The Adventure of the Sparrowhawk

One springtime Gwynevere and her maiden were riding along a wooded glade listening to the hounds and the horns of Arthurs hunt. Erec, the young knight, kept them company. As they went on their way a strange cavalcade appeared on the road ahead, a knight, a damsel, and a dwarf. The knight was a haughty fellow, the damsel held a sparrowhawk, and the dwarf carried a scourge. From a distance Gwynevere hardly saw these interesting details, but she sent her damsel on ahead to inquire who the trio might be.

The Insult

Now just as the girl would open her mouth, the dwarf bars her way raises his whip and even strikes her, sending the maiden in tears back to her mistress. Gwynevere, stubborn in her anger, urges Erec to try once himself.

“I wish to know who this knight may be!” She insists, but Erec fares no better, he gets a blow across the face.

Now Erec dared not draw his sword for he was unarmed and he saw that the other knight was a proud fellow and armored from head to toe in mail.

Erec chose the better part of valor and retreated to the Queen. My lady he said, “I will follow this knight and once I find someone who will lend me a hauberk and helm then this knight will pay for his insolence.” The Queen commended Erec to God, more than five hundred times says the text, and off he went on this adventure.

The Town of Lalut

Now at last Erec came upon a town, it seemed to be the destination of the trio. It was a fair sight, surrounded by pavilions with flags flying and knights and fair ladies all in bright colors, with hawks and falcons upon their wrists.

Just beyond the throng and press of the town and its surrounding festal camp, he found a long, low house and a white-haired old gentleman sitting outside upon the step.

Now Erec rode into the yard. He gave the man good day and asked, if he might stay the night, for the man seemed kindly and like a generous host. And so the old man proved to be! He welcomed Erec and called his daughter from the house to take the man’s horse and give it feed and water.

Now Enide appeared, laughing in the doorway. Her face and figure were most beautiful. Her skin was white, her cheeks were red. Her little face shone in the light of her eyes. Her hair was golden and wreathed her face, dropped to her shoulders, and fell past her waist. She pleased Erec mightily from head to toe. She wore a plain white shift, and over it a torn and tattered kirtle, secured about the waist with a piece of rope.

Hospitality

So soon as she sees the young well dressed knight, she, the laughing maiden quickly sobers up. and quietly hurries to take his horse’s bridle. Erec has quite forgotten himself. He simply gazes on the maiden at his saddlebow. He little thinks to stir. She blushes a little and hides her smile. The old man chuckles, not a bit displeased. Erec, coming to himself, alights, but his eyes do not leave the girl until she’s led the horse into the stable. The old man smiles to see the young knight’s wonder, and in the house he introduced him to the girl’s mother.

Now they eat and the evening passes pleasantly. Erec will not hide his pleasure at the sight of his host’s lovely daughter.

Admiration does not stop his tongue however, he inquires regarding all the commotion in and about the town, the pavilions and the flags, the falcons and the knights. Most of all he inquires about that one haughty knight with his damsel and his dwarf. These questions quickly find their answer. The old man tells him everything.

It seemed there was a tournament held annually in this town for the possession of one fine bird, that was to belong to the fairest lady in the land. Now this same knight whom Erec was seeking, had without a contest taken away the prize for his lady two years in succession, and should he succeed a third year the bird would belong to his damsel once and for all.

Hearing this and looking on Enide, Erec’s mind at once begins to work upon another quarrel.

A Bold Request

“Noble host,” announces Erec, “I do not like that knight! If you know where I may find a set of armor, poor or fine it does not matter, I would enter upon the contest for the bird tomorrow. I would teach that proud knight a lesson. Nevertheless I am alone, but had I your daughter by my side I would make a just quarrel and prove her alone in all the world worthy of this prize.”

The young girl blushed and looked at the ground. Erec’s boldness pleased her greatly. She listened in suspense to her father’s reply.

“Indeed, I have a set of armor,” the old man slowly replied, “and you are most welcome to it. A horse as well should you have need of it. I am not so poor as I may seem to you. I do not mix with my wealthy kinsfolk, it is true. My daughter has grown up in seclusion, she is my treasure and I guard her jealously. What is your lineage, from where do you come. Many a noble man has sought her hand before this! I have refused them all. If your confidence comes through disdain for my condition, this suit will not go well for you.”

Then Erec replied, he’s not at all abashed.

“Little do you know what kind of stranger you have taken into your home, good sir. I am Erec, son of King Lac, a knight of Arthur’s court. I wish to make your daughter my wife in time to come my queen.”

Now Enide was delighted and her father astonished.

“We have heard before now of Erec,” he exclaimed. “Then you are indeed that most valiant knight? Many knights and nobles have come to seek my daughter’s hand, but they were all brash fellows, with words greater than their deeds. I have kept her patiently waiting for the best, now gladly I consent to your request. If she wishes it, my daughter will go with you tomorrow.” Anyone could see the maiden wished it, her blushing smile filled all of them with joyous laughter.

