other to joust and came together as fast as their horses might run, and brast their shields and the mails, and the one more than the other; and Gawaine was wounded in the left side, but the other knight was smitten through the breast, and the spear came out on the other side, and so they fell both out of their saddles, and in the falling they brake both their spears.  Anon Gawaine arose and set his hand to his sword, and cast his shield afore him.  But all for naught was it, for the knight had no power to rise against him.  Then said Gawaine:  Ye must yield you as an overcome man, or else I may slay you.  Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but dead, for God’s sake and of your gentleness lead me here unto an abbey that I may receive my Creator.  Sir, said Gawaine, I know no house of religion hereby.  Sir, said the knight, set me on an horse tofore you, and I shall teach you.  Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he leapt up behind him for to sustain him, and so came to an abbey where they were well received; and anon he was unarmed, and received his Creator.  Then he prayed Gawaine to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his body.  Then Gawaine asked him what he was that knew him not.  I am, said he, of King Arthur’s court, and was a fellow of the Round Table, and we were brethren sworn together; and now Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me, and my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son unto King Uriens, and was in the quest of the Sangreal; and now forgive it thee God, for it shall ever be said that the one sworn brother hath slain the other.

CHAPTER III

How sir Gawaine and sir Ector came to an hermitage to be confessed, and how they told to the hermit their visions

Alas, said Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen me.  No force, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of a much more worshipfuller man’s hand might I not die; but when ye come to the court recommend me unto my lord, King Arthur, and all those that be left on live, and for old brotherhood think on me.  Then began Gawaine to weep, and Ector also.  And then Uwaine himself and Sir Gawaine drew out the truncheon of the spear, and anon departed the soul from the body.  Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a king’s son, and made write upon his name, and by whom he was slain.  Then departed Gawaine and Ector as heavy as they might for their misadventure, and so rode till that they came to the rough mountain, and there they tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage.  And when they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside the chapel a little courtelage, where Nacien the hermit gathered worts, as he which had tasted none other meat of a great while.  And when he saw the errant knights he came toward them and saluted