art so much thy own enemy as is this knight
who is sitting here, get in with him, if it be thy pleasure, and I
will drive thee along with him." When my lord Gawain heard that, he
considered it great foolishness, and said that he would not get in, for
it would be dishonourable to exchange a horse for a cart: "Go on, and
wherever thy journey lies, I will follow after thee."

(Vv. 399-462.) Thereupon they start ahead, one mounted on his horse, the
other two riding in the cart, and thus they proceed in company. Late in
the afternoon they arrive at a town, which, you must know, was very
rich and beautiful. All three entered through the gate; the people are
greatly amazed to see the knight borne upon the cart, and they take no
pains to conceal their feelings, but small and great and old and young
shout taunts at him in the streets, so that the knight hears many vile
and scornful words at his expense. [45] They all inquire: "To what
punishment is this knight to be consigned? Is he to be rayed, or hanged,
or drowned, or burned upon a fire of thorns? Tell us, thou dwarf,
who art driving him, in what crime was he caught? Is he convicted of
robbery? Is he a murderer, or a criminal?" And to all this the dwarf
made no response, vouchsafing to them no reply. He conducts the knight
to a lodging-place; and Gawain follows the dwarf closely to a tower,
which stood on the same level over against the town. Beyond there
stretched a meadow, and the tower was built close by, up on a lofty
eminence of rock, whose face formed a sharp precipice. Following the
horse and cart, Gawain entered the tower. In the hall they met a damsel
elegantly attired, than whom there was none fairer in the land, and with
her they saw coming two fair and charming maidens. As soon as they saw
my lord Gawain, they received him joyously and saluted him, and then
asked news about the other knight: "Dwarf, of what crime is this knight
guilty, whom thou dost drive like a lame man?" He would not answer
her question, but he made the knight get out of the cart, and then he
withdrew, without their knowing whither he went. Then my lord Gawain
dismounts, and valets come forward to relieve the two knights of their
armour. The damsel ordered two green mantles to be brought, which they
put on. When the hour for supper came, a sumptuous repast was set. The
damsel sat at table beside my lord Gawain. They would not have changed
their lodging-place to seek any other, for all that even