Now Arthur was a bounteous king
A man of power and fame;
And when he threw a party
Simply everybody came.
Their tales of love and honour
Were music to the ears -
But now when men say they`re in love
It`s just a lie, we fear.

But Yvain would never be so base
Ah, brave Yvain!
You won`t forget the promises
You made, Yvain;
Whatever maiden in distress
You save, Yvain,
Just tell her that you did it for
Your honour`s sake, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Calogrenant recounted
How, riding through a wood,
He found himself adventure,
As every good knight should.
But adventure quite unhorsed him
And left him feeling blue -
Now, do not weep, Calogrenant,
Yvain will fight for you.

But Kay just jeered our hero
"You fool, Yvain -
"And so you ride to martyrdom;
"That`s cool, Yvain.
"You do not fear to face a fate
"So cruel, Yvain;
"Do you leave tomorrow or tonight?
"Our gallant, bold Yvain!"
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddle um de dum diddleum)

But when they told King Arthur,
He swore that he would go
In the footsteps of Calogrenant
To fight against the foe:
And they all said they`d go with him -
But Yvain`s face wore a frown;
For he wished to fight the foe alone
And win himself renown.
And so he left the party,
Without a second thought;
And rode to find the fountain
Where Calogrenant had fought -
But the knight that beat Calogrenant
Could not defeat Yvain:
And at last he turned, sore wounded
And rushed back the way he came.

And Yvain went galloping after him,
Unwise Yvain,
Ah, see towards his castle hall
He flies, Yvain:
And now you`re trapped just like a rat
Inside, Yvain -
And they`ll kill you when they find you -
(Our hero, bold Yvain).
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum)

But as he stood there, quite perplexed,
There tripped in through the door
A maid who cried; "Messire Yvains,
"I think we`ve met before.
"You were the only one who`d speak to me
"When I went to see the king,
"I owe you one - I`ll help you - "
- And she handed him a ring.
And the ring made him invisible;
The retainers hunted round -
They turned the castle inside out
But Yvain could not be found:
`Till they brought in their dead master
All laid out on a bier,
And his wound began to bleed again,
Then they knew Yvain was near.

Then his widow wept and beat her breasts
And cursed Yvain:
But even though you hated her
At first, Yvain,
It seems that now your heart is changing for
The worst, Yvain -
You were free, now you`re in prison;
She`s imprisoned you, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

"Ah, maid, how can I speak to her?"
- "Ah, no, sir," she replied,
"They`ll kill you if they find you,
"Like I told you, you must hide."
Then she went to see her mistress,
"Now cease your grief," she said,
"Who can protect your fountain
"Now my master he is dead?"
Her mistress cried; "There`s no one
"To compare with my dead knight,"
- "Ah, now surely he was better
"Who beat him in the fight?
"There`s the man for you to marry!"
- "No, that shall never be!"
- But she fought it over in her mind,
And then at last agreed.

So the maid was sent to fetch him
- The fair Yvain -
But even as you tell her
How you care, Yvain -
She cries; "Will you defend my fountain?"
Ah, beware, Yvain!
She just wants a defender -
Does she love you then, Yvain?
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

And so the fair Laudine was married
To the bold Yvain:
And her barons all approved it
And to the wedding came.
But let us not forget, my friends,
King Arthur and his band
Who approach to see the fountain,
And to devastate the land.

So Yvain put on his chainmail;
Go forth, Yvain!
With lance and helmet and a mighty
Horse, Yvain;
And will you beat King Arthur`s knights?
Of course, Yvain!
You`re the best knight in the kingdom!
You`re our hero, bold Yvain!
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Now, as King Arthur`s knights approached
Kay looked round for Yvain:
And said;"So much for his boasting,
"I see he never came."
And Gawain said; "Shaddup, Kay,
"I`m sure his reason`s good,"
- And then they saw this strange knight
Come towards them through the wood.
And Kay cried: "Let me fight him,"
And the king gave the okay -
And Kay seized his shield and couched his lance
And galloped to the fray;
And their lances split on impact,
But Yvain gave Kay a blow
Such that his saddle did a somersault -
And he hit the ground below.

For Kay had jeered our hero -
"You fool, Yvain-
"And so you ride to martyrdom -
"That`s cool, Yvain.
"You do not fear to face a fate
"So cruel, Yvain;
"Do you leave tomorrow or tonight?
"Our hero, bold Yvain!"

So everybody jeered at Kay
And cheered Yvain,
But no-one recognised him,
`Till he told the king his name.
And then they were all quite amazed -
"He`s here, Yvain!
"However did he do it?
"He`s a hero, our Yvain!"
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

So Yvain invited them to stay,
They accepted with delight,
And his lady was so happy
To be hostess to such knights,
And Gawain struck up a friendship
With the maid who fixed it all -
(Oh, by the way, her name`s Lunete,
I should have said before).

