ed him with the request that
he should not conceal why he has alluded to this, what he wishes, and
whence he comes. "Sire, I know not whether you remember," Meleagant
begins, "the agreements and stipulations which were recorded when
Lancelot and I made peace. It was then agreed, I believe, and in the
presence of many we were told, that we should present ourselves at the
end of a year at Arthur's court. I went thither at the appointed time,
ready equipped for my business there. I did everything that had been
prescribed: I called and searched for Lancelot, with whom I was to
fight, but I could not gain a sight of him: he had fled and run away.
When I came away, Gawain pledged his word that, if Lancelot is not alive
and does not return within the time agreed upon, no further postponement
will be asked, but that he himself will fight the battle against me in
place of Lancelot. Arthur has no knight, as is well known, whose fame
equals his, but before the flowers bloom again, I shall see, when we
come to blows, whether his fame and his deeds are in accord: I only
wish it could be settled now!" "Son," says his father, "thou art acting
exactly like a fool. Any one, who knew it not before, may learn of thy
madness from thy own lips. A good heart truly humbles itself, but the
fool and the boastful never lose their folly. Son, to thee I direct my
words, for the traits of thy character are so hard and dry, that
there is no place for sweetness or friendship. Thy heart is altogether
pitiless: thou art altogether in folly's grasp. This accounts for my
slight respect for thee, and this is what will cast thee down. If thou
art brave, there will be plenty of men to say so in time of need. A
virtuous man need not praise his heart in order to enhance his deed; the
deed itself will speak in its own praise. Thy self-praise does not aid
thee a whit to increase in any one's esteem; indeed, I hold thee in less
esteem. Son, I chasten thee; but to what end? It is of little use to
advise a fool. He only wastes his strength in vain who tries to cure
the madness of a fool, and the wisdom that one teaches and expounds is
worthless, wasted and unemployed, unless it is expressed in works." Then
Meleagant was sorely enraged and furious. I may truly say that never
could you see a mortal man so full of anger as he was; the last bond
between them was broken then, as he spoke to his father these ungracious
words: "Are you in a dream or trance, when you say th