fain to beseech Messire Gawain that he help me to recover my land."

"In faith, Sir Knight," say they, "We know not of what avail he may be
to others that may not help himself. Messire Gawain was at the
assembly, but we tell you for true, it was he that did worst thereat."

"Alas," saith Meliot of Logres, "Then have I lost my land, and he hath
become even such an one as you tell me."

"You would readily believe us," say they, "had you seen him at the
assembly!"

Meliot turneth him back, right sorrowful.

XVII.

King Arthur and Messire Gawain depart from the tent, and come a great
pace as though they fain would escape thence to come nigher the land
where they would be, and great desire had they of the coming of
Lancelot. They rode until that they came one night to the Waste Manor
whither the brachet led Messire Gawain when he found the dead knight
that Lancelot had slain. They lodged there the night, and found there
knights and damsels of whom they were known. The Lady of the Waste
Manor sent for succour to her knights, saying that she held there King
Arthur that slew other knights, and that his nephew Messire Gawain was
also there within, but dearly would she have loved that Lancelot had
been with them that slew her brother. Knights in plenty came to her to
do hurt to King Arthur and Messire Gawain, but she had at least so much
courtesy in her that she would not suffer any of them to do them ill
within her hold, albeit she kept seven of their number, full of great
hardiment, to guard the entrance of the bridge, so that King Arthur and
Messire Gawain might not depart thence save only amidst the points of
their spears.

XVIII.

This high history witnesseth us that Lancelot was departed from the
Waste City wherein he was much honoured, and rode until that he came to
a forest where he met Meliot of Logres, that was sore dismayed of the
tidings he had heard of Messire Gawain. Lancelot asketh him whence he
cometh, and he saith from seeking Messire Gawain, of whom he had
tidings whereof he was right sorrowful.

"How," saith Lancelot, "Is he then otherwise than well?"

"Yea," saith he, "As I have heard tell: for he wont to be good knight
and hath now become evil. He was at the assembly of knights whereof I
met the harness and the fellowships, and they told me that never yet
was such cowardize in any knight, but that a knight who was with him
did right well. But howsoever he may have borne himself, right