Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, YWAIN AND GAWAIN: THE WINNING OF THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN, by CHRETIEN DE TROYES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

YWAIN AND GAWAIN: THE WINNING OF THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN, by                    
First Line: Then went sir ywain to his inn / his men he ready found therein
Last Line: Than him, who was their lord before.


THEN went Sir Ywain to his inn,
His men he ready found therein,
Unto a squire then did he say:
"My palfrey saddle now straightway,
The same do by my strongest steed,
And take with thee my richest weed;
At yonder gate I forth will ride,
Without the town I will abide.
Now hie thee swiftly unto me,
I go a journey, speedily,
My palfrey thou again shalt bring,
And speak no word of this same thing --
If me again thou fain would'st see,
Let none know of this secresy,
If any man would fain be told,
See that thou, loyal, promise hold."
"Yea, sir," he quoth, "with right goodwill,
All that thou biddest, I'll fulfil,
And at your own will shall ye ride,
Thro' me, ye shall of none be spied."

Forth did he go then, Sir Ywain,
He thinketh, ere he come again,
To 'venge his cousin, an he might --
The squire, he hath his harness dight,
He followed aye his master's rede,
Brought him his harness and his steed.
When Ywain was without the town
He from his palfrey lighted down,
Robed him, as fitting, in his weed,
And leapt upon his goodly steed,
Into the country rode forthright,
Until the day drew nigh to night.
He rode by many a mountain high,
Desert, and plain, he passed them by,
Until he to that pathway came
Which he must needs take, at that same,
Then was he sure that he should see
The fountain, and the wondrous tree.
The castle he beheld at last,
Thither he hied him fair and fast,
More courtesy, and honour fair,
I trow me, were his portion there
And comforts more, by manifold,
Than Colgrevance in sooth had told;
Within that tower he lodged, I wot,
Better than e'er had been his lot.

