  ARGUMENTIn the Introduction the poet tells of the evil of doubt and unsteadfastness—against which he would warn both men and women; he will tell them a tale which shall speak of truth and steadfastness, and in which many strange marvels shall befall. Book I. tells how Gamuret of Anjou at the death of his father, King Gandein, refused to become his brother's vassal, and went forth to seek fame and love-guerdon for himself. How he fought under the Baruch before Alexandria, and came to Patelamunt. How Queen BelakanÉ was accused of having caused the death of her lover Eisenhart, and was besieged by two armies, which Friedebrand, King of Scotland, Eisenhart's uncle, had brought against her. How Gamuret defeated her foemen, and married the Queen, and became King of Assagog and Zassamank. How he grew weary for lack of knightly deeds, and sailed away in secret from Queen BelakanÉ, and left her a letter telling of his name and race. How Feirifis was born, and how Gamuret came to Seville. BOOK I GAMURET o came,And his shipman he rode beside him, a wise man of goodly fame. And much folk was within the city, and Moors were both man and maid.295 Then the hero he looked around him, and, lo! many a shield displayed, Battle-hewn and with spear-thrust piercÈd they hung on each wall and door. And wailing and woe was their portion; for the knight at each window saw Many men lie sorely wounded, who to breathe the air were fain, And e'en tho' a leech might tend them no help might they think to gain300 Who were hurt too sore for healing—In the field had they faced the foe, And such shall be their rewarding who in conflict no flight will know— Many horses were led towards him, sword-hewn and with lance thrust through; And on each side stood dusky maidens, and black as the night their hue. Then his host gave him kindly greeting—and of joy did he reap his meed—305 A rich man was he and mighty, and many a knightly deed And many a knight was with him, and bandaged their heads and bound, And their hands in slings were holden; yet tho' sorely wounded still They did many deeds of knighthood, nor were lacking in strength and skill.310 Then the Burg-grave of the city, with fair words did he pray his guest To deal with him and his household in such wise as should seem him best. And the host, he led the hero to his wife, and courteously Did Gamuret kiss the lady, small joy in the kiss had he! Then they sat them down to the table, and e'en as the feast was o'er,315 The Marshal he gat him swiftly to the queen, and the tidings bore, And craved from her goodly payment, as to messenger shall be due. And he spake, 'It shall end in gladness, the grief that erewhile we knew, We have welcomed here, O Lady, a knight of such gallant mien, We must thank the gods who have sent him, for our need they have surely seen.'320 'Now tell me upon thine honour who this gallant knight may be?' 'Lady, a dauntless hero, and the Baruch's man is he, An Angevin he, of high lineage; Ah me! little did he spare Himself, when his foemen seeking he forth to the field would fare. How wisely, with skill and cunning, he avoided the threatening blow,325 And turned him again to the onslaught! Much sorrow he wrought his foe— Ere this have I seen him battle, when the princes of Babylon Their city of Alexandria had fain from the Baruch won, And with force from its walls would drive him, and many a man lay dead In the overthrow of their army, for their venture was but ill-sped.330 And such deeds did he do, this hero, that no counsel was theirs but flight: And there did I hear his praises, for all spake of this gallant knight As one who, without denial, had won him, in many a land, The crown of true knightly honour, by the strength of his own right hand. 'Now fain would I speak with the hero, see thou to the time and way;335 E'en now might he ride to the castle, for peace shall be kept to-day. Were it better that I should seek him? He is other than we in face, Pray Heaven it not displease him, but our need with the knight find grace! That I show to this stranger honour—If it pleaseth him to draw near,340 Say, how shall I best receive him? Shall the knight be so nobly born That my kiss be not lost, if I kiss him?' 