montagne came
with a very rich following. The Count of Treverain came, too, with a
hundred of his knights, and Count Godegrain with as many more. Along
with those whom I have just mentioned came Maheloas, a great baron, lord
of the Isle of Voirre. In this island no thunder is heard, no lightning
strikes, nor tempests rage, nor do toads or serpents exist there, nor is
it ever too hot or too cold. [121] Graislemier of Fine Posterne brought
twenty companions, and had with him his brother Guigomar, lord of the
Isle of Avalon. Of the latter we have heard it said that he was a friend
of Morgan the Fay, and such he was in very truth. Davit of Tintagel
came, who never suffered woe or grief. Guergesin, the Duke of Haut Bois,
came with a very rich equipment. There was no lack of counts and dukes,
but of kings there were still more. Garras of Cork, a doughty king, was
there with five hundred knights clad in mantles, hose, and tunics of
brocade and silk. Upon a Cappadocian steed came Aguisel, the Scottish
king, and brought with him his two sons, Cadret and Coi--two much
respected knights. Along with those whom I have named came King Ban of
Gomeret, and he had in his company only young men, beardless as yet on
chin and lip. A numerous and gay band he brought two hundred of them
in his suite; and there was none, whoever he be, but had a falcon or
tercel, a merlin or a sparrow-hawk, or some precious pigeon-hawk, golden
or mewed. Kerrin, the old King of Riel, brought no youth, but rather
three hundred companions of whom the youngest was seven score years old.
Because of their great age, their heads were all as white as snow, and
their beards reached down to their girdles. Arthur held them in great
respect. The lord of the dwarfs came next, Bilis, the king of Antipodes.
This king of whom I speak was a dwarf himself and own brother of Brien.
Bilis, on the one hand, was the smallest of all the dwarfs, while his
brother Brien was a half-foot or full palm taller than any other knight
in the kingdom. To display his wealth and power, Bilis brought with him
two kings who were also dwarfs and who were vassals of his, Grigoras and
Glecidalan. Every one looked at them as marvels. When they had arrived
at court, they were treated with great esteem. All three were honoured
and served at the court like kings, for they were very perfect
gentlemen. In brief, when King Arthur saw all his lords assembled, his
heart was glad. Then, to heighten the joy, he ordered a hundred squires
to be bathed whom he wished to dub knights. There was none of them
but had a parti-coloured robe of rich brocade of Alexandria, each one
choosing such as pleased his fancy. All had arms of a uniform pattern,
and horses swift and full of mettle, of which the worst was worth a
hundred livres.
(Vv. 2025-2068.) When Erec received his wife, he must needs call her by
her right name. For a wife is not espoused unless she is called by her
proper name. As yet no one knew her name, but now for the first time it
was made known: Enide was her baptismal name. [122] The Archbishop of
Canterbury, who had come to the court, blessed them, as is his right.
When the court was all assembled, there was not a minstrel in the
countryside who possessed any pleasing accomplishment that did not come
to the court. In the great hall there was much merry-making, each one
contributing what he could to the entertainment: one jumps, another
tumbles, another does magic; there is story-telling, singing, whistling,
playing from notes; they play on the harp, the rote, the fiddle, the
violin, the flute, and pipe. The maidens sing and dance, and outdo each
other in the merry-making. At the wedding that day everything was
done which can give joy and incline man's heart to gladness. Drums are
beaten, large and small, and there is playing of pipes, fifes, horns,
trumpets, and bagpipes. What more shall I say? There was not a wicket or
a gate kept closed; but the exits and entrances all stood ajar, so that
no one, poor or rich, was turned away. King Arthur was not miserly, but
gave orders to the bakers, the cooks, and the butlers that they should
serve every one generously with bread, wine, and venison. No one asked
anything whatever to be passed to him without getting all he desired.
(Vv. 2069-2134.) There was great merriment in the palace. But I will
pass over the rest, and you shall hear of the joy and pleasure in the
bridal chamber. Bishops and archbishops were there on the night when
the bride and groom retired. At this their first meeting, Iseut was not
filched away, nor was Brangien put in her place. [123] The Queen herself
took charge of their preparations for the night; for both of them were
dear to her. The hunted stag which pants for thirst does not so long for
the spring, nor does the hungry sparrow-hawk return so quickly when he
is called, as did these two come to hold each other in close embrace.
