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    "endpoint": "/api/sources/grail-romances/high-history-of-the-holy-graal/22-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-xxi.json"
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  "work": {
    "slug": "high-history-of-the-holy-graal",
    "name": "High History of the Holy Graal"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "grail-romances",
      "name": "Holy Grail Romances",
      "url": "/sources/grail-romances/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 22,
    "slug": "22-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-xxi",
    "title": "The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch XXI",
    "of": 36,
    "words": 6776,
    "text": "## The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch XXI\n\n\nTITLE I.\n\nTherewithal the history is silent of Lancelot, and speaketh word\nof the King and Messire Gawain, that are in sore misgiving as\nconcerning him, for right gladly would they have heard tidings of\nhim. They met a knight that was coming all armed, and Messire\nGawain asketh him whence he came, and he said that he came from\nthe land of the Queen of the Golden Circlet, to whom a sore loss\nhath befallen; for the Son of the Widow Lady had won the Circlet\nof Gold for that he had slain the Knight of the Dragon, and she\nwas to keep it safe for him and deliver it up to him at his will.\n\n\"But now hath Nabigant of the Rock reft her thereof, and a right\noutrageous knight is he and puissant; wherefore hath he commanded\na damsel that she bring it to an assembly of knights that is to\nbe held in the Meadow of the Tent of the two damsels, there where\nMessire Gawain did away the evil custom. The damsel that will\nbring the Golden Circlet will give it to the knight that shall do\nbest at the assembly. Nabigant is keenly set upon having it, and\nmaketh the more sure for that once aforetime he hath had it by\nforce of arms. And I am going to the knights that know not these\ntidings, in order that when they shall hear them, they shall go\nto the assembly.\"\n\nTherewithal the knight departeth. The King and Messire Gawain\nhave ridden so far that they come to the tent where Messire\nGawain destroyed the evil custom by slaying the two knights. He\nfound the tent garnished within and without in like manner as it\nwas when he was there, and Messire Gawain made the King be seated\non a quilted mattress of straw, right costly, and thereafter be\ndisarmed of a squire, and he himself disarmed him, and they\nwashed their hands and faces for the rust wherewith both of them\nwere besmuttered. And Messire Gawain found the chests unlocked\nthat were at the head of the couch, and made the King be\napparelled of white rich stuffs that he found, and a robe of\ncloth of silk and gold, and he clad himself in the like manner,\nneither was the chest not a whit disfurnished thereby, for the\ntent was all garnished of rich adornments. When they were thus\ndight, a man might have sought far or ever he should find so\ncomely knights.\n\nII.\n\nThereupon, behold you the two Damsels of the Tent coming.\n\n\"Damsels,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Welcome may you be.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" say they, \"Good adventure may you have both twain. It\nseemeth us that you take right boldly that which is ours, yet\nnever for neither of us would you do a thing whereof you were\nbeseeched.\"\n\n\"Messire Gawain\" saith the elder, \"No knight is there in this\nkingdom but would be right joyous and he supposed that I loved\nhim, and I prayed you of your love on a day that is past, for the\nvalour of your knighthood, yet never did you grant it me. How\ndurst you have affiance in me of aught, and take the things that\nare mine own so boldly, when I may not have affiance in you?\"\n\n\"Damsel, for your courtesy and the good custom of the land; for\nyou told me when the evil customs were overthrown, that all the\nhonours and all the courtesies that are due to knights should\never be ready within for all them that should come hither for\nharbour.\"\n\n\"Messire Gawain, you say true, but of right might one let the\ncourtesy tarry and pay back churlishness by churlishness.\"\n\nIII.\n\n\"The assembly of knights will begin to-morrow in this launde that\nis so fair. There will be knights in plenty, and the prize will\nbe the Circlet of Gold. Now shall we see who will do best. The\nassembly will last three whole days, and of one thing at least\nyou may well make boast between you and your comrade, that you\nhave the fairest hostel and the most pleasant and the most quiet\nof any knights at the assembly.\"\n\nThe younger damsel looketh at King Arthur. \"And you,\" saith she,\nWhat will you do? Will you be as strange toward us as Messire\nGawain is friendly with others?