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world。　Repose　and　praise　agree　all　together；　as　it　seems　to　me；
for　a　man　of　might　who　is　ever　resting　in　no　wise　becomes　famous。
Prowess　is　a　burden　to　a　cowardly　man；　and　cowardice　is　a　burden
to　the　brave；　thus　the　twain　to　his　possessions　who　is　ever
heaping　them　up　and　increasing　them。　Fair　sire；　as　long　as　I　am
allowed　to　win　renown；　if　I　can　avail　so　much；　I　will　give　my
pains　and　diligence　to　it。〃

At　this；　without　doubt；　the　emperor　feels　joy　and　anxietyjoy
has　he；　for　that　he　perceives　that　his　son　aims　at　valiant　deeds；
and　anxiety　on　the　other　hand；　for　that　he　is　leaving　him。　But
because　of　the　promise　that　he　has　made　him　it　behoves　him　to
grant　his　boon　whatever　anxiety　he　feel　about　it；　for　an　emperor
must　not　lie。　〃Fair　son；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　ought　not　to　fail　to　do
your　pleasure；　since　I　see　that　you　aspire　to　honour。　You　may
take　from　my　treasury　two　barques　full　of　gold　and　silver；　but
take　care　that　you　be　very　generous　and　courteous　and　well…bred。〃
Now　is　the　youth　right　glad；　for　his　father　promises　him　so　much
that　he　puts　his　treasure　at　his　free　disposal　and　exhorts　and
commands　him　to　give　and　to　spend　liberally；　and　also　he　tells
him　the　reason　wherefore：　〃Fair　son；〃　quoth　he；　〃believe　me　in
this；　that　open…handedness　is　the　lady　and　queen　who　illumines
all　virtues；　and　it　is　not　a　whit　difficult　to　prove　this。　In
what　place　could　one　find　a　man；　however　mighty　and　magnificent
he　be；　that　is　not　blamed　if　he　be　a　niggard；　or　any　man；　however
ill…reputed　he　be；　whom　liberality　does　not　render　praised？
Liberality　of　itself　makes　a　man　of　honourwhich　neither　high
Rank；　nor　courtesy；　nor　knowledge；　nor　noble　birth；　nor　wealth　；
nor　strength；　nor　chivalry；　nor　courage；　nor　lordship；　nor
beauty；　nor　any　other　thing；　can　do。　But　just　as　the　rose　is
fairer　than　any　other　flower　when　she　buddeth　fresh　and　new；　so
where　liberality　comes　she　holds　herself　above　all　virtues；　and
she　multiplies　five　hundredfold　the　virtues　that　she　finds　in　an
honourable　man　who　proves　his　worth。　There　is　so　much　to　say
about　liberality　that　I　could　not　tell　the　half　of　it。〃　Well　has
the　lad　succeeded　in　whatsoever　he　has　requested　and　asked；　for
his　father　has　found　for　him　all　that　his　desire　conceived。
Exceeding　sorrowful　was　the　empress　when　she　heard　of　the　road
which　her　son　must　needs　follow；　but　whoever　has　grief　and
anxiety　thereof；　or　whoever　deems　his　conduct　but　folly；　or
blames　and　dissuades　him；　the　youth　as　quickly　as　he　could　bade
his　ships　be　got　ready；　for　he　had　no　wish　to　stay　longer　in　his
own　country。　The　ships　were　loaded　that　night　by　his　command　with
wine　with　meat　and　with　biscuits。

