And courteous he spake to Sir Gawain. 'What I saw, I Sir Knight will say: The sire of the young King Meljanz, as he on his death-bed lay, He bade them draw near unto him, the princes from out his land, For his gallant life lay forfeit, a pledge in stern Death's cold hand, 110 And to Death he needs must yield him--In grief o'er his coming end To the faith of the princes round him his son would the king commend, And he chose out one from among them, the chief of his vassals true, And his faith was proved and steadfast, and from false ways afar he flew. And he gave the lad to his keeping, and he quoth, 'Now, with hand and heart, 115 True service henceforward show him, bid him aye act a kingly part To vassal alike and stranger; bid him list to the poor man's prayer, And freely give of his substance.' Thus he left him unto his care.' 'And Prince Lippaut did as his monarch, dying, of him did pray, Nor failed in aught, but true service he did to his lord alway. 120 And he took the lad to his castle, and the prince had two children fair, He loved them well, and I think me, e'en to-day they his love shall share. One maiden in naught was lacking, save in age, that a knight might crave Her love for his love's rewarding; Obie was the name they gave To this maid; Obilot, her sister; and the elder maid, I ween, 125 Hath wrought ill, for she, and none other, the cause of this strife hath been.' 'It so fell that one day the young king for his service reward would pray, 'Twas an ill thought, she quoth, and she asked him why his wits he had cast away? And she spake unto him, 'I think me, e'en if thou so old shouldst be, That 'neath shield thou the hours hadst counted that in worthy strife might flee; 130 With helmet on head hadst mingled in knightly venture bold, Till the tale of thy days, if reckoned, full five years more had told; If there thou hadst won thee honour, and hither hadst come again, And bowed thyself to my bidding, if a _yea_ I to speak were fain To that which thou now desirest, all too soon should I grant thy prayer-- 135 Thou art dear, I will ne'er deny it, as Galoes to Annora fair; For death did she seek, and I think me that her seeking was not in vain, When she lost him, her well belovèd, and her knight in a joust was slain.'