y all bowed to him, and prayed and expressed the wish that God might
grant him joy and health, and the accomplishment of his desire, wherever
in the future he should go. Then he, who is anxious to be gone, says
that he hopes God will save them all. "Go," he says, "and may God
conduct you into your countries safe and happy." Then they continue
their way joyfully; and my lord Yvain departs in the other direction.
All the days of that week he never ceases to hurry on under the escort
of the maid, who was well acquainted with the road, and with the retired
place where she had left the unhappy and disconsolate damsel who had
been deprived of her inheritance. But when she heard news of the arrival
of the maiden and of the Knight with the Lion. There never was such joy
as she felt within her heart. For now she thinks that, if she insists,
her sister will cede her a part of her inheritance. The damsel had long
lain sick, and had just recovered from her malady. It had seriously
affected her, as was apparent from her face. Straightway she went forth
to meet them, greeting them and honouring them in every way she could.
There is no need to speak of the happiness that prevailed that night
in the house. No mention will be made of it, for the story would be too
long to tell. I pass over all that, until they mounted next morning and
went away. They rode until they saw the town where King Arthur had been
staying for a fortnight or more. And there, too, was the damsel who
had deprived her sister of her heritage, for she had kept close to the
court, waiting for the arrival of her sister, who now draws near. But
she does not worry much, for she does not think that her sister can find
any knight who can withstand my lord Gawain's attack, and only one day
of the forty yet remains. If this single day had passed, she would have
had the reasonable and legal right to claim the heritage for herself
alone. But more stands in the way than she thinks or believes. That
night they spent outside the town in a small and humble house, where,
in accordance with their desire, they were not recognised. At the first
sign of dawn the next morning they necessarily issue forth, but ensconce
themselves in hiding until broad daylight.

(Vv. 5872-5924.) I know not how many days had passed since my lord
Gawain had so completely disappeared that no one at court knew anything
about him, except only the damsel in whose cause he was to fight. He
had concealed himself t