Then answered the King with the hundred Knights, 'we fear the
Knight must have been sore hurt, and that neither you nor we are ever
like to see him again, which is grievous to think of.'

'Alas!' said King Arthur, 'is he then so badly wounded? What is his
name?'

'Truly,' said they all, 'we know not his name, nor whence he came, nor
whither he went.'

'As for me,' answered King Arthur, 'these tidings are the worst that I
have heard these seven years, for I would give all the lands I hold
that no harm had befallen this Knight.'

'Do you know him?' asked they all.

'Whether I know him or not,' said King Arthur, 'I shall not tell you,
but may Heaven send me good news of him.' 'Amen,' answered they.

'By my head,' said Sir Gawaine, 'if this good Knight is really wounded
unto death, it is a great evil for all this land, for he is one of the
noblest that ever I saw for handling a sword or spear. And if he may
be found, I shall find him, for I am sure he is not far from this
town,' so he took his Squire with him, and they rode all round
Camelot, six or seven miles on every side, but nothing could they hear
of him. And he returned heavily to the Court of King Arthur.

Two days after the King and all his company set out for London, and by
the way, it happened to Sir Gawaine to lodge with Sir Bernard at
Astolat. And when he was in his chamber, Sir Bernard and his daughter
Elaine came unto Sir Gawaine, to ask him tidings of the Court, and who
did best in the tourney at Winchester.

'Truly,' said Sir Gawaine, 'there were two Knights that bare white
shields, but one of them had a red sleeve upon his helm, and he was
one of the best Knights that ever I saw joust in the field, for I dare
say he smote down forty Knights of the Table Round.'

'Now blessed be God,' said the Maid of Astolat, 'that that Knight sped
so well, for he is the man in the world that I loved first, and he
will also be the last that ever I shall love.'

'Fair Maid,' asked Sir Gawaine, 'is that Knight your love?'

'Certainly he is my love,' said she.

'Then you know his name?' asked Sir Gawaine.

'Nay, truly,' answered the damsel, 'I know neither his name, nor
whence he cometh, but I love him for all that.'

'How did you meet him first?' asked Sir Gawaine. At that she told him
the whole story, and how her brother went with Sir Lancelot to do him
service, and lent him the white shield of her brother Sir Tirre and
left his own shield with her. 'Why di