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Hear methis morn I stood in Arthur's hall；
And prayed the King would grant me Lancelot
To fight the brotherhood of Day and Night
The last a monster unsubduable
Of any save of him for whom I called
Suddenly bawls this frontless kitchen…knave；
〃The quest is mine； thy kitchen…knave am I；
And mighty through thy meats and drinks am I。〃
Then Arthur all at once gone mad replies；
〃Go therefore；〃 and so gives the quest to him
Himherea villain fitter to stick swine
Than ride abroad redressing women's wrong；
Or sit beside a noble gentlewoman。'
Then half…ashamed and part…amazed； the lord
Now looked at one and now at other； left
The damsel by the peacock in his pride；
And； seating Gareth at another board；
Sat down beside him； ate and then began。
'Friend； whether thou be kitchen…knave； or not；
Or whether it be the maiden's fantasy；
And whether she be mad； or else the King；
Or both or neither； or thyself be mad；
I ask not： but thou strikest a strong stroke；
For strong thou art and goodly therewithal；
And saver of my life； and therefore now；
For here be mighty men to joust with； weigh
Whether thou wilt not with thy damsel back
To crave again Sir Lancelot of the King。
Thy pardon； I but speak for thine avail；
The saver of my life。'
And Gareth said；
'Full pardon； but I follow up the quest；
Despite of Day and Night and Death and Hell。'
So when； next morn； the lord whose life he saved
Had； some brief space； conveyed them on their way
And left them with God…speed； Sir Gareth spake；
'Lead； and I follow。' Haughtily she replied。
'I fly no more： I allow thee for an hour。
Lion and stout have isled together； knave；
In time of flood。 Nay； furthermore； methinks
Some ruth is mine for thee。 Back wilt thou； fool？
For hard by here is one will overthrow
And slay thee： then will I to court again；
And shame the King for only yielding me
My champion from the ashes of his hearth。'
To whom Sir Gareth answered courteously；
'Say thou thy say； and I will do my deed。
Allow me for mine hour； and thou wilt find
My fortunes all as fair as hers who lay
Among the ashes and wedded the King's son。'
Then to the shore of one of those long loops
Wherethrough the serpent river coiled； they came。
Rough…thicketed were the banks and steep； the stream
Full； narrow； this a bridge of single arc
Took at a leap； and on the further side
Arose a silk pavilion； gay with gold
In streaks and rays； and all Lent…lily in hue；
Save that the dome was purple； and above；
Crimson； a slender banneret fluttering。
And therebefore the lawless warrior paced
Unarmed； and calling； 'Damsel； is this he；
The champion thou hast brought from Arthur's hall？
For whom we let thee pass。' 'Nay； nay；' she said；
'Sir Morning…Star。 The King in utter scorn
Of thee and thy much folly hath sent thee here
His kitchen…knave： and look thou to thyself：
See that he fall not on thee suddenly；
And slay thee unarmed： he is not knight but knave。'
Then at his call； 'O daughters of the Dawn；
And servants of the Morning…Star； approach；
Arm me；' from out the silken curtain…folds
Bare…footed and bare…headed three fair girls
In gilt and rosy raiment came： their feet
In dewy grasses glistened； and the hair
All over glanced with dewdrop or with gem
Like sparkles in the stone Avanturine。
These armed him in blue arms； and gave a shield
Blue also； and thereon the morning star。
And Gareth silent gazed upon the knight；
Who stood a moment； ere his horse was brought；
Glorying； and in the stream beneath him； shone
Immingled with Heaven's azure waveringly；
The gay pavilion and the naked feet；
His arms； the rosy raiment； and the star。
Then she that watched him； 'Wherefore stare ye so？
Thou shakest in thy fear： there yet is time：
Flee down the valley before he get to horse。
Who will cry shame？ Thou art not knight but knave。'
Said Gareth； 'Damsel； whether knave or knight；
Far liefer had I fight a score of times
Than hear thee so missay me and revile。
Fair words were best for him who fights for thee；
But truly foul are better； for they send
That strength of anger through mine arms； I know
That I shall overthrow him。'
And he that bore
The star； when mounted； cried from o'er the bridge；
'A kitchen…knave； and sent in scorn of me！
Such fight not I； but answer scorn with scorn。
For this were shame to do him further wrong
Than set him on his feet； and take his horse
And arms； and so return him to the King。
Come； therefore； leave thy lady lightly； knave。
