"For this cause," said the damsel, "for his shield was too well known among many noble knights." "Ah, fair damsel," said Sir Gawaine, "please it you let me have a sight of that shield." "Sir," said she, "it is in my chamber covered with a case, and if it will please you to come in with me ye shall see it." "Not so," said Sir Bernard unto his daughter; "let send for it." So when the shield was come, Sir Gawaine took off the case, and when he beheld that shield he knew anon that it was Sir Launcelot's shield, and his own arms. "Ah Jesu, mercy!" said Sir Gawaine, "now is my heart more heavier than ever it was before." "Why?" said the damsel Elaine. "For I have a great cause," said Sir Gawaine; "is that knight that oweth that shield your love?" "Yea, truly," said she, "my love he is, God would that I were his love." "So God me speed," said Sir Gawaine, "fair damsel, ye love the most honorable knight of the world, and the man of most worship." "So me thought ever," said the damsel, "for never or that time for no knight that ever I saw loved I never none erst." "God grant," said Sir Gawaine, "that either of you may rejoice other, but that is in a great adventure; but truly," said Sir Gawaine unto the damsel, "ye may say ye have a fair grace, for why I have known that noble knight this fourteen years, and never or that day I or none other knight, I dare make it good, saw nor heard that ever he bare token or sign of no lady, gentlewoman, nor maid, at no jousts nor tournament; and therefore, fair maid," said Sir Gawaine, "ye are much beholden to give him thanks; but I dread me," said Sir Gawaine, "ye shall never see him in this world, and that is great pity as ever was of earthly knight." "Alas!" said she, "how may this be? is he slain?" "I say not so," said Sir Gawaine, "but wit ye well that he is grievously wounded by all manner of signs, and by men's sight more likelier to be dead than to be alive, and wit ye well he is the noble knight Sir Launcelot, for by his shield I know him." "Alas!" said the fair maid Elaine, "how may it be? what was his hurt?" "Truly," said Sir Gawaine, "the man in the world that loveth him best hurt him so; and I dare say, and that knight that hurt him knew the very certainty that he had hurt Sir Launcelot, it would be the most sorrow that ever came to his heart." "Now, fair father," said then Elaine, "I require you give me leave to ride and to seek him, or else I wot well I shall go out of my mind, for I shall never stint [_stop_] till that I find him and my brother Sir Lavaine." "Do as it liketh you," said her father, "for me right sore repenteth of the hurt of that noble knight." So the king and all came to London, and there Sir Gawaine openly disclosed to all the court that it was Sir Launcelot that jousted best. * * * * *