At morn he rode forth on the street,
And with the churl right soon did meet
Who should direct him on his way --
He crossed himself, the sooth to say,
Twenty times, in a little span,
Such marvel had he of that man,
He wondered much so foul a wight
E'er on this earth had seen the light.
Then to the well he rode, swift pace,
Down he alighted in that place,
The basin would he take anon,
Water he cast upon the stone;
Full soon there followed, without fail,
Both wind and thunder, rain and hail,
When ceased the storm, he straight did see
The birds alight upon that tree,
They sang as sweetly on the bough
As they had done afore, I trow.
And then, full soon, he saw a knight,
Coming as swift as bird in flight,
With semblance stern, and wrathful cheer,
And hastily he drew anear.
To speak of love they thought no more
For each the other hated sore,
They drive together on the field,
Riven full soon is each knight's shield,
Shivered to haft, their spears they fell,
But each knight kept his seat full well.
Then forth they drew their swords so keen,
Dealt doughty strokes, the twain between.
To pieces have they hewn each shield,
The fragments fly full far afield;
They smite the helms with wrath and ire,
At every stroke outbursts the fire;
Buffets right good they give, indeed,
But neither stirs from off his steed --
Boldly, the twain, they shew their might,
I trow it was no feint, their fight!
As from their hauberks men might know --
The blood did from their bodies flow,
Each on the other smote so fast
No long time might such battle last.
Hauberks were broken, helmets riven,
Strong strokes, and stiff, I trow, were given;
Yet on their steeds they fought always
The battle was the more to praise.
Sir Ywain, at the last, doth show,
Valiant, his might against his foe,
So eagerly he smote him there
Helmet and head, he cleft them fair,
The knight was well-nigh slain, indeed,
Flight was, he knew, the better rede,
And fast he fled, with might and main,
And fast he followed, Sir Ywain;
But he might not his flight o'ertake,
Therefore great mourning did he make,
Yet followed stoutly where he fled,
Full fain to take him, quick, or dead.
So to the city followed he
And ne'er a living man did see;
Both, to the castle-gate they win --
Ywain would swiftly pass therein;
At either entry hung, I wis,
Full straitly wrought, a portcullis,
With iron and steel 't was shod full well
Fitting right closely where it fell.
There-under, was a blade so keen
That sore misliked the knight, I ween --
His horse's foot, it touched thereon,
The portcullis, it fell anon,
Before the hinder saddle-bow,
Saddle, and steed, it smote them thro'
The spurs from off his heels it shore --
Sir Ywain, he must mourn him sore,
But, ere he could have passed them quite,
The other gate, it closed full tight.
'T was of God's Grace it chanced so
That tho' it cut his steed in two,
And smote the spurs from either heel
Yet he himself no harm did feel.
Betwixt the gates he's captive now, --
Much mourning did he make, I trow,
And much bemoaned his evil plight
And that he'd thus escaped, the knight.
As in a trap he stood, withal,
He heard behind him, in a wall,
A doorway open, fair and well,
Thereout there came a demoiselle,
The door behind her fast did make
And gracious words to him she spake.
"Sir, by Saint Michael," thus quoth she,
"Here hast thou evil hostelry,
Dead art thou, dost thou here remain,
For this, my lord, whom thou hast slain,
For sooth it is, thou didst him slay, --
My lady mourneth sore alway,
Yea, and his household, every one,
Full many a foeman there hast won.
Yea, for thy bane they be full bold,
Thou comest not from out this hold,
They shall not fail for very might, --
Slay thee they will, in open fight."
He quoth: "By God, Who gave me breath
Numbers shall ne'er do me to death.
Their hands on me they ne'er shall lay -- "
"Nay, certes," quoth she, "an I may,
For tho' thou be full straitly stead
Methinks, in no wise art adread;
And Sir," she quoth: "I owe to thee
Service and honour fair and free;
Long time ago, I needs must bring,
When young, a message to the King
Such wisdom had I not, or wit,
As doth a maiden well befit,
And from the time I did alight
At court, was none so courteous knight
Who unto me would then take heed,
Save thou alone, God give thee meed!
Great honour didst thou do to me
And I shall now repay it thee.
Tho' seldom I thee saw, I trow,
By birth, King Urien's son art thou,
And men shall thee, Sir Ywain, call;
Of me thou may'st be sure withal,
Wilt thou my counsel follow still
No man shall do thee harm or ill;
My ring I here will leave with thee,
(But at my asking yield it me,)
When thou be brought from out thy pain
Then shalt thou give it me again.
For as the bark doth shield the tree,
E'en so my ring shall shelter thee,
When on thy hand thou bear the stone
Of mischief men shall do thee none.
For this same stone, it hath such might
That no man shall of thee have sight."
Now wit ye well, that Sir Ywain,
Of these her words, he was full fain;
In at the door she hath him led,
And set him down upon her bed,
A noble quilt, it lay thereon,
Richer, I trow, was never none,
She said, if he would aught, anon,
That, at his liking, should be done;
He said to eat was he full fain;
She went, and swiftly came again,
A roasted capon brought she soon,
With a clean cloth, and bread thereon,
A jar of rich wine too, she bore,
And cup, wherein the wine to pour.
With right good cheer he drank and ate,
I trow, his need thereof was great.
When he had drunk, and eaten well,
A noise, upon his ears it fell,
Men sought for him, they would him slay,
Fain to avenge their lord were they,
Ere that the corpse in earth was laid --
The demoiselle, she to him said:
"Thy foemen seek to slay thee now,
But whoso comes or goes, do thou
Of them be in no wise adread,
But stir thou not from out this stead;
Within this chamber seek they will,
But on this couch here hold thee still,
And of them all thou shalt make light.
But when they bear the corpse forthright
Unto the kirk, upon the bier,
Forsooth, a sorry cry shalt hear,
Then shall they make a doleful din,
Then shall they seek thee oft herein,
But look thou be of heart full light,
Never of thee shall they have sight,
Here shalt thou be, maugre their beard,
And therefore be nowise afeard;
Thy foes shall be e'en as the blind,
Seeking before thee, and behind,
On every side shalt thou be sought. --
Now must I go, but fear thee naught,
I'll do as shall be good for thee
Tho' ill thereof should come to me."

