fealty to the king's daughter, and set them in great ease of
heart. And in the morn there came one to Galahad and told him how that
Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, had slain the seven brethren. I suppose
well, said Sir Galahad, and took his armour and his horse, and commended
them unto God.

CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey for to follow Galahad,
and how he was shriven to a hermit.

NOW, saith the tale, after Sir Gawaine departed, he rode many journeys,
both toward and froward. And at the last he came to the abbey where Sir
Galahad had the white shield, and there Sir Gawaine learned the way to
sewe after Sir Galahad; and so he rode to the abbey where Melias lay
sick, and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawaine of the marvellous adventures
that Sir Galahad did. Certes, said Sir Gawaine, I am not happy that I
took not the way that he went, for an I may meet with him I will not
depart from him lightly, for all marvellous adventures Sir Galahad
enchieveth. Sir, said one of the monks, he will not of your fellowship.
Why? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said he, for ye be wicked and sinful, and he
is full blessed. Right as they thus stood talking there came in riding
Sir Gareth. And then they made joy either of other. And on the morn they
heard mass, and so departed. And by the way they met with Sir Uwaine les
Avoutres, and there Sir Uwaine told Sir Gawaine how he had met with none
adventure sith he departed from the court. Nor we, said Sir Gawaine. And
either promised other of the three knights not to depart while they were
in that quest, but if fortune caused it.

So they departed and rode by fortune till that they came by the Castle
of Maidens; and there the seven brethren espied the three knights, and
said: Sithen, we be flemed by one knight from this castle, we shall
destroy all the knights of King Arthur's that we may overcome, for the
love of Sir Galahad. And therewith the seven knights set upon the three
knights, and by fortune Sir Gawaine slew one of the brethren, and each
one of his fellows slew another, and so slew the remnant. And then they
took the way under the castle, and there they lost the way that Sir
Galahad rode, and there everych of them departed from other; and Sir
Gawaine rode till he came to an hermitage, and there he found the good
man saying his evensong of Our Lady; and there Sir Gawaine asked harbour
for charity, and the good man granted it him gladly.

Then the good man asked him what he was.