courteously down and tarry, I pray thee;
and whatso thy will is we shall wit after."
"Nay, so help me he that sits on high," quoth the hero.
"To dwell any time in this house was not my errand;
but because the fame of this people is lifted up so high,
and thy town and thy men are held the best,
the stoutest in steel gear on steeds to ride,
the wightest and the worthiest of the world’s kind,
and proved opponents in other proper sports;
and here courtesy is known, as I have heard tell,
— it is this that has enticed me hither certainly at this time.
You may be sure by this branch that I bear here
that I pass in peace and seek no quarrel;
for if I had set out with a company in fighting fashion,
I have a hauberk at home and a helm both,
a shield and a sharp spear shining bright,
and other weapons to wield, I ween well also;
but since I wished no war, my weeds are softer.
Now if thou be as bold as all men tell,
thou wilt grant me graciously the game that I ask."
Arthur knew how to answer,
and said: "Sir courteous knight,
if it is battle that thou cravest,
thou shalt not fail of a fight here."
13.
"Nay, I demand no fight; in faith I tell thee
there are but beardless children about on this bench.
If I were hasped in arms on a high steed
there is no man here to match me,
their might is so weak.
Therefore I crave in this court a Christmas game,
for it is Yule and New Year,
and here are many gallants.
If there be a man in this house who holds himself so hardy,
is so bold in his blood, so rash in his head,
that he dares stiffly strike one stroke for another,
I shall give him as my gift this rich gisarm,
this axe, that is heavy enough, to handle as he likes;
and I shall abide the first blow as bare as I sit.
If any warrior be wight enough to try what I propose,
let him leap lightly to me and take this weapon —
I quit-claim it forever, let him keep it as his own —
and I shall stand him a stroke firmly on this floor.
At another time, by our Lady,
thou wilt grant me the boon of dealing him another blow;
I will give him respite of a twelvemonth and a day.
Now hie, and let us see quickly
if any herein dare say aught."
14.
If he had astonished them at first,
stiller were then all the retainers in hall,
the high and the low.
The warrior on his steed settled himself in his saddle,
and fiercely his red eyes he reeled about;
bent his thick brows, shining green;
and waved his beard, awaiting whoso would rise.
When none would answer him he coughed aloud,
stretched himself haughtily and began to speak;
"What! Is this Arthur’s house," said the hero then,
"that is famous through so many realms?
Where is now your pride and your conquests,
your fierceness, and your wrath and your great words?
Now is the revel and the renown of the Round Table
overcome by the word of a single man;
for all tremble for dread without a blow shown."
With this he laughed so loud that the lord grieved;
the blood shot for shame into his fair face.
He waxed as wroth as the wind;
and so did all that were there.
The king so keen of mood
then stood near that proud man.
15.
"Sir," said he, "by heaven thy asking is foolish;
and as thou hast demanded folly,
it behooves thee to find it.
I know no man that is aghast of thy great words.
Give me now this gisarm, for God’s sake,
and I will grant thy boon that thou has bidden."
Quickly he leaped to him and caught at his hand;
and the other alights fiercely on foot.
Now Arthur has his axe, and grips the helve;
he whirls it sternly about as if he meant to strife with it.
The bold stranger stood upright before him,
higher than any in the house by a head and more;
with stern cheer he stood there, stroked his beard,
and with cool countenance drew down his coat,
no more afraid or dismayed for Arthur’s great strokes
than if some one had brought him a drink of wine upon the bench.
Gawain, that sat by the queen, turned to the king:
"I beseech now with all courtesy
that this affair might be mine."
16.
"Would ye, worthy lord," quoth Gawain to the king,
"bid me step from this bench and stand by you there,
— that I without rudeness might leave this table
and that my liege lady liked it not ill —
I would come to your help before your rich court;
for methinks it is obviously unseemly that such an asking
is made so much of in your hall,
even though ye yourself be willing to take it upon you,
while so many bold ones sit about you on the bench;
than whom, I ween,
none under heaven are higher of spirit,
nor more mighty on the field where strike is reared.
I am the weakest, I know, and feeblest of wit;
and to tell the truth there would be the least loss in my life.
I am only to praise forasmuch as ye are my uncle;
no other nobility than your blood know I in my body.
And since this adventure is so foolish,
it belongs not to you;
I have asked it of you first; give it to me.
Let this great court decide15 if I have not spoken well." The heroes took counsel together and they all gave the same advice, — to free the crowned king and give the game to Gawain.
17.