'Yet mayst thou have heard the rumour of one who hath bravely fought, And striven for prize of knighthood, and with dauntless heart hath sought Fair service for fair rewarding?' In such wise spake the knight Gawain; But the maiden she quoth, 'Nay, no hero hath striven _my_ love to gain; Yon lady, the Duchess of Logrois, hath many a gallant knight 85 Who serve her for love, or for payment, and hither they come to fight, And we of their jousts are witness, yet none shall have come so nigh As _thou_ hast, Sir Knight, and this conflict thy glory hath raised on high!'
Then he quoth to the lovely maiden, 'Whose pathway shall she have crossed With many a chosen hero? Say, who hath her favour lost?' 90 'That, Sir Knight, hath the valiant monarch, King Gramoflanz, he who bore From aforetime the crown of honour; so men say, and _I_ know no more!'
Quoth Gawain, 'Thou shalt know more of him, since he draweth the prize anear, And with steadfast heart doth he seek it; from his lips I this tale did hear-- Of true heart would he do thee service, if such service shall be thy will, 95 And help at thine hand he seeketh that thy love may his torment still. It is well that a king face peril, if his lady shall be a queen, And _thou_ art the maid whom he loveth, if King Lot hath thy father been; Thou art she for whom his heart weepeth, if thy name shall Itonjé be, And sorrow of heart dost thou give him--By my mouth would he plead with thee.' 100
'Now if thou be true and faithful of his woe wilt thou make an end, And _both_ would I serve right gladly--This ring he to thee doth send, I prithee to take it, Lady! In sooth do I mean thee well, And if thou wilt trust unto me no word of the tale I'll tell!' Then crimson she blushed, the maiden, and e'en as her lips were red 105 So red grew her cheek, yet the blushes as they came so they swiftly sped. And she stretched forth her hand so shyly toward the little ring of gold, For e'en at a glance she knew it, and her hand did the token hold.
Then she spake, 'Now, Sir Knight, I see well, if I freely to thee may speak, That thou comest from him, whom, desiring, my heart doth for ever seek. 110 My words shalt thou still hold secret, as courtesy biddeth thee, This ring have I seen aforetime, for it oft hath been sent to me; From the hand of the king it cometh, and I know it for token true, From my hand did he first receive it. What sorrow so e'er he knew, Of that do I hold me guiltless; what he asked, that in thought I gave, 115 Had we met I had ne'er withholden the boon he from me did crave.'