So Sir Ewaine took his departure from court, and his heart was filled
with bitterness and anger toward those who were one time his friends.
For he ever said to himself: "Why is it that they should contemn me
because I cannot remember that which I have forgot? For I cannot
remember me of that damsel."

Thus he rode upon his way in great bitterness of spirit and with anger
toward all the world, because that all the world appeared to be set
against him.

* * * * *

Now Sir Ewaine journeyed for a long time he knew not whither, for he
travelled somewhiles like to one in a dream.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine cometh to a lonely hut._]

So it befell one day that he came to a thick woodland of great extent,
and there night overtook him and he wist not where he was nor how he
should be able to come out of that wilderness. And whilst he was
travelling thus in darkness and perplexity, he was suddenly aware of a
light shining at a distance, and he followed that light until he came to
a rude hut of the forest, which same stood in an open glade of no very
great extent. To this forest habitation came Sir Ewaine, and he smote
upon the door thereof with the butt of his spear and anon came one and
opened the door, and that one was an ancient and grisly beldame of a
most repulsive and forbidding appearance. When she beheld Sir Ewaine
before her at the door of the hut she would have shut the door again,
but he would not let her do so, but thrust his spear into the opening of
the door so that she could not close it.

Then that beldame, finding that he would not be denied, spake to him
very harshly, saying, "What would you here, Sir Knight?" Sir Ewaine
said, "I would have lodging for the night."

Then the hag laughed very loud and shrill, and she said: "Well, since
thou wilt not be denied, thou shalt have thy desire. Enter, and may thy
lodging be for long."

So Sir Ewaine dismounted from his horse, and turned it loose to graze
upon the grass by night. Meantime he himself entered the hut.

Here he beheld a great fire burning, with loud roaring in the chimney,
and over the fire he beheld a great cauldron, in which was seething a
stew of venison, the flavor of which filled the hut with a very savory
odor. And Sir Ewaine beheld a great table, whereon were many platters of
wood, and beholding these things spread as for a feast, he said, "Good
dame, I pray thee tell me who dwells here in this hut with thee?" The