Then to the portal forth she gat,
Full many men she found thereat,
Well armed they were, and were full fain
Sir Ywain to have caught, and slain.
Half of his steed they found that day
Where dead within the gate it lay,
But of the knight there found they naught.
There mickle grief had they unsought,
Of door or window, was there none
Thro' which he might away have gone.
They quoth, that there he needs must be
Unless in witchcraft skilled were he,
Or nigromancy well had known,
Or else on wings away had flown.
Thus, hastily, they gat them all,
And sought him in the maiden's hall,
In chambers high, where naught did hide,
In cellars deep, on every side;
Ywain, of that was well aware,
Still on the couch he held him there,
No man amid them all who might
Come nigh, a blow thereon to smite.
But all about they smote so fast
That they their weapons brake at last,
And great their sorrow, and their woe,
That they their vengeance must forego.
They went their way with doleful cheer,
And soon thereafter came the bier,
A lady followed, milk-white, fair,
None with her beauty might compare,
She wrung her hands, out-burst the blood,
For sorrow was she well nigh wood;
Her locks so fair she tare eft-soon,
And oft she fell adown in swoon,
In doleful tone she mourned her loss --
The holy water, and the Cross
Men bare before that train anon;
There followed many a mother's son,
Before the corpse a knight bestrode
The dead man's steed, a charger good,
In all his harness well arrayed,
With spear and shield fitly displayed.
The cry, Sir Ywain heard it there,
The dole of this, the lady fair,
None might surpass her grief and woe
When thus her lord to grave must go,
The priests and monks, in fit degree,
They do the service solemnly.

Lunete, she stood within the throng
Until Sir Ywain deemed it long,
Then from the crowd she goes again,
Swiftly she seeketh Sir Ywain,
She quoth: "How goes it Sir, with thee?
I trust thou well advised shalt be?"
"Certes," he quoth, "thou speakest well,
Abashed was I the sooth to tell";
He quoth: "Leman, I pray of thee
If it in any wise may be,
That I may look a little space
Thro' hole or window, in this place,
For wondrous fain" he quoth, "am I
To see your lady, verily."
That maid, she soon undid withal,
A little wicket in the wall,
There of that dame he gat a sight:
Aloud she cried on God's great Might:
"Have mercy on his sins, I pray,
For in no land there lived alway
A knight who was so fair as he,
And none such may there ever be --
Thro' the wide world, beneath the sun,
So fair, so courteous, was there none!
God grant thee grace, that so thou may
Dwell with His Son, in endless day.
So generous liveth none on land,
Nor none so doughty of their hand." --
When thus her speech to end was brought
Swooning, oft-times she fell, distraught.

Now let we that fair lady be,
Of Ywain speak we presently, --
Love, that so mickle is of might,
With sore wounds doth Sir Ywain smite,
That wheresoe'er he ride, or go,
She hath his heart who was his foe.
His heart is surely set, I ween,
Where he himself dare not be seen;
Thus, sorely longing, bideth he,
Hoping his lot may bettered be.
All men who at that burial were
Their leave take of that lady fair,
And to their home they all be gone --
The lady have they left alone,
She with her waiting-maid doth dwell.
And others, whom she loveth well.
Then her lament began anew
For sorrow paled her skin and hue,
For his soul's health her beads she told --
She took a psalter all of gold,
To say the psalms she swift began
And took no heed to any man.
Sir Ywain woeful was indeed,
For little hope had he to speed,
He quoth: "Here am I much to blame
Since I love them who would me shame,
But yet I wrought her woe, 't is true,
Since I it was her lord who slew;
Nor know I how I may begin,
With trick or wile, her love to win;
Slender that lady is, and small,
Her eyes be clear as crystal all,
Certes, no man on earth that be
Could tell her beauties fittingly."
Thus was Sir Ywain sore bestead,
From Reason's path aside was led
To set his love on one, who 'ld see
Him brought to death right willingly;
He said, he'ld have that dame to wife
Or in that cause would lose his life.

