Here is the story silent of the three damsels and the Car and saith
that Messire Gawain hath passed throughout the evil forest and is
entered into the forest passing fair, the broad, the high, the
plenteous of venison. And he rideth a great pace, but sore abashed is
he of that the damsel had said to him, and misdoubteth him but he shall
have blame thereof in many places. He rode hard the day long till that
it was evensong and the sun was about to set. And he looketh before
him and seeth the house of a hermit and the chapel in the thick of the
forest; and a spring flowed forth in front of the chapel right clear
and fresh, and above it was a tree full broad and tall that threw a
shadow over the spring. A damsel sate under the tree and held a mule
by the reins and at the saddle-bow had she the head of a knight
hanging. And Messire Gawain cometh thitherward and alighteth.
"Damsel," saith he, "God give you good adventure!"
"Sir," saith she, "And you always."
When she was risen up over against him, "Damsel," saith he, "For whom
are you a-waiting here?"
"Sir," saith she, "I am waiting for the hermit of this holy chapel,
that is gone into the forest, and I would fain ask him tidings of a
knight."
"Think you he will tell you them and he knoweth any?"
"Yea, sir, I think so, according to that I have been told."
Therewithal behold you the hermit that was coming, and saluteth the
damsel and Messire Gawain and openeth the door of the house and setteth
the two steeds within and striketh off the bridles and giveth them
green-meat first and barley after, and fain would he have taken off the
saddles when Messire Gawain leapeth before: "Sir," saith he, "Do not
so! This business is not for you!"
"Hermit though I be," saith he, "yet well know I how to deal withal,
for at the court of King Uther Pendragon have I been squire and knight
two-score years, and a score or mort have I been in this hermitage."
And Messire Gawain looketh at him in wonderment. "Sir," saith he,
"Meseemeth you are not of more than forty years."
"That know I well of a truth," saith the hermit, and Messire Gawain
taketh off the saddles and bethinketh him more of the damsel's mule
than of his own horse. And the hermit taketh Messire Gawain by the
hand and the damsel and leadeth them into the chapel. And the place
was right fair.
"Sir," saith the hermit to Messire Gawain, "You will disarm you not,"
saith he, "for this forest is passing adventurous, and no worshipful
man behoveth be disgarnished."
He goeth for his spear and for his shield and setteth them within the
chapel. He setteth before them such meat as he hath, and when they
have eaten giveth them to drink of the spring.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "Of a knight that I go seek am I come to ask
you tidings."
"Who is the knight?" saith the hermit.
"Sir, he is the Chaste Knight of most holy lineage. He hath a heart of
gold, the look of a lion, the navel of a virgin maid, a heart of steel,
the body of an elephant, and without wickedness are all his conditions."
"Damsel," saith the hermit, "Nought will I tell you concerning him, for
I know not of a certainty where he is, save this, that he hath lain in
this chapel twice, not once only, within this twelvemonth."
"Sir," saith she, "Will you tell me no more of him, nor none other
witting?"
"In no wise," saith the hermit.
"And you, Messire Gawain?" saith she.
"Damsel," saith he, "As fainly would I see him as you, but none find I
that may tell me tidings of him."
"And the damsel of the Car, Sir, have you seen her?"
"Yea, lady," saith he, "It is but just now sithence that I left her."
"Carried she still her arm slung at her neck?"
"Yea," saith Messire Gawain, "in such wise she carried it."
"Of a long while," saith the damsel, "hath she borne it thus."
"Sir," saith the hermit, "how are you named?"
"Sir," saith he, "Gawain am I called, King Arthur's nephew."
"Thereof I love you the better," saith the hermit.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "You are of kindred to the worst King that is."
"Of what King speak you?" saith Messire Gawain.
"I speak," saith she, "of King Arthur, through whom is all the world
made worser, for he began doing well and now hath become evil. For
hatred of him hate I a knight that found me nigh S. Augustine's Chapel,
and yet was he the comeliest knight that saw I ever. He slew a knight
within the bar right hardily. I asked him for the head of the knight
and he went back for the same and set himself in sore peril. He
brought it me, and I made him great joy, but when he told me his name
was Arthur I had no fainness of the bounty he had done me, for that he
had the name of that evil King."