When the Michaelmas moon was come in with warnings of winter, Sir Gawain
bethought him full oft of his perilous journey. Yet till All Hallows Day
he lingered with Arthur, and on that day they made a great feast for the
hero’s sake, with much revel and richness of the Round Table. Courteous
knights and comely ladies, all were in sorrow for the love of that
knight, and though they spake no word of it many were joyless for his
sake.
And after meat, sadly Sir Gawain turned to his uncle, and spake of his
journey, and said, “Liege lord of my life, leave from you I crave. Ye
know well how the matter stands without more words, to-morrow am I bound
to set forth in search of the Green Knight.”
Then came together all the noblest knights, Ywain and Erec, and many
another. Sir Dodinel le Sauvage, Launcelot and Lionel, and Lucan the
Good, Sir Bors and Sir Bedivere, valiant knights both, and many another
hero, with Sir Mador de la Porte, and they all drew near, heavy at
heart, to take counsel with Sir Gawain. Much sorrow and weeping was
there in the hall to think that so worthy a knight as Gawain should wend
his way to seek a deadly blow, and should no more wield his sword in
fight. But the knight made ever good cheer, and said, “Nay, wherefore
should I shrink? What may a man do but prove his fate?”