'Nay, hold me of life forsworn If he be not of kings the kinsman! Lady, this word I'll bear To thy princes, that they shall clothe them in raiment both fit and fair, And stand before thee, in due order, ere yet to thy court we ride, 345 And the same shalt thou say to thy ladies—In the city he doth abide; I will ride below, and will bring him to thy palace, a worthy guest, For no fair or knightly virtue shall be lacking that noble breast.' But little space they delayed them, for the Marshal, with ready skill, Strove that all in such wise be ordered as should pleasure his lady's will.350 But soon did they bear to the hero rich garments, he did them on, And this hath the venture told me that their cost should be hardly won; And thereon lay the anchors, heavy, and wrought of Arabian gold, For so had he willed. Then the hero, who fair payment for love had told A charger bestrode that 'fore Babylon a knight rode, for jousting fain,355 From the saddle did Gamuret smite him, and I wot it hath wrought him pain. If his host thought to ride beside him? He and his gallant knights? Yea, in sooth they would do so, gladly—So wended they up the height, And dismounted before the palace; and many a knight stood there, And each, as was fit, had clothed him in raiment both rich and fair.360 And his pages they ran before him, and each twain they went hand in hand, And in marvellous fair arraying he saw many ladies stand. And the queen, her eyes brought her sorrow as she looked on the Angevin, So lovely was he to look on that he needs must an entrance win Thro' the gates of her heart, if 'twere anguish or joy that within he bore,365 Tho' her womanhood 'gainst all comers had held them fast closed before. Then a space did she step towards him, and a kiss from her guest she prayed; And, herself, by the hand she took him and they sat them, both man and maid In a window wide, that looked forth from the palace upon the foe, And a covering of wadded samite was spread o'er the couch below. 370 Is there aught that than day is lighter? Then it likeneth not the queen! But unlike to the dew-dipped roses was her colour, yea, black as night. And her crown was a costly ruby, and thro' it ye saw aright Her raven head. Then as hostess she spake to her guest this word, And his foe in his course rode o'er him, and trode him unto the ground, But Gamuret's lance had pierced him thro' the arm, and he bade him yield,595 And he knew he had found his master, and he spake from the foughten field, 'Now who shall have o'erthrown me?' and the victor he swiftly spake, 'Gamuret Angevin do men call me!' then he quoth, 'Thou my pledge canst take!' Then his pledge the knight took, and straightway he sent him within the wall, And much praise did he win from the women who looked from the castle hall.600 And swiftly there came towards him, Gaschier of Normandy, A proud and wealthy hero and mighty in strife was he. And Gamuret made him ready, for a second joust he'ld ride, And strong and new was his spear-shaft, and the iron was both sharp and wide, And the strangers they faced each other—But unequal their lot, I trow,605 For Gaschier and his gallant charger full swiftly were they laid low, And the knight with his arms and harness he fell in the shock of strife; If he thought it for good or for evil, by his pledge must he win his life. Then Gamuret quoth, the hero, 'Thou hast pledged unto me thine hand, Yet the weapon it well hath wielded! Ride thou to the Scottish band,610 And bid them to cease from troubling; if they to thy will are fain, Thou canst follow me to the city.' Then the knight hied him o'er the plain. If he prayed them, or gave commandment, they did at the last his will, And the Scottish host they rested, and from conflict they held them still. Then Kailet spurred swift towards him, but Gamuret turned his rein,615 His cousin he was, and near kinsman, why then bring him grief and pain? And the Spaniard cried loudly on him; on his helm he an ostrich bare, And so far as I know to tell ye the knight he was decked so fair With silken raiment goodly, and long were his robes and wide, And the plain rang clear with the chiming of sweet bells as he o'er it hied.620 The flower he of manly beauty, and his fairness it held the field, Save for two who should come hereafter, and his fame unto theirs must yield; Not yet were they born, but hereafter for their beauty men held them dear! Then Gaschier he grasped his bridle. 'Now checked will it be thy race,625 So I tell thee upon mine honour, if the Angevin thou shalt face Who there my pledge hath taken. Sir Knight, thou shalt list my prayer And hearken unto my counsel; in Gamuret's hand I sware From strife aside to turn thee: stay thy steed then for my sake, For mighty is he in conflict!' Then aloud King Kailet spake, 630 'Is he Gamuret my cousin, and son unto King Gandein? Then I care not with him to battle, no foe shall he be of mine! Take thine hand from off my bridle'—'Nay, further thou shalt not fare Till mine eyes have first beheld thee, with thine head of the helmet bare, For mine with blows is deafened!' Then his helmet the prince unbound.635 And yet, tho' with him he fought not, Gamuret other foemen found. And the day had grown to high morning—And the folk who the