The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True Read Online Free PDF

can tell you that only your very best knight stands a chance. He's a demon with a sword, he is."
    Sir Gawain frowned at Spinagras, but the dwarf ignored him. King Arthur looked grim, but he only said, "I'm sorry, Gawain. But it has to be you. Be ready at dawn tomorrow."
    "Yes, sire," said Sir Gawain, and true to his word, he was.
    As on the day before, the great castle's drawbridge began to lower just at the crack of dawn, and when it was down, an armed and armored knight rode across to the field beyond. The knight raised his lance in salute. "I am Sir Gologras the Unconquered, here to defend my home and my family tradition. Where is your champion, King Arthur?"
    Sir Gawain rode forward, stopping just in front of Sir Gologras and raising the visor on his helmet. "Here I am. Sir Gawain."
    "Sir Gawain?" repeated Sir Gologras. Sir Gawain nodded. "So," said Sir Gologras, "this is your idea of friendship, is it?"
    "I vowed obedience to my king, who has sent me. I will keep my vow."
    Sir Gologras snorted. "See what comes of all this vow-taking business?"
    "We wouldn't have to do this if you would take one yourself," Sir Gawain suggested. "Just promise never to rebel against the king. It isn't so hard."
    "I have only made one solemn promise in my life," Sir Gologras said.
    Sir Gawain brightened. "You have? You've made one? Then why not make just one more?"
    "Because that solemn promise was to my father, on his deathbed. I promised not to make any more solemn promises."
    "Well, that's not fair!" exclaimed Sir Gawain. "No, really!
Promise me not to make any promises?
That's cheating! Either you make promises, or you don't!"
    Sir Gologras hesitated. "When you put it that way, it
does
seem a little irregular. But all the same, do you want me to break that promise?"
    Now Sir Gawain hesitated. "No, I guess not. Just as I won't break my promise to King Arthur." He sighed. "So where does that leave us?"
    "I think we have to fight," Sir Gologras said.
    "Bother," replied Sir Gawain. Then they separated, rode to their positions, pointed their lances, and charged. As had happened the day before with Sir Gandefere and Sir Goliot, both knights' lances splintered, and both knights were thrown from their horses. This time, though, the two knights rose at once and continued the contest with swords.
    As has already been mentioned, detailed accounts of battles are curiously dull to read. To do a fight justice, each attacking sword blow and defending parry must be noted. The problem is that the blow and parry together only take a fraction of a second, but it takes much longer than that to read about them. As a result, the poor readers get left behind. By the time they've finished with that first exchange, the knights have already gone on to have three or even four more. After that, there's no catching up at all, but only falling further and further behind, and so readers lose interest. The same sort of thing happens at school sometimes.
    So, to make a long (and dull) battle story short: The swift and skillful swordplay of Sir Gawain and Sir Gologras was splendid to watch, and all who were privileged to witness their battle knew that they would never again behold such brilliant knightly warriors. The champions went on without slackening their pace for nearly an hour, but after that they slowed down slightly. They would fight a bit, then back away and circle each other, catching their breath and watching for an opening. During one of these circling times, Sir Gologras said, "I can see why you're undefeated, my friend. You really are a splendid swordsman."
    "You, too," Sir Gawain replied, with feeling. "It's an honor to see such skill. After this is all over, you must show me that trick you have of twisting your blade at the parry to drive my sword further off course. I've never seen anything like that."
    "Do you like it? I came up with that myself."
    "You've nearly had me a dozen times with that trick," Sir Gawain said.
    "And what about the way you switch