“That will I truly,” quoth the other. “Bernlak de Hautdesert am I called
in this land. Morgain le Fay dwelleth in mine house,[10] and through
knowledge of clerkly craft hath she taken many. For long time was she
the mistress of Merlin, who knew well all you knights of the court.
Morgain the goddess is she called therefore, and there is none so
haughty but she can bring him low. She sent me in this guise to yon fair
hall to test the truth of the renown that is spread abroad of the valour
of the Round Table. She taught me this marvel to betray your wits, to
vex Guinevere and fright her to death by the man who spake with his head
in his hand at the high table. That is she who is at home, that ancient
lady, she is even thine aunt, Arthur’s half-sister, the daughter of the
Duchess of Tintagel, who afterward married King Uther. Therefore I bid
thee, knight, come to thine aunt, and make merry in thine house; my folk
love thee, and I wish thee as well as any man on earth, by my faith, for
thy true dealing.”
But Sir Gawain said nay, he would in no wise do so; so they embraced and
kissed, and commended each other to the Prince of Paradise, and parted
right there, on the cold ground. Gawain on his steed rode swiftly to the
king’s hall, and the Green Knight got him whithersoever he would.