Each has worn his crown in turn, each had his meed of honour. Madam, you can still win me, if you will be baptized.

She did not wish it otherwise. ‘How soon that can be done! I will be christened with all speed if only he will come back. To whom else has the courtly warrior left the fruits of his love? Out on you, sweet dalliance, if I am to be assailed by bitter memories now and ever after! I would gladly be baptized to the glory of God,’ the lady continued, ‘and live according to his liking!’ Grief had at her with hack and thrust. Her happiness ‘found the withered branch’, as turtle-doves still do. They keep such faith that when they lose their mates they never fail to seek the withered bough.

When her time came, the lady was delivered of a son. His skin was pied. It had pleased God to make a marvel of him, for he was both black and white. The Queen fell to kissing his white spots, time and time again. The name she gave her little boy was Feirefiz* the Angevin. When he grew up he cleared whole forests – so many lances did he shatter, punching holes in shields. His hair and all his skin were particoloured like a magpie.

More than a year had passed since Gahmuret was acclaimed in Zazamanc on gaining the victory, and still he tossed on the sea at the mercy of the scudding winds. But now he descried a silken sail, gleaming red, and then a ship. It was bringing messengers from Vridebrant to lady Belacane, asking her to pardon him for having invested her, though he had lost a kinsman because of her. They had also brought the Adamant, a sword, a hauberk and a pair of greaves.

Here is a marvel for your ears: their courses met! My source swears to it. They made it all over to him, and Gahmuret for his part promised he would convey the message with his own lips, when he returned to her. I was told that the sea carried him into a haven, from where he went to Seville. There the gallant man paid off his pilot for all his toil, with a rich reward of gold. They parted company, much to that mariner’s sorrow.

Chapter 2

GAHMURET Knew the king in that land of Spain, for it was his cousin Kaylet. He set out for Toledo to find him, but Kaylet had left in search of tournaments where there was to be no sparing of shields! Then Gahmuret too, as my source assures me, told his men to equip him with gay lances, each with its pennant of green cendale displaying three Anchors of ermine so proud that all acclaimed their splendour. They were long and broad, and from where they were tied a span below the lance-head reached almost down to the hand. A hundred of these had been made for the gallant man and were now being carried in his train by his cousin’s people, who contrived to show him their love and esteem nobly and in a way that pleased their lord.

Gahmuret ranged after Kaylet for I do not know how long until in the land of Waleis he saw the encampments of foreign knights, a crowd of pavilions pitched on the meadow before Kanvoleis. – By your leave this is true, I am not romancing. He told his men to rein in and sent his discreet young squire-in-chief ahead with orders to find a camping ground within the town, and his squire went about it with all speed. Others followed leading sumpters. Not a house did he see that was not covered with shields as by a second roof, its sides draped with hangings and all palisaded with lances.

The Queen of Waleis had bidden a tournament at Kanvoleis in terms that still scare a coward when he sees such a proclamation afoot – he is no man to take part in it! She was a maiden not yet come to woman’s estate and offered two lands and her person to whoever most distinguished himself, news that caused many to be thrust over their cruppers down on to the young grass. Those who took a toss of this sort were judged to have lost their throw! Yet fearless warriors took part in it and proved their mettle as knights. Many a horse was spurred to the headlong gallop, many swords were set a-ringing.

A pontoon bridge led over a sheet of water to a meadow, but access was barred by a gate. Unabashed, the young squire opened it – and there above stood the Palace! The Queen was sitting at the windows with a bevy of noble ladies, and they began to take note of what the squires were about below, for these had made their plans and were raising a pavilion of state. A king had given it up for a love that brought him no return, moved by passion as he was for Belacane.