--- title: Opening, part 4 — Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 4, «Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch» by Jessie L. Weston: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: So rode they all three together till they came to a parting of the ways where stood a fair cros --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/4/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered in…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/) / Opening, part 4 # Opening, part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/4/) **2** But 'twas labour lost; not for all the riches that belonged to King Arthur would he have taken back his word and his covenant, for any prayer that might be made him, nor have yielded aught through fear.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") Then would the knights take leave of each other that they might depart.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") The Moor spake to the twain: "For what do ye take me?[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Am I a lesser or a weaker man than either of ye that Sir Gawain must needs ride with me?[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") I will not have it so.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") There is no knight so bold but I dare well withstand him.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") I know well what is unfitting.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") Now say whither ye will betake ye, and send me what road ye will; I will dare the venture, be it never so perilous.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") By my knighthood, and by all who follow Christendom, I shall adventure alone, and take that which may chance."[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said Sir Gawain: "It liketh me ill that ye sware such an oath, yet since such is your will, take ye the road that leadeth to the sea (this seemeth to me the best), ride swiftly and spare not, but seek your father.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") And do in all things after my counsel; if any man meet ye, when ye have given him courteous greeting, ask him if he saw riding, or otherwise met with, two knights, the one of whom ware red armour, and the other bare King Arthur's badge.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") This shall ye first beseech of them.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") When ye come to the crossing, pray that men tell ye the truth, and ask for the sea-coast withal, wherever ye come.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") And if so be that men understand ye not then return straightway to this place, and follow the road which I shall take, swiftly, and with no delay.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") We might lightly depart so far from each other that we met not again.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") But follow me soon, and not too late; and do according as I counsel ye, and I tell ye truly, no harm shall befall ye."[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") The Moor spake: "God reward ye."[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Then took they leave each of the other, and departed asunder.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") Now will I tell ye how it fared with Sir Gawain.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") The adventure telleth us forthwith that when prime was now already past Sir Gawain came to a wide and deep river. '[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Twas a great stream, and deep, and the current ran swift and strong.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sir Gawain marked well, and took heed, how on the further side, in a land of which he knew naught, there came a knight riding on a fair steed, and armed as if for combat.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Before him he drave captive a maiden.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Gawain beheld how he smote her, many a time and oft, blow upon blow, with his fist that weighed heavily for the mailed gauntlet that he ware.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Pain enough did he make her bear for that she desired not to ride with him.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") He smote her many a time and oft with his shield as he would revenge himself upon her in unseemly fashion.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") The maiden ware a robe of green silk, that was rent in many places, 'twas the cruel knight had wrought the mischief.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") She rode a sorry hack, bare backed, and her matchless hair, which was yellow as silk, hung even to the horse's croup--but in sooth she had lost well nigh the half thereof, which that fell knight had afore torn out. '[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Twas past belief, the maiden's sorrow and shame; how she scarce might bear to be smitten by the cruel knight; she wept and wrung her hands.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") This Sir Gawain beheld, and he deemed 'twere shame an he avenged not her wrong.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked before and behind and saw no bridge, great or small, by which he might cross over, nor saw he living soul of whom he might ask, then did he delay no longer, but turned his bridle, and set his horse toward the river bank; he struck his spurs sharply and sprang into the midst of the stream.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The good steed breasted the current, swimming as best it might and brought its master to the further side. '[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Twas great marvel that they were not drowned, horse and man, for the river was deep, and the stream ran swiftly.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") When Sir Gawain came to the other side of the river, which was both wide and deep, then saw he a great company of folk riding after the knight who bare away the maiden by force, and thus misused her, but he wist not if it was to aid the knight that they thus followed him, or to wreak vengeance on him.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") He saw many men clad in hauberks, but they were as yet a good mile distant.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Gawain rode swiftly after the maiden who went afore, whom the knight thus mishandled, to avenge her wrong; and as he drew near so that she might see him, she smote her hands together more than before, and cried to Gawain, "Noble knight, for the honour of womanhood, save me\![87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") This knight doeth me undeserved shame.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Did there come hither any friend of God who would help me in this my need, an he had slain his own father it should be forgiven him!"[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Her prayers and entreaties, her tears and lamentations, would have stirred any man to pity; she cried upon Sir Gawain as he came riding into the plain, to come to her aid and fell the knight's pride.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") As Sir Gawain heard her his heart was rent with sorrow and compassion and he spake to that evil knight: "Sir Knight, 'tis folly and discourtesy that which ye do to this maiden; were ye wise ye would forbear; even had the maiden wronged ye, ye should deal courteously; he hath small honour who thus smiteth a maiden."[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said the cruel knight: "For ye, fool and meddler, whether ye be knight or no, will I not stay my hand, nay, rather for your shame, will I chastise her the more; and should ye but speak another word to her I shall thrust ye straightway from your steed with my spear!"[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Quoth Sir Gawain: "Then were I but afoot Sir Knight\![93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Natheless I counsel ye, an ye be wise, that ye spare the maiden.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Ye will find me not so craven this day as to let ye harm her; I shall defend her and avenge her wrong if my life be risked upon it.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") But, Sir Knight, hearken to my prayer, for God and for your honour, and the sake of knighthood!"[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") But that evil knight answered and said he would in no wise do this: "An ye get not hence, and fly, by heaven it shall be your doomsday\![97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") I have no need of your sermons."[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Quoth Sir Gawain: "An ye be so bold, lay but your hand again upon her, and I shall take so stern a pledge as, wist ye, shall dismay your heart, an it cost me my life.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Let the maiden go in peace, or be on your guard against my spear, for I defy ye!"[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") The other was high and scornful that Sir Gawain so threatened him.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") He thought to quell his pride, and rode against him straightway, and Sir Gawain, on his side, did even the same.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") They came together so keenly that both spears brake, and the crash might be heard afar; they came together so swiftly that the knight was thrust from his saddle, and fell to the ground, and he fell so heavily that he felt the smart in every limb, and lay in anguish from the fall--so stayed he prone upon the ground.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/4/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/4/) - next →: [Opening, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/5/) - ↑ back to [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/)