Avoid： for it beseemeth not a knave
To ride with such a lady。'
'Dog； thou liest。
I spring from loftier lineage than thine own。'
He spake； and all at fiery speed the two
Shocked on the central bridge； and either spear
Bent but not brake； and either knight at once；
Hurled as a stone from out of a catapult
Beyond his horse's crupper and the bridge；
Fell； as if dead； but quickly rose and drew；
And Gareth lashed so fiercely with his brand
He drave his enemy backward down the bridge；
The damsel crying； 'Well…stricken； kitchen…knave！'
Till Gareth's shield was cloven； but one stroke
Laid him that clove it grovelling on the ground。
Then cried the fallen； 'Take not my life： I yield。'
And Gareth； 'So this damsel ask it of me
GoodI accord it easily as a grace。'
She reddening； 'Insolent scullion： I of thee？
I bound to thee for any favour asked！'
'Then he shall die。' And Gareth there unlaced
His helmet as to slay him； but she shrieked；
'Be not so hardy； scullion； as to slay
One nobler than thyself。' 'Damsel； thy charge
Is an abounding pleasure to me。 Knight；
Thy life is thine at her command。 Arise
And quickly pass to Arthur's hall； and say
His kitchen…knave hath sent thee。 See thou crave
His pardon for thy breaking of his laws。
Myself； when I return； will plead for thee。
Thy shield is minefarewell； and； damsel； thou；
Lead； and I follow。'
And fast away she fled。
Then when he came upon her； spake； 'Methought；
Knave； when I watched thee striking on the bridge
The savour of thy kitchen came upon me
A little faintlier： but the wind hath changed：
I scent it twenty…fold。' And then she sang；
'〃O morning star〃 （not that tall felon there
Whom thou by sorcery or unhappiness
Or some device； hast foully overthrown）；
〃O morning star that smilest in the blue；
O star； my morning dream hath proven true；
Smile sweetly； thou！ my love hath smiled on me。〃
'But thou begone； take counsel； and away；
For hard by here is one that guards a ford
The second brother in their fool's parable
Will pay thee all thy wages； and to boot。
Care not for shame： thou art not knight but knave。'
To whom Sir Gareth answered； laughingly；
'Parables？ Hear a parable of the knave。
When I was kitchen…knave among the rest
Fierce was the hearth； and one of my co…mates
Owned a rough dog； to whom he cast his coat；
〃Guard it；〃 and there was none to meddle with it。
And such a coat art thou； and thee the King
Gave me to guard； and such a dog am I；
To worry； and not to fleeandknight or knave
The knave that doth thee service as full knight
Is all as good； meseems； as any knight
Toward thy sister's freeing。'
'Ay； Sir Knave！
Ay； knave； because thou strikest as a knight；
Being but knave； I hate thee all the more。'
'Fair damsel； you should worship me the more；
That； being but knave； I throw thine enemies。'
'Ay； ay；' she said； 'but thou shalt meet thy match。'
So when they touched the second river…loop；
Huge on a huge red horse； and all in mail
Burnished to blinding； shone the Noonday Sun
Beyond a raging shallow。 As if the flower；
That blows a globe of after arrowlets；
Ten thousand…fold had grown； flashed the fierce shield；
All sun； and Gareth's eyes had flying blots
Before them when he turned from watching him。
He from beyond the roaring shallow roared；
'What doest thou； brother； in my marches here？'
And she athwart the shallow shrilled again；
'Here is a kitchen…knave from Arthur's hall
Hath overthrown thy brother； and hath his arms。'
'Ugh！' cried the Sun； and vizoring up a red
And cipher face of rounded foolishness；
Pushed horse across the foamings of the ford；
Whom Gareth met midstream： no room was there
For lance or tourney…skill： four strokes they struck
With sword； and these were mighty； the new knight
Had fear he might be shamed； but as the Sun
Heaved up a ponderous arm to strike the fifth；
The hoof of his horse slipt in the stream； the stream
Descended； and the Sun was washed away。
Then Gareth laid his lance athwart the ford；
So drew him home； but he that fought no more；
As being all bone…battered on the rock；
Yielded； and Gareth sent him to the King；
'Myself when I return will plead for thee。'
'Lead； and I follow。' Quietly she led。
'Hath not the good wind； damsel； changed again？'
'Nay； not a point： nor art thou victor here。
There lies a ridge of slate across the ford；
His horse thereon stumbleday； for I saw it。
'〃O Sun〃 （not this strong fool whom thou； Sir Knave；
Hast overthrown through mere unhappiness）；
〃O Sun； that wakenest all to bliss or pa