But Gareth refused. In a little while they came to the first circle of the river. The passing-place was spanned by a bridge. On the farther side of the bridge was a beautiful pavilion, draped in silk of gold and crimson colors. In front of it passed a warrior without armor.
"Damsel," he cried, "is this the knight you have brought from Arthur's Court to fight with me?"
"Ah!" she said, "the king scorns you so much that he has sent a kitchen boy to fight with you. Take care that he does not fall on you before you are armed, for he is a knave."
"Gareth rode at him fiercely"
The warrior went inside his tent for his armor, and the damsel said to Gareth:
"Are you afraid?"
"Damsel," he said, "I am not afraid. I would rather fight twenty times than hear you speak so unkindly of me. Yet your cruel words have put strength into my arm. I shall fight well."
Then the knight came forth all in armor, and he said: