nto and roweth up-stream of the river. And he cometh to a
fishery, where was a right fair hall on a little eyot enclosed by a
marshy arm of the river. The jealous knight was come thither for
disport, and lay in the midst of the hall upon a couch. The dwarf
cometh forth of his boat thereinto, and lighteth a great candle in his
fist and cometh before the couch. "What ho, there!" saith the dwarf,
"Are you sleeping?"

And the other waketh up sore startled, and asketh what is the matter
and wherefore is he come?

"In God's name," saith he, "You sleep not so much at your ease as doth
Messire Gawain!"

"How know you that?" saith he.

"Well know I," saith the dwarf, "For I left him but now in your hall,
and methinketh he and your lady are abed together arm to arm."

"How?" saith he, "I forbade her she should ever harbour Messire Gawain."

"In faith," said the dwarf, "She hath made him greater cheer than ever
saw I her make to none other! But haste you and come, for great fear
have I lest he carry her away!"

"By my head!" saith the knight; "I will go not, howsoever it be! But
she shall pay for it, even though she go!"

"Then of wrong will it be!" saith the dwarf, "as methinketh!"

III.

Messire Gawain lay in the hall that was ware of nought of this. He
seeth that day hath broken fair and clear, and ariseth up. The lady
cometh to the door of the hall and seeth not the dwarf, whereby well
she understandeth his treachery. She saith to Messire Gawain, "Sir,
for God's sake have pity upon me, for the dwarf hath betrayed me! And
you withdraw yourself forth of our forest and help not to rescue me
from the smart that my lord will make me suffer, great sin will you
have thereof. For well know you, that of right ought I not to be held
guilty toward my lord nor toward any other, for aught that you have
done toward me or I toward you."

"You say true," saith Messire Gawain. Thereupon is he armed, and
taketh leave of the lady and issueth forth of the fair hold and setteth
him in an ambush in the forest nigh thereby. Straightway behold the
jealous knight where he cometh, he and his dwarf. He entereth into the
hall. The lady cometh to meet him.

"Sir," saith she, "Welcome may you be!"

"And you," saith he, "Shame and evil adventure may you have, as the
most disloyal dame on live, for that this night have you harboured in
my hostel and in my bed him that most have I warned you against!"

"Sir," saith she, "In your