Part 10 (1/2)

To this Lynette said: ”That which thou sayest pleases me very greatly, Messire, for indeed I am aweary and would fain rest me a little. So let us go forward to your castle. But this Beaumains must ride not so close to us for indeed I cannot abide the odor of the kitchen.”

So after that they all departed from that place, and ever Sir Gareth rode at a distance as the damsel had commanded him to do.

[Sidenote: _They come to the castle of the knight._]

Now after they had gone a considerable way they came out of the forest and into a valley wherein stood the castle of that knight. And it was a very fair and n.o.ble castle and the valley was exceedingly fertile with many rich fields and meadows and with several plantations of trees, both of fruit trees and otherwise. Through this fruitful valley they came to the castle and they rode into the castle courtyard with a great noise of horses' hoofs upon the cobblestones, and at that coming many of the attendants of the castle came running for to take their horses and to serve them.

Then Lynette gazed about her and she said to the knight of the castle, ”Messire, who are these?” He said: ”Fair damsel, these are they who would take your horse and the horse of that n.o.ble knight your companion, and others are they who would wait upon you and upon him to serve you both.” Then Lynette said: ”Not so, Sir Knight, my horse they may take and me they may serve, but it is not meet that a kitchen knave such as Beaumains should be waited upon in that wise, wherefore I bid you to suffer him to wait upon himself.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gareth serveth himself._]

Upon this speech Sir Gareth turned him to the knight of the castle and his face was very calm, albeit his eyes shone like sparks of fire and he said, speaking very haughtily: ”Messire, whitherward is the stable? I pray you to tell me so that I may house my good horse and wait upon myself as this lady, whom I have undertaken to serve, hath commanded me to do.” Then the knight of the castle was much troubled and knew not what to reply; yet anon he said, ”Messire, I know not what to say in this case but an you ask me I must say the stable lieth yonderways.”

So spake the knight, and thereupon Sir Gareth turned him without another word and rode away, still very calmly, leaving them alone.

So after that the knight and Lynette entered the castle. But the knight, when he was alone, called to him the steward of the castle and he said to him: ”Go you and search out that n.o.ble and worthy knight, for a.s.suredly he is some great and famous champion. See you that he is served in all wise that such an one should be served, and spare naught to comfort him and put him at his ease, for this day he hath certes saved my life.” So the steward did as he was bidden and that evening Sir Gareth was served in all wise befitting for a knight royal such as he really was.

Now when the next day was come, and when it was time for Lynette and Sir Gareth and Axatalese the dwarf to depart from that place, the knight of the castle came to Sir Gareth where he sat upon his horse. And he laid his hand upon the stirrup of Sir Gareth and he said: ”Messire, I pray you tell me, is there any service that I may do you that you would have of me?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gareth biddeth the knight to do service._]

Then Sir Gareth looked down upon that knight and he said: ”Sir, there is a service you could render me an you chose to do so, and this is that service: it is that you should go to the court of King Arthur with all the estate that is befitting for one of your degree. And when you have come to the court I would fain have you tell King Arthur that Beaumains, the kitchen knave, hath sent you to him for to pay your court unto him.

And I would have you tell the King and Sir Gawaine how it hath fared with me so far as you are aware of.” Thus said Sir Gareth, and to him the knight of the castle made reply: ”Sir, it shall be done as you ordain; for all those things I will do exactly as you commanded me.”

So after that they three departed upon their way, the damsel Lynette riding ahead and Sir Gareth and the dwarf riding some distance behind.

And now if you would hear what other adventures befell Sir Gareth and Lynette at this time I pray you to read further, for there these several things are told of in due order.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Lady Layonnesse.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Chapter Fourth

_How Sir Gareth met Sir Percevant of Hind, and how he came to Castle Dangerous and had speech with the Lady Layonnesse. Also how the Lady Layonnesse accepted him for her champion._

So the damsel Lynette followed by Sir Gareth and the dwarf travelled for all that morning and a part of the afternoon without let or stay of any sort and without meeting with any adventure whatsoever, and in all that time the damsel said no word to Sir Gareth whether of good or ill, but ever kept her eyes fixed straight before her as though very much occupied with thought.

[Sidenote: _They behold a fair pavilion in a valley._]

So about two hours or three after the prime of the day they came to the top of a very long steep hill, and there beneath them in the valley that lay below the hill, Sir Gareth perceived that a considerable company and one that appeared to be of great estate were foregathered. For at that place there were a number of pavilions of divers colored silk and above each pavilion there flew a silken banner bearing the device of the owner of that pavilion. And in the midst of all those other pavilions there was one that was manifestly the pavilion of the knight-champion or of the overlord of all the others. For that pavilion was of crimson silk embroidered with figures in threads of silver and black, and above the pavilion there flew a banner of very great size, which same was also of crimson silk embroidered in silver and black with the figure of a leopard couchant.

And from where he stood upon the heights, Sir Gareth saw that all these pavilions were spread in a fair level meadow with gra.s.s well mown, as smooth as a cloth of green velvet, and all bright with gay and pretty flowers. And this meadow and other meadows beyond it stretched away to a great distance and at the extremity of the distance was a fair tall castle and a goodly town of many towers, all s.h.i.+ning very bright in the clear transparent daylight.

All this Sir Gareth beheld very plain, as it were upon the palm of his hand, and he beheld how above all that level, fruitful valley the sky arched like to a roof of crystal--warm and perfectly blue, and filled full of a very great many clouds.

Then Lynette said: ”Hah, Beaumains, see you yonder pavilions and see you that pavilion which is in their midst?” And Sir Gareth said, ”Yea, damsel, I behold them all.”