Now it was late. And the old man commanded his daughter to show Erec to the room prepared for him.

She lights a taper and leads the way. He will not keep his eyes from the lovely guide. Now she comes to the door and opens it, she waits for him to enter. He looks down upon her face as he moves by her. The candlelight gleams in her smiling eyes and golden light flickers in her hair as it tumbles about her breast. She shuts the door, and Erec is left alone. He does not sleep at all that night. He tosses and turns with thoughts running past tomorrow.

Preparations for Battle

Now, as soon as Erec heard the sounds of waking and of morning life. He rose from bed. And went to greet his host. Together they go to church and attend the Mass, but when they return, the old man brings Erec to a storeroom. There he shows him an excellent hauberk, a helm, all that he needs for the battle. There also he finds Enide and she dutifully arms him, fastening the straps of his greaves and lacing on the metal veil that guards his face.

When Erec is armed and ready, he leaps upon his great black horse, Enide rides a little palfrey. There is nothing remarkable in the saddle, the little horse is got up as plainly as she is.

They go through the town. And knights and ladies look with admiration. Some say, “this knight will take away the prize…” And others, “Surely, he must win or else suffer shame, such a lovely damsel is by his side!” Now they come to the open place where the battle is to be fought. The rude knight is there, fully armed. The contested sparrowhawk is set upon a perch where all may see the prize.

The Battle with Yder

Now that all have gathered, the reigning champion calls to his lady, “Go, take up the hawk. For it is thine. You are more worthy of it than any in the world. None will contest this, no man will dare to trouble you.” Now, the damsel would have reached out her hand to take the hawk, but Erec interjects in a loud voice. “Stop right there, young lady. For that hawk is not yours. It belongs by right to this maiden, here with me, for she is far more beautiful than you not to mention more intelligent.”

Now, Erec’s chosen foe grows red behind his metal mask. Words do not long suffice these two. And after a few more bitter taunts, they rush upon each other like arrows loosed from bows, reaching out, seeking one for the other with their lances. They strike with such force that both are knocked backward, shatter their saddles behind, and tumble, falling to the ground.

Up they leap again at once, and drawing swords, they come together. Smashing shield on shield, and hammering blade on helmet and shoulder. It is a bitter conflict and lasts a long time. Their armor protects them only a little. They’re all black and bruised and bloody beneath. Their shields are knocked to kindling! Now the weary warriors have spent their blows, Erec hangs like millstone upon the others neck and that one fights to keep afoot.

Exhaustion

At last Erec’s foe struggles free of this burdensome embrace “Wait!” Shouts the knight, “Let us rest a moment. These blows we deal are far too weak. Do you feel no shame to fight so sluggishly before your lady! Let us rest!”

Erec, grants the justice of this, “Truly,” he replies, “I grow ashamed of grappling.” His eyes sting with bloody sweat. Stumbling from the field he falls from his aching legs upon a bench. Enide rushes to him, unlaces the linked metal from his face and gives him water. She weeps not knowing what do or how to comfort a man all covered in metal and blood.

Seeing his ladies grief, Erec is on fire again to fight, he thinks upon that knight’s insolent dwarf and he calls out, “Let us finish this battle, we have rested too long already!”

“That is no hardship for me,” says the other knight, not quite truthfully, and they stand together once more.

Finale

At once the other strikes Erec such a blow that it shears off a corner of his helmet and hacks off a rasher of the hauberk from his side. Quickly Erec repays him, smiting him so hard upon the helm that it splits, and then again and again, tell his blade penetrates the bone, but not the brain. His foe staggers, stunned by the trauma. Erec leaps upon him at once, knocking him to the ground! Erec tears the helmet and mail from his foes face, and would have slain him then and there, had not the knight cried out, and surrendered himself. “I am within an ace of killing you!” seethes Erec.

The knight protests, “What ill have I done, that you should bear me mortal hatred!” Then Erec reminds the knight how his dwarf had insulted him on the road, but all the more Erec’s beaten foe begs for forgiveness and for his life. At last, Erec lets him go, but commands him to present himself at Arthur’s court, and yield himself to Guinevere, the queen.

Journey to Camelot

There’s much rejoicing that evening at the old man’s house. The count and many knights and ladies come over to keep them company. Enide dallies with her hawk, the bird Erec has won for her, she feeds it with a plover’s wing.

She is the joyous center of attention. One of her cousins would have given her a fine silk gown, but Erec refuses, “I wish to present her to the queen, even as she is, even as I found her.” And so that’s settled. But nonetheless. Her cousin gives her a fine palfrey with an elegant saddle. Erec does not object to this. And the evening goes on merrily.

In the morning Erec wishes to depart. Enide’s parents are grieved to let her go, and weep much, though they are glad, for they know their daughter will someday be a queen. Now at last Erec and Enide set forth on the rode to Camelot!

To be Continued…