him homage; he will have the better will to maintain you. And so
they arose and did their homage, and when they were gone Merlin
found in every sieges letters of gold that told the knights'
names that had sitten therein. But two sieges were void. And so
anon came young Gawaine and asked the king a gift. Ask, said the
king, and I shall grant it you. Sir, I ask that ye will make me
knight that same day ye shall wed fair Guenever. I will do it
with a good will, said King Arthur, and do unto you all the
worship that I may, for I must by reason ye are my nephew, my
sister's son.



CHAPTER III

How a poor man riding upon a lean mare desired King
Arthur to make his son knight.

FORTHWITHAL there came a poor man into the court, and brought
with him a fair young man of eighteen years of age riding upon a
lean mare; and the poor man asked all men that he met, Where
shall I find King Arthur? Yonder he is, said the knights, wilt
thou anything with him? Yea, said the poor man, therefore I came
hither. Anon as he came before the king, he saluted him and
said: O King Arthur, the flower of all knights and kings, I
beseech Jesu save thee. Sir, it was told me that at this time of
your marriage ye would give any man the gift that <82>he would
ask, out except that were unreasonable. That is truth, said the
king, such cries I let make, and that will I hold, so it apair
not my realm nor mine estate. Ye say well and graciously, said