orseback similarly
armed. He had a great mouth and a short nose, and was as ill favored as
one would care to see.

"Where is the lady who should meet us here?" asked the dwarf.

In response thereto a fair lady rode from the wood, mounted on a
handsome palfrey. On seeing her the knight and the dwarf began to
strive in hot words for her, each saying that she should be his prize.

"Yonder is a knight at the cross," said the dwarf, at length. "Let us
leave it to him, and abide by his decision."

"I agree to that," said the knight.

Thereupon they rode to Gawaine and told him the purpose of their strife.

"Do you put the matter into my hands?" he asked.

"Yes," they both replied.

"Then this is my decision. Let the lady stand between you and make her
own choice. The one she chooses, he shall have her."

This was done, and at once the lady turned from the knight and went to
the dwarf. Then the dwarf took her and went singing away, while the
knight rode in grief and sorrow into the forest.

But the adventures of that day were not ended, for soon afterwards two
armed knights rode from the forest, and one of them cried out loudly,--

"Sir Gawaine, knight of King Arthur, I am here to joust with you. So
make ready."

"Since you know me, I shall not fail you," answered Gawaine.

Then the knights drew apart, and rode so furiously together that both
were unhorsed. Springing up, they drew their swords and continued the
battle on foot.

Meanwhile, the second knight went to the damsel and asked why she stayed
with that knight, and begged her to go with him.

"That I will do," she replied. "I like not the way Gawaine acted just
now, when one brave knight was overturned by ten dastards. So let us go
while they fight."

The combat continued long, and then, as the knights seemed evenly
matched, they ceased in amity, the stranger knight inviting Gawaine to
spend the night at his lodge. As they rode thither he asked his host,--

"Who is this valiant champion that overturns ten knights, and then
suffers them to bear him off bound hand and foot? I never saw so
shameful a thing done."

"The thing has happened ten times and more," said Sir Carados. "The
knight is one of noble prowess, named Sir Pelleas, and he loves a great
lady of this country named Ettard, who loves him not in return. What you
have seen came about in this way. There was of late days a great
tournament in this country, at which Pelleas struck down every kni