wn brother unto Sir
Gawaine."

"Ah! sir," said Launcelot, "I am more glad of you than I was, for ever
me thought ye should be of great blood, and that ye came not to the
court either for meat or for drink."

Then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knighthood, and Sir Gareth
went his way.

Sir Launcelot now came to Sir Kay and had him carried home upon his
shield. He was with difficulty healed of his wounds, and all men
scorned him. In especial Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot said it was not
for Sir Kay to rebuke the young man, for full little he knew of what
birth he was and for what cause he came to this court.

[1] Foin: reach forth.

CHAPTER XV

HOW SIR GARETH FOUGHT FOR THE LADY OF CASTLE PERILOUS

After the damsel rode Fair-hands, now well provided with shield and
spear, and known to Sir Launcelot, at least, as Sir Gareth and nephew
to King Arthur. When he had overtaken the damsel, anon she said: "What
dost thou here? Thou smellest all of the kitchen; thy clothes be foul
with the grease and tallow that thou gainedst in King Arthur's kitchen;
therefore turn again, foul kitchen-page. I know thee well, for Sir Kay
named thee Fair-hands. What art thou but a lubber and a turner of
spits, and a ladle washer?"

"Damsel," said Fair-hands, "say to me what ye will, I will not go from
you, for I have undertaken, in King Arthur's presence, to achieve your
adventure, and so shall I finish it, or I shall die therefore."

Thus as they rode along in the wood, there came a man flying all that
ever he might. "Whither wilt thou?" said Fair-hands.

"O lord," he said, "help me, for yonder in a dell are six thieves that
have taken my lord and bound him, and I am afeard lest they will slay
him."

So Fair-hands rode with the man until they came to where the knight lay
bound, and the thieves hard by. Fair-hands struck one unto the death,
and then another, and at the third stroke he slew the third thief; and
then the other three fled. He rode after them and overtook them, and
then those three thieves turned again and assailed Fair-hands hard, but
at the last he slew them also, and returned and unbound the knight.
The knight thanked him, and prayed him to ride with him to his castle
there a little beside, and he should honourably reward him for his good
deeds.

"Sir," said Fair-hands, "I will no reward have except as God reward me.
And also I must follow this damsel."

When he came nigh her, she bade him r