Thereupon Messire Gawain departeth, sore an-angered, for it seemed him
that never had no thing tofore befallen him that weighed so heavy on
his heart. And he rideth thoughtful and down-cast through the forest,
and seeth a knight coming along the way he came. And in strange
fashion came he. He bestrode his horse backwards in right outlandish
guise, face to tail, and he had his horse's reins right across his
breast and the base of his shield bore he topmost and the chief
bottommost, and his spear upside down and his habergeon and chausses of
iron trussed about his neck. He seeth Messire Gawain coming beside the
forest, that hath great wonderment of him when he seeth him.
Natheless, when they draw nigh, he turneth him not to look at Messire
Gawain, but crieth to him aloud: "Gentle knight, you that come there,
for God's sake do me no hurt, for I am the Knight Coward."
"By God," saith Messire Gawain, "You look not like a man to whom any
ought to do hurt!" And, but for the heaviness of his heart and the
sore wrath that he had, he would have laughed at his bearing with a
right good will.
"Sir Knight," saith Messire Gawain, "nought have you to be afeard of
from me!"
With that he draweth anigh and looketh on him in the face and the
Knight Coward on him. "Sir," saith he, "Welcome may you be!"
"And you likewise!" saith Messire Gawain. "And whose man are you, Sir
knight?"
"The Damsel's man of the Car."
"Thereof I love you the better," saith Messire Gawain.
"God be praised thereof," saith the Knight Coward, "For now shall I
have no fear of you."
"Nay, truly," saith Messire Gawain, "Thereof be well assured!"
The Knight Coward seeth Messire Gawain's shield and knoweth it. "Ha,
Sir," saith he, "Now know I well who you are. Now will I alight and
ride the right way and set my arms to rights. For you are Messire
Gawain, nor hath none the right to claim this shield but only you."
The knight alighteth and setteth his armour to rights, and prayeth
Messire Gawain abide until he be armed. So he abideth right willingly,
and helpeth him withal. Thereupon behold you a knight where he cometh
a great gallop athwart the forest like a tempest, and he had a shield
party black and white. "Abide, Messire Gawain!" saith he, "For on
behalf of Marin the Jealous do I defy you, that hath slain his wife on
your account."
"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "Thereof am I right heavy of heart,
for death had she not deserved."
"That availeth nor," saith the Party Knight, "For I hold you to answer
for the death. So I conquer you, the wrong is yours; but, and you
conquer me, my lord holdeth his blame and shame for known and will hold
you to forfeit and you allow me to escape hence on live."
"To this will I not agree," saith Messire Gawain, "For God well knoweth
that no blame have I herein."
"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith the Knight Coward, "Fight him not as having
affiance in me, for of me will you have neither succour nor help!"
"Heretofore," saith Messire Gawain, "have I achieved adventures without
you, and this also, and God help me, will I yet achieve."
They come together a full career and break their lances on their
shields, and Messire Gawain hurtleth against the horse and passeth
beyond and overthroweth him and his horse together. Then draweth he
his sword and runneth upon him. And the knight crieth out: "Hold,
Messire Gawain! Are you minded to slay me? I yield me conquered, for
no mind have I to die for another's folly, and so I cry you mercy
hereof."
Messire Gawain thinketh that he will do him no further harm, for that
of right behoveth him do his lord's bidding. Messire Gawain holdeth
his hands, and he doth him homage on behalf of his lord for his hold
and all of his land and becometh his man.