\"\n\nIV.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith the king, \"Messire Gawain will do his pleasure\nand I mine. Strange shall I not be in respect of you, nor toward\nother damsels; rather shall they be honoured on my part so long\nas I live, and I myself will be at your commandment.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Gramercy greatly. I pray you, therefore, that\nyou be my knight at the tournament.\"\n\n\"Damsel, this ought I not to refuse you, and right glad at heart\nshall I be and I may do aught that shall please you; for all\nknights ought to be at pains for the sake of dame or damsel.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"what is your name?\"\n\nV.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith he, \"My name is Arthur, and I am of Tincardoil.\"\n\n\"Have you nought to do with King Arthur?\"\n\n\"Damsel, already have I been many times at his court, and, if he\nloved me not nor I him, I should not be in Messire Gawain's\ncompany. In truth, he is the King in the world that I love\nbest.\"\n\nThe damsel looketh at King Arthur, but wotteth not a whir that it\nis he, and full well is she pleased with the seeming and\ncountenance of him. As for the King, lightly might he have\ntrusted that he should have her as his lady-love so long as he\nremained with her; but there is much to say betwixt his semblant\nand his thought, for he showeth good semblant toward the damsel,\nthat hath over much affiance therein, but his thought is on Queen\nGuenievre in what place soever he may be. For nought loveth he\nso well as her.\n\nVI.\n\nThe damsels made stable the horses and purvey for the bodies of\nthe knights right richly at night, and they lay in two right rich\nbeds in the midst of the hall, and their arms were all set ready\nbefore. The damsels would not depart until such time as they\nwere asleep. The harness of the knights that came to the\nassembly came on the morrow from all parts. They set up their\nbooths and stretched their tents all round about the launde of\nthe forest. King Arthur and Messire Gawain were risen in the\nmorning and saw the knights come from all parts. The elder\ndamsel cometh to Messire Gawain and saith unto him, \"Sir,\" saith\nshe, \"I will that you bear to-day red arms that I will lend you,\nfor the love of me, and take heed that they be well employed, and\nI desire that you should not be known by your arms; rather let it\nbe said that you are the Red Knight, and you shall allow it\naccordingly.\"\n\n\"Damsel, Gramercy greatly!\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I will do my\nendeavour in arms the best I may for love of you.\"\n\nThe younger damsel cometh to King Arthur; \"Sir,\" saith she, \"My\nsister hath made her gift and I will make mine. I have a suit of\narms of gold, the richest that knight may wear, that I will lend\nyou, for methinketh they will be better employed on you than on\never another knight; so I pray you that you remember me at the\nassembly in like manner as I shall ofttimes remember you.\"\n\nVII.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith the King, \"Gramercy! No knight is there that\nshould see you but ought to have you in remembrance in his heart\nfor your courtesy and your worth.\"\n\nThe knights were come about the tents. The King and Messire\nGawain were armed and had made caparison their horses right\nrichly. The damsel that should give the Golden Circlet was come.\nNabigant of the Rock had brought great fellowships of knights\ntogether with him, and ordinance was made for the assembly.\n\nVIII.\n\nThe younger damsel saith to King Arthur: \"Well may you know that\nno knight that is here this day hath better arms than are yours,\nwherefore take heed that you show you to be good knight for love\nof me.\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith King Arthur, \"God grant that I be so.\"\n\nSo they laid hold on their reins and mounted their horses, that\nmade great leaping and went away a great gallop. Saith the\nyounger damsel to her sister: \"What think you of my knight, doth\nhe not please you?\"\n\n\"Yea,\" saith the elder, \"But sore misliketh me of Messire Gawain\nfor that he is not minded to do as I would have him. But he\nshall yet aby it dear.\"\n\nKing Arthur and Messire Gawain strike into the midst of the\nassembly like as it were two lions unchained, and at their first\ncoming they smite down two knights to the ground under the feet\nof their horses. Messire Gawain taketh the two horses and\nsendeth them by a squire to the Damsels of the Tent, that made\nmuch joy thereof. After that were they not minded to take more\nbooty as of horses or arms, but searched the fellowships on one\nside and the other; nor was there no knight that came against\nthem but they pierced his shield or bore him to the ground,\ninsomuch as none was there that might endure their buffets.