k you both," said Gawaine. "You have left me the youngest and
fairest, and the one most to my liking."

This said, each damsel took the reins of her knight, and they led them
to the parting of the three ways. Here the knights took oath to meet at
the fountain that day twelvemonth if they were living, kissed each
other, and departed, each knight taking his chosen lady on his steed
behind him. Of the three ways, Uwaine took that which lay west, Marhaus
that which lay south, and Gawaine took the way that lay north.

Of the three we shall first follow Gawaine, who rode forward until he
came to a fair manor, where dwelt an old knight.

"Are there any adventures to be found in this country?" he asked him.

"I shall show you some marvellous ones to-morrow," said his host.

In the morning, Gawaine and the old knight rode into the forest of
adventures till they came to a wide, open lawn, upon which stood a
cross. Here they halted and looked about them, and ere long saw
approaching a knight of seemly aspect, who made the bitterest
lamentations as he advanced. When he saw Gawaine he saluted him, and
hoped that God would send him honor.

"As to that, gramercy," said Gawaine. "I pray God, in return, that he
send you honor and worship."

"That will not come," said the knight. "He sendeth me but sorrow and
shame."

As he spoke he passed on to the other side of the lawn. Here Gawaine saw
ten knights, standing with shields and spears ready against this one
warrior. But he rode against them one by one, thrusting some over their
horses' tails, and hurling others to the ground, horse and man, until
with one spear he had unhorsed them all.

But when they were all ten on foot they went to the dolorous knight, who
stood stone still, pulled him from his horse, and tied him beneath the
animal, without the least resistance on his part. This done, they led
him away, thus shamefully bound.

"That is an ugly sight," said Gawaine. "Why does a knight of such
prowess as this suffer himself to be so vilely treated?"

"Sir," said, the damsel to Gawaine, "why helped you not that good
knight?"

"He seems to want no help," said Gawaine. "He could have taken care of
himself if he would."

"You had no desire to help him," retorted the damsel, "or you would not
have stood by and seen so noble a warrior so foully served."

As they talked a knight appeared on the other side of the lawn, all
armed but the head. And opposite him came a dwarf on h