The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell
for Helping of King Arthur
Harken and listen to the life of a rich lord! While he lived, there was no one like him anywhere.
In his day, the courteous and royal King Arthoure had a great adventure. Of all kings Arthoure
was the flower, and he bore the honour of all knighthood wherever he went. There was nothing
but chivalry in his country, for he loved knights and reviled cowards. Now, if you will listen to
me for a while, I will tell you how it once befell, when he was hunting with his bold knights in
Inglewood—now hear my story!
The king was in his blind with his bow ready to slay the wild game, and his lords were beside
him. As he stood up, he became aware of a great, fair hart and quickly went forth. The deer
heard the hounds and stood hidden in a fern thicket. The king saw all this and told his men to stay
there and he would stalk the deer alone. He took his bow and, hunstmanlike, stooped low to
creep up on the deer. When he came near, the hart leapt into a briar patch, and the king kept
coming closer and closer. So the king chased the deer (I believe half a mile) by himself and
finally let a shot fly and hit the deer, with God’s grace, so that it trembled and fell into a great fern
brake. The king followed fast and after he dashed out its brains, he tested the fat. As he was with
the deer, a strange man, well armed, mighty and strong, came up to him and spoke grimly:
“Well met, King Arthoure! You have wronged me for many years, and I will grievously requite
you now; your life is nearly done. You have wrongly given my lands to Sir Gawain. What do
you say, here alone?” Arthoure asked the man his name, who replied, “Gromer-Somer Jour.”
“Ah!” said Arthoure. “Think well. You are a knight and to slay me here will bring you no
honour; you will be forever shamed and knights will refuse you everywhere. Let go of your will
and use your wit, and I will amend what is amiss, if you allow it, before I go.”
“No, by heaven, you won’t escape!” said Sir Gromer-Somer. I have you in my power and shall
not fail. If I let you go lightly now, you will defy me another time.”
“Save my life,” answered the king, “and by God I will grant whatever you want. You will have
shame if you kill me while I am hunting, dressed only in green, while you are armed.”
“All this won’t help you,” was the reply. “I want neither land nor gold. Unless you agree that on
a certain day that I set and in the same array—“
“Yes!” interrupted the king. “Here is my hand!”
“Wait, King, and listen to me a while. First, you will swear upon my bright sword to tell me,
when you come, what women everywhere love best. You will meet me here alone in twelve
months, and if you don’t bring the answer, you will lose your head. This will be your oath. What
do you say? Have done with it!”
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“Sir, I agree, though it is loathsome to me. Now let me go. I assure you, as I am a true king, that
I will come again in twelve months and bring you the answer.”
“Go your way, King Arthoure; your life is in my hand, I am sure. You don’t realize your trouble.
Wait! Be sure that you are not deceiving me today, and that you keep everything secret. By
Mary, if you tried to betray me in battle, you would lose your life.”
“That will not happen,” the king assured him. ‘I would rather die than be a faithless knight.
Farewell, sir, and evil met. If I am alive, I will be here on the day set, even if I know I will not
escape.”
The king blew his horn, and all his knights came quickly. They found him and the deer, and he
had a sad expression and no desire for sport. He told them he did not care to hunt and they were
to go home. All the lords knew by the look on his face that the king had met with some
disturbance. At Carlisle the king had a heavy heart, but no one knew what troubled him. Finally
Sir Gawain asked him what was wrong, and the king answered immediately:
“Today in the forest I met a knight in his armor who said certain things to me that he asked me
not to repeat. I must therefore keep secrecy or be a betrayer.” Gawain told him not to fear, for he
would never dishonor him, and the king told the knight his story.
“As you know, hunting in Inglewood today I slew a hart by myself. There I met an armored
knight named Sir Gromer-Somer Jour who would have fiercely slain me without mercy, but I
spoke courteously to him as I had no weapons with me. My honour is therefore lost. I did not
want to die, so I swore that at the end of twelve months I would met him there, dressed as I am
now, and tell him what women want most or lose my life. I had no choice but to make this oath
and never tell it to another person. Don’t blame me for being sorrowful, for this is the cause of
my dread and fear.”