\nNabigant espieth Messire Gawain and cometh toward him, and\nMessire Gawain toward him again, and they hurtle together either\non other so strongly that Messire Gawain beareth Nabigant to the\nground, him and his horse together all in a heap. And King\nArthur was not idle, for no knight durst come against him but he\noverthrew him, so as that all withdrew them back and avoided his\nbuffets. And many knights did well that day at the assembly, but\nnone might be the match of either of them twain in deeds of arms,\nfor, save it were Lancelot or Perceval, were no knights on live\nthat had in them so much hardiment and valour. After that it was\nevensong the knights drew them back to their tents, and they say\nall that the Knight of the Golden Arms and the Knight of the Red\nArms had done better than they all at the assembly. King Arthur\nand Messire Gawain come back to the tent of the damsels, that\nmake disarm them and do upon them the rich robes and make great\njoy of them. Thereupon, behold you, a dwarf that cometh:\n\"Damsels, make great joy! for all they of the assembly say with\none accord that your knights have done best this day.\"\n\nKing Arthur and Messire Gawain sate to eat, and right well were\nthey served of every kind of meats and of great cups of wine and\nsops in wine. King Arthur made the younger damsel sit beside\nhim, and Messire Gawain the elder in like manner, and when they\nhad eaten they went to lie down and fell on sleep, for right sore\nweary were they and forespent of the many buffets they had given\nand received, and they slept until the morrow.\n\nIX.\n\nWhen the day appeared they rose up. Thereupon, behold you the\nyounger damsel where she cometh and saluteth King Arthur. \"And\nyou, damsel!\" saith King Arthur, \"God give you joy and good\nadventure!\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"I will that you bear to-day these white arms\nthat you see here, and that you do no worse to-day than yesterday\nyou did, sith that better you may not do.\"\n\n\"Messire Gawain,\" saith the elder damsel, \"Remember you of the\nKing there where his land was compassed about of a wall of stone,\nand you harboured one night in his castle, what time you went to\nseek for the sword wherewith John Baptist was beheaded, when he\nwas fain to take away the sword from you, whereof you had so sore\nmisliking? Natheless, he yielded you up the sword upon covenant\nthat you should do that which a damsel should first ask you to do\nthereafter, and you promised him loyally that so would you do?\"\n\n\"Certes, damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Well do I remember the\nsame.\"\n\n\"Now, therefore,\" saith the damsel, \"would I fain prove whether\nyou be indeed so loyal as men say, and whether you will hold your\ncovenant that you made. Wherefore I pray and beseech you that\nthis day you shall be he that doth worst of all the knights at\nthe assembly, and that you bear none other arms save your own\nonly, so as that you shall be known again of all them that are\nthere present. And, so you will not do this, then will you have\nfailed of your covenant, and myself will go tell the King that\nyou have broken the promise that you made to him right loyally.\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Never yet brake I covenant with\nnone, so it were such as I might fulfil or another on my behalf.\"\n\nKing Arthur made arm him of the white arms that the younger\ndamsel had given him, and Messire Gawain of his own, but sore it\nirked him of this that the damsel hath laid upon him to do, sith\nthat needs must he lose worship and he hold to his covenant,\nalbeit not for nought that is in the world will he fail of the\npromise he hath made. So they come into the assembly.\n\nX.\n\nKing Arthur smiteth with his spurs like a good knight and\noverthroweth two knights in his onset, and Messire Gawain rideth\na bandon betwixt two fellowships to be the better known. The\nmost part say, \"See! There is Messire Gawain, the good knight\nthat is King Arthur's nephew.\"\n\nNabigant of the Rock cometh toward him as fast as his horse may\ncarry him, lance in rest. Messire Gawain seeth him coming toward\nhim right furiously. He casteth his shield down on the ground\nand betaketh him to flight as swiftly as he may. They that\nbeheld him, some two score or more, marvel thereof, and say, \"Did\never one see the like overpassing cowardize!\"\n\nNabigant saith that he never yet followed a knight that was\nvanquished, nor never will follow one of such conditions, for no\ngreat prize would it be to take him and win his horse. Other\nknights come to joust with him, but Messire Gawain fleeth and\navoideth them the best he may, and maketh semblance that none is\nthere he durst abide. He draweth toward King Arthur for safety.