Thus doth he sit and think amain:
The maiden comes to him again,
She said: "How hast thou fared to-day
Since that from thee I went away?"
Soon did she see him wan and pale
And knew right well what did him ail,
She quoth: "I know what would thy heart,
To hinder it were ne'er my part,
Certes, I'll help thee out of ward
And bring thee to a sure reward, --"
He quoth: "Now Lady, certainly,
Hence will I steal not, privily,
But I will go in full day-light
So that I be in all men's sight,
Openly, and on every side --
What matters it what may betide?
But as a man I hence will fare." --
Then answered him that maiden fair:
"Sir, thou shalt hence in honour go,
And goodly succour shalt thou know,
But Sir, abide here patiently
Until I come again to thee."
Soothly she knew his heart's intent,
And therefore 't was she wisely went
Unto the lady fair and bright,
For unto her she freely might
Say all that was within her will,
For that she was her mistress still,
Keeper, and counsellor full dear --
To her she spake as ye shall hear
In counsel good betwixt the twain --
"Madam, to marvel am I fain
That ye thus grieve, and sorrow sore;
For God's sake, give your mourning o'er,
Bethink ye now of this one thing,
How that he comes, Arthur the King,
Bethink ye of that message well
That late the sauvage Demoiselle
Did in her letter to ye send --
Alas! Who shall ye now defend,
Your land, and all your folk, I pray
Since ye will not your weeping stay?
Ah! madam, now take heed to me,
You have no knight in this countrie
Who durst his body risk at need
Upon the chance of doughty deed,
Nor who should dare withstand the boast
Of Arthur, and his goodly host.
Yet if none dare the king withstand
Then ye, for certain lose your land!"

The lady understood full well
Why in this wise her counsel fell,
She bade her swiftly leave her there,
And that she should in no wise dare
To speak with her such words again --
Her heart, for grief, to break was fain.
She quoth: "Now get thee hence away!"
The maiden thus began to say:
"Madam, 't is often women's mood
To blame those who give counsel good."
She went her way, dismayed for naught, --
And then the lady her bethought
The maid, in sooth, had said no wrong,
And so she sat, and pondered long.
In study thus she sat alone:
The maiden, she returned anon, --
"Madam," she said, "a child ye be,
Yourself may ye harm easily,
Chastise your heart, Madam, I pray,
Great shame it doth to ye alway,
Thus sore to weep and make great cry,
Think thou on all thy chivalry;
Dost deem that all thy knighthood's flower
Died with their lord, in that same hour,
And were with him put under mold?
Nay, God forbid such tale were told,
For better knights than he shall be!"
"By Heaven's Queen, thou liest!" quoth she;
"Now tell me, if so be thou can,
where shall be found such valiant man
As he was, who was wed with me?"
"Yea, can I, an thou promise free
And give me full assurance here
That thou shalt hold me none less dear!"
She quoth: "Now be thou sure alway
That for no word that thou canst say
Will I wax wrathful against thee --"
"Madam," she said, "now answer me,
I'll tell a secret in thine ear,
And no one save we twain shall hear.
Say, if two knights be in the field,
Mounted on steed, with spear and shield,
And one be by the other slain
Which is the better of the twain?"
She quoth: "Now he who wins the fight!"
"Yea," saith the maiden, "ye be right;
The knight who lives shall braver be
Than was your lord, since slain was he.
Your lord, he fled from out the place,
The other knight, he gave him chase,
And followed him e'en to his hold --
Here may ye wit that he was bold."
The lady quoth: "Thou doest shame
Here before me to speak his name,
Thou sayest neither sooth nor right,
Now get thee swiftly from my sight!"
The maiden said: "So may it be,
And yet but now ye promised me
Ye would in no wise me miscall --"
With that she gat her from the hall,
And hastily she went again
Unto her bower, to Sir Ywain.
The lady pondered thro' the night
How she in no wise knew a knight
To keep her land, as guardian stout,
Against King Arthur and his rout.
Then she began herself to shame,
And in her heart she took much blame,
'Gainst herself brought reproaches strong --
She quoth: "I trow, I did her wrong,
Now doth she deem I never more
Will love her, as I did afore;
I'll love her well, in grateful mood,
For all she said was for my good."

