Branch II, part 5 of 5

¶"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "Now am I gladder of my conquest than I was before."

¶"Sir," saith the knight, "By your leave will I go my way, for, and I may hide not my shame in the castle, needs must I show it openly abroad."

¶"God grant you do well!" saith Messire Gawain.

¶"Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of the Car, "give me your shield that the knight would fain have carried off."

¶"Willingly, damsel," saith he. The damsel that went afoot taketh the shield and setteth it in the car. Howbeit, the knight that was conquered mounted again upon his horse, and entered again into the castle, and when he was come thereinto, arose a noise and great outcry so loud that all the forest and all the valley began to resound thereof. "Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of the Car, "the knight is shamed and there cast in prison another time. Now haste, Messire Gawain! for now may you go!"

¶With that they all set forward again upon their way together, and leave the castle an English league behind. "Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "When it shall please you, I shall have your leave to go."

¶"Sir," saith she, "God be guard of your body, and right great thanks of your convoy."

¶"Lady," saith he, "My service is always ready at your command."

¶"Sir," saith the damsel, "Gramercy, and your own way see you there by yonder great cross at the entrance of yonder forest. And beyond that, will you find the fairest forest and most delightsome when you shall have passed through this that sore is wearisome."

¶Messire Gawain turneth him to go, and the damsel afoot crieth out to him: "Sir, not so heedful are you as I supposed."

¶Messire Gawain turneth his horse's head as he that was startled: "Wherefore say you so, damsel?" saith he.

¶"For this," saith she, "That you have never asked of my Damsel wherefore she carrieth her arm slung at her neck in this golden stole, nor what may be the rich pillow whereon the arm lieth. And no greater heed will you take at the court of the rich King Fisherman."

¶"Sweet, my friend," saith the Damsel of the Car, "blame not Messire Gawain only, but King Arthur before him and all the knights that were in the court. For not one of them all that were there was so heedful as to ask me. Go your ways, Messire Gawain, for in vain would you now demand it, for I will tell you not, nor shall you never know it save only by the most coward knight in the world, that is mine own knight and goeth to seek me and knoweth not where to find me."

¶"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I durst not press you further."

¶With that the Damsel departeth, and Messire Gawain setteth him forward again on the way that she had taught him.