“Sir, make good cheer,” advised Gawain. “Ride your horse into strange country and ask every
man and woman for their answer, and I shall ride the other way and do the same and write what I
find in a book.” Arthoure thought this was good counsel, and soon they rode their separate ways
to ask everyone what women desired the most. Some said they loved to be well adorned, some
said they loved to be sweetly wooed, some said they loved a lusty man who can hug and kiss
them. Some said one thing and some another, so that Sir Gawain had a huge book full of answers
by the time he was to go back to court.
The king also returned with his book, and they looked at each other’s findings. Gawain felt sure
the king could not fail, but Arthoure was still extremely fearful: “I think it best to search a little
more in Inglewood Forest. I have only a month left, and I may hit upon some good news.”
“Do as you like,” said Gawain. “I am satisfied with whatever you do; it is good to be
questioning! Doubt not, lord, that you will succeed. Some of your sayings will help when
needed, or it will be disappointing!”
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King Arthoure rode on the path into Inglewood the next day and met as ugly a woman as ever
seen by far, and he certainly marveled. Her face was red and covered with snot, her mouth huge,
and all her teeth yellow, hanging over her lips. Her bleary eyes were greater than a ball, and her
cheeks were as broad as women’s hips. She had a hump on her back, her neck was long and
thick, and her hair clotted into a heap. She was made like a barrel, with shoulders a yard wide
and hanging breasts that were large enough to be a horse’s load. No tongue can tell of the
foulness and ugliness of that lady.
She sat on a horse that was adorned with gold and precious stones; it was unseemly and puzzling
to see such a fowl creature riding so gaily, I assure you. She rode up to Arthoure and greeted
him:
“I am very pleased that I have met you. I advise you to speak with me before you go, for your life
is in my hands.” The king asked what she wanted, and she told him she had good news for him.
“None of the answers of which you can boast will help you, as you will find out. I know all about
your secret, and if I don’t help you, you are but dead. If you grant me one thing, I will guarantee
your life; otherwise you will lose your head.”
“Tell me quickly what you mean,” the king replied. “I don’t need you and greatly dislike your
words. What do you desire, fair lady? Explain why my life is in your hands and I will honour
your request.”
“Truthfully,” she said, “I am not wicked! Here is the covenant I would make with you: if the
answer I give you saves your life, you must grant me marriage to Sir Gawain. Consider carefully,
Sir King, and decide quickly; unless you agree, you will die.”
The king answered, “By Mary, I cannot promise that Sir Gawain will marry you; he alone can
decide. But in order to save my life, I will do what I can and appeal to him.”
“Good!” she said. “Now go home and speak fair words to Sir Gawain. Though I am foul, I am
lusty, and through me he may save your life.”
The king replied, “He will be loath to refuse my request, but I would regret causing Gawain to
wed the foulest lady I have ever seen. I don’t know what to do.”
“Sir King, though I am foul, even an owl may choose its mate. I’ll say no more. I will meet you
here when you have made your decision, or else I believe you are lost.” “Farewell, lady foul,”
said the king. “Yes, sir,” she replied, “there is a bird men call an owl, yet I am a lady.” “Please
tell me, what is your name?” “Sir King, I am called Dame Ragnell, who has never yet beguiled
man.” “Dame Ragnell, have a good day.” “Sir King, God speed you on your way! I shall meet
you right here.” They parted, and Arthoure returned to Carlisle, his heart heavy.
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The first man he met was Sir Gawain, who asked how he did, and the king told him things went
so badly that he was close to killing himself, since he was doomed to die. “No!” said Gawain.
“That may not be! I’d rather die myself; these are ill tidings!”
“Gawain, today I met the foulest lady that I have ever seen, without doubt. She said she would
save my life, on the condition that you will be her husband. Thus is my heart mournful.”
