him so hard that he
fell over his horse's tail. So this same dolorous knight served them
all, that at the leastway he smote down horse and man, and all he did
with one spear; and so when they were all ten on foot, they went to that
one knight, and he stood stone still, and suffered them to pull him
down off his horse, and bound him hand and foot, and tied him under the
horse's belly, and so led him with them. O Jesu! said Sir Gawaine, this
is a doleful sight, to see the yonder knight so to be entreated, and
it seemeth by the knight that he suffereth them to bind him so, for he
maketh no resistance. No, said his host, that is truth, for an he would
they all were too weak so to do him. Sir, said the damosel unto Sir
Gawaine, meseemeth it were your worship to help that dolorous knight,
for methinketh he is one of the best knights that ever I saw. I would
do for him, said Sir Gawaine, but it seemeth he will have no help. Then,
said the damosel, methinketh ye have no lust to help him.

Thus as they talked they saw a knight on the other side of the laund
all armed save the head. And on the other side there came a dwarf on
horseback all armed save the head, with a great mouth and a short nose;
and when the dwarf came nigh he said, Where is the lady should meet
us here? and therewithal she came forth out of the wood. And then they
began to strive for the lady; for the knight said he would have her,
and the dwarf said he would have her. Will we do well? said the dwarf;
yonder is a knight at the cross, let us put it both upon him, and as he
deemeth so shall it be. I will well, said the knight, and so they went
all three unto Sir Gawaine and told him wherefore they strove. Well,
sirs, said he, will ye put the matter in my hand? Yea, they said both.
Now damosel, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall stand betwixt them both, and
whether ye list better to go to, he shall have you. And when she was set
between them both, she left the knight and went to the dwarf, and the
dwarf took her and went his way singing, and the knight went his way
with great mourning.

Then came there two knights all armed, and cried on high, Sir Gawaine!
knight of King Arthur's, make thee ready in all haste and joust with me.
So they ran together, that either fell down, and then on foot they drew
their swords, and did full actually. The meanwhile the other knight went
to the damosel, and asked her why she abode with that knight, and if ye
would abide with me, I will