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Yvain and Gawain
Sir Gawain's arms were not his own. He did not want to be recognised.
'I found the basin and the cold spring, and saw the stone and laughed for joy when I saw it! So I took the basin and poured some water onto it. Suddenly, clouds gathered, the sky blackened and thunder cracked. Then rain fell, and hail, so that I could hardly stand upright, and the wind blew harder than I had ever known it to before. I was blasted with snow and freezing rain, and fought to remain on my feet. Lightening flashed so close to me that I could feel the heat! I didn't know what to do. And truly, if it had lasted any longer than it did, it would have been the end of me, I know. But through God's might the storm abated suddenly and the weather brightened; and the greatest pleasure, I can tell you, is to be in safety following danger.
'Then I saw a lovely sight. For so many birds flew down and perched on the tree that hardly a leaf could be seen for them. They started to sing, and all the woods around me rang out with melodious birdsong. No man has ever heard anything like it, unless it was this very same thing! And when they finished singing, I heard another sound.
'A knight came riding towards me in fine armour, and when I saw him I took up my shield and lance. He galloped towards me and called out, asking me why I did him such dishonour as to waken him with storms and cause such havoc in his forest.' ...
... ...
There was the elder sister, waiting for the forty days to expire. She put all her trust in Sir Gawain, but for the last seven days Sir Gawain had not been seen. He was in another town, for he intended to come on the appointed day in such a way that no man would see his face; the arms he bore were not his own. He did not want to be recognised.
Sir Yvain and his damsel took lodgings in the town. And there Sir Yvain kept his head down, so that nobody would know that he was the Knight of the Lion. If they had delayed for a day more, the younger sister would have lost her lands. Sir Yvain rested for the night and in the morning he armed himself. They left the lion sleeping. It was both her desire and his that Sir Yvain should come to court as an unknown knight.
