Thereupon behold you a damsel that cometh to the door of the chapel and
calleth very low to the hermit, and the hermit riseth up and taketh
leave of Messire Gawain, and shutteth the door of the chapel; and the
squire leadeth away the destrier and beareth the arms within door and
shutteth the postern door of the house. And Messire abideth without and
knoweth not of a truth whether it be the son of the Widow Lady, for
many good men there be of one lineage. He departeth all abashed and
entereth again into the forest. The history telleth not all the
journeys that he made. Rather, I tell you in brief words that he
wandered so far by lands and kingdoms that he found a right fair land
and a rich, and a castle seated in the midst thereof. Thitherward
goeth he and draweth nigh the castle and seeth it compassed about of
high walls, and he seeth the entrance of the castle far without. He
looketh and seeth a lion chained that lay in the midst of the entrance
to the gate, and the chain was fixed in the wall. And on either side
of the gate he seeth two serjeants of beaten copper that were fixed to
the wall, and by engine shot forth quarrels from their cross-bows with
great force and great wrath. Messire Gawain durst not come anigh the
gate for that he seeth the lion and these folk. He looketh above on
the top of the wall and seeth a sort of folk that seemed him to be of
holy life, and saw there priests clad in albs and knights bald and
ancient that were clad in ancient seeming garments. And in each crenel
of the wall was a cross and a chapel. Above the wall, hard by an issue
from a great hall that was in the castle, was another chapel, and above
the chapel was a tall cross, and on either side of this cross another
that was somewhat lower, and on the top of each cross was a golden
eagle. The priests and the knights were upon the walls and knelt
toward this chapel, and looked up to heaven and made great joy, and
well it seemed him that they beheld God in Heaven with His Mother.
Messire Gawain looketh at them from afar, for he durst not come anigh
the castle for these that shoot their arrows so strongly that none
armour might defend him. Way seeth he none to right nor left save he
go back again. He knoweth not what to do. He looketh before him and
seeth a priest issue forth of the gateway. "Fair sir," saith Messire
Gawain, "Welcome may you be!"
"Good adventure to you also," saith the good man, "What is your
pleasure?"
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "So please you, I would fain ask you to
tell me what castle is this?"
"It is," saith he, "the entrance to the land of the rich King
Fisherman, and within yonder are they beginning the service of the Most
Holy Graal."
"Allow me then," saith Messire Gawain, "that I may pass on further, for
toward the land of King Fisherman have I emprised my way."
"Sir," saith the priest, "I tell you of a truth that you may not enter
the castle nor come nigher unto the Holy Graal, save you bring the
sword wherewith S. John was beheaded."
"What?" saith Messire Gawain, "Shall I be evilly entreated and I bring
it not?"
"So much may you well believe me herein," saith the priest, "And I tell
you moreover that he who hath it is the fellest misbelieving King that
lives. But so you bring the Sword, this entrance will be free to you,
and great joy will be made of you in all places wherein King Fisherman
hath power."
"Then must I needs go back again," saith Messire Gawain, "Whereof I
have right to be sore sorrowful."
"So ought you not to be," saith the priest, "For, so you bring the
sword and conquer it for us, then will it be well known that you are
worthy to behold the Holy Graal. But take heed you remember him who
would not ask whereof it served."
Thereupon Messire Gawain departeth so sorrowful and full of thought
that he remembereth not to ask in what land he may find the sword nor
the name of the King that hath it. But he will know tidings thereof
when God pleaseth.