doubtless regret to see me strive to introduce other customs
and other laws than those my royal sire observed. Regardless of
consequences, I am bound to keep and maintain the institution of my
father Pendragon, who was a just king and emperor. Now tell me fully
what you think! Let none be slow to speak his mind, if this damsel is
not the fairest of my household and ought not by right to receive the
kiss of the White Stag: I wish to know what you truly think." Then they
all cry with one accord: "Sire, by the Lord and his Cross! you may well
kiss her with good reason, for she is the fairest one there is. In this
damsel there is more beauty than there is of radiance in the sun. You
may kiss her freely, for we all agree in sanctioning it." When the King
hears that this is well pleasing to them all, he will no longer delay in
bestowing the kiss, but turns toward her and embraces her. The maid was
sensible, and perfectly willing that the King should kiss her; she would
have been discourteous, indeed, to resent it. In courteous fashion and
in the presence of all his knights the King kissed her, and said: "My
dear. I give you my love in all honesty. I will love you with true
heart, without malice and without guile." By this adventure the King
carried out the practice and the usage to which the White Stag was
entitled at his court.

Here ends the first part of my story. [119]

(Vv. 1845-1914.) When the kiss of the Stag was taken according to the
custom of the country, Erec, like a polite and kind man, was solicitous
for his poor host. It was not his intention to fail to execute what he
had promised. Hear how he kept his covenant: for he sent him now five
sumpter mules, strong and sleek, loaded with dresses and clothes,
buckrams and scarlets, marks of gold and silver plate, furs both vair
and grey, skins of sable, purple stuffs, and silks. When the mules were
loaded with all that a gentleman can need, he sent with them an escort
of ten knights and sergeants chosen from his own men, and straightly
charged them to salute his host and show great honour both to him and to
his lady, as if it were to himself in person; and when they should have
presented to them the sumpters which they brought them, the gold, the
silver, and money, and all the other furnishings which were in the
boxes, they should escort the lady and the vavasor with great honour
into his kingdom of Farther Wales. [120] Two towns there he had promised
them, the most c