Quoth the king, 'Nay then, my sister, an I may, so stands my will, Thou shalt give me here thy counsel, for I think me I did but ill, And stained thereby mine honour, and dimmed my knightly fame; And I deem me but little worthy that thou shouldst me as brother claim. E'en if all lands should do my bidding at thy prayer would I yield them all, 515 Lest that sorrow of sorrows greatest, thine hatred, on me should fall! And honour and joy were ended an I said to thy pleading, Nay-- Sir Gawain, I here entreat thee, since for fame thou didst ride this way, An thou knightly fame wouldst honour, so help me, that I may win Anew from my sister favour, and forgiveness for this my sin. 520 Far liefer were I to pardon the wrong thou hast done to me Than to lose her, my sweetest sister--Now list what thy task shall be, Do thou swear to me here that truly thou wilt strive, as I erst was fain To strive, for the Grail's fair kingdom, and the honour thou there shalt gain.' In such wise the strife was ended, Sir Gawain far hence must ride, 525 And with sword and spear do battle, and woe for the Grail abide. And the Landgrave forgave his monarch the wrong that he did his word When he brake his pledge unto Gawain--and no prince of the land but heard. Then their swords they ungirt, and they hung them in their place on the castle wall-- And the squires of Gawain came swiftly, and, joyful, he hailed them all, 530 For not one in strife was wounded--for a man of the Burger folk, Ere the battle waxed hot, had claimed them, and wise were the words he spoke, And their peace he prayed from the foemen, and he held them awhile in ward, Were they French, or from land of the Breton, till again to their rightful lord He might send them in peace--Some were children, and some were lads strong and young-- 535 And glad were their hearts when they saw him, and awhile on his neck they hung, And weeping they kissed Sir Gawain, yet no sorrow I ween was there, But from joy sprang the crystal tear-drops that ran o'er their faces fair.