The　ships　are　loaded　in　the　harbour　and　on　the　morrow　with　great
joyance　came　Alexander　to　the　sandy　shore；　and　with　him　his
comrades　who　were　fain　of　the　journey。　The　emperor　convoys　him
and　the　empress　who　was　sad　at　heart。　In　the　harbour　they　find
the　mariners　in　the　ships　beside　the　cliff。　The　sea　was　peaceful
and　smooth　the　wind　gentle　and　the　air　serene。　Alexander　first　of
all；　when　he　had　parted　from　his　father　and　on　taking　leave　of
the　empress　whose　heart　was　sad　within　her；　enters　from　the　boat
into　the　ship　and　his　comrades　with　him。　Four；　three；　and　two　；
they　simultaneously　strive　to　enter　without　delay。　Full　soon　was
the　sail　spread　and　the　anchor　of　the　barque　weighed。　Those　on
land；　who　were　sore　at　heart　for　the　lads　whom　they　see
departing；　follow　them　with　their　eyes'　ken　as　far　as　they　can；
and　so　that　they　may　watch　them　the　better　and　the　further；　they
go　off　and　climb　together　a　high　peak　by　the　shore。　Thence　they
watch　their　sorrow　as　far　as　they　can　see　them。　They　gaze　at
their　own　sorrow　in　sooth；　for　great　is　their　sorrow　for　the
lads：　may　God　lead　them　to　port　without　disaster　and　without
peril！

They　were　at　sea　all　April　and　part　of　May。　Without　great　peril
and　without　alarm　they　made　land　above　Southampton。　One　day
'twixt　Nones　and　Vespers　they　cast　anchor　and　have　made　the　port。
The　youths；　who　had　never　previously　learned　to　suffer　discomfort
or　pain；　had　stayed　on　the　sea　which　was　not　wholesome　for　them
so　long　that　all　are　pale　and　all　the　strongest　and　most　healthy
are　weakened　and　nerveless。　And；　nevertheless；　they　show　great
joy；　for　that　they　have　escaped　from　the　sea　and　come　hither
where　they　would　be。　And　because　they　were　suffering　greatly；
they　lie　that　night　above　Southampton　and　show　great　joy　and　let
ask　and　inquire　whether　the　king　is　in　England。　They　are　told
that　he　is　at　Winchester；　and　that　they　can　be　there　full　soon　if
they　will　depart　with　morning　provided　that　they　keep　to　the
right　way。　This　news　pleases　them　well；　and　on　the　morrow；　when
the　day　is　born；　the　lads　wake　up　with　morning　and　equip　and
prepare　themselves。　And　when　they　were　equipped　they　have　turned
from　above　Southampton　and　have　kept　to　the　right　way　till　they
have　reached　Winchester　where　the　king　was　tarrying。　Before　Prime
the　Greeks　had　come　to　Court。　They　dismount　at　the　foot　of　the
steps；　the　squires　and　the　horses　stayed　in　the　court　below；　and
the　youths　ascend　to　the　presence　of　the　best　king　that　ever　was
or　ever　may　be　in　the　world。　And　when　the　king　sees　them　come；
they　please　and　delight　him　much；　but　ere　they　had　come　before
him；　they　throw　off　the　cloaks　from　their　necks　that　they　might
not　be　taken　for　clowns。　Thus　all　having　thrown　off　their　cloaks
have　come　before　the　king。　And　the　barons　one　and　all　keep
silence；　for　the　youths　please　them　mightily　for　that　they　see
them　fair　and　comely。　Never　do　they　dream　that　they　are　all　sons
of　counts　or　of　a　king；　yet　truly　so　they　were；　and　they　were　in
the　flower　of　their　youth；　comely　and　well　set　up　in　body；　and
the　robes　that　they　wore　were　of　one　cloth　and　one　cut；　of　one
appearance　and　one　colour。　Twelve　were　they　without　their　lord　of
whom　I　will　tell　you　this　much　without　more　ado；　that　none　was
better　than　he；　but　without　arrogance　and　yet　unabashed　he　stood
with　his　mantle　off　before　the　king；　and　was　very　fair　and　well
shaped。　He　has　kneeled　down　before　him；　and　all　the　others　from
courtesy；　kneel　beside　their　lord。

