er of Nabigant sweareth that they shall not
depart thence until such time as he shall have taken Messire Gawain,
and taken vengeance on his fellow of his brother whom he slew. The
King saith to Messire Gawain that he hath much shame of this that they
are so long shut up therewithin, and that he better loveth to die with
honour than to live with shame within the castle. So they issued
forth, spears in rest, and Ahuret and his knights, whereof was there
great plenty, made much joy thereat.

II.

The King and Messire Gawain strike among them, and each overthroweth
his man; but Ahuret hath great shame of this that he seeth his knights
put to the worse by so few folk. He setteth his spear in rest and
smiteth one of King Arthur's knights through the body and beareth him
down dead. Then returneth he to Messire Gawain, and buffeteth him so
strongly that he pierceth his shield, but he maketh drop his own spear
and loseth his stirrups, and Messire Gawain waxeth wroth and smiteth
him so grimly and with such force that he maketh him bend back over the
hinder bow of his saddle. But Ahuret was strong and of great might,
and leapeth back between the bows and cometh toward King Arthur that he
saw before him, but he knew him not. He left Messire Gawain, and the
King smiteth him with such a sweep that he cutteth off his arm, spear
and all. There was great force of knights, so that they ran upon them
on all sides; and never would they have departed thence sound and
whole, but that thereupon Meliot of Logres cometh thither with fifteen
knights, for that he had heard tidings of Messire Gawain, how he was
besieged in a castle there, where he and King Arthur between them were
in such plight that they had lost their five knights, so that they were
not but only two that defended themselves as best they might, as they
that had no thought but to remain there, for the odds of two knights
against thirty was too great.

III.

Thereupon, behold you, Meliot of Logres with fifteen knights, and they
come thither where the King and Messire Gawain are in such jeopardy,
and they strike so stoutly among them that they rescue King Arthur and
Messire Gawain from them that had taken them by the bridle, and so slay
full as many as ten of them, and put the others to flight, and lead
away their lord sore maimed. And Messire Gawain giveth Meliot much
thanks of the bounty he hath done, whereby he hath saved them their
lives; and he giveth him the ca