And Gawain by the mouth of Scherules, Obilot his lady prayed; Fain would the hero see her, his life in her hand he laid, And would crave from her lips dismissal--and further the hero spake, 'I leave the king here, her captive, and I pray her such thought to take 900 That she may in such wise entreat him, that her honour shall wax apace!' And Meljanz spake, 'Well I know this, Obilot is of maiden grace And maiden worth the glory; and joyful am I at heart If her captive I be, for in gladness methinks shall I have my part,' Then out quoth the gallant Gawain, 'Her prisoner art thou alone, 905 'Tis _she_ who hath captive made thee, and _my_ glory is here her own.' Before them rode Scherules--As was fitting for royal court, Nor man was there nor maiden but had robed them in such sort That one, in poor guise and scanty, might scarce have been seen that day-- They who sware their pledge to the Red Knight with Meljanz must take their way. 910 And there in the hall of the castle they sat in their order four, Lippaut, his wife, and his daughters, as the guests passed within the door. Up sprang the host and hastened his lord and king to greet, And close pressed the crowd around them as friend with foe did meet; By Gawain's side stood Meljanz. 'Now, an it were here thy will, 915 Thy friend of old, the Duchess, with kiss would she greet thee still.' And Meljanz to his host made answer, '_Two_ ladies I think to see From whom I'll take kiss and greeting--but the _third_ naught shall win from me.' And the parents wept; but the maiden, Obilot, was glad and gay, And they greeted their king with kisses; and two beardless kings that day 920 They kissed, with the Duke of Marangliess, and the gallant Knight Gawain. And they brought him his little lady, and the fair child he clasped again, And e'en as a doll he held her so close to his manly breast, As joy and delight constrained him, and to Meljanz his speech addrest: 'Thine hand hath surety pledged me, of that shall thou now be free, 925 In my right arm I hold my lady, _her_ captive thou now shalt be.'