Syr Gawayne asked hym in that stounde. I yelde me, fyr knyght, and faue my lyfe, That fheowith in the to-daye; There ys no bote to ftrydel agayne, 160 165 170 175 Fare well, and haue good daye.” For thou arte a knyght full ftronge of mayne, Thus Gyamoure wente downe the mountayne hye, 180 [fol. 18] On foote he wente full werelve, Hys father foone hym fpyed; *A! wellcome." he fayed, my fonne Gramoure, Thou went on horie-backe, lyke a good knyght, “Father,” he fayde, “yt wyll none otherwise be, 185 190 I fuppofe on of the Rounde Table, He came rydynge on a iolye courfyer, He was not ware of hys father deare, But hys brother called hym neare, And fayde, "Syr, nowe abyde;" He than turned hys horfe, that knyght fo gaye, By leapes out of straye, Hys hearte was full of pryde. Than founde he hys father all blodye, And hys brother was wounded fyckerlye, [fol. 19.] In hys hearte he began to be syke: "A! fyr, who hath wounded youe?” quod he, That shall hym myslyke.” 66 "I wys, fonne, yt ys a knyght stronge, That hath done vs thys wronge, Aboue on the mountayne; He hath me wounded pafsynge foore, And I trowe thy brother he hathe well more, And by thy syster he hathe layne. Therfore go nowe, as a knyght good, And auenge the fhedynge of thy fathers blood, As faste as euer thou maye; Loke that thou fayle not for no cowardyfe, For he ys good at a-faye." "I fee well, father, he ys a knyght stronge, But he hathe done youe greate wronge, Yt woulde be harde hym to wynne; 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 But neuer the later I fhall do my myght, T HYS knyght Syr Tey turned hys horse, He came to the pauylion, with greate pryde,— "Haue done, fyr knyght, thy horse bestryde, Syr Gawayne loked out at the pauylyon doore, To hym he fayed verelye; "Syr, yf I haue ought to youe offended, [fol. 19b.] I am ready to make yt to be amended, By mylde mother Marye!" "Naye, Syr knyght, yt maye not fo be, 230 235 240 245 250 He toke hys horfe with a greate randone,- 255 What in youre hearte ys mente." "Lo! here I am," fayde Syr Terrye, "For to the I haue greate enuye," And together gan they dafshe; They rufshed to-gether with fuche debate, That marueyll yt was howe that they sate, Syr Terrye fpake in that place, And Gawayne fought faste in that race, 260 [fol. 20.] "What," fayde Gawayne, "ys that youre boast greate? Ys youre ftrenght all done?" "Yea, fyr, in fayth, fo god me nowe faue! Of me thou mayste no more craue, For all my myght ys gone. Thou haste to-day wonne thre knyghtes, The father, and two fonnes, that well fyghtes, And yf thou maye wynne our eldest brother, [fol. 20b.] I call thee the best knyght, and none other, That euer fought in fyelde. For he ys full wyght, I warne youe welle, He endureth better than doth the steele, And that fhalte thou foone fee; But he be thy matche I can not knowe, Of knyghthode thoue haste no felowe, On my fayth I ensure thee." "Nowe," quod Gawayne, "lette hym be, Yt ys daye thou do me no greue; ' that, MS. 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 With oute any moore repreue." Syr Terrye fayde, "therto I graunte, Fare well nowe, God be thy warrante,”- He lefte neuer tyll he came there, Where as hys father and Gyamoure were, 300 That carefull heartes had, god wote. Than befpake Gyamoure, hys yongest brother, 305 "Syr, thou hast gotten as we haue, and non other, "By god!” fayde Syr Terrye, "fo nowe yt ys, And that ys proued on me." 66 Yea," quod Syr Gylbart, that Earle fo olde, My doughters loue he hath clene wanne, As they thre ftode thus talkynge, [fol. 21.] They hearde a manne full loude fynge, "That ys my fonne Brandles fo gaye, He wyll leaue hys fonge." By than they fawe the knight comynge, A grene boughe in hys hande he dyd brynge, Hys horfe was trapped in redde veluett, Many ouches of golde theron was fette, Of knyghthode he had no peere. Alfo hys horse was armed before, The headde and the brest, and no more, And that in fyne steele; Hym felfe was armed pafsynge fure, In harneys that woulde ftrokes endure, 310 315 320 325 330 |