Messire Gawain lay therewithin the night, and right well lodged was he.
The morrow, when he had heard mass, he departed and went forth of the
castle when he had taken leave. And he findeth the fairest land of the
world and the fairest meadow-grounds that were ever seen, and the
fairest rivers and forests garnished of wild deer and hermitages. And
he rideth until he cometh one day as evening was about to draw on, to
the house of a hermit, and the house was so low that his horse might
not enter therein. And his chapel was scarce taller, and the good man
had never issued therefrom of forty years past. The Hermit putteth his
head out of the window when he seeth Messire Gawain and saith, "Sir,
welcome may you be," saith he.
"Sir, God give you joy, Will you give me lodging to-night?" saith
Messire Gawain.
"Sir, herewithin none harboureth save the Lord God alone, for earthly
man hath never entered herewithin but me this forty year, but see, here
in front is the castle wherein the good knights are lodged."
"What is the castle?"
"Sir, the good King Fisherman's, that is surrounded with great waters
and plenteous in all things good, so the lord were in joy. But behoveth
them harbour none there save good knights only."
"God grant," saith Messire Gawain, "that I may come therein."
XIV.
When he knoweth that he is nigh the castle, he alighteth and confesseth
him to the hermit, and avoweth all his sins and repenteth him thereof
right truly.
"Sir," saith the hermit, "Now forget not, so God be willing to allow
you, to ask that which the other knight forgat, and be not afeard for
ought you may see at the entrance of the castle, but ride on without
misgiving and adore the holy chapel you will see appear in the castle,
there where the flame of the Holy Spirit descendeth each day for the
most Holy Graal and the point of the lance that is served there."
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "God teach me to do His will!"
He taketh leave, and goeth his way and rideth until the valley
appeareth wherein the castle is seated garnished of all things good,
and he seeth appear the most holy chapel. He alighteth, and then
setteth him on his knees and boweth him down and adoreth right sweetly.
Thereafter he remounteth and rideth until he findeth a sepulchre right
rich, and it had a cover over, and it lay very nigh the castle, and it
seemed to be within a little burial-ground that was enclosed all round
about, nor were any other tombs therein. A voice crieth to him as he
passeth the burial-ground: "Touch not the sepulchre, for you are not
the Good Knight through whom shall it be known who lieth therein."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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