"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.
"Yonder is a knight at the cross," said the dwarf, at length. "Let us leave it to him, and abide by his decision."
"I agree to that," said the knight.
Thereupon they rode to Gawaine and told him the purpose of their strife.
"Do you put the matter into my hands?" he asked.