so much as that my brother held
him in covenant that he would assault a certain knight that he should
point out to him, for love of him. This knight came passing hereby,
that had no thought to do hurt neither to the Vavasour nor to my
brother. The knight was right strong and hardy, and was born at the
castle of Escavalon. My brother issued forth of the castle filled with
fool-hardiness for the leasing of the Vavasour, and ran upon the knight
without a word. The knight could do no less than avenge himself. They
hurtled together so sore that their horses fell under them and their
spears passed either through other's heart. Thus were both twain killed
on this very piece of ground."

V.

"The Vavasour took the arms and the horses and put them in safe keeping
in his castle, and the bodies of the knights he left to the wild
beasts, that would have devoured them had I not chanced to come thither
with two knights that helped me bury them by yonder cross at the
entrance of the forest."

"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "In like manner would he have
wrought me mischief had I been minded to trust him; for he bore me in
hand that this knight was warring upon him, and besought me that I
should safeguard him against him. But our Lord God so helped me that I
intermeddled not therein, for lightly might I have wrought folly."

"By the name of God," saith the other, "Meseemeth it clear that the
Vavasour would fain that knights should kill each other."

"Sir," saith the damsel, "You say true; it is of his covetise of
harness and horses that he entreateth the knights on this-wise."

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Whither go you?"

"Sir," saith she, "After a knight that I have made be carried in a
litter for the dead."

"I saw him," saith he, "pass by here last night, full late last night."

The knight taketh leave of Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain saith
that he holdeth himself a churl in that he hath not asked him of his
name. But the knight said, "Fair Sir, I pray you of love that you ask
not my name until such time as I shall ask you of yours."

VI.

Messire Gawain would ask nought further of the knight, and the knight
entered into the Lonely Forest and Messire Gawain goeth on his way. He
meeteth neither knight nor damsel to whom he telleth not whom he goeth
to seek, and they all say that he will be in the Red Launde. He lodged
the night with a hermit. At night, the hermit asked Messire Gawain
whence