The two damsels are at great pains to wait upon him, and right
great worship had he of all them that were therewithin and them that
came thither, both clerks and priests.

BRANCH XXI.

TITLE I.

Therewithal the history is silent of Lancelot, and speaketh word of the
King and Messire Gawain, that are in sore misgiving as concerning him,
for right gladly would they have heard tidings of him. They met a
knight that was coming all armed, and Messire Gawain asketh him whence
he came, and he said that he came from the land of the Queen of the
Golden Circlet, to whom a sore loss hath befallen; for the Son of the
Widow Lady had won the Circlet of Gold for that he had slain the Knight
of the Dragon, and she was to keep it safe for him and deliver it up to
him at his will.

"But now hath Nabigant of the Rock reft her thereof, and a right
outrageous knight is he and puissant; wherefore hath he commanded a
damsel that she bring it to an assembly of knights that is to be held
in the Meadow of the Tent of the two damsels, there where Messire
Gawain did away the evil custom. The damsel that will bring the Golden
Circlet will give it to the knight that shall do best at the assembly.
Nabigant is keenly set upon having it, and maketh the more sure for
that once aforetime he hath had it by force of arms. And I am going to
the knights that know not these tidings, in order that when they shall
hear them, they shall go to the assembly."

Therewithal the knight departeth. The King and Messire Gawain have
ridden so far that they come to the tent where Messire Gawain destroyed
the evil custom by slaying the two knights. He found the tent
garnished within and without in like manner as it was when he was
there, and Messire Gawain made the King be seated on a quilted mattress
of straw, right costly, and thereafter be disarmed of a squire, and he
himself disarmed him, and they washed their hands and faces for the
rust wherewith both of them were besmuttered. And Messire Gawain found
the chests unlocked that were at the head of the couch, and made the
King be apparelled of white rich stuffs that he found, and a robe of
cloth of silk and gold, and he clad himself in the like manner, neither
was the chest not a whit disfurnished thereby, for the tent was all
garnished of rich adornments. When they were thus dight, a man might
have sought far or ever he should find so comely knights.

II.

Thereupon, behold you the two Damsels o