\n\"The King hath great shame of this that he seeth him do, and\nright sore pains hath he of defending Messire Gawain, for he\nholdeth as close to him as the pie doth to the bramble when the\nfalcon would take her. In such shame and dishonour was Messire\nGawain as long as the assembly lasted, and the knights said that\nhe had gotten him off with much less than he deserved, for that\nnever had they seen so craven knight at assembly or tournament as\nwas he, nor never henceforth would they have dread of him as they\nhad heretofore. From this day forward may many lightly avenge\nthemselves upon him of their kinsfolk and friends that he hath\nslain by the forest. The assembly brake up in the evening,\nwhereof the King and Messire Gawain were right well pleased. The\nknights disarm them at their hostels and the King and Messire\nGawain at the damsels' tent.\n\nXI.\n\nWith that, behold you the dwarf that cometh.\n\n\"By my head, damsels, your knights go from bad to worse! Of him\nin the white arms one may even let pass, but Messire Gawain is\nthe most coward ever saw I yet, and so he were to run upon me\nto-morrow and I were armed like as is he, I should think me right\nwell able to defend me against him. 'Tis the devil took him to a\nplace where is such plenty of knights, for the more folk that are\nthere the better may one judge of his ill conditions. And you,\nSir,\" saith he to the King, \"Wherefore do you keep him company?\nYou would have done best to-day had he not been there. He\nskulked as close by you, to be out of the buffets, as a hare doth\nto the wood for the hounds. No business hath good knight to hold\ncompany with a coward. I say not this for that I would make him\nout worse that he is, for I remember the two knights he slew\nbefore this tent.\"\n\nThe damsel heareth the dwarf talking and smileth thereat, for she\nunderstandeth that blame enough hath Messire Gawain had at the\nassembly. The knights said at their hostels that they knew not\nto whom to give the Circlet of Gold, sith that the Knight of the\nGolden Armour and he of the Red Armour were not there; for they\ndid the best the first day of the assembly, and much they\nmarvelled that they should not come when it was continued on the\nmorrow.\n\n\"Gawain,\" saith the King, \"Sore blame have you had this day, and\nI myself have been all shamed for your sake. Never thought I\nthat so good a knight as you might ever have known how to\ncounterfeit a bad knight as you did. You have done much for the\nlove of the damsel, and right well had she avenged herself of you\nand you had done her great annoy. Howbeit, and to-morrow your\ncowardize be such as it hath been to-day, never will the day be\nwhen you shall not have blame thereof.\"\n\nXII.\n\n\"By my faith.\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Behoveth me do the damsel's\npleasure sith that we have fallen by ill-chance into her power.\"\n\nThey went to bed at night and took their rest as soon as they had\neaten, and on the morrow the damsel came to Messire Gawain.\n\n\"I will,\" saith she, \"that you be clad in the same arms as was\nyour comrade on the first day, right rich, that I will lend you,\nand I will, moreover, that you be knight so good as that never on\nany day were you better. But I command you, by the faith you\npledged me the other day, to obey this caution, that you make\nyourself known to none, and so any man in the world shall ask\nyour name, you shall say that you are the knight of the Golden\nArms.\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Gawain, \"Gramercy, I will do your pleasure.\"\n\nThe younger damsel cometh back to the King: \"Sir,\" saith she, \"I\nwill that you wear new arms: You shall bear them red, the same as\nMessire Gawain bore the first day, and I pray you be such as you\nwere the first day, or better.\"\n\nXIII.\n\n\"Damsel, I will do my best to amend myself and my doings, and\nright well pleased am I of that it pleaseth you to say.\"\n\nTheir horses were caparisoned and the knights mounted, all armed.\nThey come together to the tournament with such an onset as that\nthey pass through the thickest of the press and overthrew knights\nand horses as many as they encountered. King Arthur espieth\nNabigant that came right gaily caparisoned, and smiteth him so\npassing strong a buffet in the midst of his breast that he\nbeareth him down from his horse, in such sort that he breaketh\nhis collar-bone, and presenteth the destrier, by his squire, to\nthe younger damsel, that maketh great joy thereof. And Messire\nGawain searcheth the fellowships on all sides, and so well did he\nsearch that scarce was one might endure his blows. King Arthur\nis not idle, but pierceth shields and beateth in helms, the while\nall look on in wonderment at him and Messire Gawain. The story\nsaith that the King would have done still better, but that he put\nnot forth his full strength in deeds of arms, for that Messire\nGawain had done so ill the day before, and now he would fain that\nhe should have the prize.