tress both
of me and of this damsel you have brought hither, will likewise be
brought to-morrow to the place where the lion is to slay Messire
Gawain, and she in like sort will be afterward delivered to the lion
and she renounce not the New Law wherein the knight that came from
Raving Castle, whereof she is lady, hath made her believe; and we
ourselves shall be in like manner devoured along with her. But this
damsel would still have taken respite of my death and she had still
kept guard over the knights that were so foully hanged above her.
Natheless, sith that you have taken them down from where they were
hanging, you have done a right good deed, whatsoever betide, for the
Lord of the Red Tower will give his castle to the knight for this."

Meliot is right joyous of the tidings that he hath heard of Messire
Gawain that he is still on live, for well knoweth he, sith that the
Knight of the Galley will come by the chapel there, that he will come
thither or ever Messire Gawain doth battle with the lion.

"Sir," saith the damsel of the chapel, "For God's sake, take this
damsel to a place of safety, for the knight will be so wood mad of
wrath and despite so soon as he cometh hither, that he will be fain to
smite off her head forthwith, and of yourself also have I great fear."

III.

"Damsel," saith Meliot, "The knight is but a man like as am I."

"Yea, Sir, but stronger is he and more cruel than seem you to be."

Meliot was in the chapel the night until the morrow, and heard the
knight coming like a tempest, and he brought with him the lady of the
castle and reviled her from time to time, and Meliot seeth him come,
and a dwarf that followeth after him a great pace. He crieth out to
him: "Sir, behold there the disloyal knight through whom you have lost
your castle. Now haste! Avenge yourself of him! After that will we go
to the death of Messire Gawain?"

Meliot, so soon as he espieth him, mounteth and maketh his arms ready.

"Is it you," saith the Knight of the Galley, "that hath trespassed on
my demesne and taken down my knights?"

"By my head, yours were they not! Rather were they the knights of God,
and foul outrage have you done herein when you slew them so shamefully."

He goeth toward the knight without more words, and smiteth him so
passing strong amidst the breast that he pierceth the habergeon and
thrusteth all the iron of his spear into his body and afterward draweth
it back to him with a great wre