The Romance of Morien | Page 4

tale of Lancelot and set it in rhyme
forgot, and was heedless of, the fair adventure of Morien. I marvel
much that they who were skilled in verse and the making of rhymes did
not bring the story to its rightful ending._ Now as at this time King
Arthur abode in Britain, and held high court, that his fame might wax
the greater; and as the noble folk sat at the board and ate, there came
riding a knight; for 'twas the custom in Arthur's days that while the king
held court no door, small nor great, should be shut, but all men were
free to come and go as they willed.
Thus the knight came riding where the high folk sat, and would fain
have dismounted, but so sorely was he wounded that he might not do so.
In sooth he was in evil case, for he had more than ten wounds, and from
the least of them a man might scarce recover; he came in such guise

that his weapons and his vesture and his steed, which was fair and tall,
were all dyed red with his own blood. The knight was sad at heart and
sorely wounded, yet he greeted, as best he might, all the lords then in
the hall; but more he might not speak, for the pain of his wounds.
Then my lord, Sir Gawain, who did full many a courtesy (for such was
his wont all his life long), so soon as he saw the knight, sprang up with
no delay, and lifted him from the saddle and set him upon the ground,
but he might neither sit, nor walk, nor so much as stand upon his feet,
but fell upon the earth.
Then Sir Gawain bade them carry him softly on a couch to the side of
the hall in the sight of the chief guests, that they might hear his tale.
But since he might scarce speak he made him to be disarmed, and
stripped to the skin, and wrapped in warm coverings and gave him a
sop steeped in clear wine.
Then Sir Gawain began to search his wounds, for in those days, so far
as God suffered the sun to shine might no man find one so skilled in
leech-craft, for that man whom he took in his care, were the life but left
in him, would neither lack healing nor die of any wound.
Then spake the knight who lay there: "Woe is me, for I may neither eat
nor drink; my heart beginneth to sink, mine eyes fail me, methinks I am
about to die! Yet might I live, and would God grant to me that all ye
who sit here beside me might hear my words, I had fain spoken with
the king, whom I sought as best I might, in that I would not be
forsworn; needs must I come hither!"
Then quoth Sir Gawain the good: "Sir Knight, have ye no dread of
death as at this time, for I shall help you to a respite." He drew forth
from his pouch a root that had this virtue, that it stayed the flow of
blood and strengthened the feeble; he placed it in the knight's mouth,
and bade him eat a little; therewith was his heart lightened, and he
began to eat and to drink, and forgat somewhat of his pain.
Erst when the service was ended came King Arthur to the knight as he
lay, and said: "God give ye good-day, dear Sir Knight; tell me who hath
wounded ye so sorely, and how came ye by your hurt? Did the knight
who wrought such harm depart from ye unscathed?"
Then spake the knight to the king, who stood before him: "That will I
tell ye, for I am sworn and pledged thereto. 'Tis seven years past that I
lost all my goods, and poverty pressed me so sorely that I knew not

what I might do. Thus would I keep myself by robbery. My tithes had I
sold, I had spent all my goods, and pledged all my heritage, so that of
all that my father left when he departed from this world there remained
to me nothing. Naught, not a straw, had I left. Yet had I given much in
largesse, for I had frequented many a tourney and Table Round where I
had scattered my goods; whosoever craved aught of me, whether for
want or for reward, were he page, were he messenger, never did he
depart empty-handed. Never did I fail any who besought aid of me.
Thus I spent all my goods. Then must I fare through the land; and did I
meet folk (though at first I shamed me) whomsoever I met, whether
pilgrim or merchant, did he bear