The King and Messire Gawain were disarmed.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "What will you do with the Golden Circlet?"
"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I will bear it to him that first won
it in sore peril of death, and delivered it to the Queen that ought to
have kept it safe, of whom it hath been reft by force."
The King and Messire Gawain lay the night in the tent. The younger
damsel cometh to the King.
"Sir, many feats of arms have you done at the assembly, as I have been
told, for love of me, and I am ready to reward you."
"Damsel, right great thanks. Your reward and your service love I much,
and your honour yet more, wherefore I would that you should have all
the honour that any damsel may have, for in damsel without honour ought
none to put his affiance. Our Lord God grant you to preserve yours."
"Damsel," saith she to the other that sitteth before Messire Gawain,
"This Knight and Messire Gawain have taken counsel together. There is
neither solace nor comfort in them. Let us leave them to go to sleep,
and ill rest may they have, and Lord God defend us ever hereafter from
such guests."
"By my head," saith the eider damsel, "were it not for the Golden
Circlet that he is bound of right to deliver again to the Queen that
had it in charge, who is my Lady, they should not depart from this land
in such sort as they will. But, and Messire Gawain still be nice as
concerneth damsels, at least I now know well that he is loyal in
anotherwise, so as that he will not fail of his word."