That night they had full compensation for their long delay. After the
chamber had been cleared, they allow each sense to be gratified: the
eyes, which are the entrance-way of love, and which carry messages to
the heart, take satisfaction in the glance, for they rejoice in all they
see; after the message of the eyes comes the far surpassing sweetness of
the kisses inviting love; both of them make trial of this sweetness, and
let their hearts quaff so freely that hardly can they leave off. Thus,
kissing was their first sport. And the love which is between them
emboldened the maid and left her quite without her fears; regardless of
pain, she suffered all. Before she rose, she no longer bore the name
of maid; in the morning she was a new-made dame. That day the minstrels
were in happy mood, for they were all well paid. They were fully
compensated for the entertainment they had given, and many a handsome
gift was bestowed upon them: robes of grey squirrel skin and ermine, of
rabbit skins and violet stuffs, scarlets and silken stuffs. Whether
it be a horse or money, each one got what he deserved according to his
skill. And thus the wedding festivities and the court lasted almost
a fortnight with great joy and magnificence. For his own glory and
satisfaction, as well as to honour Erec the more, King Arthur made all
the knights remain a full fortnight. When the third week began, all
together by common consent agreed to hold a tournament. On the one
side, my lord Gawain offered himself as surety that it would take place
between Evroic and Tenebroc: and Meliz and Meliadoc were guarantors on
the other side. Then the court separated.
(Vv. 2135-2292.) A month after Pentecost the tournament assembled, and
the jousting began in the plain below Tenebroc. Many an ensign of red,
blue, and white, many a veil and many a sleeve were bestowed as tokens
of love. Many a lance was carried there, flying the colours argent and
green, or gold and azure blue. There were many, too, with different
devices, some with stripes and some with dots. That day one saw laced on
many a helmet of gold or steel, some green, some yellow, and others red,
all aglowing in the sun; so many scutcheons and white hauberks; so many
swords girt on the left side; so many good shields, fresh and new, some
resplendent in silver and green, others of azure with buckles of gold;
so many good steeds marked with white, or sorrel, tawny, white, black,
and bay: all gather hastily. And now the field is quite covered with
arms. On either side the ranks tremble, and a roar rises from the fight.
The shock of the lances is very great. Lances break and shields are
riddled, the hauberks receive bumps and are torn asunder, saddles go
empty and horsemen ramble, while the horses sweat and foam. Swords are
quickly drawn on those who tumble noisily, and some run to receive the
promise of a ransom, others to stave off this disgrace. Erec rode a
white horse, and came forth alone at the head of the line to joust, if
he may find an opponent. From the opposite side there rides out to meet
him Orguelleus de la Lande, mounted on an Irish steed which bears
him along with marvellous speed. On the shield before his breast Erec
strikes him with such force that he knocks him from his horse: he leaves
him prone and passes on. Then Raindurant opposed him, son of the old
dame of Tergalo, covered with blue cloth of silk; he was a knight of
great prowess. Against one another now they charge and deal fierce blows
on the shields about their neck. Erec from lance's length lays him over
on the hard ground. While riding back he met the King of the Red City,
who was very valiant and bold. They grasp their reins by the knots and
their shields by the inner straps. They both had fine arms, and strong
swift horses, and good shields, fresh and new. With such fury they
strike each other that both their lances fly in splinters. Never was
there seen such a blow. They rush together with shields, arms, and
horses. But neither girth nor rein nor breast-strap could prevent the
king from coming to earth. So he flew from his steed, carrying with him
saddle and stirrup, and even the reins of his bridle in his hand. All
those who witnessed the jousting were filled with amazement, and said it
cost him dear to joust with such a goodly knight. Erec did not wish
to stop to capture either horse or rider, but rather to joust and
distinguish himself in order that his prowess might appear. He thrills
the ranks in front of him. Gawain animates those who were on his side
by his prowess, and by winning horses and knights to the discomfiture
of his opponents. I speak of my lord Gawain, who did right well and
valiantly. In the fight he unhorsed Guincel, and took Gaudin of the
Mountain; he captured knights and horses alike: my lord Gawain did well.
Girtlet the son of Do, and Yvain, and Sagremor the Impetuous, so evilly
entreated their adversaries that they drove them back to the gates,
capturing and unhorsing many of them. In front of the gate of the town
the strife began again between those within and those without. There
Sagremor was thrown down, who was a very gallant knight. He was on the
point of being detained and captured, when Erec spurs to rescue him,
breaking his lance into splinters upon one of the opponents. So hard he
strikes him on the breast that he made him quit the saddle. Then he
made of his sword and advances upon them, crushing and splitting their
helmets. Some flee, and others make way before him, for even the boldest
fears him. Finally, he distributed so many blows and thrusts that he
rescued Sagremor from them, and drove them all in confusion into the
town. Meanwhile, the vesper hour drew to a close. Erec bore himself so
well that day that he was the best of the combatants. But on the morrow
he did much better yet: for he took so many knights and left so many
saddles empty that none could believe it except those who had seen it.
Every one on both sides said that with his lance and shield he had won
the honours of the tournament. Now was Erec's renown so high that no one
spoke save of him, nor was any one of such goodly favour. In countenance
he resembled Absalom, in language he seemed a Solomon, in boldness he
equalled Samson, [124] and in generous giving and spending he was the
equal of Alexander. On his return from the tourney Erec went to speak