\n\nXIV.\n\nThe damsel that held the Golden Circlet was in the midst of the\nassembly of knights, and had set it in a right rich casket of\nivory with precious stones, right worshipfully. When the damsel\nsaw that the assembly was at an end, she made all the knights\nstay, and prayed them they should speak judgment true, concealing\nnought, who had best deserved of arms, and ought therefore of\nright to have the Golden Circle. They said all, that of right\njudgment the Knight of the Golden Arms and he of the Red Arms\nought to have the prize above all the others, but that of these\ntwo, he of the Golden Arms ought to have the prize, for so well\ndid he the first day as that no knight might do better, and on\nthe last day likewise, and that if he of the Red Arms had put\nforth his full strength on the last day, he would have done full\nas well or better. The Circlet of Gold was brought to Messire\nGawain, but it was not known that it was he; and Messire Gawain\nwould fain that it had been given to my Lord King Arthur. The\nknights departed from the assembly. The King and Messire Gawain\ncame back to the tent and brought the Golden Circlet, whereof the\ndamsels made great joy. Thereupon, behold you! the dwarf that\ncometh back.\n\n\"Damsels, better is it to lodge knights such as these than\nMessire Gawain the coward, the craven that had so much shame at\nthe assembly! You yourselves would have been sore blamed had you\nlodged him. This knight hath won the Golden Circlet by force of\narms, and Messire Gawain nought but shame and reproach.\"\n\nThe damsel laugheth at this that the dwarf saith, and biddeth him\non his eyes and head, begone!\n\nXV.\n\nThe King and Messire Gawain were disarmed.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the damsel, \"What will you do with the Golden\nCirclet?\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I will bear it to him that first\nwon it in sore peril of death, and delivered it to the Queen that\nought to have kept it safe, of whom it hath been reft by force.\"\n\nThe King and Messire Gawain lay the night in the tent. The\nyounger damsel cometh to the King.\n\n\"Sir, many feats of arms have you done at the assembly, as I have\nbeen told, for love of me, and I am ready to reward you.\"\n\n\"Damsel, right great thanks. Your reward and your service love I\nmuch, and your honour yet more, wherefore I would that you should\nhave all the honour that any damsel may have, for in damsel\nwithout honour ought none to put his affiance. Our Lord God\ngrant you to preserve yours.\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith she to the other that sitteth before Messire\nGawain, \"This Knight and Messire Gawain have taken counsel\ntogether. There is neither solace nor comfort in them. Let us\nleave them to go to sleep, and ill rest may they have, and Lord\nGod defend us ever hereafter from such guests.\"\n\n\"By my head,\" saith the eider damsel, \"were it not for the Golden\nCirclet that he is bound of right to deliver again to the Queen\nthat had it in charge, who is my Lady, they should not depart\nfrom this land in such sort as they will. But, and Messire\nGawain still be nice as concerneth damsels, at least I now know\nwell that he is loyal in anotherwise, so as that he will not fail\nof his word.\"\n\nXVI.\n\nWith that the damsels departed, as did likewise the King and\nMessire Gawain as soon as they saw the day. Nabigant, that was\nwounded at the tournament, was borne away on a litter. Meliot of\nLogres was in quest of Messire Gawain. He met the knights and\nthe harness that came from the assembly, and asked of many if\nthey could tell him tidings of King Arthur's nephew, Messire\nGawain, and the most part answer, \"Yea, and right bad tidings\nenough.\"\n\nThen they ask him wherefore he demandeth.\n\n\"Lords,\" saith he, \"His liege man am I, and he ought of right to\ndefend my land against all men, that Nabigant hath taken from me\nwithout right nor reason, whom they are carrying from thence in a\nlitter, wherefore I am fain to beseech Messire Gawain that he\nhelp me to recover my land.\"\n\n\"In faith, Sir Knight,\" say they, \"We know not of what avail he\nmay be to others that may not help himself. Messire Gawain was\nat the assembly, but we tell you for true, it was he that did\nworst thereat.\"\n\n\"Alas,\" saith Meliot of Logres, \"Then have I lost my land, and he\nhath become even such an one as you tell me.