“Why have ye slain my hounds?” said Sir Gawain; “they did but after their nature:  and ye had better have taken vengeance on me than on the poor dumb beasts.”

“I will avenge me on thee, also,” said the other, “ere thou depart this place.”

Then did they fight with each other savagely and madly, till the blood ran down to their feet.  But at last Sir Gawain had the better, and felled the knight of the castle to the ground.  Then he cried out for mercy, and yielded to Sir Gawain, and besought him as he was a knight and gentleman to save his life.  “Thou shalt die,” said Sir Gawain, “for slaying my hounds.”

“I will make thee all amends within my power,” replied the knight.

But Sir Gawain would have no mercy, and unlaced his helm to strike his head off; and so blind was he with rage, that he saw not where a lady ran out from her chamber and fell down upon his enemy.  And making a fierce blow at him, he smote off by mischance the lady’s head.

“Alas!” cried Gaheris, “foully and shamefully have ye done—­the shame shall never leave ye!  Why give ye not your mercy unto them that ask it? a knight without mercy is without worship also.”

Then Sir Gawain was sore amazed at that fair lady’s death, and knew not what to do, and said to the fallen knight, “Arise, for I will give thee mercy.”

“Nay, nay,” said he, “I care not for thy mercy now, for thou hast slain my lady and my love—­that of all earthly things I loved the best.”

“I repent me sorely of it,” said Sir Gawain, “for I meant to have struck thee:  but now shalt thou go to King Arthur and tell him this adventure, and how thou hast been overcome by the knight that followeth the quest of the white hart.”

“I care not whether I live or die, or where I go,” replied the knight.

So Sir Gawain sent him to the court to Camelot, making him bear one dead greyhound before and one behind him on his horse.  “Tell me thy name before we part,” said he.

“My name is Athmore of the Marsh,” he answered.

Then went Sir Gawain into the castle, and prepared to sleep there and began to unarm; but Gaheris upbraided him, saying, “Will ye disarm in this strange country? bethink ye, ye must needs have many enemies about.”

No sooner had he spoken than there came out suddenly four knights, well armed, and assailed them hard, saying to Sir Gawain, “Thou new-made knight, how hast thou shamed thy knighthood! a knight without mercy is dishonoured!  Slayer of fair ladies, shame to thee evermore!  Doubt not thou shalt thyself have need of mercy ere we leave thee.”

Then were the brothers in great jeopardy, and feared for their lives, for they were but two to four, and weary with travelling; and one of the four knights shot Sir Gawain with a bolt, and hit him through the arm, so that he could fight no more.  But when there was nothing left for them but death, there came four ladies forth and prayed the four knights’ mercy for the strangers.  So they gave Sir Gawain and Gaheris their lives, and made them yield themselves prisoners.