Thereupon Messire Gawain entereth into the courtyard and alighteth, and
the lady cometh to meet him and saith to him: "May you be come to joy
and good adventure."
"Lady," saith he, "May you also have honour and good adventure."
The lady taketh him by the hand and leadeth him into the hall and
maketh him be seated on a cushion of straw. And a squire leadeth his
horse to stable. And the dwarf summoneth two other squires and doeth
Messire Gawain be disarmed, and helpeth them right busily, and maketh
fetch water to wash his hands and his face.
"Sir," saith the dwarf, "Your fists are still all swollen of the
buffets you gave and received at the tournament."
Messire Gawain answered him nought. And the dwarf entereth into the
chamber and bringeth a scarlet robe furred of ermine and maketh it be
done on Messire Gawain. And meat was made ready and the table set, and
the lady sate to eat. Many a time looked he upon the lady by reason of
her great beauty, and, had he been minded to trust to his heart and his
eyes, he would have all to-changed his purpose; but so straitly was his
heart bound up, and so quenched the desires thereof, that nought would
he allow himself to think upon that might turn to wickedness, for the
sake of the high pilgrimage he had emprised. Rather 'gan he withdraw
his eyes from looking at the lady, that was held to be of passing great
beauty. After meat Messire Gawain's bed was made, and he apparelled
himself to lie down. The lady bade him God give him good adventure,
and he made answer the like. When the lady was in her chamber, the
dwarf said to Messire Gawain: "Sir, I will lie before you, so as to
keep you company until you be asleep."
"Gramercy," saith he, "And God allow me at some time to reward you of
the service."
The dwarf laid himself down on a mattress before Messire Gawain, and
when he saw that he slept, he ariseth as quickly as he may, and cometh
to a boat that was on the river that ran behind the hall, and entereth
thereinto and roweth up-stream of the river. And he cometh to a
fishery, where was a right fair hall on a little eyot enclosed by a
marshy arm of the river. The jealous knight was come thither for
disport, and lay in the midst of the hall upon a couch. The dwarf
cometh forth of his boat thereinto, and lighteth a great candle in his
fist and cometh before the couch. "What ho, there!" saith the dwarf,
"Are you sleeping?"
And the other waketh up sore startled, and asketh what is the matter
and wherefore is he come?
"In God's name," saith he, "You sleep not so much at your ease as doth
Messire Gawain!"
"How know you that?" saith he.
"Well know I," saith the dwarf, "For I left him but now in your hall,
and methinketh he and your lady are abed together arm to arm."
"How?" saith he, "I forbade her she should ever harbour Messire Gawain."
"In faith," said the dwarf, "She hath made him greater cheer than ever
saw I her make to none other! But haste you and come, for great fear
have I lest he carry her away!"
"By my head!" saith the knight; "I will go not, howsoever it be! But
she shall pay for it, even though she go!"
"Then of wrong will it be!" saith the dwarf, "as methinketh!"