your party; tell me confidently, for I ask the question for your
good." Lancelot replies in his own behalf, and says: "I am he whom thou
seekest and askest for." "Ah," says the dwarf, "frank knight, leave
these people, and trust in me. Come along with me alone, for I will take
thee to a goodly place. Let no one follow thee for anything, but let
them wait here; for we shall return presently." He, suspecting no harm
in this, bids all his men stay there, and follows the dwarf who has
betrayed him. Meanwhile his men who wait for him may continue to expect
him long in vain, for they, who have taken and seized him, have no
desire to give him up. And his men are in such a state of grief at his
failure to return that they do not know what steps to take. They all
say sorrowfully that the dwarf has betrayed them. It would be useless to
inquire for him: with heavy hearts they begin to search, but they know
not where to look for him with any hope of finding him. So they all take
counsel, and the most reasonable and sensible agree on this, it seems:
to go to the passage of the water-bridge, which is close by, to see if
they can find my lord Gawain in wood or plain, and then with his advice
search for Lancelot. Upon this plan they all agree without dissension.
Toward the water-bridge they go, and as soon as they reach the bridge,
they see my lord Gawain overturned and fallen from the bridge into the
stream which is very deep. One moment he rises, and the next he sinks;
one moment they see him, and the next they lose him from sight. They
make such efforts that they succeed in raising him with branches, poles
and hooks. He had nothing but his hauberk on his back, and on his head
was fixed his helmet, which was worth ten of the common sort, and he
wore his iron greaves, which were all rusty with his sweat, for he had
endured great trials, and had passed victoriously through many perils
and assaults. His lance, his shield, and horse were all behind on the
other bank. Those who have rescued him do not believe he is alive. For
his body was full of water, and until he got rid of it, they did not
hear him speak a word. But when his speech and voice and the passageway
to his heart are free, and as soon, as what he said could be heard and
understood, he tried to speak he inquired at once for the Queen, whether
those present had any news of her. And they replied that she is still
with King Bademagu, who serves her well and honourably. "Has no one