“Is that all?” said Gawain. “I’ll wed her, and would even if she were a fiend, or as foul as
Beelzebub; otherwise I would not be your friend. You are my king and have honored me in
many a battle; therefore I will not hesitate. It is my duty to save your life and my honor rather
than be a false coward.”
“Gawain, I met her in Inglewood. Her name is Dame Ragnell, and she told me that unless I had
her answer, all my labors would be useless. If her answer, and only hers, helped me, then she
would have you; but if it did not, she would have none of her desire. There it stands, as she made
the warrant.”
“I shall not fail,” said Gawain. “I will marry her at whatever time you set, so don’t worry. If she
were the foulest creature ever seen, for love of you I would not hesitate.”
“Many thanks, Gawain!” said King Athoure. “You are the best knight I have ever found. You
have saved my honor and life forever, and I shall love you as long as I am king of this land.”
Then within five or six days Arthoure had to return to Inglewood with his answer. Sir Gawain
accompanied him until they were inside the forest, where the king told him they must go separate
ways: “Farewell, Sir Gawain. I must go west and you may come no farther.” “My lord, God
speed you on your journey. I would prefer to ride your way and am sorry to depart.”
Within a mile Arthoure met Dame Ragnell, who welcomed him. “Since there is no other way,”
said the king, “tell me now the answer that will save my life. Gawain has promised to marry you,
and you shall have your desire in the bedchamber and in bed. So tell me now quickly what will
help. Have done, I cannot tarry!”
“Sir, you will now know, without digression, what women of all degrees want most,” Dame
Ragnell responded. “Some men say we desire to be beautiful and that we want to consort with
diverse strange men; also we love lust in bed and often wish to wed. Thus men misunderstand
women. Another idea they have is that we want to be seen as young and fresh, not old, and that
women can be won through flattery and clever ploys. In truth, you act foolishly. The one thing
that we desire of men above all else is to have complete sovereignty, so that all is ours. We use
our skill to gain mastery over the most fierce, victorious and manly of knights. So go on your
way and tell this to the knight, who will be angry and curse the one who taught it to you, for his
labour is lost. I assure you that your life is now safe, and remember your promise.”
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The king rode as quickly as he could, through mire, moor and fen, to the assigned place. He met
Sir Gromer there, who sternly demanded the king’s answer. Arthoure showed him the two books,
which the knight studied carefully but did not find the right answer and prepared to kill the king,
but Arthoure stopped him.
“Wait, Sir Gromer! I have one answer that will secure all.”
“Show me, or so help me God, I will take your life, with great pleasure I assure you.”
“Now,” said the king, “I see little nobility in you, by God who is always helpful. Here is what all
women desire above all things of men, both free and bond: sovereignty, the rule of the manliest
men. Then they are happy (so they have taught me)—to rule you, Sir Gromer.”
“I hope that she who told you burns in a fire, the old nag, for she was my sister, Dame Ragnell.
God give her shame! If not for her, I’d have had you; now I’ve lost much travail. Alas that I ever
saw this day! Go wherever you please, King Arthoure, for you are safe from me. I know well
that you will now be my enemy, and I’ll never have you at such a point again. My song may be
‘Wail-away!’”
“No!” said the king. “I’ll make sure of that. I swear to God that I will be armored so that I can
defend myself. You’ll never find me at such a disadvantage again, and if you do, let me be beaten
and bound as your proof.” They bid each other farewell, and Arthoure was glad to have
succeeded. He turned his horse into the plain and soon met Dame Ragnell in the same place as
before.
“Sir King, I am pleased you have done well, as I told you it would be. Now you must keep your
promise, since you were saved by my answer and none other. The noble knight Gawain must
marry me.”
“I will not fail to keep my promise,” said Arthoure. “You will have your desire if you follow my
advice.”