joust might see Were glad at heart, and they gat them to their bulwarks right speedily, For he was as a net before them, and none might escape his hold. And he chose him another charger, so the tale unto me was told, 640 And it flew, and the earth it spurnÈd, and its work could aright fulfil, Bold when the knight would battle, yet its speed could he check at will. And what would he do the rider? His valour I praise alway, For he rode where the Moorish army to the west by the sea-coast lay. Thence a prince, Rassalig men called him, forgat not each coming morn645 (He was Assagog's richest hero, to riches and honour born Since he came of a royal lineage) to take from the camp his way He would fain joust before the city—But his strength it was quelled that day By Anjou's dauntless hero; and a dusky maid made moan (Since 'twas she who sent him hither) that her knight should be thus o'erthrown.650 For a squire brought, without his bidding, to his master, brave Gamuret, A spear, with light reed-shaft fashioned, and its point 'gainst the Moor he set, And with it he smote the paynim from his steed down upon the sand, Nor longer he bade him lie there than as surety he pledged his hand. Then Gamuret saw eight banners toward the city that onward came, And he bade the conquered hero the force with his word to stay, And follow him to the city. And that word must he needs obey. Nor Gaschier delayed his coming; and unto the Burg-grave told How his guest sought for further conflict nor his wrath might the host withhold.660 If he swallowed not iron as an ostrich, nor his wrath did on stones assuage 'Twas but that he might not find them! Then he gnashed his teeth for rage, And he growled as a mighty lion, and the hair of his head he tare, And he quoth, 'So the years of my lifetime a harvest of folly bear, The gods they had sent to my keeping a valiant and worthy friend, 665 If with strife he shall be o'erladen, then mine honour hath found an end; Sword and shield they shall little profit—Yea, shame he would on me cast Who should bring this to my remembrance!' Then swift from his place he passed, And he gat him into the portal, and a squire towards him drew, And he bare a shield that was painted with a knight by a spear pierced thro',670 In Eisenhart's land was it fashioned; and a helmet his hand must hold, And a sword that Rassalig carried in battle, that heathen bold, But now was he parted from it whose fame was in every place; Were he slain unbaptized I think me, God had shown to this hero grace!890 Yet had she no thought of anger, but she spake, 'Ah! too soon 'tis o'er, Of a sooth would I do his bidding, would it bring him to me once more. In whose charge hath my courteous hero left the fruit of his love so true? Alas! for the sweet communion that we twain for a short space knew! Shall the strength of my bitter sorrow rule body and soul alway? 895 And she quoth, 'Now his God to honour, his will would I fain obey, And gladly I'ld be baptizÈd, and live as should please my love!' And sorrow with her heart struggled, and e'en as the turtle dove Her joy sought the withered branches, for the same mind was hers, I ween, When the mate of the turtle dieth, she forsaketh the branches green.900 Then the queen at the time appointed bare a son, who was dark and light, For in him had God wrought a wonder, at one while was he black and white. And a thousand times she kissed him where white as his sire's his skin. And she named the babe of her sorrows Feirefis Angevin. And he was a woodland-waster, many spears did he shatter fair, 905 And shields did he pierce—as a magpie the hue of his face and hair. Now a year and more was ended since Gamuret won such fame And yet o'er the seas he drifted, for the winds vexed the hero bold. Then a silken sail red gleaming he saw, and the barque did hold 910 The men whom the King of Scotland, Friedebrand, sent upon their way At the bidding of Queen BelakanÉ: from her would they pardon pray That ever he came against her, tho' in sooth he had lost the more. And with them the diamond helmet, the corslet and sword they bore, And hosen e'en such as the harness, and a marvel it needs must be 915 That the barque was thus borne towards him, as the venture hath told to me! And they gave him the goodly armour, and an oath unto them he swore That his mouth it should speak their message, an he came to the queen once more. And they parted; and one hath told me that the sea bare him onward bound Till he came to a goodly haven, and in Seville his goal he found. 920 And with gold did he pay his steersman right well for his guidance true, And they parted, those twain, and sorrow the heart of that steersman knew! |
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