Arthurian Romances (42 page)

Then the son reluctantly agreed, for he had no choice. Seeing no other solution, he said he would do it for his father, provided they both follow the knight. When the people gathered in the meadows saw this, they all said: ‘Did you see that? The knight who was in the cart has won such honour this day that he is leading away my lord's son's lady, and my lord permits it. We may truthfully say that he believes there is some merit in the man to let him lead her off. A hundred curses on anyone who stops his play on his account! Let's return to our games!'

Then they resumed their games and returned to their rounds and dances.

The knight turned and rode out of the meadow at once. He took the girl with him and they set off purposefully. The son and father followed at a distance. Through a mowed field they rode until the hour of nones, when in a most picturesque setting they found a church with a walled crypt alongside the chancel. Being neither a boor nor fool, the knight entered the church on foot to pray to God; the girl looked after his horse until his return. When he had said his prayer and was returning, he saw an elderly monk coming directly towards him. As they met, the knight asked him politely to explain what was within the walls. The monk told him that there was a cemetery.

‘As God is your help, please take me there.'

‘Gladly, sir.'

Then he led him into the crypt, among the most beautiful tombs that could be found from there to Dombes,
¹⁴
or even to Pamplona. Upon each were carved letters forming the names of those who were to be buried in the tombs. The knight himself began to read through the list of names and discovered:
HERE WILL LIE GAWAIN, HERE LIONEL, AND HERE YVAIN.
After these three there were many resting places bearing the names of many fine knights, the most esteemed and greatest of this or any other land. Among the tombs he found one of marble, which seemed to be more finely worked than all the others.

The knight called to the monk and asked: ‘What is the purpose of all these tombs here?'

‘You have seen the inscriptions,' he replied. ‘If you have comprehended them well, then you know what they say and the meaning of the tombs.'

‘Tell me what that largest one is for?'

‘I will tell you all there is to know,' the hermit replied. ‘This sarcophagus surpasses all others that have ever been made. Never has anyone seen a more elaborate or finely carved tomb; it is beautiful without and even more so within. But do not be concerned about that, for it can never do you any good and you will never see inside, because if anyone were to wish to open the tomb, he would need seven large and very strong men to open it, since it is covered by a heavy stone slab. You can be sure that to lift it would take seven men stronger than you or I. On it is a carved inscription that says:
HE WHO WILL LIFT THIS SLAB BY HIS UNAIDED STRENGTH WILL FREE ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE IMPRISONED IN THE LAND WHENCE NO ONE RETURNS: SINCE FIRST THEY CAME HERE, NO CLERIC OR NOBLEMAN HAS BEEN FREED. FOREIGNERS ARE KEPT PRISONER, WHILE THOSE OF THIS LAND MAY COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE.

The knight went at once and seized hold of the slab and lifted it without the least difficulty, more easily than ten men could have done by putting their combined strength to the task. The monk was so astounded that he nearly fainted when he saw this marvel, for he never thought to see the like of it in all his life.

‘Sir,' he said, ‘now I am most eager to know your name. Will you tell me?'

‘Upon my word, I will not,' answered the knight.

‘Indeed, this weighs heavily upon me,' said the other. ‘But to tell me would be a worthy action, and you could be rewarded well. Who are you? Where are you from?'

‘I am a knight, as you see, born in the Kingdom of Logres – I think that is enough. Now, if you please, it is your turn to tell me who will lie in this tomb.'

‘Sir, he who will free all those who are trapped in the kingdom from which none escape.'

When the monk had told him all there was to know, the knight commended him to God and to all His saints, then returned to the girl as quickly as he could. The elderly, grey-haired monk accompanied him from the church till they reached the road. As the girl was remounting, the monk told her all that the knight had done inside and begged her to tell
him his name, if she knew it. She assured him that she did not know it, but that one thing was certain: there was not a living knight his equal as far as the four winds blow.