“No, Sir King, I will not do so. I will be married openly before I part from you, or you will be
shamed! You ride ahead of me and I will follow you to your court. Remember how I have saved
your life; therefore you should cause me no strife, which would be blameworthy.” Despite the
king’s embarrassment, she rode forth until they arrived at Carlisle and entered the court beside
him, to the king’s dismay. Everyone wondered where she came from, for they had never seen
anyone so foul. She went into the hall with confidence and told Arthoure, “Sir King, bring Sir
Gawain to me before these knights without delay so that we may be betrothed, for better or worse,
before all your company. This is your promise, so let it be done! Fetch Sir Gawain, my love,
immediately, for I will wait no longer!”
Sir Gawain arrived, ready to fulfill his promise, and Dame Ragnell was so impressed with his
goodness that she wished she were beautiful for him. He pledged his troth to her as a true knight,
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and then Dame Ragnell was pleased! The queen cried “Alas!” and she and her ladies wept for Sir
Gawain. The king and his knights also said, “Alas that Gawain should wed such a creature!” for
she was so foul and horrible. She had two teeth on each side like boar tusks the span of a hand:
one went up, the other down. Her wide, foul mouth was covered with grey hairs and her lips lay
lumped on her chin; no neck could be seen. She was indeed a loathly one!
Dame Ragnell insisted on a wedding attended by all the ladies of the shire, both in town and
borough, and had them summoned. When the day arrived that the foul maid should be married to
Sir Gawain, the ladies cried “Alas!” and the queen asked Dame Ragnell to have a private
ceremony early in the morning, but she refused:
“Nothing you can say will change my mind. I will be married publicly, according to the covenant
I made with the king. I will go to the church at high mass time, and I will dine in the hall amidst
all the company.” The queen agreed but began to suggest how Dame Ragnell might better keep
her honor when the hag interrupted her:
“As for that, God you save, I tell you without boasting that I will have my honour today.” She
prepared herself to go to church, where people of all degrees were waiting. She was more richly
dressed than the queen in clothing worth three thousand marks of strong, stiff red coins. But for
all her raiment, she was still the foulest sow ever seen.
To make a short conclusion, after the wedding they all went home to dine. There was abundant
game, both wild and tame; in King Arthoure’s court there was no lack of that which can be caught
in forest or field. Dame Ragnell headed the high table, and everyone remarked on her bad
manners. When served, she ate as much as six people would, which amazed all. She used her
nails, which were three inches long, to crudely break her food, so she ate alone. She ate three
capons, three curlews and many baked meats; nothing came before her that she didn’t eat, which
made everyone marvel, and both knight and squire bade the devil to gnaw her bones. So she ate
until the meal was done and they had washed, as is the custom.1
After the feast and entertainment, Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell retired to the bedchamber and
the lady said to the knight, who had his back turned toward her:
“Ah, Sir Gawain, since we are married, show me your courtesy in bed; it cannot be rightfully
denied. If I were beautiful, you would do differently, but you take no heed of wedlock. But for
Arthoure’s sake, kiss me at least. I pray you honor my request; show me how you can do.”
“I will do more than kiss you, and before God!” replied the knight, and when he turned around to
face her, he saw the fairest creature he had ever seen. Then she asked him his will, and in
astonishment he asked, “What are you?”
“Sir, I am your wife, of course. Why are you acting so strangely?”
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“Lady, forgive me. I am to blame, fair dame. I was not expecting this; you are a lovely woman,
and today you were the ugliest person I’ve ever seen. I am happy to have you like this,” and he
embraced and kissed her with great joy.
“Sir, you must make a choice, as my beauty will not last. You may have me fair at night and foul
at day in everyone’s sight, or fair during the day and foul at night. You must choose one or the
other; which would you prefer to save your honor?”
“Alas,” said Gawain, “the choice is hard! To have you fair only at night would sorely grieve my
heart and take away my honor. And if I desire to have you beautiful at day time, at night I would
have meager reward. I would like to choose what is best, but I have no idea what to say, so I give
you the choice; do as you like. Whatever you wish, I put it in your hand. My body and goods,
heart and every part of me is all your own to buy and sell, I vow before God.”
