Then Sir Pelleas mounted upon horseback, and came to the pavilions that
stood without the castle, and found in the first pavilion three knights
in three beds, and three squires lying at their feet. Then went he to
the second pavilion and found four gentlewomen lying in four beds. And
then he yede to the third pavilion and found Sir Gawaine lying in bed
with his Lady Ettard, and either clipping other in arms, and when he
saw that his heart well-nigh brast for sorrow, and said: Alas! that
ever a knight should be found so false; and then he took his horse and
might not abide no longer for pure sorrow. And when he had ridden nigh
half a mile he turned again and thought to slay them both; and when he
saw them both so lie sleeping fast, unnethe he might hold him on
horseback for sorrow, and said thus to himself, Though this knight be
never so false, I will never slay him sleeping, for I will never
destroy the high order of knighthood; and therewith he departed again.
And or he had ridden half a mile he returned again, and thought then to
slay them both, making the greatest sorrow that ever man made. And when
he came to the pavilions, he tied his horse unto a tree, and pulled out
his sword naked in his hand, and went to them thereas they lay, and yet
he thought it were shame to slay them sleeping, and laid the naked
sword overthwart both their throats, and so took his horse and rode his
way.
And when Sir Pelleas came to his pavilions he told his knights and his
squires how he had sped, and said thus to them, For your true and good
service ye have done me I shall give you all my goods, for I will go
unto my bed and never arise until I am dead. And when that I am dead I
charge you that ye take the heart out of my body and bear it her
betwixt two silver dishes, and tell her how I saw her lie with the
false knight Sir Gawaine. Right so Sir Pelleas unarmed himself, and
went unto his bed making marvellous dole and sorrow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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