And so at last you`ve won yourself
Renown, Yvain -
And such a pretty wife indeed
You`ve found, Yvain,
But aren`t you rather young to settle
Down, Yvain?
You`ve got your life before you -
Will you miss it all, Yvain?
Yvains, Yvain, Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

So Gawain said, "My dear Yvain,
"I`ll tell what to do:
"Come, leave your wife, we`re going
"A-tourneying, me and you";
- "Ah, let me go and win my name,
"Laudine, my sweet, my dear"-
- "Oh; very well, my husband;
"I will give you just a year.

"But if you overstay your time,
"My dear Yvain,
"My love for you will quite grow cold,
"I fear, Yvain,
"Come, here`s my ring, remember that
"I`m near, Yvain -
"If you break your promise, I`ll keep mine,
"I promise you, Yvain."
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

And so they went a-tourneying,
Our Gawain and Yvain,
Across the fields of Europe
They won themselves a name;
And Yvain won so much honour
That his fame grew wide and near:
`Till, quite before he knew it -
No!
YES!!
- He`d overstayed his year.
Then to the court at Chester
A maiden came;
Who said; "My mistress sends a message
"To the treacherous Yvain,
"He used his lies and villainy
"Her love to win;
"But he`s broken all his promises-"
- And she took away the ring.
!!!
And so for promises forgot,
Egad, Yvain!
Your lovely wife has cast you off,
That`s bad, Yvain,
And says she never wants you back -
- So sad, Yvain -
And left your name dishonoured -
(Ohhhh)
Try again, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

So through the fields and forests
Wanders our Yvain, quite mad
Forgetting all the honour
And the triumphs that he`s had.
Until one day, when quite alone,
Asleep beneath a tree,
He was found by two young lasses,
Who knew him instantly.

They ran to find their mistress,
"We`ve found Yvain the brave!
"He`s ill, but if you cure him
"Do you think that he could save
"Us from the daily danger
"Of that count`s incessant raids?"
"Why, yes," their mistress said,
"You`re right,
"I think our victory`s made."
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

And so with magic ointment
They made him well again,
"Ah, won`t you come and fight for us,
"Our hero, bold Yvain,?"
And so, his strength now quite restored,
He rode out to the fight,
The leader of my lady`s rather
Disenchanted knights.

But as they bow before the enemy`s
Attack, Yvain,
Your strength restores the courage that
They lack, Yvain,
And with your help they drive the foe
Right back, Yvain,
Leaving men in heaps behind you -
- You`re the hero, bold Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

They begged him to remain with them,
But Yvain refused to stay,
And so it was, one morning,
That he set out on his way;
And as he rode along he heard
The sound of fighting near -
Of course it was the lion -
(It`s about time he appeared).

He was fighting with a serpent:
Don`t wait, Yvain!
Of course it is the lion`s part
You`ll take, Yvain,
And when you`ve killed the serpent, why,
It`s great, Yvain!
He`s such a grateful lion -
You`ve a friend for life, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Then they came to Laudine`s fountain,
And Yvain collapsed with pain,
And the lion nearly killed himself
`Cos he thought he`d lost Yvain.
And as he sat there, groaning,
From a chapel quite close by
Came a voice which said; "Why do you weep?
"It`s me who`s going to die!"

It was Lunete; condemned to death
To burn, Yvain -
For treachery, when you did not
Return, Yvain:
Gawain`s away, her case all knights
Have spurned, Yvain -
You promise that you`ll fight for her,
But it`s one to three, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Yvain and lion ride along
To find a place to spend the night
And they come upon this castle,
Where it seems there`s been a fight:
"Ah, sir host, won`t you tell me,
"Why are the people here so sad?"
- "Ah, sir, it is the giant -
"You can`t think the time we`ve had.
"He stole away my sons, but now
"He says he`ll give me them,
"If I`ll give him up my daughter
"For the uses of his men."
- "Why, sir, why don`t you ask for help?
"Have you asked Gawain the bold?"
- "Why, sir, he is their uncle;
"But he`s gone away, I`m told."

And then you think of dear Lunete
Who waits, Yvain;
But you can`t leave Gawain`s nephews to
Their fate, Yvain.
So you`ll fight the giant if he isn`t
Late, Yvain;
You`ve got to reach Lunete by noon,
Or she`ll be dead, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Well, nine o`clock has come and gone,
And the giant doesn`t show,
And although his host begs him to stay,
Yvain prepares to go,
But as they weep and kneel before him
And plead with him to fight,
From the battlements, a shout goes up -
- The giant`s come in sight.