The lady said, “Thanks to you, courteous knight; may you be blessed, for now I am honored. You
will have me fair both day and night as long as I live. So don’t be grieved. I was misshapen
through necromancy by my stepmother—God have mercy on her! By her enchantment, I was to
remain deformed until the best knight in England married me and gave me the rule of all his body
and goods, which you, courteous Gawain, have done, and have given sovereignty to one who will
never anger you. Kiss me now, Sir Knight, and be of good cheer.”
They made much joy, the two of them alone, as was reasonable and natural. She thanked God
and Mary that she had recovered from her defilement, as did Sir Gawain. They stayed awake all
night in mirth and joy, and when she would arise, he stopped her and said they would sleep until
prime and let the king call them to dine, and she agreed. Thus it passed to midday, when
Arthoure felt it was time to check on them: “Sirs,” he said to his knights, “Let’s go and see if Sir
Gawain is alive; I am now fully afraid that the fiend may have slain him. We will go and watch
their awakening and see how he has fared.” They came to the bedchanber, and the king said
“Arise!” to Sir Gawain, “Why are you sleeping so long?”
“Sir King,” said Gawain, “I would be glad if you let me be, for I am well at ease. Wait, I’ll open
the door and you will see why I am loathe to rise.” Sir Gawain got up and took his lady by the
hand and opened the door wide. She stood by the fireplace in her smock, her hair like red gold
down to her knees. “Lo, Sir, this is my wife, Dame Ragnell, who once saved your life.” He told
the king and queen how she had suddenly changed and the full story of her enchantment. The
queen was relieved, for she was worried that the lady would harm Gawain, but now she saw to the
contrary.
There was celebration and revelry, and the men all agreed that Dame Ragnell was beautiful. The
king told them how she had served him at need and saved his life. He told the queen how he was
beset in Inglewood by Sir Gromer-Somer Jour and the oath he was forced to swear to the knight
or be killed: ”Otherwise he would have slain me right there, without mercy. This same lady,
Dame Ragnell, saved me from death, all for the love of Gawain.”
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Then Sir Gawain told the king how she had been misshapen by her stepmother until a knight
helped her, and she told the king how Gawain had given her complete sovereignty and what
choice she had given him: “God thank him for his courtesy. He saved me from a foul and grim
fate. Therefore, courteous and gracious Gawain, I make this promise: I swear to God that as long
as I live I will be obedient and never argue with you.” Gawain pledged his love in return for her
kindness.
The queen and all the ladies declared her the most beautiful woman in the hall, and the queen said
to her, “You shall have my love forever for saving my lord Arthoure, as I am a gentlewoman.”
Dame Ragnell bore Sir Gawain a son, Gyngolyn, a good, strong knight of the Round Table. She
was present at every feast and was the most beautiful woman wherever she went. Gawain loved
her more than anyone in all his life, and he lay with her day and night, like a coward, foregoing
jousting, which amazed the king.3 The lady asked Arthoure to be a good lord to Sir GromerSomer Jour despite his offense. He and the king agreed: “Yes, lady, I will do so for your sake, for
I know well that he may not make amends—he treated me most dishonorably!”
Now, to make a short conclusion, I intend to bring an end soon of this gentle lady: she lived with
Sir Gawain but five years, which saddened him all his life. She never displeased him; therefore
no woman was ever more dear to him. Thus ends my talking. She was the fairest lady in all
England while she lived, I understand, as King Arthoure said. So ends the adventure of King
Arthoure, who was often sorely grieved in his days, and of the wedding of Sir Gawain, who was
married often but never loved a woman as he did Dame Ragnell, I have heard men say. This
adventure took place in Inglewood Forest as good King Arthoure went hunting, I have heard men
tell. God, as You were born in Bethlehem, never let their souls be lost in the burning fires of hell!
And Jesus, born of a virgin, in all haste help him out of sorrow who made this tale. He is beset by
many jailers who keep him secured with unjust and powerful wiles. God, very royal King, have
pity and help him, for he has long been in danger and suffers strong pain; he yields his body and
soul into your hand.
Here ends The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell for helping of King Arthoure.
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