sore, and
right weary was he of the buffets that he had given and received.
Messire Gawain cometh to one of the knights and smiteth him right
through the body and maketh him and his horse roll over all of a heap.

XXV.

When Lancelot perceiveth Messire Gawain, much joy maketh he thereof.
In the meanwhile as the one held the other, the fourth knight fled full
speed through the midst of the forest, and he that the knight had
wounded fell dead. They take their horses, and Messire Gawain telleth
Lancelot he hath the most poverty-stricken host that ever he hath seen,
and the fairest damsels known, but that right poorly are they clad.
"Shall we therefore take them of our booty?"

"I agree," saith Lancelot, "But sore grieveth me of the knight that
hath thus escaped us."

"Take no heed," saith Messire Gawain, "We shall do well enough herein."

Thereupon they return back toward the poor knight's hostel and alight
before the hall, and the Poor Knight cometh to meet them, and the two
damsels, and they deliver to them the three horses of the three knights
that were dead. The knight hath great joy thereof, and telleth them
that now is he a rich man and that betimes will his sisters be better
clad than are they now, as well as himself.

XXVI.

Thereupon come they into the hall. The knight maketh one of his own
squires stable the horses and the two damsels help disarm Lancelot and
Messire Gawain.

"Lords," saith the knight, "So God help me, nought have I to lend you
wherewith to clothe you, for robe have I none save mine own jerkin."

Lancelot hath great pity thereof and Messire Gawain, and the two
damsels take off their kirtles that were made like surcoats of cloth
that covered their poor shirts, and their jackets that, were all
to-torn and ragged and worn, and present them to the knights to clothe
them. They were fain not to refuse, lest the damsels should think they
held them not in honour, and did on the two kirtles right poor as they
were. The damsels had great joy thereof that so good knights should
deign wear garments so poor.

"Lords," saith the Poor Knight, "The knight that brought the tidings
hither, and was stricken through of a lance-shaft, is dead and lieth on
a bier in a chapel within the castle, and he confessed himself right
well to a hermit and bade salute you both, and was right fain you
should see him after that he were dead, and he prayed me instantly that
I would ask you to be to-morrow at hi