the highest end of living.

So King Arthur stablished all his knights, and to them that were not
rich he gave lands; and they rode abroad to right the wrongs of men,
and to give help to the oppressed. With their aid he secured order and
justice throughout his realm, and then the weakest man might do his
work in peace, and prosper.

CHAPTER VI

THE LADIES' KNIGHT

The King was wedded unto Dame Guenever at Camelot with great solemnity.
Just as all were sitting at the high feast that followed the marriage,
there came running into the hall a white hart, followed by a whole pack
of hounds with a great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round.
At a fierce bite from one of the dogs the hart made a great leap, and
overthrew a knight that sat at the table, and so passed forth out of
the hall again, with all the dogs after him. When they were gone the
King was glad, for they made such a noise, but Merlin said, "Ye may not
leave this adventure so lightly. Let call Sir Gawaine, for he must
bring again the white hart."

"I will," said the King, "that all be done by your advice." So Sir
Gawaine was called, and he took his charge and armed himself for the
adventure. Sir Gawaine was one of King Arthur's nephews, and had just
been made a knight, for he had asked of the King the gift of knighthood
on the same day that he should wed fair Guenever.

So Sir Gawaine rode quickly forth, and Gaheris his brother rode with
him, instead of a squire, to do him service. As they followed the hart
by the cry of the hounds, they came to a great river. The hart swam
over, and they followed after, and so at length they chased him into a
castle, where in the chief courtyard the dogs slew the hart before Sir
Gawaine and young Gaheris came up. Right so there came a knight out of
a room, with a sword drawn in his hand, and he slew two of the
greyhounds even in the sight of Sir Gawaine, and the remnant he chased
with his sword out of the castle.

When he came back he said, "O my white hart, me repenteth that thou art
dead, for my sovereign lady gave thee to me, and poorly have I kept
thee. Thy death shall be dear bought, if I live."

Anon he came fiercely towards Sir Gawaine, and they struck mightily
together. They clove their shields and broke their helms and hauberks
so that the blood ran down to their feet. At the last Sir Gawaine
smote the knight so hard that he fell to the earth; and then he cried
for mercy and yielded hi