ir
Ewaine lay in that deathly swoon. But when she came to anoint him with
the ointment, she poured not a little upon him, nor did she rub with her
hand the bosom of him who lay there; otherwise she poured the whole of
the balm upon Sir Ewaine's bosom, and then she went away to a little
distance and hid herself to observe what he would do.

So in a little she saw that the wounded man began to bestir himself and
move his arms this way and that. Anon he uplifted himself from where he
lay and gazed all about him, and so, being revived, remembered all that
he had aforetime forgotten. Then he groaned with great travail of soul,
for the memory of his dishonor came upon him and he still suffered a
grievous pain from that sore wound in his shoulder. Then anon he beheld
the horse near by and the garments that were beside the horse, and he
thought that maybe those things had been placed there for his use,
though who had been so kind to him he knew not. So he arose with great
pain and he took the clothes from the horse and he went to the lake and
bathed himself. After that he put on the clothes and mounted upon the
horse with intent to depart from that place.

Then the maiden, who had beheld all that he did, came forth from the
thicket where she had been hidden and whence she had observed him, and
when Sir Ewaine saw her he said, "Maiden, was it thou who purveyed me
with this horse and with these garments?" She said, "Nay, it was the
lady to whom this place belongs." Sir Ewaine said, "Who is that lady?"
And the maiden replied: "She is the widow of a very powerful lord, and
she hath saved thy life this day. For she sent me with an ointment with
which I bathed thee, and which gave thee strength to arise again. And
she sent thee that horse and those clothes which thou hast put on." Sir
Ewaine said: "Certes, she is most kind and charitable in her heart.
Perhaps some time I may do her a service that will be equal to this
service which she hath rendered to me."

Now the maiden did not suspect who it was with whom she spake, for his
face was white like milk, and very haggard and wild with pain and
weakness, so that his countenance showed none of that nobility that
belonged to him. And, as aforesaid, he had no armor, for the thieves had
taken away his armor and he had left it behind him in the hut whence he
had escaped. So the maiden had no cause to think that he was one of
great worship whom she beheld, so she said: "Good fellow, my lad