With morning light the maiden rose,
And soon unto the chamber goes,
There did she find that fair ladie
Hanging her head full drearily,
There, where she left her, yestere'en --
Then, in such wise she spake, I ween,
E'en as she spake the day before --
Thus spake the dame: "It rues me sore
That I miscalled thee yesterday,
Amends I'll make, if so I may,
For of that knight I fain would hear,
Who is he? Say, whence came he here?
I trow I spake too hastily,
I'll do as thou shalt counsel me.
Now, ere thou leave, tell me aright
If he be gently born, this knight?"
"Madam," she saith, "I swear to thee,
Of better birth shall no man be,
The fairest man ye shall him find
Of all men born of Adam's kind."
"To know his name I sure were fain --"
"Lady," she quoth, "it is Ywain --
And gentler knight was never none,
Unto King Urien is he son."
Content she was to hear that thing,
That he was son unto a king:
"Now bring him here into my sight
Sometime 'twixt this, and the third night,
Or earlier, if it so might be,
I am full fain that knight to see.
Nay, bring him, if thou canst, tonight --"
"Madam," she quoth, "that were not light,
His dwelling further is away
Than one may journey in a day,
But I have a swift-footed page
Who'll do that journey in a stage
And bring him here to-morrow night."
The lady quoth: "See, if he might
To-morrow eve be here again --"
"Yea, he shall speed with might and main."
"Bid him to hasten on his way,
I will his service well repay,
A higher post shall be his boon
An so he do his errand soon."
"Madam," she quoth, "my word I plight
To have him here ere the third night;
The while unto your council send,
And ask them who shall ye defend,
Your well, your castle, and your land,
Against King Arthur, and his band,
For of them all I trow is none
Who such a battle will not shun.
Then shall ye say: 'I needs must take
A lord to do what ye forsake --'
Ye needs must have some noble knight
Who will and may defend your right,
And say: were death your lot alway
Ye would but do as they shall say.
Blithe shall they be of this, your speech,
And thank ye oft-times, all and each."
The lady quoth: "By God's great Might
I'll talk with them this very night,
Methinks too long thou here dost stay,
Send forth thy messenger straightway."

Then was the lady glad and gay,
She did all that her maid did say;
Unto her council sent anon,
And bade them come there, every one.
The maid to play her part was fain,
A bath made ready for Ywain,
Clad him right well in scarlet fold,
Well furred, and trimmed with fret of gold;
A girdle rich she brought him there,
Of silk enwrought with stones so fair.
She told him all that he should do,
When he was come that lady to,
And thus, when he was ready dight,
She to her mistress went forthright,
And said, he came, her messenger --
She swiftly spake: "Now, let me hear,
As thou would'st thrive, comes he straightway?"
"Madam," she quoth, "without delay
I'll bring him swiftly to ye here --"
Then quoth the dame, with gladsome cheer:
"Go, bring him hither privily
That none may know, save thou and I."
With that the maiden went again,
Swiftly she came to Sir Ywain,
She quoth: "Sir, as I bliss may win,
My lady knows thou art within,
To come before her be thou bold,
And keep in mind what I have told."
Then by the hand she took the knight,
And led him to the bower forthright,
Before her lady -- sooth to tell
Her coming, it rejoiced her well.
Sir Ywain feared much at that same,
When he unto the chamber came,
The chamber floor, and all the bed,
With cloth of gold was overspread,
For peerless knight she doth him take,
But never word to him she spake.
For fear, he fain aback would draw,
The maiden laughed, when this she saw,
And quoth: "Now ill befall that knight
Who hath of such a lady sight,
And to her dare not shew his mind!
Come forth, Sir Knight, and courage find,
Fear not my lady smiteth thee,
She loves thee well, and guilelessly,
Do thou to her for mercy cry,
And for thy sake, e'en so will I,
That she forgive thee, in this stead,
For Salados, le Roux, now dead,
That was her lord, whom thou hast slain --"
Upon his knees fell Sir Ywain,
"Madam, I yield me to your will,
Do with me as shall please ye still,
E'en if I might, I would not flee --"
She quoth: "Now, wherefore should that be?
If I to death should do thee now,
Small profit 't were to me, I trow.
But since so humble thou shalt be,
And in such wise be come to me,
And thus hath put thee in my grace,
I here forgive thee in this place.
Sit down," she said, "and tell me here
Wherefore dost shew such gracious cheer?"
"Madam," he quoth, "with but one look,
My heart erstwhile thou captive took,
Since first thou camest to my sight
Have I thee loved, with all my might;
Other than thee, my lady fair,
Hath in my love nor part, nor share,
And for thy love prepared am I
Faithful to live, or faithful die."
She quoth: "Now durst thou undertake,
In this, my land, true peace to make,
And steadfast to uphold my rights
Against King Arthur, and his knights?"
He quoth: "Yea, surely, as I thrive,
'Gainst him, or any man alive!"
Such counsel had she ta'en ere this,
She quoth: "Now are we friends, I wis."
Her lords to counsel her were fain
To take a lord to her again.

