The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
of gold that she had borrowed from Sir Pellias, and that to such a
degree that she never let it depart from her whether by day or by night.
Wherefore she wore it at that moment hanging about her neck and her
throat. So, as she talked to Sir Gawaine, he looked upon that necklace,
and the enchantment thereof began to take a very great hold upon him.
For he presently began to feel as though his heart was drawn with
exceeding ardency out of his bosom and unto the Lady Ettard; so much so
that, in a little while, he could not at all keep his regard withdrawn
from her. And the more that he looked upon the necklace and the lady the
more did the enchantment of the jewel take hold upon his spirits.
Accordingly, when the Lady Ettard spake so graciously unto him, he was
very glad to accept of her kindness; wherefore he said, gazing very
ardently at her the whiles, “Lady, thou art exceedingly gentle to extend
so great a courtesy unto me; wherefore I shall be glad beyond measure
for to stay with thee for a short while.”
At these words the Lady Ettard was very greatly pleased, for she said to
herself, “Certes, this knight (albeit I know not who he may be) must be
a champion of extraordinary prowess and of exalted achievement. Now, if
I can persuade him to remain in this castle as my champion, then shall I
doubtless gain very great credit thereby; for I shall have one for to
defend my rights who must assuredly be the greatest knight in all the
world.” Wherefore she set forth every charm and grace of demeanor to
please Sir Gawaine, and Sir Gawaine was altogether delighted by the
kindness of her manner.
Now, Sir Engamore was there present at that time, wherefore he was very
greatly troubled in spirit. For in the same degree that Sir Gawaine
received courtesy from the Lady Ettard, in that same degree Sir Engamore
was cast down into great sorrow and distress--so much so that it was a
pity for to see him. For Sir Engamore said to himself, “Aforetime, ere
these foreign knights came hitherward, the Lady Ettard was very kind to
me, and was willing to take me for her champion and lord. But first came
Sir Pellias and overthrew me, and now cometh this strange knight and
overthroweth him, wherefore, in the presence of such a great champion
as this, I am come to be as nothing in her sight.” So Sir Engamore
withdrew himself from that place and went unto his closet, where he sat
himself down alone in great sorrow.
Now the Lady Ettard had given command that a very noble and splendid
feast should be prepared for Sir Gawaine and for herself, and whilst it
was preparing she and Sir Gawaine walked together in the pleasaunce of
the castle. For there was a very pleasant shade in the place, and
flowers grew there in great abundance, and many birds sang very sweetly
in among the blossoms of the trees. And as Sir Gawaine and the lady
walked thus together, the attendants stood at a little distance and
regarded them. And they said to one another, “Assuredly it would be a
very good thing if the Lady Ettard would take this knight for her
champion, and if he should stay here in Grantmesnle forever.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine and the Lady Ettard feast together._]
So Sir Gawaine and the lady walked together, talking very cheerfully,
until sunset, and at that time the supper was prepared and they went in
and sat down to it. And as they supped, a number of pages, very fair of
face, played upon harps before them; and sundry damsels sang very
sweetly in accord to that music, so that the bosom of Sir Gawaine was
greatly expanded with joy. Wherefore he said to himself, “Why should I
ever leave this place? Lo! I have been banished from King Arthur’s
Court; why then should I not establish here a Court of mine own that
might, in time, prove to be like to his for glory?” And the Lady Ettard
was so beautiful in his eyes that this seemed to him to be a wonderfully
pleasant thought.
* * * * *
Now turn we unto Sir Pellias:
[Sidenote: _Sir Pellias is a-doubt._]
For after Sir Gawaine had left him, the heart of Sir Pellias began to
misgive him that he had not been wise; and at last he said to himself,
“Suppose that Sir Gawaine should forget his duty to me when he meeteth
the Lady Ettard. For it seems that haply she possesses some potent charm
that might well draw the heart of Sir Gawaine unto her. Wherefore if Sir
Gawaine should come within the circle of such enchantment as that, he
may forget his duty unto me and may transgress against the honor of his
knighthood.”
