Messire Gawain rode until he came to a forest, and seeth a land right
fair and rich in a great enclosure of wall, and round the land and
country-side within, the wall stretched right far away. Thitherward he
cometh and seeth but one entrance thereinto, and he seeth the fairest
land that ever he beheld and the best garnished and the fairest
orchards. The country was not more than four leagues Welsh in length,
and in the midst thereof was a tower on a high rock. And on the top
was a crane that kept watch over it and cried when any strange man came
into the country. Messire Gawain rode amidst the land and the crane
cried out so loud that the King of Wales heard it, that was lord of the
land. Thereupon, behold you, two knights that come after Messire Gawain
and say to him: "Hold, Sir knight, and come speak with the king of this
country, for no strange knight passeth through his land but he seeth
him."
"Lords," saith Messire Gawain, "I knew not of the custom. Willingly
will I go."
They led him thither to the hall where the King was, and Messire Gawain
alighteth and setteth his shield and his spear leaning against a
mounting stage and goeth up into the hall. The King maketh great joy
of him and asketh him whither he would go?
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Into a country where I was never."
"Well I know," saith the king, "where it is, for that you are passing
through my land. You are going to the country of King Gurgalain to
conquer the sword wherewith S. John was beheaded."