Kabanata Kabanata 85 · How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and how he came to

. How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and how he came to

the Duke of the South Marches.

Now turn we unto Sir Marhaus, that rode with the damosel of thirty

winter of age, southward. And so they came into a deep forest, and by

fortune they were nighted, and rode long in a deep way, and at the last

they came unto a courtelage, and there they asked harbour. But the man

of the courtelage would not lodge them for no treatise that they could

treat, but thus much the good man said, An ye will take the adventure

of your lodging, I shall bring you where ye shall be lodged. What

adventure is that that I shall have for my lodging? said Sir Marhaus.

Ye shall wit when ye come there, said the good man. Sir, what adventure

so it be, bring me thither I pray thee, said Sir Marhaus; for I am

weary, my damosel, and my horse. So the good man went and opened the

gate, and within an hour he brought him unto a fair castle, and then

the poor man called the porter, and anon he was let into the castle,

and so he told the lord how he brought him a knight errant and a

damosel that would be lodged with him. Let him in, said the lord, it

may happen he shall repent that they took their lodging here.

So Sir Marhaus was let in with torchlight, and there was a goodly sight

of young men that welcomed him. And then his horse was led into the

stable, and he and the damosel were brought into the hall, and there

stood a mighty duke and many goodly men about him. Then this lord asked

him what he hight, and from whence he came, and with whom he dwelt.

Sir, he said, I am a knight of King Arthur’s and knight of the Table

Round, and my name is Sir Marhaus, and born I am in Ireland. And then

said the duke to him, That me sore repenteth: the cause is this, for I

love not thy lord nor none of thy fellows of the Table Round; and

therefore ease thyself this night as well as thou mayest, for as

to-morn I and my six sons shall match with you. Is there no remedy but

that I must have ado with you and your six sons at once? said Sir

Marhaus. No, said the duke, for this cause I made mine avow, for Sir

Gawaine slew my seven sons in a recounter, therefore I made mine avow,

there should never knight of King Arthur’s court lodge with me, or come

thereas I might have ado with him, but that I would have a revenging of

my sons’ death. What is your name? said Sir Marhaus; I require you tell

me, an it please you. Wit thou well I am the Duke of South Marches. Ah,

said Sir Marhaus, I have heard say that ye have been long time a great

foe unto my lord Arthur and to his knights. That shall ye feel to-morn,

said the duke. Shall I have ado with you? said Sir Marhaus. Yea, said

the duke, thereof shalt thou not choose, and therefore take you to your

chamber, and ye shall have all that to you longeth. So Sir Marhaus

departed and was led to a chamber, and his damosel was led unto her

chamber. And on the morn the duke sent unto Sir Marhaus and bade make

him ready. And so Sir Marhaus arose and armed him, and then there was a

mass sung afore him, and brake his fast, and so mounted on horseback in

the court of the castle where they should do the battle. So there was

the duke all ready on horseback, clean armed, and his six sons by him,

and everych had a spear in his hand, and so they encountered, whereas

the duke and his two sons brake their spears upon him, but Sir Marhaus

held up his spear and touched none of them.