\"\n\n\"You would readily believe us,\" say they, \"had you seen him at\nthe assembly!\"\n\nMeliot turneth him back, right sorrowful.\n\nXVII.\n\nKing Arthur and Messire Gawain depart from the tent, and come a\ngreat pace as though they fain would escape thence to come nigher\nthe land where they would be, and great desire had they of the\ncoming of Lancelot. They rode until that they came one night to\nthe Waste Manor whither the brachet led Messire Gawain when he\nfound the dead knight that Lancelot had slain. They lodged there\nthe night, and found there knights and damsels of whom they were\nknown. The Lady of the Waste Manor sent for succour to her\nknights, saying that she held there King Arthur that slew other\nknights, and that his nephew Messire Gawain was also there\nwithin, but dearly would she have loved that Lancelot had been\nwith them that slew her brother. Knights in plenty came to her\nto do hurt to King Arthur and Messire Gawain, but she had at\nleast so much courtesy in her that she would not suffer any of\nthem to do them ill within her hold, albeit she kept seven of\ntheir number, full of great hardiment, to guard the entrance of\nthe bridge, so that King Arthur and Messire Gawain might not\ndepart thence save only amidst the points of their spears.\n\nXVIII.\n\nThis high history witnesseth us that Lancelot was departed from\nthe Waste City wherein he was much honoured, and rode until that\nhe came to a forest where he met Meliot of Logres, that was sore\ndismayed of the tidings he had heard of Messire Gawain. Lancelot\nasketh him whence he cometh, and he saith from seeking Messire\nGawain, of whom he had tidings whereof he was right sorrowful.\n\n\"How,\" saith Lancelot, \"Is he then otherwise than well?\"\n\n\"Yea,\" saith he, \"As I have heard tell: for he wont to be good\nknight and hath now become evil. He was at the assembly of\nknights whereof I met the harness and the fellowships, and they\ntold me that never yet was such cowardize in any knight, but that\na knight who was with him did right well. But howsoever he may\nhave borne himself, right fain am I to find him, for, maugre what\nany may say, I may scarce believe that he is so bad after all.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Lancelot, \"I will seek him for you, and you can come\nalong with me and it seemeth you good.\"\n\nMeliot of Logres betaketh him back with Lancelot. They ride\nuntil they happen by chance upon the Waste Manor where the King\nand Messire Gawain were lodged; and they were armed, and were\nminded to go forth from thence. But the seven knights guarded\nthe issue, all armed. The King and Messire Gawain saw that no\ngood would it do them to remain there within, wherefore they\npassed over the bridge and came perforce to the place where the\nseven knights were watching for them. Thereupon, they went\ntoward them all armed and struck among them, and the knights\nreceived them on the points of their lances.\n\nXIX.\n\nThereupon, behold you! Lancelot and the knight with him, whom\nthey had not been looking for. Lancelot espied the King and\nMessire Gawain; then the knights cried out and struck among them\nas a hawk striketh amongst larks, and made them scatter on one\nside and the other. Lancelot hath caught one at his coming, and\nsmiteth him with his spear through the body, and Meliot of Logres\nslayeth another. King Arthur knew Lancelot, and right glad was\nhe to see him safe and sound, as was Messire Gawain likewise.\nLancelot and Meliot of Logres made clear the passage for them.\nThe knights departed, for longer durst they not abide. The\ndamsel of the castle held a squire by the hand, that was right\npassing comely. She knew Lancelot, and when she saw him she\ncalled him.\n\nXX.\n\n\"Lancelot, you slew this squire's brother, and, please God,\neither he or another shall take vengeance thereof.\"\n\nLancelot holdeth his peace when he heareth the dame speak, and\ndeparteth from the Waste Hold. Meliot of Logres knew Messire\nGawain and Messire Gawain him again, and great joy made they the\none of the other.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Meliot, \"I am come to lay plaint before you of\nNabigant of the Rock that challengeth me of the land whereof I am\nyour man, and saith that he will defend it against none but you\nonly. Sir, the day is full nigh, and if you come not to the day,\nI shall have lost my quarrel, and you held me thereof in covenant\nwhat time I became your man.\"\n\n\"Right fainly will I go,\" saith Messire Gawain.\n\nHe goeth his way thither accordingly by leave of the King and\nLancelot, and saith that he will return to them the speediest he\nmay.\n\nXXI.