And I should have committed an offence if I had had
resort to guile and not defeated all those against whom I could
prevail; such escape would have been a shame. And I dare to
assure you that I have no friend so dear that I would have
feigned at all in fighting with him. Never did I weary of arms,
nor did I ever refuse to fight. You have surely seen the helmets
of those whom I have defeated and put to death; but the guilt of
it is not mine, when one considers it aright. I could not help
myself, unless I were willing to be false and recreant and
disloyal. Now I have told you the truth, and be assured that it
is no small honour which you have gained. You have given great
joy to the court of my uncle and my friends; for now I shall be
released from here; and because all those who are at the court
will have joy of it, therefore those who awaited the joy called
it `Joy of the Court'. They have awaited it so long that now it
will be granted them by you who have won it by your fight. You
have defeated and bewitched my prowess and my chivalry. Now it
is right that I tell you my name, if you would know it. I am
called Mabonagrain; but I am not remembered by that name in any
land where I have been, save only in this region; for never, when
I was a squire, did I tell or make known my name.
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