“Certainly he is my love,” said she. “Then you know his name?” asked Sir Gawaine. “Nay, truly,” answered the damsel, “I know neither his name, nor whence he cometh, but I love him for all that.” “How did you meet him first?” asked Sir Gawaine. At that she told him the whole story, and how her brother went with Sir Lancelot to do him service, and lent him the white shield of her brother Sir Tirre and left his own shield with her. “Why did he do that?” asked Sir Gawaine. “For this cause,” said the damsel, “his shield was too well known among many noble Knights.” “Ah, fair damsel,” said Sir Gawaine, “I beg of you to let me have a sight of that shield.” “Sir,” answered she, “it is in my chamber covered with a case, and if you will come with me, you shall see it.” “Not so,” said Sir Bernard, and sent his Squire for it. And when Sir Gawaine took off the case and beheld the shield, and saw the arms, he knew it to be Sir Lancelot’s. “Ah mercy,” cried he, “my heart is heavier than ever it was before!” “Why?” asked Elaine. “I have great cause,” answered Sir Gawaine. “Is that Knight who owns this shield your love?” “Yes, truly,” said she; “I would I were his love.” “You are right, fair damsel,” replied Gawaine, “for if you love him, you love the most honourable Knight in the world. I have known him for four and twenty years, and never did I or any other Knight see him wear a token of either lady or damsel at a tournament. Therefore, damsel, he has paid you great honour. But I fear that I may never behold him again upon earth, and that is grievous to think of.” “Alas!” said she, “how may this be? Is he slain?” “I did not say that,” replied Sir Gawaine, “but he is sorely wounded, and is more likely to be dead than alive. And, maiden, by this shield I know that he is Sir Lancelot.” “How can this be?” said the Maid of Astolat, “and what was his hurt?” “Truly,” answered Sir Gawaine, “it was the man that loved him best who hurt him so, and I am sure that if that man knew that it was Sir Lancelot whom he had wounded, he would think it was the darkest deed that ever he did.” “Now, dear father,” said Elaine, “give me leave to ride and to seek him, for I shall go out of my mind unless I find him and my brother.” “Do as you will,” answered her father, “for I am grieved to hear of the hurt of that noble Knight.” So the damsel made ready. On the morn Sir Gawaine came to King Arthur and told him how he had found the shield in the keeping of the Maid of Astolat. “All that I knew beforehand,” said the King, “and that was why I would not suffer you to fight at the tourney, for I had espied him when he entered his lodging the night before. But this is the first time that ever I heard of his bearing the token of some lady, and much I marvel at it.”