f the Tent coming.

"Damsels," saith Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be."

"Sir," say they, "Good adventure may you have both twain. It seemeth
us that you take right boldly that which is ours, yet never for neither
of us would you do a thing whereof you were beseeched."

"Messire Gawain" saith the elder, "No knight is there in this kingdom
but would be right joyous and he supposed that I loved him, and I
prayed you of your love on a day that is past, for the valour of your
knighthood, yet never did you grant it me. How durst you have affiance
in me of aught, and take the things that are mine own so boldly, when I
may not have affiance in you?"

"Damsel, for your courtesy and the good custom of the land; for you
told me when the evil customs were overthrown, that all the honours and
all the courtesies that are due to knights should ever be ready within
for all them that should come hither for harbour."

"Messire Gawain, you say true, but of right might one let the courtesy
tarry and pay back churlishness by churlishness."

III.

"The assembly of knights will begin to-morrow in this launde that is so
fair. There will be knights in plenty, and the prize will be the
Circlet of Gold. Now shall we see who will do best. The assembly will
last three whole days, and of one thing at least you may well make
boast between you and your comrade, that you have the fairest hostel
and the most pleasant and the most quiet of any knights at the
assembly."

The younger damsel looketh at King Arthur. "And you," saith she, "What
will you do? Will you be as strange toward us as Messire Gawain is
friendly with others?"

IV.

"Damsel," saith the king, "Messire Gawain will do his pleasure and I
mine. Strange shall I not be in respect of you, nor toward other
damsels; rather shall they be honoured on my part so long as I live,
and I myself will be at your commandment."

"Sir," saith she, "Gramercy greatly. I pray you, therefore, that you
be my knight at the tournament."

"Damsel, this ought I not to refuse you, and right glad at heart shall
I be and I may do aught that shall please you; for all knights ought to
be at pains for the sake of dame or damsel."

"Sir," saith she, "what is your name?"

V.

"Damsel," saith he, "My name is Arthur, and I am of Tincardoil."

"Have you nought to do with King Arthur?"

"Damsel, already have I been many times at his court, and, if he loved
me not nor I him, I should not