l they that be in
prison in this castle." Messire Gawain taketh the shield that was
right fair and rich.

"Sir," saith the knight, "Now give me yours, for you will not bear two
shields."

"You say true," saith Messire Gawain.

He taketh the guige from his neck and would have given him the shield,
when the damsel afoot: "Hold, sir knight, you that are named Messire
Gawain! What would you do? And he bear your shield into the castle
there, they of the castle will hold you recreant and conquered, and
will come forth thence and carry you into the castle by force, and
there will you be cast into his grievous prison; for no shield is borne
thereinto save of a vanquished knight only."

"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "No good you wish me, according to
that this damsel saith."

"Sir," saith the knight, "I cry you mercy, and a second time I hold me
conquered, and right glad should I have been might I have borne your
shield within yonder, and right great worship should I have had
thereof, for never yet hath entered there the shield of knight so good.
And now ought I to be right well pleased of your coming, sith that you
have set me free of the sorest trouble that ever knight had."

"What is the trouble?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. Heretofore many a time hath there
been a passing by of knights both of hardy and of coward, and it was my
business to contend and joust with them and do battle, and I made them
present of the shield as did I you. The more part found I hardy and
well able to defend themselves, that wounded me in many places, but
never was knight so felled me to the ground nor dealt me so sore a
buffet as have you. And sith that you are carrying away the shield and
I am conquered, never here-after shall knight that passeth before this
castle have no dread of me nor of no knight that is herein."

"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "Now am I gladder of my conquest
than I was before."

"Sir," saith the knight, "By your leave will I go my way, for, and I
may hide not my shame in the castle, needs must I show it openly
abroad."

"God grant you do well!" saith Messire Gawain.

"Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of the Car, "give me your shield
that the knight would fain have carried off."

"Willingly, damsel," saith he. The damsel that went afoot taketh the
shield and setteth it in the car. Howbeit, the knight that was
conquered mounted again upon his horse, and entered