Then he quoth, 'Now, where shall my spear be, since I wot well I brought it here?' Quoth Gawain, 'A joust hast thou ridden, and splintered shall be thy spear.' 'With whom should I joust?' quoth the Waleis, 'thou bearest nor sword nor shield, And little had been mine honour, an thou to my hand didst yield! 410 Yet bear I awhile thy mocking, nor will I thy friendship pray, Tho' many a joust have I ridden, yet my saddle I kept alway. An thou be not for jousting minded, and I find not in thee a foe, Yet the world lieth wide before me, and hence on my way I go; For labour and strife am I seeking and fain would I win me praise, 415 Be anguish or joy my portion; nor unfruitful shall be my days.' Quoth Gawain, 'What I spake aforetime I spake of true heart and free, Nor my thoughts were the thoughts of evil, for well would I deal with thee; And the boon that I crave will I win me, my monarch with many a knight Lieth here at hand with his army, and with many a lady bright, 420 An it please thee, Sir Knight, to betake thee to our goodly company, From all strife shall this right hand guard thee, and gladly I'll ride with thee.' 'I thank thee, Sir Knight, fair thou speakest, yet say ere with thee I ride, Who the monarch may be whom thou servest? and who rideth here at my side?' 'A man do I hail as master, thro' whose fame much fame I won, 425 Nor here shall my mouth keep silence on the things he for me hath done. For dear hath he ever held me, and as true knight did me entreat: (His sister King Lot hath wedded, and the twain I as parents greet.) And the good gifts God gave unto me, to his service I yield them all, For my hand and my heart he ruleth, whom men do King Arthur call. 430 Nor mine own name need here be hidden, nor a secret shall long remain, For the folk and the lands that know me, they call on me as Gawain: And fain would I do thee service, alike with my hand and name, If thou turnest here at my bidding, nor bringest upon me shame!'