"The Vavasour took the arms and the horses and put them in safe keeping
in his castle, and the bodies of the knights he left to the wild
beasts, that would have devoured them had I not chanced to come thither
with two knights that helped me bury them by yonder cross at the
entrance of the forest."
"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "In like manner would he have
wrought me mischief had I been minded to trust him; for he bore me in
hand that this knight was warring upon him, and besought me that I
should safeguard him against him. But our Lord God so helped me that I
intermeddled not therein, for lightly might I have wrought folly."
"By the name of God," saith the other, "Meseemeth it clear that the
Vavasour would fain that knights should kill each other."
"Sir," saith the damsel, "You say true; it is of his covetise of
harness and horses that he entreateth the knights on this-wise."
"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Whither go you?"
"Sir," saith she, "After a knight that I have made be carried in a
litter for the dead."
"I saw him," saith he, "pass by here last night, full late last night."
The knight taketh leave of Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain saith
that he holdeth himself a churl in that he hath not asked him of his
name. But the knight said, "Fair Sir, I pray you of love that you ask
not my name until such time as I shall ask you of yours."