Then they rode speedily on and went straight into the forest. Those who had gone on ahead had already raised the stag: some blew on horns, others shouted; the dogs went noisily after the stag, running, rushing and barking; the archers were shooting thick and fast. Out in the front of all of them the king was hunting, mounted on a Spanish hunter.
Queen Guinevere was in the woods listening to the dogs; beside her were Erec and her maiden, who was very courtly and beautiful. But those who had raised the stag were so far off that they could hear nothing of them, neither horn nor horse nor hound. All three had stopped in a clearing beside the road in order to listen attentively to see whether they could hear a human voice or the cry of a hound from any side.
They had not been there long when they saw coming towards them an armoured knight on a charger, his shield at his neck, his lance in his hand. The queen saw him from afar: a fine-looking maiden was riding beside him at his right; in front of them, on a big draught horse, a dwarf was riding along, and he carried in his hand a whip with lashes knotted at one end.
Queen Guinevere saw the handsome and elegant knight, and she wanted to know who they were, he and his maiden. She told her maiden to go quickly to speak to him. ‘Damsel,’ said the queen, ‘go and tell that knight riding there to come to me and bring his maiden with him.’
The maiden rode ahead straight towards the knight. The dwarf came to meet her, holding his whip in his hand. ‘Halt, damsel!’ said the dwarf, who was full of evil. ‘What are you looking for here? You have no business in this direction!’
‘Dwarf,’ said she, ‘let me pass: I wish to speak to that knight, for the queen sends me there.’
The evil, baseborn dwarf stood blocking her way: ‘You have no business here,’ said he. ‘Go back! It’s not right for you to talk to such a fine knight.’
The maiden moved forward; she wanted to force her way past. She felt great contempt for the dwarf because she saw how little he was. But the dwarf raised his whip when he saw her approaching. He tried to strike her in the face, but she protected herself with her arm; then he took aim again and struck her openly on her bare hand. He struck her on the back of her hand so that it became all blue. Since she could do no more, the maiden was obliged to turn back, whether she wanted to or not. She came back weeping: tears were running from her eyes down her face.
The queen did not know what to do; when she saw her maiden wounded she was very sad and angry. ‘Oh! Erec, good friend,’ said she, ‘I am very upset about my maiden, whom this dwarf has wounded in such a way. That knight is most unchivalrous to have allowed such a freak to strike so beautiful a creature. Good friend Erec, go over to the knight and tell him to come to me without fail: I want to meet both him and his lady.’
Erec spurred his horse, rode in that direction, and came straight to the knight. The despicable dwarf saw him coming and went to meet him. ‘Knight,’ said he, ‘stay back! I don’t know what business you have here. I advise you to withdraw.’
‘Be gone,’ said Erec, ‘bothersome dwarf! You’re disgusting and hateful. Let me pass!’
‘You won’t pass!’
‘Yes, I will!’
‘No, you won’t!’
Erec gave the dwarf a shove. The dwarf was as evil as could be. With the whip he struck Erec a great blow on the neck. Erec’s neck and face were striped by the blow; the welts raised by the strands of the whip appeared from one end to the other. Erec knew full well that he could not have the satisfaction of striking the dwarf, for he saw the armoured knight, ruthless and arrogant, and he feared that the knight would very quickly kill him if he struck his dwarf in his presence. There’s no virtue in sheer folly: in this Erec acted very wisely – he withdrew, without doing anything more.
‘My lady,’ said he, ‘now things are even worse: that despicable dwarf has injured me so that my face is torn to shreds. I dared not touch or strike him; but no one must blame me for that, since I was completely unarmed. I was afraid of the armed knight. He is uncourtly and unprincipled, and would have considered it no joke: he would have killed me at once, in his pride. But I want to promise you that, if I can, I will either avenge my shame or increase it! But my own armour is too far away: I won’t have it for this task, for I left it at Cardigan this morning when I set out. If I went back there to get it, I would probably never be able to find the knight again, for he is riding off at a brisk pace. I must follow him right now, either closely or at a distance, until I can find some armour to hire or borrow. If I can find someone to lend me armour, then the knight will immediately find me ready to do battle. And be assured without any doubt that we will fight together until he defeats me or I defeat him. And, if I can, by the day after tomorrow I shall begin my return; then you shall see me at the castle, joyful or sad, I don’t know which. My lady, I can delay no more; I must follow the knight. I am leaving; I commend you to God.’
