Of the three we shall first follow Gawaine, who rode forward until he came to a fair manor, where dwelt an old knight.
"Are there any adventures to be found in this country?" he asked him.
"I shall show you some marvellous ones to-morrow," said his host.
In the morning, Gawaine and the old knight rode into the forest of adventures till they came to a wide, open lawn, upon which stood a cross. Here they halted and looked about them, and ere long saw approaching a knight of seemly aspect, who made the bitterest lamentations as he advanced. When he saw Gawaine he saluted him, and hoped that God would send him honor.
"As to that, gramercy," said Gawaine. "I pray God, in return, that he send you honor and worship."
"That will not come," said the knight. "He sendeth me but sorrow and shame."
As he spoke he passed on to the other side of the lawn. Here Gawaine saw ten knights, standing with shields and spears ready against this one warrior. But he rode against them one by one, thrusting some over their horses' tails, and hurling others to the ground, horse and man, until with one spear he had unhorsed them all.
But when they were all ten on foot they went to the dolorous knight, who stood stone still, pulled him from his horse, and tied him beneath the animal, without the least resistance on his part. This done, they led him away, thus shamefully bound.
"That is an ugly sight," said Gawaine. "Why does a knight of such prowess as this suffer himself to be so vilely treated?"
"Sir," said, the damsel to Gawaine, "why helped you not that good knight?"
"He seems to want no help," said Gawaine. "He could have taken care of himself if he would."
"You had no desire to help him," retorted the damsel, "or you would not have stood by and seen so noble a warrior so foully served."
As they talked a knight appeared on the other side of the lawn, all armed but the head. And opposite him came a dwarf on horseback similarly armed. He had a great mouth and a short nose, and was as ill favored as one would care to see.
"Where is the lady who should meet us here?" asked the dwarf.
In response thereto a fair lady rode from the wood, mounted on a handsome palfrey. On seeing her the knight and the dwarf began to strive in hot words for her, each saying that she should be his prize.