her counsel know, 'Now do thou in this my bidding, in secret thou hence shalt go, And wait till the sun be higher, and the folk all at court shall be, Knights, servants, and gentle ladies, and vassals of all degree; And then to the court ride swiftly, nor think who shall hold thy steed, 315 But spring from its back, and hasten where the king shall thy coming heed. They will ask of thee news of venture, but thou, do thou act and speak As one who from peril flieth, whom the flames would devouring seek, And they may not prevail to hold thee, nor win from thy lips the tale, But press thou thro' them to the monarch, and to greet thee he will not fail. 320 Then give to his hand the letter, and swiftly from it he'll read Thy tale, and thy lord's desiring; I doubt not the prayer he'll heed!' 'And this will I further rede thee, make thou thy request to me Where I sit, and, amid my ladies, thy dealings may hear and see; And beseech us, as well thou knowest, for thy lord wouldst thou hearing gain. 325 But say, for as yet I know not, where abideth the knight Gawain?' 'Nay,' quoth the squire, 'I may not, ask not where my lord doth dwell, But think, an thou wilt, that good fortune is his, and he fareth well!' Then glad was the squire of her counsel, and he took from the queen his way In such wise as ye here have hearkened, and he came, e'en as she did say. 330