hen Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered, then he
doubled his strokes, and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother
Sir Gawaine. O brother, said Sir Gawaine, I weened ye would not have
stricken me.

[*4] So W. de Worde; Caxton "that by."

So when he heard him say so he thrang here and there, and so with great
pain he gat out of the press, and there he met with his dwarf. O boy,
said Sir Gareth, thou hast beguiled me foul this day that thou kept my
ring; give it me anon again, that I may hide my body withal; and so he
took it him. And then they all wist not where he was become; and Sir
Gawaine had in manner espied where Sir Gareth rode, and then he rode
after with all his might. That espied Sir Gareth, and rode lightly into
the forest, that Sir Gawaine wist not where he was become. And when
Sir Gareth wist that Sir Gawaine was passed, he asked the dwarf of best
counsel. Sir, said the dwarf, meseemeth it were best, now that ye are
escaped from spying, that ye send my lady Dame Lionesse her ring. It is
well advised, said Sir Gareth; now have it here and bear it to her, and
say that I recommend me unto her good grace, and say her I will come
when I may, and I pray her to be true and faithful to me as I will be to
her. Sir, said the dwarf, it shall be done as ye command: and so he rode
his way, and did his errand unto the lady. Then she said, Where is my
knight, Sir Gareth? Madam, said the dwarf, he bade me say that he would
not be long from you. And so lightly the dwarf came again unto Sir
Gareth, that would full fain have had a lodging, for he had need to be
reposed. And then fell there a thunder and a rain, as heaven and earth
should go together. And Sir Gareth was not a little weary, for of all
that day he had but little rest, neither his horse nor he. So this Sir
Gareth rode so long in that forest until the night came. And ever it
lightened and thundered, as it had been wood. At the last by fortune he
came to a castle, and there he heard the waits upon the walls.

CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well lodged,
and he jousted with a knight and slew him.

THEN Sir Gareth rode unto the barbican of the castle, and prayed the
porter fair to let him into the castle. The porter answered ungoodly
again, and said, Thou gettest no lodging here. Fair sir, say not so, for
I am a knight of King Arthur's, and pray the lord or the lady of this
castle to give me harbour for the love of King Ar