THE WEDDING FEAST

Proud indeed was King Arthur when he brought the beautiful Guinevere down from London to his castle in Camelot.

Messengers were sent up and down the country for miles 5 about, and all the people were invited to the wedding feast. Games and races and jousts were planned, and the Knights of the Round Table would test their skill with each other and with the strong youth of the yeomanry. Great lords and nobles of every degree came from the shires - east, 10 west, north, and south. And when all were assembled, the wedding music burst forth, and the people thronged to the church of St. Stephen's, where King Arthur and his beautiful Guinevere and the Knights of the Round Table awaited the coming of the guests.

15 And when the ceremony was over, then together all the company went back to the castle where the feasting and the games were celebrated.

But while King Arthur, his bride and the knights sat at the royal table, there came into the hall a common 20 yeoman, accompanied by a youth.

"Why comest thou?" said the knights. "Knowest thou not that this is King Arthur's wedding feast?"

But the yeoman would make no answer. Straight across the hall to King Arthur himself he went; and when he had 25 bowed before the king, he said, "I am told, King Arthur, that thou hast promised to any man whatever he shall ask of thee on this thy wedding day?"

"It is so," King Arthur replied; "providing that he ask only what is right and reasonable."

"I ask only that thou shalt make this lad a knight. For though I have reared him in the life of my people, yet useless is he in the field. While others labor at the plow, he throws darts and quoits, and challenges every youth to 5 joust with him.”

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"Will this lad make a good knight? Tell us, Merlin," said King Arthur.

"Surely he ought," said Merlin smiling, "for he is the son of King Pellinore himself."

Then King Pellinore, who was present at the feast, rejoiced, for the youth was strong and handsome, and proud was he to own him as his son.

Then King Arthur spoke most generously to both father and son, and King Pellinore was given a seat of high honor 15 at the Round Table.

Now, there were knights who hated King Pellinore, and when they saw him thus honored they burned with indignation.

"Why is he seated above us?" they whispered. "Let 20 us have our revenge upon him.”

But just then a white deer came leaping into the hall, pursued by a white hound and thirty pairs of black hounds.

Round and round the hall the frightened deer sped, the hounds gaining upon her at every turn. Once the white 25 hound came so near, he leaped upon and bit the deer. Then the deer with a bound overthrew one of the knights and escaped again through the door. But the knight rose, caught up the white hound, and fled from the hall.

Hardly had he disappeared when a damsel ran into the 30 hall and cried, "Suffer me not to be thus wronged; for know that the hound that knight hath taken belongs to me!"

But even as she spoke another knight rode into the hall, seized the damsel, screaming, and hastened with her out 35 across the country.

"These deeds must be avenged," cried Merlin; "else they will be a dishonor upon our knighthood."

"Go, then, Sir Gawaine, pursue the deer and bring it to the court," said King Arthur. And you, Sir Tor, pursue 5 the hound. And thou, King Pellinore, pursue the knight with the lady."

And the three armed themselves in haste and hurried forth to do the king's bidding.

Sir Gawaine followed on at a hard pace, and with him 10 rode his brother Gaheris as squire. Before long they came to two knights quarreling.

"Why is this?" cried Gawaine, rushing in between them. "Simply this," they said. "We saw a white deer fly by, pursued by hounds. Both of us wanted to take up the 15 adventure. I claimed my right to it as the elder. My brother claimed it as the better knight; and so we fought to get at the truth."

"But neither of you may follow this deer," Sir Gawaine answered, “for to me is given this quest, and by the word 20 of King Arthur."

Then the two brothers dropped their swords, and at Sir Gawaine's bidding went back to the court of King Arthur.

By and by Sir Gawaine and his brother overtook the white deer. It lagged now, for the white hound had wounded 25 it, and the black hounds still followed in full cry.

And now they had come to a river. The deer sprang in and swam across. But as Sir Gawaine sprang after, a knight from the other bank cried, "Cross not this river, or if you do, prepare to joust with me who was never over30 come in battle!"

"Then I will cross!" thundered back Sir Gawaine to the knight.

So Gawaine and Gaheris swam across. At once the two knights ran full at each other, and Gawaine smote 35 the stranger so that he fell.

"Yield!" Sir Gawaine cried.

But the stranger raised his sword and cried, "I dare thee! Fight with me on foot!" Then again they dashed upon each other, and again the stranger fell before Sir 5 Gawaine's heavy stroke this time, dead, pierced through the brain with the sword of Gawaine!

Then Gawaine and Gaheris left the slain knight by the river bank and hastened on after the white deer. They found it in the court of a castle, into which it had sped for 10 refuge from the hounds.

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But as Gawaine rode up, a knight came forth from the castle, slew the hounds, and gathered the deer up in his arms and grieved over it; for it was a gift from his lady. "Why hast thou slain the hounds?" thundered Gawaine. "Why hast thou pursued my deer?" thundered the castle knight.

And the two knights fell upon each other like mad men. They fought long and fiercely, for they were well matched both for strength and skill. But at last Sir Gawaine struck 20 down the castle knight, so that he was forced to beg for mercy.

"No mercy have I for thee!" cried Gawaine, and he raised his sword to strike off the fallen knight's head. But just then the knight's lady came rushing forth from the 25 castle. She threw herself between Sir Gawaine and her knight, and the sword, descending in hot haste, fell, alas! upon her fair white throat; and her golden head rolled across the court yard.

"Shame! shame! shame upon thee for thy foul deed!" 30 cried Gaheris.

Gawaine, bewildered, stunned, dropped his sword. Then to the knight he said, "Arise! I give thee mercy!"

"Alas! alas! I care not for mercy now, for thou hast slain my bride. What is my life to me? Take it,

35 sir."

"Alas! alas! it was a grievous act!" moaned Gawaine, "but thou knowest it was not at that fair head I struck, but at thine. Go then to the king and tell him what hath happened, and bear with thee the dead hounds for proof.” 5 Gawaine and Gaheris then went into the castle to rest. But hardly had they lain themselves down when four warlike knights beset them, demanding revenge upon Gawaine for his cruel deed.

Then four ladies came and begged the four warlike 10 knights to spare Sir Gawaine, and so his life was spared; but both he and Gaheris were taken as prisoners by the four knights down to Camelot.

And when afterwards they knew that Gawaine was a nephew to King Arthur, then, out of love for their king, 15 they let Gawaine go free; and, moreover, they gave him the head of the white deer, for that had been his quest. But, nevertheless, with the dead lady before him on his horse, and with her golden head hanging from his own neck, they forced him to ride forth to meet the king at 20 Camelot.

Thus Gawaine again entered the presence of Arthur and Guinevere. The beautiful Guinevere moaned and sobbed to see so beautiful a lady slain; and King Arthur lamented that a Knight of his Round Table should have refused 25 mercy to one who asked it.

And so Sir Gawaine was judged; but on the books of the Evangelists he swore, in the presence of all the Court, that henceforth he would pledge himself to be the especial champion of ladies; and that never again would he refuse 30 mercy to one who asked it of him.

Now, meantime, Sir Tor had been sent forth in quest of the knight and the hound. A long, long way he rode, over hill and plain. Then he came to a pavilion by the roadside; and against its doorway two great spears were 35 placed.