ward Messire Gawain a great gallop like as he were smitten
through the body, and crieth over all the forest: "What is your name,
Sir knight?"

"My name is Gawain."

"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith the other, "In your service am I wounded
thus!"

"How in my service?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir, I was minded to bury the damsel that you bare into the chapel,
and Marin the Jealous ran upon me and wounded me in many places in such
manner as you see. And I had already dug a grave with my sword to bury
the body when he seized it from me and abandoned it to the wild beasts.
Now go I hence yonder to the chapel of a hermit that is in this forest
to confess me, for well know I that I have not long to live for that
the wound lieth me so nigh my heart. But I shall die the more easily
now that I have found you and shown you the hurt that hath been done me
for your sake."

"Certes," saith Messire Gawain, "this grieveth me."

VII.

Therewithal the knights depart asunder, and Messire Gawain rode on
until he found in the forest a castle right fair and rich, and met an
ancient knight that was issued forth of the castle for disport, and
held a bird on his fist. He saluteth Messire Gawain and he him again,
and he asked him what castle is this that he seeth show so fair? And
he telleth him it is the castle of the Proud Maiden that never deigned
ask a knight his name.

"And we, that are her men, durst not do it on her behalf. But right
well will you be lodged in the castle, for right courteous is she
otherwise and the fairest that ever any may know. Nor never hath she
had any lord, nor deigned to love no knight save she heard tell that he
was the best knight in the world. And I will go to her with you of
courtesy."

"Gramercy, Sir," saith Messire Gawain. They enter into the castle both
twain together, and alight at the mounting-stage before the hall. The
knight taketh Messire Gawain by the hand and leadeth him up, and maketh
disarm him, and bringeth him a surcoat of scarlet purfled of vair and
maketh him do it on. Then leadeth he the lady of the castle to Messire
Gawain, and he riseth up to meet her.

"Lady," saith he "Welcome may you be!"

"And you, Sir, be welcome!" saith she, "Will you see my chapel?"

"Damsel," saith he, "At your pleasure."

And she leadeth him and taketh Messire Gawain by the hand, and he
looketh at the chapel and it well seemeth him that never before had he
come into none so fair nor so rich,