And the queen likewise commended him to God, more than five hundred times, that He might defend him from evil.
Erec left the queen and followed the knight. The queen remained in the woods, where the king had caught up with the stag: the king had arrived and taken the stag before any of the others. They killed and took the white stag, and then everyone turned back, carrying the stag as they went; soon they arrived at Cardigan.
After the evening meal, when the nobles were making merry throughout the house, the king, since he had taken the stag, said he would bestow the kiss in order to observe the tradition of the stag. Throughout the court there was much muttering: they promised and swore to one another that this would never be agreed without resorting to swords or ashen lances. Each man wanted to contend by deeds of arms that his lady was the most beautiful in the hall; these words did not bode well.
When my lord Gawain heard this, you may be sure that he was not at all pleased. He spoke to the king about it. ‘Sire,’ he said, ‘your knights here are greatly disturbed. They are all speaking of this kiss; they all say that it will never be granted without there being arguments and fighting.’
And the king replied wisely: ‘Dear nephew Gawain, advise me in this so that my honour and justice may be preserved, for I do not care for discord.’
Many of the best barons of the court hurried to the council: King Yder went there, who had been called first; then came King Cadiolan, who was most wise and valiant; Kay and Girflet came, and King Amauguin, and many of the other barons were gathered there with them. The debate went on so long that the queen arrived on the scene. She recounted to them the adventure that she had had in the forest: about the armed knight she had seen and the evil little dwarf who had struck her maiden on her bare hand with his whip and had struck Erec in just the same way most horribly on the face; and how Erec had then followed the knight in order to avenge his shame or increase it, and that he would return, if he could, by the third day.
‘My lord,’ said the queen to the king, ‘just listen to me! If these barons approve what I say, postpone this kiss until the day after tomorrow, so that Erec may return.’ There was not one who disagreed with her, and the king himself granted it.
Erec kept on following the armoured knight and the dwarf who had struck him, until they came to a fine, strong, well-situated, fortified town; they went right in through the gate. In the town there was great joy among the many knights and beautiful damsels. Some, in the streets, were feeding sparrow-hawks and moulted falcons,2 and others were bringing out tercels and red and moulted goshawks; others, here and there, were playing different dice games, or chess, or backgammon. In front of the stables, boys were currying horses and wiping them down; ladies in their chambers were adorning themselves.
As soon as they saw from afar the knight they knew, coming with his dwarf and his maiden, they went to meet him, three by three: all welcomed and greeted him, but they made no move to welcome Erec, because they did not know him. Erec kept on slowly following the knight through the town, until he saw him lodged; he was very pleased and joyful when he saw that he was lodged.
He went on a little further and saw, sitting on some steps, an elderly vavasour, whose dwelling was very poor. He was a handsome man, white-haired, well-born, and noble; he was seated there all alone and he seemed to be deep in thought. Erec thought he was a gentleman who would give him lodging without delay. Erec entered the courtyard through the gate. The vavasour ran to meet him; before Erec had said a word, the vavasour had greeted him. ‘Good sir,’ said he, ‘welcome! If you deign to lodge with me, here are your lodgings already prepared.’
Erec replied: ‘I thank you! I had no other purpose in coming here: I need lodgings for this very night.’ Erec dismounted from his horse. The gentleman himself took it and led it after him by the reins. He rejoiced greatly because of his guest. The vavasour called his wife and his daughter, who was very beautiful; they were working in a workshop, but I do not know what work they were doing there.
