e for all you say. I am not
a hermit, nor so compassionate and charitable, and I have no desire to
be so honourable as to give him what I most love. His task will not be
performed so quickly or so lightly; rather will it turn out otherwise
than as you and he expect. You and I need not quarrel because you aid
him against me. Even if he enjoys peace and a truce with you and all
your men, what matters that to me? My heart does not quail on that
account; rather, so help me God, I am glad that he need not feel concern
for any one here but me; I do not wish you to do on my account anything
which might be construed as disloyalty or treachery. Be as compassionate
as you please, but let me be cruel." "What? Wilt thou not change thy
mind?" "No," he says. "Then I will say nothing more. I will leave thee
alone to do thy best and will go now to speak with the knight. I wish
to offer and present to him my aid and counsel in all respects; for I am
altogether on his side."

(Vv. 3319-3490.) Then the king goes down and orders them to bring his
horse. A large steed is brought to him, upon which he springs by the
stirrup, and he rides off with some of his men: three knights and two
squires he bade to go with him. They did not stop their ride downhill
until they came to the bridge, where they see him stanching his wounds
and wiping the blood from them. The king expects to keep him as his
guest for a long time while his wounds are healing; but he might as well
expect to drain the sea. The king hastens to dismount, and he who was
grievously wounded, stood up at once to meet him, though he did not know
him, and he gave no more evidence of the pain he felt in his feet and
hands than if he had been actually sound. The king sees that he is
exerting himself, and quickly runs to greet him with the words: "Sire,
I am greatly amazed that you have fallen upon us in this land. But be
welcome, for no one will ever repeat the attempt: it never happened in
the past, and it will never happen in the future that any one should
perform such a hardy feat or expose himself to such peril. And know that
I admire you greatly for having executed what no one before ever dared
to conceive. You will find me very kindly disposed, and loyal and
courteous toward you. I am the king of this land, and offer you freely
all my counsel and service; and I think I know pretty well what you have
come here to seek. You come, I am sure, to seek the Queen." "Sire,"
he replies, "you