ed for attack, he smote down one knight
and then another and another, so that only three of those who assailed
him were left. With that the others were filled with a great terror of
the woeful buffets that Sir Ewaine struck, wherefore, without further
combat, they all three turned and fled. But ever Sir Ewaine pursued them
with great fury and he came nigh to one who was fleeing and smote him
down from his horse. And he came nigh to another and smote him down
also. Then last of all he overtook that lord who was the enemy of that
lady, and he smote him so sorely with his sword that he would have
fallen from his horse had not Sir Ewaine catched him ere he fell. Then
Sir Ewaine plucked that knight out of his saddle and he laid him across
the bow of his own saddle. So after having overthrown all those seven
knights in that wise, he rode back again into the castle bearing that
wicked lord lying across his saddle bow.

Now when those who stood upon the castle walls beheld what wonderful
battle their champion did, they were amazed beyond measure at his
prowess and they shouted aloud for joy at the victory of their champion
over their enemies. So Sir Ewaine rode into the castle, in the midst of
all that shouting and loud acclaim. And he came to where the lady was
standing in a balcony that overlooked the courtyard of the castle, and
he looked up to where she stood and he said: "Lady, lo! I have brought
you back your enemy in payment for that blessed balm with which you
brought me back to life."

[Sidenote: _The lady of the castle giveth praise to Sir Ewaine._]

Then the lady of the castle knew not what to do for joy. Wherefore she
came down from where she was and catched Sir Ewaine by the hand and
kissed it repeatedly. And she called upon Sir Ewaine as her savior, but
Sir Ewaine withdrew his hand in great confusion, and said: "Lady, do not
do so, for wit you I am a man who hath done a dishonorable thing. And
though I did that ill thing unwittingly, yet I am attainted because of
that which I did."

Then the lady said: "Sir, I will not believe that you were ever
dishonorable, and I would that you would remain always in this castle."

Then Sir Ewaine smiled and said: "I thank you for that wish. But it may
not be, for now that I have done my service in your behalf and have
brought your enemy to you to deal with at your pleasure, to-morrow I
must depart upon my way once more."

Then Sir Ewaine delivered the captive knight from