THE SCENE: Sir Gawain causes an international incident – and a great deal of bloodshed – when he decides he won’t put up with the arrogance of a Roman diplomat.
THE TEXT: Then Sir Gayous answered with high toned arrogance,
Being uncle to the emperor and himself an Earl:
“These Britons were always blusters and braggarts.
Lo, how he swaggers in his shining suit
As if to brutalize us all with the bright sword he brandishes.
But his bark is all boast that boy who stands there.”
Then Gawain being wounded by those wild words,
Flew at that fellow with fire in his heart;
With his steely sword he struck off his head,
Then leapt to his steed and speed away with his lords.
Through the guardsmen they galloped, the gallant Knights,
Stampeding past soldiers who stood in their path;
Over water they went hurtling on horseback,
Only breaking for breath at the woods border.
Countless foe came after, following on foot,
And Romans on their royally arrayed mounts,
Pursuing our proud men through the open plain
On chalk white horses to a high wooded chase.
And one fellow in fine gold finished with sable
Rode foremost on his Frisian in flaming armor,
Flourishing a weapon fabulously fashioned,
Coming fast on our folk with a fierce war cry.
Then Sir Gawain on his gray steed
Gripped a great spear and speedily spiked him;
Through the guts and gore his weapon glided
Till the sharpened steel sliced into his heart.
The man and his horse lay heaped in the earth
And he groaned in grief at his grisly wounds.
Then a proud a rated rider pressed upon them,
Sporting on his shield the silver-striped purple,
Bounding boldly into battle on his brown steed –
He was a Pagan of Persia this person in pursuit.
Sir Boice unflustered met his foe with force
Ran through him thoroughly with the thrust of his lance,
So both soldier and broad shield lay shattered on the ground,
Then he brought out the blade and withdrew to his brothers.
Then Sir Feltemour, a man much merited for his might;
Came belting forward with his blood boiling,
Going for Sir Gawain, girded into action
Out of grief for Sir Gayous who lay dead on the ground
Sir Gawain was glad; against him he galloped
With Galuth, his great sword, and struck him gravely
Hacking in half the knight on horseback
Cleaving him most cleanly through his body from his crown,
Thus slaying the knight with his celebrated sword.
– The Alliterative Morte D’Arthur, 15th Century AD
