she loved him. And thus he is
here the most part nigh her, and lodged by a priory, and every week
she sendeth knights to fight with him. And when he hath put them to the
worse, then will he suffer them wilfully to take him prisoner, because
he would have a sight of this lady. And always she doth him great
despite, for sometime she maketh her knights to tie him to his horse's
tail, and some to bind him under the horse's belly; thus in the most
shamefullest ways that she can think he is brought to her. And all she
doth it for to cause him to leave this country, and to leave his loving;
but all this cannot make him to leave, for an he would have fought on
foot he might have had the better of the ten knights as well on foot as
on horseback. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, it is great pity of him; and after
this night I will seek him to-morrow, in this forest, to do him all the
help I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine took his leave of his host Sir
Carados, and rode into the forest; and at the last he met with Sir
Pelleas, making great moan out of measure, so each of them saluted
other, and asked him why he made such sorrow. And as it is above
rehearsed, Sir Pelleas told Sir Gawaine: But always I suffer her knights
to fare so with me as ye saw yesterday, in trust at the last to win her
love, for she knoweth well all her knights should not lightly win me,
an me list to fight with them to the uttermost. Wherefore an I loved her
not so sore, I had liefer die an hundred times, an I might die so oft,
rather than I would suffer that despite; but I trust she will have pity
upon me at the last, for love causeth many a good knight to suffer to
have his entent, but alas I am unfortunate. And therewith he made so
great dole and sorrow that unnethe he might hold him on horseback.

Now, said Sir Gawaine, leave your mourning and I shall promise you by
the faith of my body to do all that lieth in my power to get you the
love of your lady, and thereto I will plight you my troth. Ah, said Sir
Pelleas, of what court are ye? tell me, I pray you, my good friend.
And then Sir Gawaine said, I am of the court of King Arthur, and his
sister's son, and King Lot of Orkney was my father, and my name is Sir
Gawaine. And then he said, My name is Sir Pelleas, born in the Isles,
and of many isles I am lord, and never have I loved lady nor damosel
till now in an unhappy time; and, sir knight, since ye are so nigh
cousin unto King Arthur, and a king's son, therefore b