\n\nKing Arthur and Lancelot go their way as fast as they may toward\nthe land that was King Fisherman's. Messire Gawain rideth until\nhe cometh to the land of Nabigant of the Rock. Meliot doeth\nNabigant to wit that Messire Gawain was come, and that he was\nready to uphold his right by him that was his champion. Nabigant\nwas whole of the wound he gat at the assembly, and held Messire\nGawain of full small account for the cowardize that he saw him\ndo, and bid his knights not meddle betwixt them two, for, and\nMessire Gawain had been four knights he thought to vanquish them\nall. He issueth forth of his castle all armed, and is come there\nwhere Messire Gawain awaited him. Messire Gawain seeth him\ncoming, and so draweth on one side, and Nabigant, that was stark\noutrageous, setteth his spear in rest and cometh toward Messire\nGawain without another word, and smiteth him on the shield so\nthat he maketh his spear fly all in pieces. And Messire Gawain\ncatcheth him right in the midst of his breast, and pierceth him\nwith his spear through the thick of his heart, and he falleth to\nthe ground dead; and the knights run upon Messire Gawain; but he\nlightly delivereth himself of them, and Meliot of Logres\nlikewise. Messire Gawain entereth the castle by force, doing\nbattle against all the knights, and holdeth them in such a pass\nas that he maketh them do homage to Meliot of Logres, and deliver\nup to him the keys of the castle. He maketh them come to an\nassembly from the whole of the land they had reft away from him,\nand thereafter departeth and followeth after King Arthur. In the\nforest, he overtaketh a damsel that was going on her way a great\npace.\n\nXXII.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Lord God guide you, whither away\nso fast?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"I am going to the greatest assembly of knights\nyou saw ever.\"\n\n\"What assembly?\" saith Messire Gawain.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"At the Palace Meadow, but the knight I am\nseeking is he that won the Circlet of Gold at the Meadow of the\nTent. Fair Sir, can you give me any tidings of him?\" saith she.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"What would you do herein?\"\n\n\"Certes, Sir, I would right fain find him. My Lady, that kept\nthe Circlet of Gold for the son of the Widow Lady, that won it\naforetime, hath sent me to seek him.\"\n\n\"For what intent, damsel?\" saith Messire Gawain.\n\n\"Sir, my Lady sendeth for him and beseecheth him by me, for the\nsake of the Saviour of the World, that if he had ever pity of\ndame or damsel, he will take vengeance on Nabigant that hath\nslain her men and destroyed her land, for she hath been told how\nhe that won back the Golden Circlet ought of right to take\nvengeance upon him.\"\n\nXXIII.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Be not any longer troubled\nhereof, for I tell you that the knight that won the Golden\nCirclet by prize of arms hath killed Nabigant already.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"How know you this?\"\n\n\"I know the knight well,\" saith he, \"And I saw him slay him, and\nbehold, here is the Circlet of Gold that I have as a token\nhereof, for that he beareth it to him that hath won the Graal, to\nthe intent that your Lady may be quit of her charge.\"\n\nMessire Gawain showeth her the Golden Circlet in the casket of\nivory, that he kept very nigh himself. Right joyful was the\ndamsel that the matter had thus fallen out, and goeth her way\nback again to tell her Lady of her joy. Messire Gawain goeth on\nhis way toward the assembly, for well knoweth he that, and King\n\nArthur and Lancelot have heard the tidings, there will they be.\nHe goeth thitherward as fast as he may, and as straight, and\nscarce hath he ridden away or ever he met a squire that seemed\nright weary, and his hackney sore worn of the way. Messire\nGawain asked him whence he came, and the squire said to him.\n\"From the land of King Arthur, where is great war toward, for\nthat none knoweth not what hath become of him. Many folk go\nabout saying that he is dead, for never sithence that he departed\nfrom Cardoil, and Messire Gawain and Lancelot with him, have no\ntidings been heard of him; and he left the Queen at Cardoil to\ntake his place, and also on account of her son's death, and the\nmost part say that he is dead. Briant of the Isles and my Lord\nKay with him are burning his land, and carrying off plunder\nbefore all the castles. Of all the Knights of the Table Round\nare there now no more than five and thirty, and of these are ten\nsore wounded, and they are in Cardoil, and there protect the land\nthe best they may.\"\n\nXXIV.