will go all the array thou didst see in the city, of men and of horses and of arms.  And with each man will go the lady he loves best; and no man can joust for the sparrow-hawk, except the lady he loves best be with him.  And the knight that thou sawest has gained the sparrow-hawk these two years; and if he gains it the third year, he will be called the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk from that time forth.”  “Sir,” said Geraint, “what is thy counsel to me concerning this knight, on account of the insult which the maiden of Guenever received from the dwarf?” And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult was that the maiden had received.  “It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst joust.  Yet I have arms here, which thou couldst have, and there is my horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine own.”  “Ah, sir,” said he, “Heaven reward thee!  But my own horse to which I am accustomed, together with thine arms, will suffice me.  And if, when the appointed time shall come to-morrow thou wilt permit me, sir, to challenge for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live.”  “Gladly will I permit thee,” said the hoary-headed man; “and since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at break of day.  For then the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk will make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to take the sparrow-hawk; and if any deny it to her, by force will he defend her claim.  And therefore,” said the hoary-headed man, “it is needful for thee to be there at daybreak, and we three will be with thee.”  And thus was it settled.

And at night they went to sleep.  And before the dawn they arose and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all four in the meadow.  And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to take the sparrow-hawk.  “Take it not,” said Geraint, “for here is a maiden who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a better claim to it than thou.”  Then said the knight, “If thou maintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to her, come forward and do battle with me.”  And Geraint went forward to the top of the meadow, having upon himself and upon his horse armor which was heavy and rusty, and of uncouth shape.  Then they encountered each other, and they broke a set of lances; and they broke a second set, and a third.  And when the earl and his company saw the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting and joy and mirth amongst them; and the hoary-headed man and his wife and his daughter were sorrowful.  And the hoary-headed man served Geraint with lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk.  Then the hoary-headed man said to Geraint, “O chieftain, since no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance