should
have sent to me from his court a knight without a name and without any
credit at arms for to serve as my champion." And Sir Gareth said, "Lady,
there was reason for it."

Then the Lady Layonnesse said, "Is not that my sister Lynette whom I
behold with thee?" and Sir Gareth said, "Yea, Lady." The Lady said,
"Who is this knight, Lynette?" and Lynette replied, "I know not, my
sister, saving only that I have good reason to believe that he is the
noblest and the haughtiest and the most worthy of all knights whom I
have ever beheld." "Well," quoth the Lady Layonnesse, "if thou dost thus
vouch for him, then upon thee be the peril of my choosing." And Lynette
said, "Let it be so."

[Sidenote: _The Lady Layonnesse giveth Sir Gareth her scarf._]

Then the Lady Layonnesse said, "Sir Knight, I take thee for my
champion." And therewith she let fall from the window where she stood a
fair scarf of green samite embroidered with threads of gold. And Sir
Gareth catched the scarf with such joy that it was as though his heart
would burst for happiness. And he wrapped the scarf about his arm, and
immediately it was as though the virtue of his strength had been
increased threefold.

* * * * *

Now if so be you would know how Sir Gareth sped in his business with the
Red Knight of the Red Lands, I beg of you for to read that which
followeth, for therein withal it shall be immediately declared.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The Lady Layonnesse cometh to the Pavilion of Sir
Gareth]

[Illustration]

Chapter Fifth

_How Sir Gareth fought with the Red Knight of the Red Lands and how it
fared with him in that battle. Also how his dwarf was stolen, and how
his name and estate became known and were made manifest._

Now after Sir Gareth had received the scarf of the Lady Layonnesse as
aforetold, he and Lynette and the dwarf returned to a certain meadow
nigh to the pavilions where it had been ordained that the battle should
be held. There they found that the Red Knight of the Red Lands had made
himself in all ways ready for that battle. For he was now clad all in
armor as red as blood, and in his hand he bore a great spear that was
also altogether red; and on the tip of the spear was a red banneret that
was likewise as red as blood.

At that field that had been prepared for battle, there was a great
concourse of people assembled and there also the damsel Lynette took her
stand at a place t