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Chapter VI
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Nosoonerhadhespokenthantherecameoutsuddenlyfourknights,wellarmed,andassailedthemhard,sayingtoSirGawain,“Thounew-madeknight,howhastthoushamedthyknighthood!aknightwithoutmercyisdishonoured!Slayeroffairladies,shametotheeevermore!Doubtnotthoushaltthyselfhaveneedofmercyereweleavethee.”
Thenwerethebrothersingreatjeopardy,andfearedfortheirlives,fortheywerebuttwotofour,andwearywithtravelling;andoneofthefourknightsshotSirGawainwithabolt,andhithimthroughthearm,sothathecouldfightnomore.Butwhentherewasnothingleftforthembutdeath,therecamefourladiesforthandprayedthefourknights’mercyforthestrangers.SotheygaveSirGawainandGaheristheirlives,andmadethemyieldthemselvesprisoners.
Onthemorrow,cameoneoftheladiestoSirGawain,andtalkedwithhim,saying,“Sirknight,whatcheer?”
“Notgood,”saidhe.
“Itisyourowndefault,sir,”saidthelady,“foryehavedoneapassingfouldeedinslayingthatfairdamselyesterday—andevershallitbegreatshametoyou.ButyebenotofKingArthur’skin.”
“Yea,trulyamI,”saidhe;“mynameisGawain,sonofKingLotofOrkney,whomKingPellinoreslew—andmymother,Belisent,ishalf-sistertotheking.”
Whentheladyheardthat,shewentandpresentlygotleaveforhimtoquitthecastle;andtheygavehimtheheadofthewhiteharttotakewithhim,becauseitwasinhisquest;butmadehimalsocarrythedeadladywithhim—herheadhungroundhisneckandherbodylaybeforehimonhishorse’sneck.