The lady came out as did her daughter, who was dressed in a flowing shift of fine cloth, white and pleated. Over it she wore a white dress; she had no other clothes. And the dress was so old that it was worn through at the clbows. On the outside the clothing was poor, but the body beneath was lovely. The maiden was very beautiful, for Nature in making her had turned all her attention to the task. Nature herself had marvelled more than five hundred times at how she had been able to make such a beautiful thing just once, for since then, strive as she might, she had never been able to duplicate in any way her original model. Nature bears witness to this: never was such a beautiful creature seen in the whole world. In truth I tell you that Isolde the Blonde had not such shining golden hair, for compared to this maiden she was nothing. Her face and forehead were fairer and brighter than the lily-flower; contrasting marvellously with the whiteness, her face was illuminated by a fresh, glowing colour that Nature had given her. Her eyes glowed with such brightness that they resembled two stars; never had God made finer nose, mouth, nor eyes. What should I say of her beauty? She was truly one who was made to be looked at, for one might gaze at her just as one gazes into a mirror.
She had come out of the workshop. When she saw the knight, whom she had never seen before, she stayed back a bit because she did not know him; she was embarrassed and blushed. Erec, on the other hand, was astonished when he saw such great beauty. And the vavasour said to her: ‘Fair sweet daughter, take this horse and lead it into the stable with mine. Be sure it has everything it needs: take off the saddle and bridle, and give it oats and hay; rub it down and curry it so that it is well cared for.’
The maiden took the horse, undid the breast-strap, and removed the saddle and bridle. Now the horse was in good hands; she took excellent care of it. She put a halter on it, curried it well, rubbed it down and cared for it, tethered it to the manger and put hay and fresh, wholesome oats before it. Then she came back to her father and he said to her: ‘My dear daughter, take this lord by the hand and show him very great honour. Lead him upstairs by the hand.’
The maiden delayed no longer, for she was in no way ill-bred: by the hand she led him upstairs. The lady had gone before and prepared the house; she had spread out embroidered quilts and rugs on top of the beds, where all three of them sat down. Erec had the maiden next to him and the lord on the other side. Before them the fire burned very brightly. The vavasour had no servant besides the one who served him – no chambermaid or serving-girl; in the kitchen, the servant was preparing meat and fowl for the evening meal. He was very prompt in his preparations; he knew well how to prepare and quickly cook meat, both boiled and roasted. When he had prepared the meal as he had been ordered, he brought water in two basins to them. Tables and tablecloths were prepared and set out with bread and wine, and everyone sat down to eat. They had as much as they wanted of everything they needed.
When they had dined at their ease and had arisen from the tables, Erec questioned his host, the lord of the house. ‘Tell me, good host,’ said he, ‘why is your daughter, who is so lovely and full of good sense, dressed in such a poor and unseemly dress?’
‘Good friend,’ said the vavasour, ‘poverty ill-treats many men, and likewise she does me. It grieves me when I see my daughter so poorly dressed, yet I am powerless to change the situation: I have spent so much time at war that I have lost all my land, and mortgaged and sold it. And yet she would be well clothed if I allowed her to accept what someone would gladly give her. The lord of this town himself would have clothed her handsomely and granted her every wish, for she is his niece and he is a count; nor is there a lord in all this land, however grand his reputation, who would not have taken her for his wife, and gladly, according to my conditions. But I am still waiting for a better opportunity, for God to grant her greater honour and for fortune to bring to her a king or count who will take her away with him. Is there in all the world a king or count who would be ashamed of my daughter, who is so wonderfully beautiful that her equal cannot be found? Indeed, though beautiful, her good sense is worth even more than her beauty; God never made such a wise creature nor one so noble in spirit. When I have my daughter near me, I would not give a marble for the whole world: she is my delight, she is my diversion, she is my solace and my comfort, she is my wealth and my treasure. I love nothing else as much as her.’
When Erec had listened to all his host had said, he asked him to tell him why there was such a gathering of knights as had come to this town, for there was no street so poor, and no inn so poor or cramped, that it was not full of knights and ladies and squires.
