thy man; you yourself will eventually be killed and undone if you
will not heed my counsel. But if you were willing to take my word, I
should advise you to desist from soliciting so grievous a thing in which
you would never succeed. Speak of it no more! Hold your peace! It would
be imprudent on your part not to follow my advice. I am not at all
surprised that you desire honour and fame; but if I should see you
harmed or injured in your body I should be distressed at heart. And know
well that I have seen many a man ruined who solicited this joy. They
were never any the better for it, but rather did they all die and
perish. Before to-morrow's evening come you may expect a like reward.
If you wish to strive for the Joy, you shall do so, though it grieve me
sore. It is something from which you are free to retreat and draw back
if you wish to work your welfare. Therefore I tell you, for I should
commit treachery and do you wrong were I not to tell you all the truth."
Erec hears him and admits that the King with reason counsels him. But
the greater the wonder and the more perilous the adventure, the more he
covets it and yearns for it, saying: "Sire, I can tell you that I find
you a worthy and a loyal man, and I can put no blame on you. I wish to
undertake this boon, however it may fall out with me. The die is cast,
for I shall never draw back from anything I have undertaken without
exerting all my strength before I quit the field." "I know that well,"
the King replied; "you are acting against my will. You shall have the
Joy which you desire. But I am in great despair; for I greatly fear you
will be undone. But now be assured that you shall have what you desire.
If you come out of it happily, you will have won such great honour that
never did man win greater; and may God, as I desire, grant you a joyous
deliverance."

(Vv. 5669-5738.) All that night they talked of it, until the beds were
prepared and they went to rest. In the morning, when it was daylight,
Erec, who was on the watch, saw the clear dawn and the sun, and quickly
rising, clothed himself. Enide again is in distress, very sad and ill at
ease; all night she is greatly disquieted with the solicitude and fear
which she felt for her lord, who is about to expose himself to great
peril. But nevertheless he equips himself, for no one can make him
change his mind. For his equipment the King sent him, when he arose,
arms which he put to good use. Erec did not refuse them, f