The girl left the monk and hurried after the knight. The two who had been following them arrived then and found the monk alone before the church. The old knight said: ‘Sir, tell us if you have seen a knight escorting a girl.'

The monk answered: ‘It will be no trouble to tell you all I know, for they have just this moment left here. While the knight was inside he did a most marvellous thing by lifting the stone slab from the huge marble tomb, alone and with no effort at all. He is going to rescue the queen. There is no doubt that he will rescue her and all the other people with her. You, who have often read the inscription on the stone slab, well know that this is so. Truly no mortal knight who ever sat in a saddle was as worthy as he.'

Then the father said to his son: ‘My son, what do you think? Is he not exceedingly bold to have performed such a deed? Now you can clearly tell whether it was you or I who was in the wrong. Not for all the wealth in Amiens would I have wanted you to fight with him. Yet you resisted mightily before you could be swayed from your purpose. Now we can return, for it would be madness to follow them further.'

‘I agree with that,' replied his son, ‘we are wasting our time following him. Let us return since that is your wish.'

He acted very wisely in turning back. The girl rode on beside the knight; she was eager to get him to pay attention to her and learn from him his name. Time and time again she begged and implored him until in his annoyance he said to her: ‘Did I not tell you that I'm from the Kingdom of Arthur? I swear by God and His might that you'll not learn my name.'

Then she asked him for leave to turn back, which he gladly granted. With that the girl left and the knight rode on alone until it was very late.

After vespers, about the hour of compline, as he was riding along he saw a knight coming out of the woods after hunting. He had his helmet strapped on and the venison God had permitted him to take was tied over the back of his iron-grey hunter. This vavasour rode swiftly up to the knight and prayed him to accept lodging.

‘Sir,' said he, ‘it will soon be night and is already past the time when it is reasonable to think of lodging. I have a manor house nearby where I will take you. I will do my best to lodge you better than you've ever been lodged before. I'll be happy if you'll accept.'

‘For my part, I'm delighted to accept,' said the knight.

The vavasour immediately sent his son ahead to make ready the house and hasten the supper preparations, and the youth loyally and willingly did as he was bidden, riding off rapidly. The others, in no hurry, continued their easy pace until they reached the house. This vavasour had married a very accomplished lady and was blessed with five much-beloved sons (three mere youths and two already knighted) as well as two beautiful and charming daughters, who were still unmarried. They were not natives of this land, but were held captive, having been imprisoned for a long while away from their homeland of Logres.

As the vavasour led the knight into his courtyard, his wife ran forward to meet him, and his sons and daughters all hastened out and vied with one another to serve him. They greeted the knight and helped him dismount. The sisters and five brothers almost ignored their father, for they knew that he would want it so. They made the stranger welcome and honoured him. When they had relieved him of his armour, one of his host's two daughters took her own mantle from her shoulders and placed it about his neck. I do not intend to give you any details about the fine dinner he was served; but after the meal they showed no reluctance to converse about many topics. First, the vavasour began to ask his guest who he was and from what land, but did not ask him his name.

Our knight answered at once: ‘I am from the Kingdom of Logres and have never before been in this land.'

When the vavasour heard this, he and his wife and all his children were most astonished. They were all very upset and began to say to him: ‘Woe that you were ever here, good sir, for you will suffer for it: like us you will be reduced to servitude and exile.'

‘And where then are you from?' the knight asked.

‘Sir, we are from your land. Many good men from your land are held in servitude in this country. Cursed be the custom, and those who promote it, that dictates that all foreigners who enter here must stay, prisoners in this land. Anyone who wishes may come in, but once here he must remain. Even for you there is no hope: I don't think you'll ever leave.'

‘Indeed I will,' said he, ‘if I am able.'

Then the vavasour said: ‘What! Do you believe you can escape?'

‘Yes, if God is willing. And I'll do everything within my power.'

‘Then all the others would be able to leave without fear; for when one person can escape this imprisonment without trickery, all the others, I assure you, will be able to leave unchallenged.'

