"Fair nephew," saith the hermit, "See here your desire. Come to him
and make him cheer."
The lad alighteth of the lion and smiteth him with a whip and leadeth
him to the den and maketh the door so that he may not issue forth, and
cometh to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain receiveth him between his
arms. "Sir," saith the child, "Welcome may you be!"
"God give you growth of honour!" saith Messire Gawain. He kisseth him
and maketh cheer with him right sweetly.
"Sir," saith the hermit, "He will be of right your man, wherefore ought
you to counsel him and help him, for through you came his mother by her
death, and right sore need will he have of your succour." The child
kneeleth before him and holdeth up his joined hands.
"Look, Sir," saith the hermit, "Is he not right pitiful? He offereth
you his homage."
And Messire Gawain setteth his hands within his own: "Certes," saith
Messire Gawain, "Both your honour and your homage receive I gladly, and
my succour and my counsel shall you have so often as you shall have
need thereof. But fain would I know your name?"
"Sir, I am called Meliot of Logres."
"Sir," saith the hermit, "He saith true, for his mother was daughter of
a rich earl of the kingdom of Logres."