any great and
grievous strokes I have endured you this day with great pain.

Then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes and gave Sir Gawaine such a
buffet on the helmet that he fell down on his side, and Sir Launcelot
withdrew him from him. Why withdrawest thou thee? said Sir Gawaine;
now turn again, false traitor knight, and slay me, for an thou leave me
thus, when I am whole I shall do battle with thee again. I shall endure
you, Sir, by God's grace, but wit thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will never
smite a felled knight. And so Sir Launcelot went into the city; and Sir
Gawaine was borne into King Arthur's pavilion, and leeches were brought
to him, and searched and salved with soft ointments. And then Sir
Launcelot said: Now have good day, my lord the king, for wit you well ye
win no worship at these walls; and if I would my knights outbring, there
should many a man die. Therefore, my lord Arthur, remember you of old
kindness; and however I fare, Jesu be your guide in all places.

CHAPTER XXII. Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of
another battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse.

ALAS, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was begun; for ever Sir
Launcelot forbeareth me in all places, and in likewise my kin, and that
is seen well this day by my nephew Sir Gawaine. Then King Arthur fell
sick for sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was so sore hurt, and because
of the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot. So then they on King Arthur's
part kept the siege with little war withoutforth; and they withinforth
kept their walls, and defended them when need was. Thus Sir Gawaine lay
sick three weeks in his tents, with all manner of leech-craft that might
be had. And as soon as Sir Gawaine might go and ride, he armed him at
all points, and start upon a courser, and gat a spear in his hand, and
so he came riding afore the chief gate of Benwick; and there he cried
on height: Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? Come forth, thou false traitor
knight and recreant, for I am here, Sir Gawaine, will prove this that I
say on thee.

All this language Sir Launcelot heard, and then he said thus: Sir
Gawaine, me repents of your foul saying, that ye will not cease of your
language; for you wot well, Sir Gawaine, I know your might and all that
ye may do; and well ye wot, Sir Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt me.
Come down, traitor knight, said he, and make it good the contrary with
thy hands, for it mishapped me the last battle to