And the more that Sir Pellias thought of this the more troubled he grew
in his mind. So at last, when evening had fallen, he called an esquire
unto him and he said, “Go, and fetch me hither the garb of a black
friar, for I would fain go unto the castle of Grantmesnle in disguise.”
So the esquire went as he commanded and brought him such a garb, and Sir
Pellias clad himself therein.
Now, by that time, the darkness had come entirely over the face of the
earth so that it would not have been possible for anyone to know Sir
Pellias, even if they had seen his face. So he went unto the castle, and
they who were there, thinking that he was a black friar, as he appeared
to be, admitted him into the castle by the postern gate.
[Sidenote: _Sir Pellias cometh to the castle in disguise._]
So, as soon as Sir Pellias had come into the castle, he began to make
diligent inquiry concerning where he might find that knight who had come
thither in the afternoon, and those within the castle, still thinking
him to be a friar of black orders, said unto him, “What would ye with
that knight?” To the which Sir Pellias said, “I have a message for him.”
They of the castle said, “Ye cannot come at that knight just now, for he
is at supper with the Lady Ettard, and he holds her in pleasant
discourse.”
At this Sir Pellias began to wax very angry, for he greatly misliked the
thought that Sir Gawaine should then make merry with the Lady Ettard. So
he said, speaking very sternly, “I must presently have speech with that
knight, wherefore I bid ye to bring me unto him without delay.” Then
they of the castle said, “Wait and we will see if that knight is willing
to have you come to him.”
So one of the attendants went unto that place where Sir Gawaine sat at
supper with the Lady Ettard, and he said, “Sir Knight, there hath come
hither a black friar who demandeth to have present speech with thee, and
he will not be denied, but continually maketh that demand.”
At this Sir Gawaine was greatly troubled in his conscience, for he knew
that he was not dealing honorably by Sir Pellias, and he pondered
whether or not this black friar might be a messenger from his friend.
But yet he could not see how he might deny such a messenger speech with
him. So, after a while of thought, he said, “Fetch the black friar
hither and let him deliver his message to me.”
So Sir Pellias, in the garb of a black friar, was brought by the
attendants into the outer room of that place where Sir Gawaine sat at
supper with the lady. But for a little time Sir Pellias did not enter
the room, but stood behind the curtain of the ante-room and looked upon
them, for he desired to make sure as to whether or no Sir Gawaine was
true to him.
Now everything in that room where the knight and the lady sat was
bedight with extraordinary splendor, and it was illuminated by a light
of several score of waxen tapers that sent forth a most delightful
perfume as they burned. And as Sir Pellias stood behind the curtains, he
beheld Sir Gawaine and the Lady Ettard as they sat at the table
together, and he saw that they were filled with pleasure in the company
of one another. And he saw that Sir Gawaine and the lady quaffed wine
out of the same chalice and that the cup was of gold. And as he saw
those two making merry with one another, he was filled with great anger
and indignation, for he now perceived that Sir Gawaine had betrayed him.
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._]
But when the Lady Ettard saw his intent she spake to him with very great
anger, for she was very much affronted in that he had deceived her when
he said that he had overcome Sir Pellias. Wherefore she said with great
heat, “Thou mayst go, and I am very willing for to have thee do so, for
thou didst say false when thou didst tell me that thou hadst overcome
Sir Pellias. For now I perceive that he is both a stronger and a nobler
knight than thou. For he smote thee as though thou wert his servant, and
thou yet bearest the marks of his fingers upon thy cheek.”
At this Sir Gawaine was exceedingly wroth and entirely filled with the
shame of that which had befallen him, wherefore he said, “Lady, I think
thou hast bewitched me to bring me to such a pass of dishonor. As for
Sir Pellias, look forth into that meadow to-morrow and see if I do not
put a deeper mark upon him than ever he hath put upon me.” Thereupon he
left that place and went down into the court-yard and called upon the
attendants who were there for to fetch him his horse. So they did as he
commanded and he straightway rode forth into the night.
And he was very glad of the darkness of the night, for it appeared to