o blame, for it is to suppose, he that hung that
shield there, he will not be long therefrom, and then may those knights
match him on horseback, and that is more your worship than thus; for I
will abide no longer to see a knight's shield dishonoured. And therewith
Sir Uwaine and Gawaine departed a little from them, and then were they
ware where Sir Marhaus came riding on a great horse straight toward
them. And when the twelve damosels saw Sir Marhaus they fled into the
turret as they were wild, so that some of them fell by the way. Then the
one of the knights of the tower dressed his shield, and said on high,
Sir Marhaus, defend thee. And so they ran together that the knight brake
his spear on Marhaus, and Marhaus smote him so hard that he brake his
neck and the horse's back. That saw the other knight of the turret, and
dressed him toward Marhaus, and they met so eagerly together that the
knight of the turret was soon smitten down, horse and man, stark dead.

CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine,
and overthrew them both.

AND then Sir Marhaus rode unto his shield, and saw how it was defouled,
and said, Of this despite I am a part avenged, but for her love that
gave me this white shield I shall wear thee, and hang mine where thou
wast; and so he hanged it about his neck. Then he rode straight unto
Sir Gawaine and to Sir Uwaine, and asked them what they did there? They
answered him that they came from King Arthur's court to see adventures.
Well, said Sir Marhaus, here am I ready, an adventurous knight that will
fulfil any adventure that ye will desire; and so departed from them, to
fetch his range. Let him go, said Sir Uwaine unto Sir Gawaine, for he is
a passing good knight as any is living; I would not by my will that
any of us were matched with him. Nay, said Sir Gawaine, not so, it were
shame to us were he not assayed, were he never so good a knight. Well,
said Sir Uwaine, I will assay him afore you, for I am more weaker than
ye, and if he smite me down then may ye revenge me. So these two knights
came together with great raundon, that Sir Uwaine smote Sir Marhaus that
his spear brast in pieces on the shield, and Sir Marhaus smote him so
sore that horse and man he bare to the earth, and hurt Sir Uwaine on the
left side.

Then Sir Marhaus turned his horse and rode toward Gawaine with his
spear, and when Sir Gawaine saw that he dressed his shield, and they
aventred their spears, a