th, and took a great strong spear, and
smote Sir Bors, both horse and knight, to the ground; and likewise he
served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and four other knights. The others
retreated, for they feared his great strength.

'I marvel who is that knight that hath the red sleeve in his helm?'
said King Arthur to Sir Gawaine, who sat with him.

'Sir,' said the other, 'he will be known ere he depart.'

When the king caused the trumpet to sound the end of the day's
jousting, the heralds cried that the prize was to go to the knight with
the red sleeve. But when the northern knights came to Sir Lancelot and
would have him go to the king and take the prize, he said:

'Fair lords, let me depart, I pray you. For I have bought my victory
with my life; and now I would rather have quiet than all the wealth of
the world.'

Forthwith he galloped away with Sir Lavaine until they came to a great
forest; and then Sir Lancelot groaned and said he could no further go,
and forthwith he fell from his horse in a great swoon. Sir Lavaine went
to find water in the wood, and had to go far ere he found it. But
presently he saw a clearing, and there was a little hermitage and a
stream running by. Sir Lavaine called the hermit, who was a man full
reverend and noble of aspect, and told him how his friend lay in a
deathly swoon.

In a little while they had brought Sir Lancelot to the hermitage, where
the hermit took out the head of the spear and bound up the wound and
gave to the knight a strong cordial. Anon he was refreshed and came to
his senses again.

At the lodging of the king in Camelot, men spoke of the jousts, and
wondered who might be the knight who had won the prize and who had been
injured, as the northern knights had reported. Though King Arthur had
it in his mind that it had been Sir Lancelot, he hoped it was not, for
it grieved him much to think that Sir Lancelot was so badly wounded.

Next day the court journeyed towards London, and rested for the night
at Astolat; and the town being full, it chanced that Sir Gawaine went
to the manor of Sir Bernard, which lay just outside the city. When he
had dined, the old knight Sir Bernard began to speak to him, and to ask
who had done the best at the jousts at Camelot.

Ever since he had arrived, Sir Gawaine had seen how the fair girl, the
daughter of the knight, who had attended upon him, was pale and
thoughtful; and now she looked white and red by turns as he began to
speak.

'Th