"Sir," saith Joseus the Hermit, "He will not have gone forth from this
forest, for this is the place wherein he wonneth most willingly, and
the shield that he brought from King Arthur's court is in this chapel."
So he showeth the shield to Messire Gawain that maketh great joy
thereof.
"Ha, Sir," saith the knight of the white arms, "Is your name Messire
Gawain?"
"Fair Sir," saith he, "Gawain am I called."
"Sir," saith the knight, "I have not ceased to seek you for a long
while past. Meliot of Logres, that is your man, the son of the lady
that was slain on your account, sendeth you word that Nabigant of the
Rock hath slain his father on your account; wherefore he challengeth
the land that hath fallen to him; and hereof he prayeth you that you
will come to succour him as behoveth lord to do to his liege man."
"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "Behoveth me not fail him therein,
wherefore tell him I will succour him so soon as I may; but tell him I
have emprised a business that I cannot leave but with loss of honour
until such time as it be achieved."
They lay the night at the hermitage until after mass was sung on the
morrow.