most suffering man that ever I met withal. For I dare say there was
never gentlewoman reviled man in so foul a manner as I have rebuked him;
and at all times he gave me goodly and meek answers again.

And as they sat thus talking, there came Sir Gareth in at the gate with
an angry countenance, and his sword drawn in his hand, and cried aloud
that all the castle might hear it, saying: Thou traitor, Sir Gringamore,
deliver me my dwarf again, or by the faith that I owe to the order of
knighthood, I shall do thee all the harm that I can. Then Sir Gringamore
looked out at a window and said, Sir Gareth of Orkney, leave thy
boasting words, for thou gettest not thy dwarf again. Thou coward
knight, said Sir Gareth, bring him with thee, and come and do battle
with me, and win him and take him. So will I do, said Sir Gringamore,
an me list, but for all thy great words thou gettest him not. Ah! fair
brother, said Dame Lionesse, I would he had his dwarf again, for I would
he were not wroth, for now he hath told me all my desire I keep no more
of the dwarf. And also, brother, he hath done much for me, and delivered
me from the Red Knight of the Red Launds, and therefore, brother, I owe
him my service afore all knights living. And wit ye well that I love him
before all other, and full fain I would speak with him. But in nowise I
would that he wist what I were, but that I were another strange lady.

Well, said Sir Gringamore, sithen I know now your will, I will obey now
unto him. And right therewithal he went down unto Sir Gareth, and said:
Sir, I cry you mercy, and all that I have misdone I will amend it at
your will. And therefore I pray you that ye would alight, and take such
cheer as I can make you in this castle. Shall I have my dwarf? said Sir
Gareth. Yea, sir, and all the pleasaunce that I can make you, for as
soon as your dwarf told me what ye were and of what blood ye are come,
and what noble deeds ye have done in these marches, then I repented of
my deeds. And then Sir Gareth alighted, and there came his dwarf and
took his horse. O my fellow, said Sir Gareth, I have had many adventures
for thy sake. And so Sir Gringamore took him by the hand and led him
into the hall where his own wife was.

CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beaumains, came to the
presence of his lady, and how they took acquaintance, and of their love.

AND then came forth Dame Lionesse arrayed like a princess, and there
she made him pas