And the vavasour replied: ‘Good friend, those are the lords of the lands hereabouts. Everyone, young and old, has come for a festival that will occur in this town tomorrow; that is why the inns are so full. Tomorrow there will be great excitement when they are all assembled, for in front of all the people, seated on a silver perch, there will be a very fine sparrow-hawk – five or six years old, the best that can be found. Whoever wants to win the sparrow-hawk will need to have a lady who is beautiful and wise and free from baseness; if there is any knight bold enough to claim for his lady the reputation and honour of being the most beautiful, he will have his lady take the sparrow-hawk from its perch in front of everyone, if no one dares oppose him. They uphold this tradition and that is why they come here each year.’
Then Erec asked him: ‘Good host, may it not trouble you, but tell me if you know who is the knight bearing arms of azure and gold, who passed by here a while ago with an attractive maiden very close beside him, preceded by a hunchbacked dwarf?’
Then the host replied: ‘He is the one who will have the sparrow-hawk without being challenged by any other knight. There will be no blow or wound, for I believe no one else will come forward. He has already had it two years in a row without being challenged, and if he gets it again this year he will have claimed it for ever. He will retain it each year without combat or complaint.’
Erec immediately replied: ‘I have no love for this knight. Be assured that if I had armour I would challenge him for the sparrow-hawk. Good host, as a favour and a service, I ask you in your generosity to advise me how I might be equipped with armour – old or new, I care not which, ugly or beautiful.’
And he replied generously: ‘You need never be concerned on that account: I have good and beautiful armour that I will gladly lend you. Inside there is a hauberk of woven mail, chosen from among five hundred, and beautiful and expensive greaves, good and new and light; the helmet is similarly good and elegant and the shield brand-new. I shall lend you horse, sword, and lance, without hesitation, so that you need ask for nothing more.’
‘My thanks to you, good kind sir, but I wish for no better sword than the one I brought with me, nor any horse besides my own; I shall make good use of that one. If you lend me the rest, I shall deem it a very great favour; but I wish to ask one other gift of you,3 which I shall repay if God permits me to emerge with the honours of the battle.’
And the vavasour generously replied: ‘Ask confidently for what you wish, whatever it may be. Nothing I have will be denied you!’
Then Erec said that he wanted to contend for the sparrow-hawk by means of his daughter, for in truth no other maiden would be there who was the hundredth part as beautiful, and if he took her there with him he would be perfectly justified in contending and in claiming that she should carry off the sparrow-hawk. Then he said: ‘Sir, you do not know what guest you have lodged, what is his station or ancestry. I am the son of a rich and powerful king: my father is named King Lac; the Bretons call me Erec. I am of the court of King Arthur and have been with him for three years. I do not know whether my father’s fame or mine ever came to this land, but I promise that, if you equip me with armour and entrust your daughter to me to win the sparrow-hawk tomorrow, I shall take her to my land if God gives me the victory; there I shall crown her and she will be queen of ten cities.’
‘Ah, good sir, is this the truth? Are you Erec, the son of Lac?’
‘That is my name,’ he said, ‘exactly.’
The host rejoiced greatly at this and said: ‘We have indeed heard tell of you in this land. Now I love and esteem you even more, for you are very valiant and bold. I shall never refuse your request: I entrust my beautiful daughter to you, just as you desire.’ Then he took her by the hand. ‘Here,’ said he, ‘I give her to you.’
Erec joyfully received her: now he had everything he needed. Within the house everyone showed great joy. The father was very joyful and the mother wept for joy. And the maiden was very still, but she was very joyful and happy that she had been granted to him, because he was valiant and courteous and she was well aware that he would be king and she herself would be honoured and crowned queen.
They had stayed up late that night. Once the beds were prepared with white sheets and soft mattresses the conversation ended and all went joyfully to bed. Erec slept little that night. The next day, as soon as dawn broke, he got up quickly, along with his host. They went together to pray at the church and had a Mass of the Holy Spirit sung by a hermit; they did not forget the offering. When they had heard the Mass, they both bowed down before the altar and then returned to the house.
Arthurian Romances Page 6