Chương Chương 80 · How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three

. How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three

damosels, and each of them took one.

Now shall everych of us choose a damosel. I shall tell you, said Sir

Uwaine, I am the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I

will have the eldest damosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help

me when I have need, for I have most need of help of you both. Now,

said Sir Marhaus, I will have the damosel of thirty winter age, for she

falleth best to me. Well, said Sir Gawaine, I thank you, for ye have

left me the youngest and the fairest, and she is most liefest to me.

Then every damosel took her knight by the reins of his bridle, and

brought him to the three ways, and there was their oath made to meet at

the fountain that day twelvemonth an they were living, and so they

kissed and departed, and each knight set his lady behind him. And Sir

Uwaine took the way that lay west, and Sir Marhaus took the way that

lay south, and Sir Gawaine took the way that lay north. Now will we

begin at Sir Gawaine, that held that way till that he came unto a fair

manor, where dwelled an old knight and a good householder, and there

Sir Gawaine asked the knight if he knew any adventures in that country.

I shall show you some to-morn, said the old knight, and that

marvellous. So, on the morn they rode into the forest of adventures to

a laund, and thereby they found a cross, and as they stood and hoved

there came by them the fairest knight and the seemliest man that ever

they saw, making the greatest dole that ever man made. And then he was

ware of Sir Gawaine, and saluted him, and prayed God to send him much

worship. As to that, said Sir Gawaine, gramercy; also I pray to God

that he send you honour and worship. Ah, said the knight, I may lay

that aside, for sorrow and shame cometh to me after worship.