'Then soothly I'll mourn for their sorrow,' quoth Gawain, 'but mine host now say Why vex thee so sore for my question? Thine answer why thus delay?' 'Sir Knight, for thy manhood mourn I, if thou wilt not thy question spare Then strife sure shall be thy portion, and sorrow thine heart shall bear. And thy sorrow of joy shall rob us, myself and my children three, 65 Who were born for thy gallant service true service to yield to thee.' Quoth Gawain, 'Yet for this thou shalt tell me, or if thou still say me, Nay, And I learn not from thee the story yet the truth will I know alway!' Then the host he spake out truly, 'Sir Knight, I must sorely rue, The question thou here dost ask me--Thou goest to strife anew, 70 Arm thee well, and a shield I'll lend thee--In "Terre Merveil" thou art, And the "Lit Merveil" shall be here--And ne'er hath a knightly heart Withstood all the many dangers that in Château Merveil shall be! Turn aside, ere thy death o'ertake thee, for life should be dear to thee! For wherever thine hand shall have striven, or what ventures soe'er it found 75 As child's play have been thy perils to those which beset this ground!' Quoth Gawain, 'Yet 'twould sorely vex me, if I, but to save me pain, Rode hence, doing naught, and those ladies had looked for mine aid in vain. Long since have I heard of this castle, and since it so near doth stand No man from the task shall bring me; to the venture I set my hand!' 80 Then the host he did sore bemoan him, and he spake to his guest so true, 'Now as naught is all other peril, what perils around thee drew, To the peril of this adventure, to its awe, and its anguish dire, And naught but the truth am I speaking, for no man ever spake me liar! But that gallant knight, Sir Gawain, for naught would he turn aside, 85 But he quoth, 'Now mine host give counsel how the strife I may best abide, If thy words be the words of wisdom, and God give me the strength thereto, Thy will and thy rede I'll follow, and knightly the deeds I'll do! Sir Host, of a sooth it were ill done, did I fail here a blow to strike, And coward should I be accounted of foeman and friend alike.' 90 Then first did the host bemoan him, such sorrow he ne'er might know, And he quoth to his guest, 'If it may be that Heaven such grace shall show That death be not here thy portion, then this land unto thee