shall love. Now, fair maid, said Sir Gawaine, is that good knight
your love? Certainly sir, said she, wit ye well he is my love. Then know
ye his name? said Sir Gawaine. Nay truly, said the damosel, I know
not his name nor from whence he cometh, but to say that I love him, I
promise you and God that I love him. How had ye knowledge of him first?
said Sir Gawaine.

CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and
there had knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare the red sleeve.

THEN she told him as ye have heard to-fore, and how her father betook
him her brother to do him service, and how her father lent him her
brother's, Sir Tirre's, shield: And here with me he left his own shield.
For what cause did he so? said Sir Gawaine. For this cause, said the
damosel, for his shield was too well known among many noble knights.
Ah fair damosel, said Sir Gawaine, please it you let me have a sight of
that shield. Sir, said she, it is in my chamber, covered with a case,
and if ye will come with me ye shall see it. Not so, said Sir Bernard
till his daughter, let send for it.

So when the shield was come, Sir Gawaine took off the case, and when he
beheld that shield he knew anon that it was Sir Launcelot's shield,
and his own arms. Ah Jesu mercy, said Sir Gawaine, now is my heart more
heavier than ever it was to-fore. Why? said Elaine. For I have great
cause, said Sir Gawaine. Is that knight that oweth this shield your
love? Yea truly, said she, my love he is, God would I were his love. So
God me speed, said Sir Gawaine, fair damosel ye have right, for an he be
your love ye love the most honourable knight of the world, and the man
of most worship. So me thought ever, said the damosel, for never or that
time, for no knight that ever I saw, loved I never none erst. God grant,
said Sir Gawaine, that either of you may rejoice other, but that is in
a great adventure. But truly, said Sir Gawaine unto the damosel, ye may
say ye have a fair grace, for why I have known that noble knight this
four-and-twenty year, and never or that day, I nor none other knight, I
dare make good, saw nor heard say that ever he bare token or sign of no
lady, gentlewoman, ne maiden, at no jousts nor tournament. And therefore
fair maiden, said Sir Gawaine, ye are much beholden to him to give him
thanks. But I dread me, said Sir Gawaine, that ye shall never see him
in this world, and that is great pity that ever was of earthly knig