Oh, he was a foolish giant,
That`s clear, Yvain;
He thought man and lion nothing much
To fear, Yvain -
And so it was his pride that cost him
Dear, Yvain;
And man and lion bring him down -
(You`ve won again, Yvain).
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

"Ah, sir, how can we thank you?
"Now, tell me, please, your name -
"For we must tell this happy news
"To my lord Gawain."
- "I tell my name to no-one."
- "Then, sir, what shall we do?"
- "Just tell him that it was the Knight
"Of the Lion that helped you."

And so you leave them with a swift
Good-bye, Yvain,
And back to find Lunete now
You must fly, Yvain -
For how is it you will live if she
Should die, Yvain?
And noon`s well gone -
"They`ve got Lunete!
"Let her go!
"Let her go!"

"Ah, my lord,"
All the maidens cried,
"If you had not come just then,
"Be sure, she would have died.
"We pray to God
"That you`ll set her free,
"But what kind of fight is this,
"One against three?"

The seneschal and his two sons
Come up to see our knight,
"Now, sir, control your lion,
"He`s not allowed to fight." -
"My lion does just what he likes,"
Is all Yvain will say,
Then he rode into the battle
For the second time that day.

And so Lunete awaits with bated
Breath, Yvain,
And every maiden`s heart`s still in her
Breast, Yvain.
And even Laudine waits in some
Distress, Yvain;
Will her maid go free or guilty?
(And she knows you not, Yvain.)
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

The seneschal lies in a pool
Of blood, his life near done,
And Yvain and lion don`t look too good,
But it seems that they have won.
And so Lunete is innocent,
And Laudine turns to Yvain;
"Ah, sir, I am so grateful -
"Now, tell me, please, your name."

"The Knight of the Lion, lady,"
You reply, Yvain;
But Laudine perceives the sadness in
Your eye, Yvain,
"May God relieve you of your sorrow, sir!"
- You sigh, Yvain;
"You hold the key, my lady:"
(Ohhhhhh.)
Try again, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

And so Lunete escorted them
On their way once more,
And, seeing Yvain`s sorrow, said;
"Think no more on that score."
But the lion could not follow,
His wounds too great to say,
So he put his shield on his horse
And carried him that way.

But as you find a castle-room
To rest, Yvain,
Another maiden sets out on
A quest, Yvain.
To find the man she knows can help her
Best, Yvain:
She seeks the Knight of the Lion;
It`s you she wants, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Now once there was a noble knight,
A great and valiant man,
And when he died, he left behind
Two daughters and his land:
And the eldest daughter went to Arthur`s
Court, to claim the right
To the whole of it - and secretly
Engaged Gawain to fight.

And so the youngest girl was quite
Dismayed, Yvain;
She must defend her rights the only
Way, Yvain -
And find a knight to fight in forty
Days, Yvain;
And Gawain says he can`t fight for her,
So it`s you she wants, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

But then, quite ill from worry,
She was confined to bed;
And so another maiden
Went on the search instead.
And the wind howled, and the rain slashed down,
And the road was like a pond;
But at last she found Lunete, who showed
The way Yvain had gone.

Now she sees you up ahead upon
Her road, Yvain;
And she gallops up, as you are riding
Slow, Yvain -
"Vostre aie, messire chevalier!
"Don`t know your name -
"I seek the Knight of the Lion!"
Of course you`ll help, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A very merry trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

But as they find a castle,
Where they hope to spend the night,
The townsfolk cry; "No, don`t go there,
"Or you`ll rue the day, sir knight.
"You`ll find so much dishonour,
"If you ever find escape."
- "I fear nothing," says Yvain,
- And rides towards the gate.

But, once inside, the porter
Disappears, Yvain,
And all you find is maidens all
In tears, Yvain;
They say there are three hundred prisoners
Here, Yvain -
All because of two foul monsters -
Who`ll kill you, too, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A very merry trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Then Yvain goes off to find his host
With companions both in tow,
Their host treats Yvain like royalty,
- Which, of course, he is, you know; -
- Until, that is, next morning,
When he`s not allowed to leave,
`Till he`s fought with the two monsters,
Both demon`s sons, indeed.

"If you win, you win my daughter,"
He said, Yvain;
"And if you lose -" well, then you will
Be dead, Yvain:
But you don`t want his daughter
To wed, Yvain -
"Ah, I see you are a coward, sir;"
- You`ll have to fight, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Then the monsters both address Yvain,
And say; "It isn`t right
"To have this battle equal;
"That lion mayn`t fight."
So the lion`s locked up in a room
Behind a sturdy door
And as he hears his master fight,
The lion starts to roar.

And meantime, you ride into
The fray, Yvain,
But every blow you make just
Ricochets, Yvain,
While faithful lion tries to find
A way, Yvain,
To join the fight and save you,
Running round the room, Yvain.

