This High History saith that Messire Gawain and Lancelot were repaired
to the court of King Arthur from the quest they had achieved. The King
made great joy thereof and the Queen. King Arthur sate one day at meat
by the side of the Queen, and they had been served of the first meats.
Thereupon come two knights all armed, and each bore a dead knight
before him, and the knights were still armed as they had been when
their bodies were alive.
"Sir," say the knights, "This shame and this mischief is yours. In like
manner will you lose all your knights betimes and God love you not well
enough to give counsel herein forthwith of his mercy."
"Lords," saith the King, "How came these knights to be in so evil case?"
"Sir," say they, "It is of good right you ought to know. The Knight of
the Fiery Dragon is entered into the head of your land, and is
destroying knights and castles and whatsoever he may lay hands on, in
such sort that none durst contend against him, for he is taller by a
foot than any knight ever you had, and of grisly cheer, and so is his
sword three times bigger than the sword of ever another knight, and his
spear is well as heavy as a man may carry. Two knights might lightly
cover them of his shield, and it hath on the outer side the head of a
dragon that casteth forth fire and flame whensoever he will, so eager
and biting that none may long endure his encounter."