Quoth the lady, fair Orgelusé, and haughty her tone and proud, 'In what else thou mayst gainsay me in this be my truth allowed, For other I ne'er have told thee save that shame shall thy portion be, Now here, if thou canst, defend thee, since no better is left to thee. 520 Methinks he who cometh hither shall fell thee beneath his thrust-- If thy garments perchance be riven, and thou bitest, ashamed, the dust, Then those women above shall mourn thee, who look for some deed of fame, Seest thou how they gaze from the lattice? How, then, if they see thy shame?' Then the boatman across the water he came at the lady's will, 525 From the shore to the boat she stepped there, and Gawain it but pleased him ill; For, mocking, fair Orgelusé spake thus to the gallant knight, 'Thou com'st not with me, I leave thee on this shore as a pledge for fight!' Then sadly his voice rang after, 'Say, Lady, wilt leave me so? Shall I never again behold thee?' Then she spake, 'I would have thee know 530 If victory be thy portion thou shalt look on my face again, Yet but small is the chance I think me.' So sailed she from knight Gawain. Then up rode Lischois Giwellius, 'twere a lie if I said he _flew_, And yet little other did he for the earth scarce his footprints knew. And for this must I praise the charger, who the greensward with such swift feet 535 Had trodden--Gawain bethought him how he best might his foeman meet; He thought, 'Should I here await him afoot, or this steed bestride? If his horse's speed he check not he surely o'er me will ride, And this fate must o'ertake his charger, to fall o'er my fallen steed; But, if he for combat lusteth, afoot on this flowery mead 540 Will I face him and give him battle, since battle he doth desire, Tho' never I win her favour who hath brought on me need so dire.'