never seen him before looked upon him right
fainly for the worship and valour of his knighthood. The court also
was rejoiced because of him, for sore troubled had it been. So as the
King sate one day at meat, there came four knights into the hall, and
each one of them bore before him a dead knight. And their feet and
arms had been stricken off, but their bodies were still all armed, and
the habergeons thereon were all black as though they had been blasted
of lightning. They laid the knights in the midst of the hall.

"Sir," say they to the King, "Once more is made manifest this shame
that is done you that is not yet amended. The Knight of the Dragon
destroyeth you your land and slayeth your men and cometh as nigh us as
he may, and saith that in your court shall never be found knight so
hardy as that he durst abide him or assault him."

Right sore shame hath the King of these tidings, and Messire Gawain and
Lancelot likewise. Right sorrowful are they of heart for that the King
would not allow them to go thither. The four knights turn back again
and leave the dead knights in the hall, but the King maketh them be
buried with the others.

IX.

A great murmuring ariseth amongst the knights in the hall, and the most
part say plainly that they never heard tell of none that slew knights
in such cruel sort, nor so many as did he; and that neither Messire
Gawain nor Lancelot ought to be blamed for that they went not thither,
for no knight in the world might conquer such a man and our Lord God
did not, for he casteth forth fire and flame from his shield whensoever
him listeth. And while this murmur was going on between the knights
all round about the hall, behold you therewithal the Damsel that made
bear the knight in the horse-bier and cometh before the King.

"Sir," saith she, "I pray and beseech you that you do me right in your
court. See, here is Messire Gawain that was at the assembly in the Red
Launde where were many knights, and among them was the son of the Widow
Lady, that I see sitting beside you. He and Messire Gawain were they
that won the most prize of the assembly. This knight had white arms,
and they of the assembly said that he had better done than Messire
Gawain, for that he had been first in the assembly. It had been
granted me, before the assembly began, that he that should do best
thereat, should avenge the knight. Sir, I have sought for him until I
have now found him at your court. Wherefo