Alexander；　whose　tongue　was　sharpened　to　speak　well　and　wisely；
greets　the　king。　〃King；〃　quoth　he；　〃if　renown　lie　not　concerning
you　since　God　made　the　first　man；　no　king　with　faith　in　God　was
born　so　powerful　as　you。　King；　the　report　that　is　in　men's　mouths
has　brought　me　to　your　Court　to　serve　and　honour　you；　and　if　my
service　is　pleasing　I　will　stay　till　I　be　a　new…made　knight　at
your　hand；　not　at　that　of　another。　For　never　shall　I　be　dubbed
knight　if　I　be　not　so　by　you。　If　my　service　so　please　you　that
you　will　to　make　me　a　knight；　keep　me；　gracious　king；　and　my
comrades　who　are　here。〃　Straightway　the　king　replies：　〃Friend；〃
quoth　he；　〃I　reject　not　a　whit　either　you　or　your　company；　but　ye
are　all　right　welcome；　for　ye　have　the　air；　I　well　think　it；　of
being　sons　of　men　of　high　rank。　Whence　are　ye？〃　〃We　are　from
Greece。〃　〃From　Greece？〃　〃Truly　are　we。〃　〃Who　is　thy　father？〃
〃Faith；　sire；　the　emperor。〃　〃And　what　is　thy　name；　fair　friend？〃
〃Alexander　was　the　name　given　me　when　I　received　salt　and　chrism
and　Christianity　and　baptism。〃　〃Alexander；　fair　dear　friend；　I
keep　you　right　willingly；　and　much　does　it　please　and　joy　me；　for
you　have　done　me　exceeding　great　honour　in　that　you　are　come　to
my　Court。　It　is　my　good　pleasure　that　you　be　honoured　here　as　a
noble　warrior；　wise　and　gentle。　Too　long　have　you　been　on　your
knees：　rise；　I　bid　you；　and　henceforth　be　free　of　my　Court　and　of
me；　for　you　have　arrived　at　　a　good　haven。〃

Forthwith　the　Greeks　rise。　Blithe　are　they　for　that　the　king　has
thus　courteously　kept　them。　Alexander　is　welcome；　for　there　is　no
lack　of　aught　that　he　wishes　nor　is　there　any　baron　in　the　Court
so　high　that　he　does　not　speak　him　fair　and　welcome　him。　For　he
is　not　foolish　nor　boastful　nor　doth　he　vaunt　his　noble　birth。　He
makes　himself　known　to　Sir　Gawain　and　to　the　others　one　by　one。
He　makes　himself　much　loved　by　each；　even　Sir　Gawain　loves　him　so
much　that　he　hails　him　as　friend　and　comrade。　The　Greeks　had
taken　in　the　town　at　the　house　of　a　citizen　the　best　lodging　that
they　could　find。　Alexander　had　brought　great　possessions　from
Constantinople：　he　will　desire　above　aught　else　to　follow
diligently　the　emperor's　advice　and　counselnamely；　that　he
should　have　his　heart　wide…awake　to　give　and　to　spend　liberally。
He　gives　great　diligence　and　pains　thereto。　He　lives　well　at　his
lodging　and　gives　and　spends　liberally　as　it　beseems　his　wealth；
and　as　his　heart　counsels　him。　The　whole　Court　marvels　whence　his
store　is　taken；　for　he　gives　to　all　horses　of　great　price　which
he　had　brought　from　his　land。　So　much　trouble　has　Alexander　given
himself；　and　so　much　has　he　prevailed　by　his　fair　service；　that
the　king　loves　and　esteems　him　dearly　as　well　the　barons　and　the
queen。

At　that　point　of　time　King　Arthur　desired　to　pass　over　into
Brittany。　He　bids　all　his　barons　assemble　in　order　to　seek
Counsel；　and　ask　them　to　whom　till　he　return　he　can　entrust
England；　who　may　keep　and　maintain　it　in　peace。　By　the　Council　it
was　with　one　consent　entrusted；　as　I　think；　to　Count　Eng