-And round and round and round and round-
-And round and round and round and round-

He can`t get through the window,
He can`t get through the door,
And so, in desperation,
He`s digging up the floor;
And as he hears the monsters` shouts,
And the groans, Yvain, from you,
He shoves himself beneath the door,
And tries to wriggle through.

-Scrabblescrabblescrabblescrabble-
-Scrabblescrabblescrabblescrabble-

The monsters` blows are raining down
From high, Yvain;
Now see the light of victory in
Their eyes, Yvain,
Now you must face dishonour and
To die, Yvain -
Then, with a ROAR -
The lion leaps out -
And a monster`s dead, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

Then he fells the other monster,
And so you`re saved, Yvain;
And the host calls forth his daughter,
But you refuse again.
"I have a pressing matter
"I must see to first of all."
- "I care not, sir, if you come back
"Quite soon or not at all."

And so you set out for the court,
Egad, Yvain,
To fight your best mate Gawain!
- That`s bad, Yvain,
And yet, you do not know your foe,
(So sad, Yvain);
Will you dishonour your dear friend,
Or he kill you, Yvain?
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

The lion left in lodgings,
Yvain rides out to fight
The eldest daughter`s champion,
And prove the youngest`s rights.
And if you`re with me so far,
You`ll be sure Yvain will win,
And Yvain knew that there was no man
On earth, could conquer him.
But, as morning grows to noon time,
He`s sure that there`s a catch;
For the first time in this saga,
Yvain has met his match.
And, as noon time falls to evening,
His caution grows to fright,
Who is this man he`s fighting?
- He`s never met his like!

As your sword is blunted in your
Hand, Yvain,
There`s one thing that you cannot
Understand, Yvain -
How is it that you`ve never met
This man, Yvain?
So, as you stop for breath, you speak,
And challenge him, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

"Sir, I`ve never met your equal,
"Now tell me, please, your name."
- "That I refuse to no-one,"
He said, "My name`s Gawain."
Whereupon Yvain leaps off his horse -
"This battle`s at an end;
"I`m giving in" - "Why, who are you?"
- "Yvain, your dearest friend."

"I won`t let you surrender",
Now says Gawain,
"Why, I myself was beaten,
"You`ve won, Yvain."
"No, no, dear friend, you`ve beaten me,"
Cries our Yvain,
So they struggle for dishonour -
(Sigh)
That`s friendship, then, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A very merry trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddeum.)

So everyone`s delighted
To see Yvain again -
"He isn`t dead - he`s here, alive,
"Our hero, bold Yvain",
And, as no-one won the battle,
The king puts in a hand,
And compels the elder sister
To give her sister land.

And then the lion comes rushing up
In play, Yvain,
And everybody else just runs
Away, Yvain,
"Come back! He isn`t dangerous!"
You say, Yvain -
Then Gawain knows you`re the Lion Knight,
And he`s quite amazed, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

But how can Yvain be happy
Without his dear Laudine?
And so, he leaves the court again
And slips away unseen.
When he comes to Laudine`s fountain,
He pours water on the stone,
And summons up a greater storm
Than anyone has known.
Now, in her storm-rocked castle,
Laudine wishes she was dead,
`Till Lunete suggests she find herself
A fountain-guard instead.
"The Knight of the Lion would do it,
"But he has troubles with his wife";
- "Oh, tell him that I`ll intercede
"If he`ll only save my life."

So Lunete was sent to find him,
Her dear Yvain,
She didn`t think she`d find you quite
So near, Yvain,
And how you kiss and hug her when
You hear, Yvain -
That Laudine`s agreed to intercede
And she knows you not, Yvain.
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevalier au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A very merry trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

"See, my lady, I have brought him,
"Now say what we agreed;"
- "Sir, you have quarrelled with your wife
"But I shall intercede.
"If you`ll only guard my fountain
"And with it, save my life:
"I swear!" - "Lady, you`ve said it!
"It`s you who is his wife!"

"You`ve tricked me well!
"Now, what can I say?
"For I shall break my sworn word
"If I send my knight away.
"I hope you`re pleased!
"You`ve caught me in a trap!
"There`s only one thing left to do -
"Take him back...."

And so, at last, it seems we`ve reached
The end, Yvain;
You`re reconciled with your wife
Again, Yvain -
And, as there`s no more story to
Append, Yvain,
If I said more,
Then I would lie,
That would never do, Yvain!
Yvains, Yvain,
Li Chevaliers au Lion;
Knight and horse and lion make
A most amazing trio.
(Diddleum dedum diddleum.)

THE END

by Helen Nicholson

apologies to Chrestien de Troyes.