Thereupon, behold you the two Damsels of the Tent coming.
"Damsels," saith Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be."
"Sir," say they, "Good adventure may you have both twain. It seemeth
us that you take right boldly that which is ours, yet never for neither
of us would you do a thing whereof you were beseeched."
"Messire Gawain" saith the elder, "No knight is there in this kingdom
but would be right joyous and he supposed that I loved him, and I
prayed you of your love on a day that is past, for the valour of your
knighthood, yet never did you grant it me. How durst you have affiance
in me of aught, and take the things that are mine own so boldly, when I
may not have affiance in you?"
"Damsel, for your courtesy and the good custom of the land; for you
told me when the evil customs were overthrown, that all the honours and
all the courtesies that are due to knights should ever be ready within
for all them that should come hither for harbour."
"Messire Gawain, you say true, but of right might one let the courtesy
tarry and pay back churlishness by churlishness."