rest, and seeth a
right large tent, whereof the cords were of silk and the pegs of ivory
fixed in the ground, and the tops of the poles of gold and upon each
was a golden eagle. The tent was white round about, and the hanging
above was of the richest silk, the same as red samite. Thitherward
goeth Messire Gawain and alighteth before the door of the tent, and
smiteth off the bridle of his horse, and letteth him feed on the grass,
and leaneth his spear and his shield without the tent, and looketh
narrowly within and seeth a right rich couch of silk and gold, and
below was a cloth unfolded as it were a feather-bed, and above a
coverlid of ermine and vair without any gold, and at the head of the
couch two pillows so rich that fairer none ever saw, and such sweet
smell gave they forth that it seemed the tent was sprinkled of balm.
And round about the couch were rich silken cloths spread on the ground.
And at the head of the couch on the one side and the other were two
seats of ivory, and upon them were two cushions stuffed with straw,
right rich, and at the foot of the couch, above the bed, two
candlesticks of gold wherein were two tall waxen tapers. A table was
set in the midst of the tent, that was all of ivory banded of gold,
with rich precious stones, and upon the table was the napkin spread and
the basin of silver and the knife with an ivory handle and the rich set
of golden vessels. Messire Gawain seeth the rich couch and setteth him
down thereon all armed in the midst, and marvelleth him wherefore the
tent is so richly apparelled and yet more that therein he seeth not a
soul. Howbeit, he was minded to disarm him.

VIII.

Thereupon, behold you, saluteth a dwarf that entereth the tent and
saluteth Messire Gawain. Then he kneeleth before him and would fain
disarm him. Then Messire Gawain remembereth him of the dwarf through
whom the lady was slain.

"Fair sweet friend, withdraw yourself further from me, for as at this
time I have no mind to disarm."

"Sir," saith the dwarf, "Without misgiving may you do so, for until
to-morrow have you no occasion to be on your guard, and never were you
more richly lodged than to-night you shall be, nor more honourably."

With that Messire Gawain began to disarm him, and the dwarf helpeth
him. And when he was disarmed, he setteth his arms nigh the couch and
his spear and sword and shield lying within the tent, and the dwarf
taketh a basin of silver and a white napkin, and m