Fair greeting Sir Gawain proffered, she thanked him and bowed her low, And hoarse was her voice thro' weeping and weakened thro' force of woe. Then down to the ground sprang Gawain, for the knight he was like to choke, Since the blood welled within his body, and unto the maid he spoke, And he asked if the knight were living, or should now in the death-throe be? 45 And she spake, 'He dieth surely, yet but now alive was he, God hath sent thee unto my succour, now help me with word and deed, Such wounds shalt thou oft have looked on, give counsel in this my need!' 'Yea, gladly I'll aid thee, Lady, from death shall thy knight be freed, And healing I well might win him an there were but at hand a reed. 50 Thou shalt see him, and hearken to him, nor his life shall be waxen less, The wound is not all too dangerous, but the blood on his heart doth press.' Then he stripped from a bough of the linden the bark, and did wind it round, (No fool he in art of healing,) and he set it unto the wound, And he bade the maiden suck it till the blood should toward her flow-- 55 And strength came again and hearing, and the voice of the knight they know, And he looked on Gawain, and he thanked him, and said he should honoured be In that from his woe he had freed him, and he asked of him, whence came he? Rode he hither in search of knighthood? 'From far Punturtois I came In search of such knightly venture as should win for me meed of fame, 60 Yet sorely must I bewail me for the ill that I here have won, Sir Knight, an thy senses fail not, 'twere better this way to shun!' 'Such evil I little looked for--'Twas Lischois Giwellius Who hath wounded me so sorely, and down from my charger thrust: Fair was the joust and knightly, and he pierced me thro' shield and side, 65 On her steed this maiden helped me, and hither hath been my guide!' Then he prayed Gawain to abide there, but he spake, he the place would see Where such evil had chanced unto him, 'If Logrois thus near shall be, Perchance I shall yet o'ertake him, he shall answer to me, I trow, For the deed he hath done, and his reason for vengeance on thee I'll know!' 70 But the wounded knight spake, 'Not so, for true are the words I say, And no child's play shall be this journey, great perils beset the way.'