🧚 Opening, part 7

Thus was Sir Gawain overcome, and me thinks 'twas little marvel!1 There lives no man so strong or so valiant but he may some time be vanquished by force, or by fraud.2 Sir Gawain must needs yield him; he was felled to the ground, yet were there some to whom it cost their life ere he was captive, and some it cost a limb, or twain, that might never more be healed; and he himself was so sore mis-handled that all he ware, whether it were armour or other clothing, was rent in many a place, so that the flesh might be seen.3 There lived on earth no man so wise that he might aid him in this stress, nor leech who might heal him; yet, an God will, he shall be healed of his smart and of his shame.4

They bound Sir Gawain's hands, and set him on a sorry hack, and to anger him they led beside him Gringalet, his steed.5 This they did that he might be the more sorrowful when he beheld his horse, which he had now lost, and his own life withal!6 For of this would they deprive him, and make him to die a shameful death; burn him they would, or break him upon the wheel, that they might wreak their vengeance upon him.7 There were among them knights and squires, the richest, and the most nobly born after the lord of the land; and all had sworn an oath that they would lead Sir Gawain to the cross-roads, at the entering in of their land for the greater shaming of King Arthur's Court.8 To this had they pledged themselves, that they would there slay him without respite or delay; and were it not that 'twere shame to themselves, and too great dishonour to one who bare the name of knight, they had hung him by the neck, on the border of the two lands, to shame King Arthur; so that all his folk who were of the knightly order, and dwelt at his court, and sought for adventure, should shun their land when they heard the tidings of the vengeance wrought by them upon knights-errant who would prove their fate within those borders.9

Thus it fell out that they brought Sir Gawain on the horse, sorely wounded and mishandled, within the nearness of half a mile, so that the knight knew he was nigh to the cell of the Hermit of whom at that self-same cross-road he had asked tidings of King Arthur's knights, and of that bad and evil land where many were brought to shame.10 And they who had brought him thither were of one mind that they should make a wheel, and break the knight upon it at the Cross by the parting of the ways whereof I have told ye afore.11

Now shall I leave speaking of this matter till I come again thereto, and will forthwith tell ye how it fared with Morien when the three had parted asunder, as I told ye afore (Sir Gawain, Morien, and Sir Lancelot, he was the third), since they would fain make proof of that which the Hermit had told them.12 Now will I tell ye of Morien ere that I end the tale of Sir Gawain.13 Now doth the adventure tell that Morien, that bold knight, rode the seaward way, and came safely to the passage of the ford nigh unto the open sea.14 And all the day he met no man of whom he might ask concerning his father; 'twas labour wasted, for all who saw him fled from him.15 Little good might his asking do him, since none who might walk or ride would abide his coming.16 But he saw there the hoof-prints of horses, which lay before him and were but newly made; by this he deemed that his father had passed that way but a short while before.17

Thus he followed the hoof-tracks to the passage of the sea.18 That night had he neither rest nor slumber, nor found he place where he might shelter, or where it seemed to him he might ask for food or lodging beneath a roof.19

The morning early, even as it dawned and men might see clearly and well (which comforted him much), he came safely ahorse to where one might make the crossing, but he saw never a soul; no man dwelt thereabout, for the robbers had laid waste the land, and driven away the folk so that none remained. '20 Twas all heath and sand, and no land beside; there grew neither barley nor wheat.21 He saw and heard no man, nor did folk come and go there, but he saw ships at anchor, and shipmen therein, who were wont to take over those folk who would cross into Ireland.22

Morien came riding over the sea-sand, and cried with a loud voice shipward: "Ye who be within tell me that which I ask lest it be to your own loss, as also I would fain know for my own profit and rejoicing.23 Know ye if any within these few days past have carried a knight over the water?"24

But all they who lay in the ships, when they beheld Morien who had doffed his helm, were so afeard for him that they might neither hear nor understand question nor answer.25 They were altogether in fear of him, since he was so tall, and black withal.26 Each man turned his boat seaward, and put off from the shore, for Morien was to look upon even as if he were come out of hell.27 They deemed they had seen the Foul Fiend himself, who would fain deçeive them, so they departed as swiftly as they might and would in no wise abide his coming.28 Then must Morien turn him again, for none would hearken to his speech nor tell him that which he fain would know; all were of one mind that 'twas the Devil, and none else, who rode there upon the sand, so they fled with one consent from the shore.29

Morien saw well that his labour was in vain, for would he make the crossing there was no man would abide his coming or receive him into his boat.30 Thus must he needs turn him back, and great lamentation did he make thereof.31 He saw the footprints where two horses had ridden afore him, and ever he hoped that 'twas his father who rode there, and that he had crossed the water, but he thought within himself: "What doth it profit a man to labour if he know it to be in vain?32 None will take me over the water since I am a Moor, and of other countenance than the dwellers in this land; this my journey is for naught.33 I may not do better than return to the Hermit, that good man, there where I parted from my comrades."34 He had neither eaten nor drunk since that he rode thence; his head was dazed with hunger and with grief.35 He looked behind and afore, and saw nowhere where food was in preparing, nor saw he man nor woman, nor creature that had life, upon the seashore.36

Then he rode swiftly upon the backward trail till he came once more to the parting of the ways; there found he carpenter-folk hewing and shaping timber, whereof they had made a great wheel.37 He saw a knight sitting upon the ground, in sore distress, naked and covered with blood; he had been brought thither to be broken upon the wheel, so soon as it might be made ready.38 Well might his heart misgive him!39

Morien who came thither saw the gleam of many a hauberk; there were armed folk enow!40 Others there were who were but in evil case, unarmed, and unclad, who were scarce whole.41 Their limbs were bandaged, some the arm, some the leg, some the head, and stained with blood.42 And Sir Gawain, who sat there sore mishandled, knew that well, and as Morien came nigh, he cried, so that all might hear: "Dear my comrade, ye be welcome.43 God give me joy of your coming hither!44 I am Gawain, your comrade; little did I foresee this mischance when we parted, you and I, at this cross-way!45 Have pity upon the sore stress in which ye see me.46 May God who hath power over us all strengthen ye well; would that He might here show forth His power!"47