Alas! I wot well 'gainst Frau Minne all helpless shall be Gawain-- Then he looked on the knight who rode there, and he spake to the queen again, 'Lady, a knight I see there, who rideth with well-aimed spear, Nor will cease from the goal he seeketh--Well! I ween he may find it here, 170 Since he craveth some deed of knighthood I am ready with him to fight, But say, who shall be the maiden?' she quoth, ''Tis the lady bright Who is Duchess and queen of Logrois,--Now 'gainst whom doth she bear ill-will? For the Turkowit rideth with her, and unconquered shall he be still. With his spear such fame hath he won him, as were riches for kingdoms three, 175 And against a hand so valiant 'twere best not to venture thee; For strife is it all too early, and thou shalt be hurt too sore, And e'en wert thou whole I should rede thee to strive with him nevermore!' Quoth Gawain, 'If indeed I be lord here then he who so near shall seek Deeds of knighthood, shall shame mine honour if vengeance I fail to wreak. 180 Since he lusteth for strife, O Lady, thou shalt give me mine armour here!' Then the ladies, the four, bewailed them with many a bitter tear: And they quoth, 'Wilt thou deck thy glory? wilt thou greater honour know? Strive not now, shouldst thou fall before him then greater shall wax our woe. But e'en if thou be the victor, if thou girdest thine harness on 185 Thou must die who so sore art wounded, and with thee are we all undone!' Gawain, he was sorely anguished, and the cause have ye heard aright, For he counted himself dishonoured by the coming of such a knight And his wounds, they must sorely pain him, yet love's torment it vexed him more, And the grief of these four fair ladies, and the love they towards him bore. 190 Then he bade them to cease from weeping, and harness and sword he craved, And his charger; and those fair women they led forth the hero brave. And he bade them go forth before him, and adown the steps they wind To the hall where the other maidens so sweet and so fair they find.