This
knight hath won the Golden Circlet by force of arms, and Messire Gawain
nought but shame and reproach."

The damsel laugheth at this that the dwarf saith, and biddeth him on
his eyes and head, begone!

XV.

The King and Messire Gawain were disarmed.

"Sir," saith the damsel, "What will you do with the Golden Circlet?"

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I will bear it to him that first won
it in sore peril of death, and delivered it to the Queen that ought to
have kept it safe, of whom it hath been reft by force."

The King and Messire Gawain lay the night in the tent. The younger
damsel cometh to the King.

"Sir, many feats of arms have you done at the assembly, as I have been
told, for love of me, and I am ready to reward you."

"Damsel, right great thanks. Your reward and your service love I much,
and your honour yet more, wherefore I would that you should have all
the honour that any damsel may have, for in damsel without honour ought
none to put his affiance. Our Lord God grant you to preserve yours."

"Damsel," saith she to the other that sitteth before Messire Gawain,
"This Knight and Messire Gawain have taken counsel together. There is
neither solace nor comfort in them. Let us leave them to go to sleep,
and ill rest may they have, and Lord God defend us ever hereafter from
such guests."

"By my head," saith the eider damsel, "were it not for the Golden
Circlet that he is bound of right to deliver again to the Queen that
had it in charge, who is my Lady, they should not depart from this land
in such sort as they will. But, and Messire Gawain still be nice as
concerneth damsels, at least I now know well that he is loyal in
anotherwise, so as that he will not fail of his word."

XVI.

With that the damsels departed, as did likewise the King and Messire
Gawain as soon as they saw the day. Nabigant, that was wounded at the
tournament, was borne away on a litter. Meliot of Logres was in quest
of Messire Gawain. He met the knights and the harness that came from
the assembly, and asked of many if they could tell him tidings of King
Arthur's nephew, Messire Gawain, and the most part answer, "Yea, and
right bad tidings enough."

Then they ask him wherefore he demandeth.

"Lords," saith he, "His liege man am I, and he ought of right to defend
my land against all men, that Nabigant hath taken from me without right
nor reason, whom they are carrying from thence in a litter, wherefore I
am