\n\nWhen Messire Gawain heareth these tidings, they touch his heart\nright sore, so that he goeth the straightest he may toward the\nassembly, and the squire with him that was sore fordone. Messire\nGawain found King Arthur and Lancelot, and the knights were come\nfrom all the kingdom to the piece of ground. For a knight was\ncome thither that had brought a white destrier and borne thither\na right rich crown of gold, and it was known throughout all the\nlands that marched with this, that the knight that should do best\nat the assembly should have the destrier and the crown, for the\nQueen that ware it was dead, and it would behove him to guard and\ndefend the land whereof she had been Lady. On account of these\ntidings had come thither great plenty of folk and of folk. King\nArthur and Messire Gawain and Lancelot set them of one side. The\nstory saith that at this assembly King Arthur bare the red shield\nthat the damsel gave him; Messire Gawain had his own, such as he\nwas wont to bear, and Lancelot a green shield that he bare for\nthe love of the knight that was slain for helping him in the\nforest. They struck into the assembly like lions unchained, and\ncast down three knights at their first onset. They searched the\nfellowships on every side, smote down knights and overthrew\nhorses.\n\nXXV.\n\nKing Arthur overtook no knight but he clave his shield to the\nboss: all swerved aside and avoided his buffets. And Messire\nGawain and Lancelot are not idle on the other hand, but each held\nwell his place. But the more part had wonderment looking at the\nKing, for he holdeth him at bay like a lion when the staghounds\nwould attack him. The assembly lasted throughout on such wise,\nand when it came to an end, the knights said and adjudged that\nthe Knight of the Red Shield had surpassed all other in doing\nwell. The knight that had brought the crown came to the King,\nbut knew him not a whit: \"Sir,\" saith he, \"You have by your good\ndeeds of arms won this crown of gold and this destrier, whereof\nought you to make great joy, so only you have so much valour in\nyou as that you may defend the land of the best earthly Queen\nthat is dead, and whether the King be alive or dead none knoweth,\nwherefore great worship will it be to yourself and you may have\nprowess to maintain the land, for right broad is it and right\nrich and of high sovranty.\n\nXXVI.\n\nSaith King Arthur, \"Whose was the land, and what was the name of\nthe Queen whose crown I see?\"\n\n\"Sir, the King's name was Arthur, and the best king in the world\nwas he; but in his kingdom the more part say that he is dead.\nAnd this crown was the crown of Queen Guenievre that is dead and\nburied, whereof is sore sorrow. The knights that may not leave\nCardoil lest Briant of the Isles should seize the city, they sent\nme to the kingdom of Logres and charged me with the crown and\ndestrier for that I have knowledge of the isles and foreign\nlands; wherefore they prayed me I should go among the assemblies\nof knights, that so I might hear tidings of my Lord King Arthur\nand my Lord Gawain and Lancelot, and, so I might find them, that\nI should tell them how the land hath fallen into this grievous\nsorrow.\"\n\nKing Arthur heareth tidings whereof he is full sorrowful. He\ndraweth on one side, and the knights make the most grievous dole\nin the world. Lancelot knoweth not what he may do, and saith\nbetween his teeth that now hath his joy come to an end and his\nknighthood is of no avail, for that he hath lost the high Queen,\nthe valiant, that heart and comfort gave him and encouragement to\ndo well. The tears ran down from his comely eyes right amidst\nhis face and through the ventail, and, had he durst make other\ndole, yet greater would it have been. Of the mourning the King\nmade is there nought to speak, for this sorrow resembleth none\nother. He holdeth the crown of gold, and looketh full oft at the\ndestrier for love of her, for he had given it her; and Messire\nGawain may not stint of making dole.\n\nXXVII.\n\n\"Certes\", saith he, \"Now may I well say that the best Queen in\nthe world and of most understanding is dead, nor never hereafter\nshall be none of equal worth.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Lancelot to the King, \"So it please you, and Messire\nGawain be willing, I will go back toward Cardoil, and help to\ndefend your land to the best I may, for sore is it discounselled,\nuntil such time as you shall be come from the Graal.\"\n\n\"Certes,\" saith Messire Gawain to the King, \"Lancelot hath spoken\nwell, so you grant him your consent.\"\n\n\"That do I with right good will,\" saith the Kind, \"And I pray him\nright heartily that he go thither and be guardian of my land and\nthe governance thereof, until such a time as God shall have\nbrought me back.\"\n\nLancelot taketh leave of the King and goeth his way back, all\nsorrowing and full of discontent.",
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