Chương Chương 99 · Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a Saracen, which

. Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a Saracen, which

after was yielden and became Christian.

Then they took their spears and ran each at other with all the might

they had, and smote each other through their shields into their

shoulders, wherefore anon they pulled out their swords, and smote great

strokes that the fire sprang out of their helms. Then Sir Gawaine was

all abashed, and with Galatine his good sword he smote through shield

and thick hauberk made of thick mails, and all to-rushed and break the

precious stones, and made him a large wound, that men might see both

liver and lung. Then groaned that knight, and addressed him to Sir

Gawaine, and with an awk stroke gave him a great wound and cut a vein,

which grieved Gawaine sore, and he bled sore. Then the knight said to

Sir Gawaine, bind thy wound or thy blee[ding] change, for thou

be-bleedest all thy horse and thy fair arms, for all the barbers of

Brittany shall not con staunch thy blood, for whosomever is hurt with

this blade he shall never be staunched of bleeding. Then answered

Gawaine, it grieveth me but little, thy great words shall not fear me

nor lessen my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen and sorrow or we

depart, but tell me in haste who may staunch my bleeding. That may I

do, said the knight, if I will, and so will I if thou wilt succour and

aid me, that I may be christened and believe on God, and thereof I

require thee of thy manhood, and it shall be great merit for thy soul.

I grant, said Gawaine, so God help me, to accomplish all thy desire,

but first tell me what thou soughtest here thus alone, and of what land

and liegiance thou art of. Sir, he said, my name is Priamus, and a

great prince is my father, and he hath been rebel unto Rome and

overridden many of their lands. My father is lineally descended of

Alexander and of Hector by right line. And Duke Joshua and Maccabaeus

were of our lineage. I am right inheritor of Alexandria and Africa, and

all the out isles, yet will I believe on thy Lord that thou believest

on; and for thy labour I shall give thee treasure enough. I was so

elate and hauteyn in my heart that I thought no man my peer, nor to me

semblable. I was sent into this war with seven score knights, and now I

have encountered with thee, which hast given to me of fighting my fill,

wherefore sir knight, I pray thee to tell me what thou art. I am no

knight, said Gawaine, I have been brought up in the guardrobe with the

noble King Arthur many years, for to take heed to his armour and his

other array, and to point his paltocks that long to himself. At Yule

last he made me yeoman, and gave to me horse and harness, and an

hundred pound in money; and if fortune be my friend, I doubt not but to

be well advanced and holpen by my liege lord. Ah, said Priamus, if his

knaves be so keen and fierce, his knights be passing good: now for the

King’s love of Heaven, whether thou be a knave or a knight, tell thou

me thy name. By God, said Sir Gawaine, now I will say thee sooth, my

name is Sir Gawaine, and known I am in his court and in his chamber,

and one of the knights of the Round Table, he dubbed me a duke with his

own hand. Therefore grudge not if this grace is to me fortuned, it is

the goodness of God that lent to me my strength. Now am I better

pleased, said Priamus, than thou hadst given to me all the Provence and

Paris the rich. I had liefer to have been torn with wild horses, than

any varlet had won such loos, or any page or priker should have had

prize on me. But now sir knight I warn thee that hereby is a Duke of

Lorraine with his army, and the noblest men of Dolphiny, and lords of

Lombardy, with the garrison of Godard, and Saracens of Southland,

y-numbered sixty thousand of good men of arms; wherefore but if we hie

us hence, it will harm us both, for we be sore hurt, never like to

recover; but take heed to my page, that he no horn blow, for if he do,

there be hoving here fast by an hundred knights awaiting on my person,

and if they take thee, there shall no ransom of gold nor silver acquit

thee.

Then Sir Gawaine rode over a water for to save him, and the knight

followed him, and so rode forth till they came to his fellows which

were in the meadow, where they had been all the night. Anon as Sir

Wisshard was ware of Sir Gawaine and saw that he was hurt, he ran to

him sorrowfully weeping, and demanded of him who had so hurt him; and

Gawaine told how he had foughten with that man, and each of them had

hurt other, and how he had salves to heal them; but I can tell you

other tidings, that soon we shall have ado with many enemies.

Then Sir Priamus and Sir Gawaine alighted, and let their horses graze

in the meadow, and unarmed them, and then the blood ran freshly from

their wounds. And Priamus took from his page a vial full of the four

waters that came out of Paradise, and with certain balm anointed their

wounds, and washed them with that water, and within an hour after they

were both as whole as ever they were. And then with a trumpet were they

all assembled to council, and there Priamus told unto them what lords

and knights had sworn to rescue him, and that without fail they should

be assailed with many thousands, wherefore he counselled them to

withdraw them. Then Sir Gawaine said, it were great shame to them to

avoid without any strokes; Wherefore I advise to take our arms and to

make us ready to meet with these Saracens and misbelieving men, and

with the help of God we shall overthrow them and have a fair day on

them. And Sir Florence shall abide still in this field to keep the

stale as a noble knight, and we shall not forsake yonder fellows. Now,

said Priamus, cease your words, for I warn you ye shall find in yonder

woods many perilous knights; they will put forth beasts to call you on,

they be out of number, and ye are not past seven hundred, which be over

few to fight with so many. Nevertheless, said Sir Gawaine, we shall

once encounter them, and see what they can do, and the best shall have

the victory.