For, the vault below, no pillar was like to that column fair That stood in the midst of the circle, and wondrous the power it bare, 110 For so the venture telleth--Gawain fain would gaze around, And alone did he climb the watch-tower, and precious the jewels he found. And he saw there a greater wonder, and the sight never vexed his eye, For he thought him upon the column all the lands of the earth did lie. And he saw the countries circle, and the mighty mountains' crest 115 Meet, e'en as two hosts in battle, as one vision the other pressed. And folk did he see in the pillar, and on horse or afoot they went, They ran, and they stood: in a window he sat him on seeing bent. Came the agèd Queen Arnivé, with Sangivé her child, and there Were two maidens, the gentle daughters that Sangivé erewhile did bear. 120 And the four queens they came unto Gawain, and he saw them and sprang upright; And thus quoth the Queen Arnivé, 'Methinks thou shouldst sleep, Sir Knight, For though rest may no longer please thee, thou art wounded too sore, I trow, That thou further toil and labour shouldst yet for a season know!' Quoth the knight, 'Lady mine and my mistress, since thy wisdom hath brought to me 125 My wit, and my strength, all my lifetime thy servant I fain would be!' Quoth the queen, 'If I so may read them, the words thou didst speak but now, And thou ownest me as thy mistress, then Sir Knight, to my bidding bow, And kiss at my will these ladies, as thou mayest, without thought of shame, Since nor mother nor maid before thee but a kingly birth may claim!' 130 Then glad was Gawain at her bidding, and he kissed those ladies three, And Sangivé was first, then Itonjé, and the third was the fair Kondrie. And the five sat them down together, and Gawain saw those maidens twain, Their face and their form so gracious, and he looked, and he looked again; Yet one woman so worked upon him, for yet in his heart she lay, 135 That their beauty by Orgelusé's he deemed but a cloudy day. For he held with the Lady of Logrois none other might well compare, And his heart and his thoughts were captive to this lady so sweet and fair.