“As for that,” said Arthur, “whether I know him or not, ye shall not know from me what man he is, but God send me good tidings of him.” “If it so be that the good knight be so sore hurt,” said Sir Gawain, “it is great damage and pity to all this land, for he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw in a field handle a spear or a sword; and if he may be found, I shall find him, for I am sure he is not far from this town.” Right so Sir Gawain took a squire with him and rode all about Camelot within six or seven miles, but so he came again and could hear no word of him. Then within two days King Arthur and all the fellowship returned unto London again. And so as they rode by the way, it happened that Sir Gawain lodged with Sir Bernard where was Sir Lancelot lodged. And Sir Bernard and his daughter, Elaine, came to him to cheer him and to ask him who did best at that tournament. “There were two knights,” said Sir Gawain, “that bore two white shields, but one of them bore a red sleeve upon his head and certainly he was one of the best knights that ever I saw joust in field. For I dare say, that one knight with the red sleeve smote down forty knights of the Table Round and his fellow did right well and honorably.” “Now I thank God,” said Elaine, “that that knight sped so well.” “Know ye his name?” said Sir Gawain. “Nay, truly,” said the maiden, “I know not his name, nor whence he cometh.” “Tell me, then, how had ye knowledge of him first?” said Sir Gawain. Then she told him as ye have heard before, and how her father intrusted her brother to him to do him service and how her father lent him her brother’s shield, “And here with me he left his shield,” she said. “For what cause did he so?” said Sir Gawain. “For this cause,” said the damsel, “for his shield was too well known among many noble knights.” “Ah, fair damsel,” said Sir Gawain, “please it you let me have a sight of that shield.” So when the shield was come, Sir Gawain knew it was Sir Lancelot’s shield. “Ah,” said Sir Gawain, “now is my heart heavier than ever it was before.” “Why?” said Elaine. “I have great cause,” said Sir Gawain; “the knight that owneth this shield is the most honorable knight of the world.” “So I thought ever,” said Elaine. “But I dread me,” said Sir Gawain, “that ye shall never see him in this world and that is the greatest pity that ever was of earthly knight.” “Alas,” said she, “how may this be? Is he slain?” “I say not so,” said Sir Gawain, “but he is grievously wounded and more likely to be dead than to be alive and he is the noble knight, Sir Lancelot, for by this shield I know him.” “Alas,” said Elaine, “how may this be and what was his hurt?” “Truly,” said Sir Gawain, “the man in the world that loved him best, hurt him so, and I dare say, if that knight that hurt him knew that he had hurt Sir Lancelot, it would be the most sorrow that ever came to his heart.”