ls,
through forests and woods, till they came into a fair meadow full of
fair flowers and grass; and there they rested them and their horses
all that night. And in the springing of the day in the next morn, Sir
Gawaine took his horse and stole away from his fellowship, to seek
some adventures. And anon he was ware of a man armed, walking his horse
easily by a wood's side, and his shield laced to his shoulder, sitting
on a strong courser, without any man saving a page bearing a mighty
spear. The knight bare in his shield three griffins of gold, in sable
carbuncle, the chief of silver. When Sir Gawaine espied this gay knight,
he feutred his spear, and rode straight to him, and demanded of him from
whence that he was. That other answered and said he was of Tuscany, and
demanded of Sir Gawaine, What, profferest thou, proud knight, thee so
boldly? here gettest thou no prey, thou mayest prove what thou wilt,
for thou shalt be my prisoner or thou depart. Then said Gawaine, thou
avauntest thee greatly and speakest proud words, I counsel thee for all
thy boast that thou make thee ready, and take thy gear to thee, to-fore
greater grame fall to thee.

CHAPTER X. Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a Saracen, which
after was yielden and became Christian.

THEN they took their spears and ran each at other with all the might
they had, and smote each other through their shields into their
shoulders, wherefore anon they pulled out their swords, and smote great
strokes that the fire sprang out of their helms. Then Sir Gawaine was
all abashed, and with Galatine his good sword he smote through shield
and thick hauberk made of thick mails, and all to-rushed and break the
precious stones, and made him a large wound, that men might see both
liver and lung. Then groaned that knight, and addressed him to Sir
Gawaine, and with an awk stroke gave him a great wound and cut a vein,
which grieved Gawaine sore, and he bled sore. Then the knight said
to Sir Gawaine, bind thy wound or thy blee[ding] change, for thou
be-bleedest all thy horse and thy fair arms, for all the barbers of
Brittany shall not con staunch thy blood, for whosomever is hurt with
this blade he shall never be staunched of bleeding. Then answered
Gawaine, it grieveth me but little, thy great words shall not fear
me nor lessen my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen and sorrow or we
depart, but tell me in haste who may staunch my bleeding. That may I do,
said the knight, if