, that if he had ever pity of dame or damsel,
he will take vengeance on Nabigant that hath slain her men and
destroyed her land, for she hath been told how he that won back the
Golden Circlet ought of right to take vengeance upon him."

XXIII.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Be not any longer troubled hereof, for
I tell you that the knight that won the Golden Circlet by prize of arms
hath killed Nabigant already."

"Sir," saith she, "How know you this?"

"I know the knight well," saith he, "And I saw him slay him, and
behold, here is the Circlet of Gold that I have as a token hereof, for
that he beareth it to him that hath won the Graal, to the intent that
your Lady may be quit of her charge."

Messire Gawain showeth her the Golden Circlet in the casket of ivory,
that he kept very nigh himself. Right joyful was the damsel that the
matter had thus fallen out, and goeth her way back again to tell her
Lady of her joy. Messire Gawain goeth on his way toward the assembly,
for well knoweth he that, and King Arthur and Lancelot have heard the
tidings, there will they be. He goeth thitherward as fast as he may,
and as straight, and scarce hath he ridden away or ever he met a squire
that seemed right weary, and his hackney sore worn of the way. Messire
Gawain asked him whence he came, and the squire said to him. "From the
land of King Arthur, where is great war toward, for that none knoweth
not what hath become of him. Many folk go about saying that he is
dead, for never sithence that he departed from Cardoil, and Messire
Gawain and Lancelot with him, have no tidings been heard of him; and he
left the Queen at Cardoil to take his place, and also on account of her
son's death, and the most part say that he is dead. Briant of the
Isles and my Lord Kay with him are burning his land, and carrying off
plunder before all the castles. Of all the Knights of the Table Round
are there now no more than five and thirty, and of these are ten sore
wounded, and they are in Cardoil, and there protect the land the best
they may."

XXIV.

When Messire Gawain heareth these tidings, they touch his heart right
sore, so that he goeth the straightest he may toward the assembly, and
the squire with him that was sore fordone. Messire Gawain found King
Arthur and Lancelot, and the knights were come from all the kingdom to
the piece of ground. For a knight was come thither that had brought a
white destrier and borne thither a right