Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion

The next day, time runs out for the younger daughter to search for a champion. The elder daughter arrives at court accompanied by Gawain. She asks king Arthur to grant her her father's estate. Arthur, knowing full well that the elder daughter is cheating her sister, stalls her. Just then, the younger daughter arrives, the Knight of the Lion at her side.

Arthur welcomes the younger daughter, who presents her champion and then asks her sister to resolve the issue by returning to her what is rightfully hers. The sister replies, "The sun elect to shine at night, / Before I will renounce this fight" (198). She adds that she hopes her younger sister will wither away painfully. The younger sister says simply that she places her trust in God and the Knight of the Lion.

Yvain and Gawain, the two champions, must now do battle. They love each other like brothers, but today each wears armor the other hasn't seen, and neither recognizes the other. They join the fight, striking powerful blows, doing great damage to each other's armor and helmets. Bruised and bleeding, they grow weary, but the fight continues.

The two knights pause to catch their breath, then renew the fight with even more vigor. The crowd watches, deeply impressed at the valor and fortitude of both warriors. King Arthur and his queen, Guinevere, sympathize with the younger daughter. The rest of the court agrees, and some ask the King to grant the younger daughter at least a portion of the inheritance so that the fight may end and neither of these great warriors will suffer any further. The king’s hands, however, are tied.

Night falls, and still they fight, exhausted and bleeding but refusing to give up. After a time, both realize that the fight can’t be won, and they agree to a truce. 

Exhausted, whispering hoarsely, Yvain praises his opponent as the toughest he has ever fought. Gawain says likewise and announces his name. Shocked, Yvain throws down his sword and shield, dismounts, and declares that he would never have fought had he known who his opponent was. Gawain asks who he is, and Yvain names himself.

Immediately, each man offers his surrender, insisting the other got the better of him. Gawain dismounts, and the two companions embrace. The king and his court hurry onto the field to learn what has happened. The men each declare that the other has won the battle. They argue politely until the king, glad to see this enduring love between his two knights, declares that the fight is a draw and that he will decide the issue of the sisters' inheritance.

Arthur tells the elder sister that she must turn over to her younger sister her rightful share of their inheritance. Knowing she has no alternative, she relents. The king asks the two knights to remove their armor and disarm on equal terms. As they do so, Yvain's lion runs onto the field, sending the crowd scrambling. Yvain reassures them, saying the lion “Is mine, and I am his” (213).

Gawain thanks Yvain for saving his relatives from Harpin the Giant. Arthur has his best surgeon restore the two knights to health. Yvain decides to return to the fountain and cause “Such a tempest of wind and rain, / That perforce she must then again / Grant him peace” (214). 

Yvain and the lion travel back to the fountain, where Yvain causes a terrible storm that shakes the castle walls and frightens its citizens. Laudine has no champion and asks Lunete what can be done; Lunete replies that the knight who slew the dragon and defeated the three knights is tormented by unanswered love but would serve her if she could grant him peace. Laudine says she’ll do so if she can. Lunete gets her to swear an oath on it. 

Lunete rides off in search of Yvain and finds him at the fountain. She tells him to hurry back with her to the castle, where Laudine has effectively promised to love him again if he’ll be her champion. He asks if Laudine knows it is he, and she tells him Laudine only knows that her new guardian is the Knight of the Lion.

Lunete presents the Knight of the Lion to Laudine. The knight falls to his knees. Lunete tells Laudine that this man is the best friend she can ever find: “For he has no lady but you: / This is Yvain, your husband too” (222).

Shocked, Laudine says she would never grant this man peace, except that she has taken an oath to do so. 

Yvain declares that it was madness to betray her and he has paid dearly for it. He wouldn’t kneel before her if it weren’t true, and if she’ll have him, he’ll never betray her again. Reluctantly, she accepts him back into her life. 

Yvain and Laudine’s love blossoms anew and becomes stronger than ever.

The author states that the story is at an end, “Unless one seeks to add lies here” (224).