go alone.
Then the King is in great distress. "Fair son," says he, "what dost thou
intend to do? Thou shouldst tell me thy business and keep nothing back.
Tell me whither thou will go; for thou art unwilling on any account
to be accompanied by an escort of squires or knights. If thou hast
undertaken to fight some knight in single combat, yet shouldst thou not
for that reason fail to take a part of thy knights with thee to betoken
thy wealth and lordship. A king's son ought not to fare alone. Fair son,
have thy sumpters loaded now, and take thirty or forty or more of thy
knights, and see that silver and gold is taken, and whatever a gentleman
needs." Finally Erec makes reply and tells him all in detail how he has
planned his journey. "Sire," says he, "it must be so. I shall take no
extra horse, nor have I any use for gold or silver, squire or sergeant;
nor do I ask for any company save that of my wife alone. But I pray you,
whatever may happen, should I die and she come back, to love her and
hold her dear for love of me and for my prayer, and give her so long as
she live, without contention or any strife, the half of your land to be
her own." Upon hearing his son's request, the King said: "Fair son, I
promise it. But I grieve much to see thee thus go off without escort,
and if I had my way, thou shouldst not thus depart." "Sire, it cannot
be otherwise. I go now, and to God commend you. But keep in mind my
companions, and give them horses and arms and all that knight may need."
The King cannot keep back the tears when he is parted from his son. The
people round about weep too; the ladies and knights shed tears and make
great moan for him. There is not one who does not mourn, and many a one
in the courtyard swoons. Weeping, they kiss and embrace him, and are
almost beside themselves with grief. I think they would not have been
more sad if they had seen him dead or wounded. Then Erec said to comfort
them: "My lords, why do you weep so sore? I am neither in prison nor
wounded. You gain nothing by this display of grief. If I go away, I
shall come again when it please God and when I can. To God I commend you
one and all; so now let me go; too long you keep me here. I am sorry and
grieved to see you weep." To God he commends them and they him.

(Vv. 2765-2924.) So they departed, leaving sorrow behind them. Erec
starts, and leads his wife he knows not whither, as chance dictates.
"Ride fast," he says, "and take good care not to