The younger damsel saith to King Arthur: "Well may you know that no
knight that is here this day hath better arms than are yours, wherefore
take heed that you show you to be good knight for love of me."
"Damsel," saith King Arthur, "God grant that I be so."
So they laid hold on their reins and mounted their horses, that made
great leaping and went away a great gallop. Saith the younger damsel
to her sister: "What think you of my knight, doth he not please you?"
"Yea," saith the elder, "But sore misliketh me of Messire Gawain for
that he is not minded to do as I would have him. But he shall yet aby
it dear."
King Arthur and Messire Gawain strike into the midst of the assembly
like as it were two lions unchained, and at their first coming they
smite down two knights to the ground under the feet of their horses.
Messire Gawain taketh the two horses and sendeth them by a squire to
the Damsels of the Tent, that made much joy thereof. After that were
they not minded to take more booty as of horses or arms, but searched
the fellowships on one side and the other; nor was there no knight that
came against them but they pierced his shield or bore him to the
ground, insomuch as none was there that might endure their buffets.
Nabigant espieth Messire Gawain and cometh toward him, and Messire
Gawain toward him again, and they hurtle together either on other so
strongly that Messire Gawain beareth Nabigant to the ground, him and
his horse together all in a heap. And King Arthur was not idle, for no
knight durst come against him but he overthrew him, so as that all
withdrew them back and avoided his buffets. And many knights did well
that day at the assembly, but none might be the match of either of them
twain in deeds of arms, for, save it were Lancelot or Perceval, were no
knights on live that had in them so much hardiment and valour. After
that it was evensong the knights drew them back to their tents, and
they say all that the Knight of the Golden Arms and the Knight of the
Red Arms had done better than they all at the assembly. King Arthur
and Messire Gawain come back to the tent of the damsels, that make
disarm them and do upon them the rich robes and make great joy of them.
Thereupon, behold you, a dwarf that cometh: "Damsels, make great joy!
for all they of the assembly say with one accord that your knights have
done best this day."
King Arthur and Messire Gawain sate to eat, and right well were they
served of every kind of meats and of great cups of wine and sops in
wine. King Arthur made the younger damsel sit beside him, and Messire
Gawain the elder in like manner, and when they had eaten they went to
lie down and fell on sleep, for right sore weary were they and
forespent of the many buffets they had given and received, and they
slept until the morrow.