Swiftly she went unto the hall,
Assembled were her barons all,
There did they hold their parliament
That she should wed, by their assent.
She quoth: "Sirs, ye with one accord,
Have said, I needs must have a lord
My lands to govern and defend --
Say now, whereto your rede doth tend?"
"Madam," they quoth: "your will now do,
And we will all assent thereto."
Straightway the lady went again
Unto her bower, to Sir Ywain,
She quoth: "By God, this vow I make,
None other lord than thee to take,
If I thee left, that were not right,
King's son art thou, and noble knight."

Now has the maid done as she thought
Sir Ywain out of anger brought,
The lady led him to the hall,
Before him rose the barons all,
And all men said, with certainty,
"This knight shall wed with our Lady."
And soothly said, themselves between,
So fair a man they ne'er had seen --
"So fair is he in hall and bower
He seemeth well an emperour,
We would that these twain were trothplight
And wedded, aye, this very night."
She sat her down, that lady fair,
And bade them all keep silence there,
And bade her steward somewhat say
Ere that from court men went away.
The steward said: "Sirs, understand,
That war doth threaten this, our land,
King Arthur, he be ready dight
To come within this fourteen-night,
He thinketh, with his knights, the king,
This land within his power to bring;
They know full well that he be dead
Who once was ruler in this stead,
None have we here weapons to wield,
No man our land boldly to shield,
Women may ne'er maintain their power,
They need a lord, and governour.
Therefore our lady needs must wed,
E'en hastily, for very dread,
But to no lord her will is bent
Save that it be with your consent."
The lords, a-row, to counsel fell,
They deemed that he had spoken well,
And with one voice assent they make
That at her will a lord she take.
Therewith the lady spake forthright:
"What think ye now of this same knight?
He proffers here, in every wise
To serve me, as I may devise,
And certes, sirs, the sooth to say,
I saw him never ere to-day.
But, so I trow the tidings run,
Unto King Urien is he son;
He cometh of high parentage,
Most doughty he, in vassalage,
Wary, and wise, and courteous he,
And fain his wife he'ld have me be.
Nevertheless, I trow, he might
Have chosen better, 't were his right!"
Then with one voice the barons said:
"Madam, we hold us well repaid,
But hasten ye, if so ye may,
That ye be wed this very day."
And prayer from every side they make
That she be pleased the knight to take.

Then soon unto the kirk they went,
And wedded were, with full consent;
Full solemnly was wedded there
Ywain, to Alundyne, the fair, --
Duke's daughter of Landuit, she --
Else should her country wasted be.
The marriage did they celebrate
Among their barons, all in state,
And mickle mirth they made that day,
And feasting fair, with rich array --
Rejoicing great they made that stead,
And all forgotten is the dead.
Of him, sometime their lord so free,
They say, this knight is worth the three.
And that they love him mickle more
Than him, who was their lord before.





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