aketh Messire Gawain
wash his hands and his face. Afterward, he unfasteneth a right fair
coffer, and draweth forth a robe of cloth of gold furred of ermine and
maketh Messire Gawain be clad therewithal.

"Sir," saith the dwarf, "Be not troubled as touching your destrier, for
you will have him again when you rise in the morning. I will lead him
close hereby to be better at ease, and then will I return to you."

And Messire Gawain giveth him leave. Thereupon, behold you, two
squires that bear in the wine and set the meats upon the table and make
Messire Gawain sit to eat, and they have great torches lighted on a
tall cresset of gold and depart swiftly. Whilst Messire Gawain was
eating, behold you, thereupon, two damsels that come into the tent and
salute him right courteously. And he maketh answer, the fairest he may.

"Sir," say the damsels, "God grant you force and power tomorrow to
destroy the evil custom of this tent."

"Is there then any evil custom herein, damsel?" saith he.

"Yea, sir, a right foul custom, whereof much it grieveth me, but well
meseemeth that you are the knight to amend it by the help of God."

IX.

Therewith he riseth from the table, and one of the squires was
apparelled to take away the cloths. And the two damsels take him by
the hand and lead him without the tent, and they set them down in the
midst of the meadow. "Sir," saith the elder damsel, "What is your
name?"

"Damsel," saith he, "Gawain is my name."

"Thereof do we love you the better, for well we know that the evil
custom of the tent shall be done away on condition that you choose
to-night the one of us two that most shall please you."

"Damsel, gramercy," saith he. Thereupon he riseth up, for he was
weary, and draweth him toward the couch, and the damsels help him and
wait upon his going to bed. And when he was lien down, they seated
themselves before him and lighted the taper and leant over the couch
and prospered him much service. Messire Gawain answered them naught
save "Gramercy," for he was minded to sleep and take his rest.

"By God," saith the one to the other, "And this were Messire Gawain,
King Arthur's nephew, he would speak to us after another sort, and more
of disport should we find in him than in this one. But this is a
counterfeit Gawain, and the honour we have done him hath been ill
bestowed. Who careth? To-morrow shall he pay his reckoning."

X.

Thereupon, lo you, the dwarf where he cometh.