To their marriage couch they bade them, 'twas the will both of king and queen-- 365 Yet throughout the night so courteous he bare him, in truth I ween, He little had pleased those ladies who now, in these latter days, In passion's heat forget all that should win for a woman praise; Tho' modest they seem to strangers, yet their heart gives their mien the lie, And their tenderness worketh sorrow to their friend, tho' in secrecy. 370 But the steadfast knight and faithful guards himself at every hour, And well knoweth to spare a woman an she chanceth within his power. For he thinketh, and thinketh truly, 'For many a lonely year For her favours I served this lady; now, behold, the day is here When her will is to reward me, and here we twain do lie-- 375 Had I touched with bare hand her vesture I were blest to eternity! An I vantage take of her slumbers to myself untrue I seem, Methinks we were both dishonoured did I waken her from her dream, For a woman's sleep is holy, and all men shall own its sway.' Thus the Waleis, who ne'er had feared him, lay still till the dawn of day. 380 Thus he whom men called the Red Knight, a maiden he left the queen, Yet surely she deemed in the morning his wife she o'er night had been, And for love of her lord her tresses she bound with the morning light As matrons are wont to bind them. And he won him, the gallant knight, Castles and lands around them from the hand of his maiden bride, 385 But her _heart_ was ere this his guerdon, and in peace did the twain abide. Thus glad in their love they held them two days till the third night fell, And often he thought might he take her to himself it would please him well. Then he thought of his mother's counsel, and how Gurnemanz spake of yore, That man and wife should as _one_ be, and the doubt vexed his soul no more, 390 And his wife did he take unto him--Love's custom ever old, Yet ever new to lovers, to these twain brought joy untold.