Voices in Time

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Cliges crossed the sea and reached Wallingford, where he took expensive lodgings in fine quarters. While he was staying there, his men carried out his commands and made inquiries, finally receiving information that the barons of King Arthur had organized a tournament at which the king himself would be present.

The four-day tournament was scheduled to take place in the open country below Oxford, which was near Wallingford. Because the tournament was more than two full weeks away, Cliges could take his time equipping himself in the interval if he was in need of anything. He had three of his squires hasten to London under orders to fetch three different sets of armor, one black, one vermilion, and the third green. In addition, he ordered that each set be wrapped in new canvas for the return journey so that anyone meeting them along the road would not know the color of the equipment they carried.

The squires set out at once. On reaching London, all they sought they found at hand. Soon they had completed their task, and soon they returned home, traveling as quickly as they could.

Cliges was delighted when they showed him the equipment they had brought. He had it placed aside and hidden along with the set the emperor had presented to him when, by the Danube, he dubbed him knight. If someone were to question me at this point as to why he had them set aside, I would not wish to answer here, for the reason will be told and recounted to you when all the great barons of the land, who come there to win honor, have mounted their horses.

On the day selected and appointed, the esteemed barons gathered. King Arthur, in company with the men he had selected from among his finest, took up positions on the Oxford side. The majority of knights took up positions on the Wallingford side. Do not expect me to extend my tale by telling you such and such a king was there, and such and such a count, and there were these here, and those ones, and these others.

When the time came for the barons to gather, a knight of great renown from the company of King Arthur, following the custom at that time, rode out between the two ranks to open the tournament. But none dared advance to come joust with him; all held back. And there were some who asked, “What are the knights waiting for that none leaves the ranks? One will start out soon.”

And many on the other side said, “Do you not see the kind of opponent their side has sent us? Let the ignorant man know well that the knight in position is one of the four finest known.”

“Who is he then?”

“Do you not see him? It is Sagremor the Unruly.”

“Is that he?”

“Yes, without doubt.”

Cliges was listening and heard their words. Clad in armor blacker than a ripe mulberry, he was seated on Morel; all his equipment was black. Leaving the ranks of the other side, he spurred Morel, who darted forward. All the spectators spoke among themselves. “This man rides well, his lance in its rest. This is a most proper knight. He carries his arms most properly. The shield hanging from his neck suits him well. But he may be considered a fool for engaging of his own accord in a joust with one of the finest men known in this entire country. But where is he from? Where was he born? Who recognizes him?” “Not I.” “Nor I. But no snow has fallen on him.”

Such conversation engaged the people, and the two men gave free rein to their horses, no longer hesitating in their burning impatience for the joust and combat. Cliges delivered such a blow that he pressed his opponent’s shield hard against the arm and the arm against the body. Sagremor fell flat to the ground. Sagremor acknowledged himself his prisoner.

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