Free Arthurian Romances by Chrétien de Troyes

down her face.
    The queen did not know what to do; when she saw her maiden wounded she was very sad and angry. ‘Oh! Erec, good friend,’ said she, ‘I am very upset about my maiden, whom this dwarf has wounded in such a way. That knight is most unchivalrous to have allowed such a freak to strike so beautiful a creature. Good friend Erec, go over to the knight and tell him to come to me without fail: I want to meet both him and his lady.’
    Erec spurred his horse, rode in that direction, and came straight to the knight. The despicable dwarf saw him coming and went to meet him. ‘Knight,’ said he, ‘stay back! I don’t know what business you have here. I advise you to withdraw.’
    â€˜Be gone,’ said Erec, ‘bothersome dwarf! You’re disgusting and hateful. Let me pass!’
    â€˜You won’t pass!’
    â€˜Yes, I will!’
    â€˜No, you won’t!’
    Erec gave the dwarf a shove. The dwarf was as evil as could be. With the whip he struck Erec a great blow on the neck. Erec’s neck and face were striped by the blow; the welts raised by the strands of the whip appeared from one end to the other. Erec knew full well that he could not have the satisfaction of striking the dwarf, for he saw the armoured knight, ruthless and arrogant, and he feared that the knight would very quickly kill him if he struck his dwarf in his presence. There’s no virtue in sheer folly: in this Erec acted very wisely – he withdrew, without doing anything more.
    â€˜My lady,’ said he, ‘now things are even worse: that despicable dwarf has injured me so that my face is torn to shreds. I dared not touch or strike him; but no one must blame me for that, since I was completely unarmed. I was afraid of the armed knight. He is uncourtly and unprincipled, and would have considered it no joke: he would have killed me at once, in his pride. But I want to promise you that, if I can, I will either avenge my shame or increase it! But my own armour is too far away: I won’t have it for this task, for I left it at Cardigan this morning when I set out. If I went back there to get it, I would probably never be able to find the knight again, for he is riding off at a brisk pace. I must follow him right now, either closely or at a distance, until I can find some armour to hire or borrow. If I can find someone to lend me armour, then the knight will immediately find me ready to do battle. And be assured without any doubt that we will fight together until he defeats me or I defeat him. And, if I can, by the day after tomorrow I shall begin my return; then you shall see me at the castle, joyful or sad, I don’t know which. My lady, I can delay no more; I must follow the knight. I am leaving; I commend you to God.’
    And the queen likewise commended him to God, more than five hundred times, that He might defend him from evil.
    Erec left the queen and followed the knight. The queen remained in the woods, where the king had caught up with the stag: the king had arrived and taken the stag before any of the others. They killed and took the white stag, and then everyone turned back, carrying the stag as they went; soon they arrived at Cardigan.
    After the evening meal, when the nobles were making merry throughout the house, the king, since he had taken the stag, said he would bestow the kiss in order to observe the tradition of the stag. Throughout the court there was much muttering: they promised and swore to one another that this would never be agreed without resorting to swords or ashen lances. Each man wanted to contend by deeds of arms that his lady was the most beautiful in the hall; these words did not bode well.
    When my lord Gawain heard this, you may be sure that he was not at all pleased. He spoke to the king about it. ‘Sire,’ he said, ‘your knights here are greatly disturbed. They are all speaking of this kiss; they all say that it will never be granted