_How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and there had
knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare the red sleeve._
Then she told him as ye have heard tofore, and how her father betook
him her brother to do him service, and how her father lent him her
brother Sir Tirre’s shield,—And here with me he left his own shield.
For what cause did he so? said Sir Gawaine. For this cause, said the
damsel, for his shield was too well known among many noble knights. Ah,
fair damsel, said Sir Gawaine, please it you let me have a sight of
that shield. Sir, said she, it is in my chamber covered with a case,
and if ye will come with me, ye shall see it. Not so, said Sir Bernard,
till his daughter let send for it. So when the shield was come, Sir
Gawaine took off the case: and when he beheld that shield, he knew anon
that it was Sir Launcelot’s shield, and his own arms. Ah, mercy, said
Sir Gawaine, now is my heart more heavier then ever it was tofore. Why?
said Elaine. For I have great cause, said Sir Gawaine: is that knight
that owneth this shield your love? Yea truly, said she, my love he is,
God would I were his love. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, fair damsel, ye
have right, for, and he be your love, ye love the most honourable
knight of the world, and the man of most worship. So me thought ever,
said the damsel, for never, or that time, for no knight that ever I saw
loved I never none erst. God grant, said Sir Gawaine, that either of
you may rejoice other, but that is in a great adventure. But truly,
said Sir Gawaine unto the damsel, ye may say ye have a fair grace, for
why, I have known that noble knight this four and twenty year, and
never or that day I nor none other knight, I dare make it good, saw nor
heard say that ever he bare token or sign of no lady, gentlewoman, nor
maiden, at no justs nor tournament. And therefore, fair maiden, said
Sir Gawaine, ye are much beholden to him to give him thanks. But I
dread me, said Sir Gawaine, that ye shall never see him in this world,
and that is great pity that ever was of earthly knight. Alas, said she,
how may this be? Is he slain? I say not so, said Sir Gawaine, but wit
ye well, he is grievously wounded, by all manner of signs, and by men’s
sight more likely to be dead then to be on live; and wit ye well he is
the noble knight Sir Launcelot, for by this shield I know him. Alas,
said the fair maiden of Astolat, how may this be, and what was his
hurt? Truly, said Sir Gawaine, the man in the world that loved him best
hurt him so, and I dare say, said Sir Gawaine, and that knight that
hurt him knew the very certainty that he had hurt Sir Launcelot, it
would be the most sorrow that ever came to his heart. Now, fair father,
said then Elaine, I require you give me leave to ride and to seek him,
or else I wot well I shall go out of my mind, for I shall never stint
till that I find him and my brother Sir Lavaine. Do as it liketh you,
said her father, for me right sore repenteth of the hurt of that noble
knight. Right so the maid made her ready, and before Sir Gawaine making
great dole. Then on the morn Sir Gawaine came to king Arthur, and told
him how he had found Sir Launcelot’s shield in the keeping of the fair
maiden of Astolat. All that knew I aforehand, said king Arthur, and
that caused me I would not suffer you to have ado at the great justs:
for I espied, said king Arthur, when he came in till his lodging, full
late in the evening in Astolat. But marvel have I, said Arthur, that
ever he would bear any sign of any damsel: for, or now, I never heard
say nor knew that ever he bare any token of none earthly woman. By my
head, said Sir Gawaine, the fair maiden of Astolat loveth him
marvellously well; what it meaneth I cannot say; and she is ridden
after to seek him. So the king and all came to London, and there Sir
Gawaine openly disclosed to all the court that it was Sir Launcelot
that justed best.