'Of joy had I once full measure: a crownèd queen was I! And my daughter amid her princes bare a crown too right royally, And all men they deemed us worthy--Sir Knight, I wrought ill to none, But alike, both man and maiden, from my hand due guerdon won. And all men they knew, and they owned me one fit o'er the folk to reign, 535 For I, so God gave me wisdom, ne'er brought to another pain. Yet she who in gladness dwelleth, tho' a fair praise she think to earn, And the prayer of the poor she hearken, yet her joy to such grief may turn That a poor lad may make her joyful--Sir Knight, here o'erlong I stay, Yet there cometh no man who doth know me, and turneth my care away!' 540 Then out quoth the gallant hero, 'Lady, if life be mine, Then gladness shall be thy portion, nor shalt thou in exile pine!' Now this self-same day brought the coming of Arthur the Breton king, The son of the sad Arnivé, whom kinship and faith did bring; And many a fair new banner Gawain from the castle saw, 545 And the field it was thick with the horsemen who near at his summons draw. On the road that wound hence from Logrois came many a blazoned spear, And Gawain, he was glad at their coming; for delay it oft teacheth fear, Who waiteth o'erlong for succour, he doubteth 'twill come too late! From such doubt had King Arthur freed him! Ah me! how he rode in state! 550 Gawain, he would hold it secret, yet his eyes they were fain to weep, Little good had they been for cisterns, since the water they failed to keep. And for love must he weep, for Arthur such love had toward him shown, He had cherished him from his childhood, and had dealt with him as his own; And the twain they had never wavered, but their faith to each other kept, 555 And nor falsehood nor thought of doubting betwixt their two hearts had crept.