"None other, how strong soever he be, may stand against him, and, even
as you see, hath he burnt and evil-entreated all other knights that
have withstood him."
"From what land hath come such manner of man?"
"Sir," say the knights, "He is come from the Giant's castle, and he
warreth upon you for the love of Logrin the Giant, whose head Messire
Kay brought you into your court, nor never, saith he, will he have joy
until such time as he shall have avenged him on your body or upon the
knight that you love best."
"Our Lord God," saith the King, "Will defend us from so evil a man."
He is risen from the table, all scared, and maketh carry the two dead
knights to be buried, and the others turn back again when they have
told their message. The King calleth Messire Gawain and Lancelot and
asketh them what he shall do of this knight that is entered into his
land?
"By my head, I know not what to say, save you give counsel herein."
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "We will go against him, so please you, I and
Messire Gawain between us."
"By my head," saith the King, "I would not let you go for a kingdom,
for such man as is this is no knight but a devil and a fiend that hath
issued from the borders of Hell. I say not but that it were great
worship and prize to slay and conquer him, but he that should go
against him should set his own life in right sore jeopardy and run
great hazard of being in as bad plight as these two knights I have
seen."
The King was in such dismay that he knew not neither what to say nor to
do, and so was all the court likewise in such sort as no knight neither
one nor another was minded to go to battle with him, and so remained
the court in great dismay.