_How a knight and a dwarf strove for a lady._
And therewith he passed unto the one side of the lawn. And on the other
side Sir Gawaine saw ten knights that hoved still, and made them ready
with their shields and spears against that one knight that came by Sir
Gawaine. Then this one knight aventred a great spear, and one of the
ten knights encountered with him, but this woful knight smote him so
hard that he fell over his horse tail. So this same dolorous knight
served them all, that at the least way he smote down horse and man, and
all he did with one spear. And so when they were all ten on foot they
went to that one knight, and he stood stone still, and suffered them to
pull him down off his horse, and bound him hand and foot, and tied him
under the horse belly, and so led him with them. Oh, said Sir Gawaine,
this is a doleful sight, to see the yonder knight so to be entreated,
and it seemeth by the knight that he suffereth them to bind him so, for
he maketh no resistance. No, said his host, that is truth, for and he
would they all were too weak so to do him. Sir, said the damsel unto
Sir Gawaine, me seemeth it were your worship to help that dolorous
knight, for me thinketh he is one of the best knights that ever I saw.
I would do for him, said Sir Gawaine, but it seemeth that he will have
no help. Then said the damsel, me seemeth ye have no lust to help him.
Thus as they talked they saw a knight on that other side of the lawn,
all armed save the head. And on the other side there came a dwarf on
horseback all armed save the head, with a great mouth and a short nose.
And when the dwarf came nigh he said, Where is the lady should meet us
here? and therewithal she came forth out of the wood. And then they
began to strive for the lady; for the knight said he would have her,
and the dwarf said he would have her. Will we do well? said the dwarf;
yonder is a knight at the cross, let us put it both upon him, and as he
deemeth so shall it be. I will well, said the knight; and so they went
all three unto Sir Gawaine, and told him wherefore they strove. Well
sirs, said he, will ye put the matter into my hand? Yea, they said
both. Now, damsel, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall stand betwixt them both,
and whether ye list better to go to, he shall have you. And when she
was set between them both she left the knight and went to the dwarf.
And the dwarf took her and went his way singing, and the knight went
his way with great mourning. Then came there two knights all armed, and
cried on high, Sir Gawaine, knight of king Arthur, make thee ready in
all haste and just with me. So they ran together that either fell down.
And then on foot they drew their swords and did full actually. In the
meanwhile the other knight went to the damsel and asked her why she
abode with that knight, and if ye would abide with me, I will be your
faithful knight. And with you will I be, said the damsel, for with Sir
Gawaine I may not find in mine heart to be with him: for now here was
one knight discomfited ten knights, and at the last he was cowardly led
away; and therefore let us two go our way whilst they fight. And Sir
Gawaine fought with that other knight long, but at the last they
accorded both. And then the knight prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him
that night. So as Sir Gawaine went with this knight he asked him, What
knight is he in this country that smote down the ten knights? For when
he had done so manfully, he suffered them to bind him hand and foot,
and so led him away. Ah! said the knight, that is the best knight I
trow in the world, and the most man of prowess, and he hath been served
so as he was even more than ten times, and his name hight Sir Pelleas,
and he loveth a great lady in this country, and her name is Ettard. And
so when he loved her there was cried in this country a great justs
three days: and all the knights of this country were there and
gentlewomen; and who that proved him the best knight should have a
passing good sword and a circlet of gold, and the circlet the knight
should give it to the fairest lady that was at the justs. And this
knight, Sir Pelleas, was the best knight that was there, and there were
five hundred knights, but there was never man that ever Sir Pelleas met
withal, but he struck him down, or else from his horse. And every day
of three days he struck down twenty knights, therefore they gave him
the prize. And forthwithal he went there as the lady Ettard was, and
gave her the circlet, and said openly she was the fairest lady that
there was, and that would he prove upon any knight that would say nay.