So when the shield was come, Sir Gawaine took off the case, and when he beheld that shield he knew anon that it was Sir Launcelot's shield, and his own arms.
"Ah Jesu, mercy!" said Sir Gawaine, "now is my heart more heavier than ever it was before."
"Why?" said the damsel Elaine.
"For I have a great cause," said Sir Gawaine; "is that knight that oweth that shield your love?"
"Yea, truly," said she, "my love he is, God would that I were his love."
"So God me speed," said Sir Gawaine, "fair damsel, ye love the most honorable knight of the world, and the man of most worship."
"So me thought ever," said the damsel, "for never or that time for no knight that ever I saw loved I never none erst."
"God grant," said Sir Gawaine, "that either of you may rejoice other, but that is in a great adventure; but truly," said Sir Gawaine unto the damsel, "ye may say ye have a fair grace, for why I have known that noble knight this fourteen years, and never or that day I or none other knight, I dare make it good, saw nor heard that ever he bare token or sign of no lady, gentlewoman, nor maid, at no jousts nor tournament; and therefore, fair maid," said Sir Gawaine, "ye are much beholden to give him thanks; but I dread me," said Sir Gawaine, "ye shall never see him in this world, and that is great pity as ever was of earthly knight."
"Alas!" said she, "how may this be? is he slain?"
"I say not so," said Sir Gawaine, "but wit ye well that he is grievously wounded by all manner of signs, and by men's sight more likelier to be dead than to be alive, and wit ye well he is the noble knight Sir Launcelot, for by his shield I know him."