Messire Gawain rode until he came to a forest, and seeth a land right fair and rich in a great enclosure of wall, and round the land and country-side within, the wall stretched right far away. Thitherward he cometh and seeth but one entrance thereinto, and he seeth the fairest land that ever he beheld and the best garnished and the fairest orchards. The country was not more than four leagues Welsh in length, and in the midst thereof was a tower on a high rock. And on the top was a crane that kept watch over it and cried when any strange man came into the country. Messire Gawain rode amidst the land and the crane cried out so loud that the King of Wales heard it, that was lord of the land. Thereupon, behold you, two knights that come after Messire Gawain and say to him: "Hold, Sir knight, and come speak with the king of this country, for no strange knight passeth through his land but he seeth him." "Lords," saith Messire Gawain, "I knew not of the custom. Willingly will I go." They led him thither to the hall where the King was, and Messire Gawain alighteth and setteth his shield and his spear leaning against a mounting stage and goeth up into the hall. The King maketh great joy of him and asketh him whither he would go? "Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Into a country where I was never." "Well I know," saith the king, "where it is, for that you are passing through my land. You are going to the country of King Gurgalain to conquer the sword wherewith S. John was beheaded." II. "Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "You say true. God grant me that I may have it!" "That may not be so hastily," saith the King, "For you shall not go forth of my land before a year." "Ha, Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "For God's sake, mercy!" "None other mercy is here," saith the King. Straightway he maketh Messire Gawain be disarmed and afterward maketh bring a robe wherewith to apparel him, and showeth him much honour. But ill is he at ease, wherefore he saith to him: "Sir, wherefore are you fain to hold me here within so long?" "For this, that I know well you will have the sword and will not return by me." "Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I pledge you my word that, so God give me to conquer it, I will return by you." "And I will allow you to depart from me at your will. For nought is there that I so much desire to see."