Bab Bab 94 · How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant,

. How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant,

and how he fought and conquered him.

Then came to him an husbandman of the country, and told him how there

was in the country of Constantine beside Brittany, a great giant which

had slain, murdered and devoured much people of the country, and had

been sustained seven year with the children of the commons of that

land, insomuch that all the children be all slain and destroyed; and

now late he hath taken the Duchess of Brittany as she rode with her

meiny, and hath led her to his lodging which is in a mountain, for to

ravish and lie by her to her life’s end, and many people followed her,

more than five hundred, but all they might not rescue her, but they

left her shrieking and crying lamentably, wherefore I suppose that he

hath slain her in fulfilling his foul lust of lechery. She was wife

unto thy cousin Sir Howell, whom we call full nigh of thy blood. Now,

as thou art a rightful king, have pity on this lady, and revenge us all

as thou art a noble conqueror. Alas, said King Arthur, this is a great

mischief, I had liefer than the best realm that I have that I had been

a furlong way to-fore him for to have rescued that lady. Now, fellow,

said King Arthur, canst thou bring me thereas this giant haunteth? Yea,

Sir, said the good man, look yonder whereas thou seest those two great

fires, there shalt thou find him, and more treasure than I suppose is

in all France. When the king had understood this piteous case, he

returned into his tent.

Then he called to him Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them

secretly to make ready horse and harness for himself and them twain;

for after evensong he would ride on pilgrimage with them two only unto

Saint Michael’s mount. And then anon he made him ready, and armed him

at all points, and took his horse and his shield. And so they three

departed thence and rode forth as fast as ever they might till that

they came to the foreland of that mount. And there they alighted, and

the king commanded them to tarry there, for he would himself go up into

that mount. And so he ascended up into that hill till he came to a

great fire, and there he found a careful widow wringing her hands and

making great sorrow, sitting by a grave new made. And then King Arthur

saluted her, and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation,

to whom she answered and said, Sir knight, speak soft, for yonder is a

devil, if he hear thee speak he will come and destroy thee; I hold thee

unhappy; what dost thou here in this mountain? for if ye were such

fifty as ye be, ye were not able to make resistance against this devil:

here lieth a duchess dead, the which was the fairest of all the world,

wife to Sir Howell, Duke of Brittany, he hath murdered her in forcing

her, and hath slit her unto the navel.

Dame, said the king, I come from the noble conqueror King Arthur, for

to treat with that tyrant for his liege people. Fie on such treaties,

said she, he setteth not by the king nor by no man else; but an if thou

have brought Arthur’s wife, dame Guenever, he shall be gladder than

thou hadst given to him half France. Beware, approach him not too nigh,

for he hath vanquished fifteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of

precious stones embroidered with their beards, which they sent him to

have his love for salvation of their people at this last Christmas. And

if thou wilt, speak with him at yonder great fire at supper. Well, said

Arthur, I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words; and

went forth by the crest of that hill, and saw where he sat at supper

gnawing on a limb of a man, baking his broad limbs by the fire, and

breechless, and three fair damosels turning three broaches whereon were

broached twelve young children late born, like young birds.

When King Arthur beheld that piteous sight he had great compassion on

them, so that his heart bled for sorrow, and hailed him, saying in this

wise: He that all the world wieldeth give thee short life and shameful

death; and the devil have thy soul; why hast thou murdered these young

innocent children, and murdered this duchess? Therefore, arise and

dress thee, thou glutton, for this day shalt thou die of my hand. Then

the glutton anon started up, and took a great club in his hand, and

smote at the king that his coronal fell to the earth. And the king hit

him again that he carved his belly and cut off his genitours, that his

guts and his entrails fell down to the ground. Then the giant threw

away his club, and caught the king in his arms that he crushed his

ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and called to Christ for help

and comfort of Arthur. And then Arthur weltered and wrung, that he was

other while under and another time above. And so weltering and

wallowing they rolled down the hill till they came to the sea mark, and

ever as they so weltered Arthur smote him with his dagger.

And it fortuned they came to the place whereas the two knights were and

kept Arthur’s horse; then when they saw the king fast in the giant’s

arms they came and loosed him. And then the king commanded Sir Kay to

smite off the giant’s head, and to set it upon a truncheon of a spear,

and bear it to Sir Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain; and

after let this head be bound to a barbican that all the people may see

and behold it; and go ye two up to the mountain, and fetch me my

shield, my sword, and the club of iron; and as for the treasure, take

ye it, for ye shall find there goods out of number; so I have the

kirtle and the club I desire no more. This was the fiercest giant that

ever I met with, save one in the mount of Araby, which I overcame, but

this was greater and fiercer. Then the knights fetched the club and the

kirtle, and some of the treasure they took to themselves, and returned

again to the host. And anon this was known through all the country,

wherefore the people came and thanked the king. And he said again, Give

the thanks to God, and depart the goods among you.

And after that King Arthur said and commanded his cousin Howell, that

he should ordain for a church to be builded on the same hill in the

worship of Saint Michael. And on the morn the king removed with his

great battle, and came into Champayne and in a valley, and there they

pight their tents; and the king being set at his dinner, there came in

two messengers, of whom that one was Marshal of France, and said to the

king that the emperor was entered into France, and had destroyed a

great part, and was in Burgoyne, and had destroyed and made great

slaughter of people, and burnt towns and boroughs; wherefore, if thou

come not hastily, they must yield up their bodies and goods.