Therewith the squire departeth, and the tempest rageth incontinent
until he is come to the bridge; and he rideth beyond and cometh to the
meadow, and the storm is stayed so that he setteth his shield to rights
again upon his neck. And he seeth before him a castle where was a
great company of folk that were making great cheer. He rideth until he
cometh to the castle and seeth right great throng of folk, knights and
dames and damsels. Messire Gawain alighteth, but findeth in the castle
none that is willing to take his reins, so busied are they making
merry. Messire Gawain presenteth himself on the one side and the other,
but all of them avoid him, and he seeth that he maketh but an ill stay
therewithin for himself, wherefore he departeth from the castle and
meeteth a knight at the gate.
"Sir," saith he, "What castle is this?"
"And see you not," saith the knight, "that it is a castle of joy?"
"By my faith" saith Messire Gawain, "They of the castle be not
over-courteous, for all this time hath none come to take my reins."
"Not for this lose they their courtesy," saith the knight, "For this is
no more than you have deserved. They take you to be as slothful of
deed as you are of word, and they saw that you were come through the
Forest Perilous whereby pass all the discomfited, as well appeareth by
your arms and your horse."
Therewith the knight departeth, and Messire Gawain hath ridden a great
space sorrowful and sore abashed, until he cometh to a land parched and
poor and barren of all comfort, and therein findeth he a poor castle,
whereinto he cometh and seeth it much wasted, but that within was there
a hall that seemed haunted of folk. And Messire Gawain cometh
thitherward and alighteth, and a knight cometh down the steps of the
hall right poorly clad.
"Sir," saith the knight to Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be!"
After that, he taketh him by the hand and leadeth him upward to the
hall, that was all waste. Therewithal issue two damsels from a
chamber, right poorly clad, that were of passing great beauty, and make
great cheer to Messire Gawain. So, when he was fain to disarm, behold
you thereupon a knight that entereth into the hall, and he was smitten
with the broken end of a lance through his body. He seeth Messire
Gawain, whom he knoweth.
"Now haste!" saith he, "and disarm you not! Right joyful am I that I
have found you! I come from this forest wherein have I left Lancelot
fighting with four knights, whereof one is dead, and they think that it
is you, and they are of kindred to the knight that you slew at the tent
where you destroyed the evil custom. I was fain to help Lancelot, when
one of the knights smote me as you may see."
Messire Gawain goeth down from the hall and mounteth all armed upon his
horse.