The vavasour then remembered that he had been told that a knight of
great goodness was coming boldly into the land to seek the queen, who was being held by Meleagant, the king's son. He thought, ‘Indeed, I am quite convinced that this is he, I shall tell him so.' Then he spoke: ‘Sir, do not hide your purpose from me. For my part I swear to give you the best counsel I know. I myself stand to gain by any success you might have. For your good and mine, tell me the truth. I am convinced that you came into this land to seek the queen among this heathen people, who are worse than Saracens.'

‘I came for no other purpose,' replied the knight. ‘I do not know where my lady is imprisoned, but I am intent upon rescuing her and am thus in great need of counsel. Advise me if you can.'

‘Sir,' said the vavasour, ‘you have chosen a most difficult path. The one on which you are presently engaged will lead directly to the Sword Bridge. You must heed my advice. If you will trust me, I'll have you led to the Sword Bridge by a safer route.'

Eager to take the shortest route, he inquired: ‘Is that path as direct as the one before me?'

‘No,' said his host, ‘it is longer, but safer.'

‘Then I have no use for it. Tell me about this path, for I am set to take it.'

‘Indeed, sir, it will never profit you. If you take this path I advise against, you will come tomorrow to a pass where you might easily be harmed. It is called the Stone Passage. Do you want me to give you some idea of how bad a pass it is? Only one horse can go through there at a time; two men abreast could not go through it, and the pass is well defended. Do not expect it to be surrendered to you when first you get there; you'll have to take many blows from swords and lances, and return full measure before you can pass through.'

When he had told him all this, a knight, one of the vavasour's sons, stepped forward and said: ‘Sir, I will go with this knight, if it is not displeasing to you.'

At that one of the younger boys rose and said: ‘And I'll go too!'

Their father willingly gave leave to both. Now the knight would not have to travel alone; and he thanked them, being most grateful for the company.

Then they broke off their conversation and showed the knight to his bed so that he might sleep, if he wished. As soon as he could see the day dawning, he arose, and those who were to accompany him noticed this and immediately arose. The knights donned their armour, took their leave, and rode off – with the young boy leading the way. They travelled on together until they came to the Stone Passage, precisely at the hour of prime. In the
middle of the pass was a brattice in which a man always stood guard. While they were yet a good distance away, the man in the brattice saw them and shouted loudly, ‘Enemy approaching! Enemy approaching!'

Then immediately a mounted knight appeared upon the brattice, armed in spotless armour and surrounded by men-at-arms carrying sharp battle-axes. As our knight was nearing the pass, the mounted knight reproached him bitterly for having ridden in the cart: ‘Vassal! You acted boldly, yet like a naïve fool, in coming into this land. A man who has ridden in a cart should never enter here. And may God never reward you for it!'

At that, the two spurred towards each other as fast as their horses would carry them. The knight whose duty it was to guard the pass split his lance with the first blow and let both pieces fall. The other took aim at his throat just above the upper edge of his shield and tossed him flat on his back upon the stones. The men-at-arms reached for their axes, yet they deliberately avoided striking him, for they had no desire to injure either him or his horse. The knight saw clearly that they did not wish to wound him in any way and had no desire to harm him, so without drawing his sword he passed beyond them unchallenged, with his companions after him.

‘Never have I seen such a good knight,' the younger son said to his brother, ‘and never was there anyone to equal him. Has he not performed an amazing feat by forcing a passage through here?'

‘Good brother,' the knight replied, ‘for God's sake, hurry now to our father and tell him of this adventure!'

The younger son swore that he would never go tell him and would never leave this knight's company until he had been dubbed and knighted by him. Let his brother deliver the message if he is so eager to do so!

The three then rode on together until about the hour of nones, when they encountered a man who asked them who they were.

‘We are knights going about our business,' they answered.

And the man said to the knight who seemed to him to be lord and master of the others: ‘Sir, I would like to offer lodgings to you and to your companions as well.'