acked Sir Pelleas.

And Sir Gawaine had looked on in dismay. He had seen the knight
overthrow the ten lords, and stand there quietly while the
conquered men got to their feet. He had seen them bind him hand and
foot, and carry him into the castle.

'To-morrow I will look for him, and offer him my help,' thought Sir
Gawaine, for he was sorry for the brave young knight.

The next morning he found Sir Pelleas in his tent, looking very
sad. And when Sir Gawaine asked the knight why he was so sad, Sir
Pelleas told him of his love for the Lady Ettarde and of her
unkindness. 'I would rather die a hundred times than be bound by
her lords,' he said, 'if it were not that they take me into her
presence.'

Then Sir Gawaine cheered Sir Pelleas and offered to help him, for
he too was one of Arthur's knights.

And Sir Pelleas trusted him, for had not all King Arthur's knights
taken the vows of brotherhood and truth?

'Give me your horse and armour,' said Sir Gawaine. 'I will go to
the castle with them, and tell the Lady Ettarde that I have slain
you. Then she will ask me to come in, and I will talk of your
great love and strength, till she learns to love you.'

And Sir Gawaine rode away, wearing the armour and helmet of Sir
Pelleas, and promising to come back in three days.

The Lady Ettarde was walking up and down outside the castle, when
she saw the knight approaching. 'Sir Pelleas again,' she thought
angrily, and turned to go into the castle.

But Sir Gawaine called to her to stay. 'I am not Sir Pelleas, but a
knight who has slain him.'

'Take off your helmet that I may see your face,' said the Lady
Ettarde, as she turned to look at him.

When she saw that it was really a strange knight, she took him into
her castle. 'Because you have slain Sir Pelleas, whom I hated, I
will love you,' said the cruel Lady Ettarde.

Sir Gawaine saw how beautiful the lady was, and he forgot her
unkindness to Sir Pelleas, and he loved her. And because he was not
a true knight, Sir Gawaine did not think of Pelleas, who waited so
anxiously for his return.

Three days passed, but he did not go back, and in the castle all
was joy and merriment.

Six days passed, and still Sir Gawaine stayed with the beautiful
Lady Ettarde.

At last Sir Pelleas could bear his loneliness no longer. That night
he went up to the castle, and swam across the river. When he
reached the front of the castle, he saw a great many tents. And all
the lords and lad