Therewithal the knights depart asunder, and Messire Gawain rode on
until he found in the forest a castle right fair and rich, and met an
ancient knight that was issued forth of the castle for disport, and
held a bird on his fist. He saluteth Messire Gawain and he him again,
and he asked him what castle is this that he seeth show so fair? And
he telleth him it is the castle of the Proud Maiden that never deigned
ask a knight his name.
"And we, that are her men, durst not do it on her behalf. But right
well will you be lodged in the castle, for right courteous is she
otherwise and the fairest that ever any may know. Nor never hath she
had any lord, nor deigned to love no knight save she heard tell that he
was the best knight in the world. And I will go to her with you of
courtesy."
"Gramercy, Sir," saith Messire Gawain. They enter into the castle both
twain together, and alight at the mounting-stage before the hall. The
knight taketh Messire Gawain by the hand and leadeth him up, and maketh
disarm him, and bringeth him a surcoat of scarlet purfled of vair and
maketh him do it on. Then leadeth he the lady of the castle to Messire
Gawain, and he riseth up to meet her.
"Lady," saith he "Welcome may you be!"
"And you, Sir, be welcome!" saith she, "Will you see my chapel?"
"Damsel," saith he, "At your pleasure."
And she leadeth him and taketh Messire Gawain by the hand, and he
looketh at the chapel and it well seemeth him that never before had he
come into none so fair nor so rich, and he seeth four tombs within, the
fairest that he had seen ever. And on the right hand side of the
chapel were three narrow openings in the wall that were wrought all
about with gold and precious stones, and beyond the three openings he
seeth great circlets of lighted candles that were before three coffers
of hallows that were there, and the smell thereof was sweeter than balm.
"Sir knight," saith the damsel, "See you these tombs?"
"Yea, damsel," saith Messire Gawain.
"These three are made for the three best knights in the world and the
fourth for me. The one hath for name Messire Gawain and the second
Lancelot of the Lake. Each of them do I love for love's sake, by my
faith! And the third hath for name Perceval. Him love I better than
the other two. And within these three openings are the hallows set for
love of them. And behold what I would do to them and their three heads
were therein; and so I might not do it to the three together, yet would
I do it to two, or even to one only."
She setteth her hand toward the openings and draweth forth a pin that
was fastened into the wall, and a cutting blade of steel droppeth down,
of steel sharper than any razor, and closeth up the three openings.
"Even thus will I cut off their heads when they shall set them into
those three openings thinking to adore the hallows that are beyond.
Afterward will I make take the bodies and set them in the three
coffins, and do them be honoured and enshrouded right richly, for joy
of them in their life may I never have. And when the end of my life
shall be come as God will, even so will I make set me in the fourth
coffin, and so shall I have company of the three good knights."
Messire Gawain heard the word, whereof he marvelled right sore, and
would right fain that the night were overpassed. They issue forth of
the chapel. The damsel maketh Messire Gawain be greatly honoured that
night, and there was great company of knights within that served him
and helped guard the castle. They show Messire Gawain much worship,
but they knew not that it was he, nor did none ask him, for such was
the custom of the castle. But well she knew that he oftentimes passed
to and fro amidst the forest, and four of the knights that watched the
forest and the passers-by had she commanded that and if any of these
three knights should pass they should bring him to her without gainsay,
and she would increase the land of each for so doing.