When Messire Gawain was clad in the rich robe, right comely was he to
behold, and well seemed he to be a knight of great valour. "Sir," say
the knights, "May it please you come see the lord of this castle?"
"Right gladly will I see him," saith he, "For I would fain present him
with a rich sword."
They lead him into the chamber where lay King Fisherman, and it seemed
as it were all strown and sprinkled of balm, and it was all strown with
green herbs and reeds. And King Fisherman lay on a bed hung on cords
whereof the stavs were of ivory; and therein was a mattress of straw
whereon he lay, and above a coverlid of sables whereof the cloth was
right rich. And he had a cap of sables on his head covered with a red
samite of silk, and a golden cross, and under his head was a pillow all
smelling sweet of balm, and at the four corners of the pillow were four
stones that gave out a right great brightness of light; and over
against him was a pillar of copper whereon sate an eagle that held a
cross of gold wherein was a piece of the true cross whereon God was
set, as long as was the cross itself; the which the good man adored.
And in four tall candle sticks of gold were four tall wax tapers set as
often as was need. Messire Gawain cometh before the King and saluteth
him. And the King maketh him right great cheer, and biddeth him be
welcome.
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I present you with the sword whereof John
was beheaded."
"Gramercy." saith the King: "Certes, I knew well that you would bring
it, for neither you nor other might have come in hither without the
sword, and if you had not been of great valour you would not have
conquered it."
He taketh the sword and setteth it to his mouth and so kisseth it right
sweetly and maketh right great joy thereof. And a damsel cometh to sit
at the head of the bed, to whom he giveth the sword in keeping. Two
others sit at his feet that look at him right sweetly.
"What is your name?" saith the King.
"Sir, my name is Gawain."
"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith he, "This brightness of light that shineth
there within cometh to us of God for love of you. For every time that
a knight cometh hither to harbour within this castle it appeareth as
brightly as you see it now. And greater cheer would I make you than I
do were I able to help myself, but I am fallen into languishment from
the hour that the knight of whom you have heard tell harboured
herewithin. On account of one single word he delayed to speak, did
this languishment come upon me. Wherefore I pray you for God's sake
that you remember to speak it, for right glad should you be and you may
restore me my health. And see here is the daughter of my sister that
hath been plundered of her land and disinherited in such wise that
never can she have it again save through her brother only whom she
goeth to seek; and we have been told that he is the Best Knight of the
world, but we can learn no true tidings of him."
"Sir," saith the damsel to her uncle the King, "Thank Messire Gawain of
the honour he did to my lady-mother when he came to her hostel. He
stablished our land again in peace, and conquered the keeping of the
castle for a year, and set my lady-mother's five knights there with us
to keep it. The year hath now passed, wherefore will the war be now
renewed against us and God succour us not, and I find not my brother
whom we have lost so long."
"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I helped you so far as I might, and so
would I again and I were there. And fainer am I to see your brother
than all the knights of the world. But no true tidings may I hear of
him, save so much, that I was at a hermitage where was a King hermit
and he bade me make no noise for that the Best Knight of the world lay
sick therewithin, and he told me that name was Par-lui-fet. I saw his
horse being led by a squire before the chapel, and his arms and shield
whereon was a sun figured."
"Sir," saith the damsel, "My brother's name is not Par-lui-fet, but
Perlesvax in right baptism, and it is said of them that have seen him
that never comelier knight was known."
"Certes," saith the King, "Never saw I comelier than he that came in
hither nor better like to be good knight, and I know of a truth that
such he is, for otherwise never might he have entered hereinto. But
good reward of harbouring him had I not, for I may help neither myself
nor other. For God's sake, Messire Gawain, hold me in remembrance this
night, for great affiance have I in your valour."
"Certes, Sir, please God, nought will I do within yonder, whereof I may
be blamed of right."