Weary he closed his eyelids, and he slept in a slumber deep

Till the light of the early morning must waken him from his sleep.

And many a window saw he within that chamber wall,

And clear glass was before each window—Thro’ a doorway the light did fall,

’Twas open, without was an orchard, thither gat him the gallant knight5

For the air, and the song-birds’ music, and to see what might meet his sight

And but little space had he sat there, when the castle he saw again

As at eventide he saw it when he fought on the grassy plain.

And he saw from the hall of the palace full many a maiden gaze,

And many were fair to look on; and he thought, with a great amaze,10

That a wondrous watch they must keep there, since they wearied not thro’ the night,

And little might they have slumbered, for as yet scarce had dawned the light.

Then he thought, ‘For the sake of these ladies will I lay me to sleep once more.’

Then again to his couch he gat him, and for covering he drew him o’er

The mantle the maid had lent him—Did no man his slumber break?15

Nay, sorely the host had vexed him, if one should his guest awake.

Then of true heart bethought the maiden, who soft by her mother lay,

And she roused her from out her slumber, and she took to the guest her way,

And again he slept so sweetly—Then she thought her, that gentle maid,

That fain would she do him service, and she sat her beside his bed,20

Fair was she, and sweet to look on, and but seldom at eventide,

Or in hour of the early dawning, such venture has sought my side!

Short space ere Gawain awakened and beheld how she watched him there,

And he looked and he laughed upon her, ‘God reward thee, thou maiden fair,

That thou breakest for me thy slumber, on thyself dost thou vengeance take,25

Since nor service nor joust so knightly have I ridden for thy sweet sake!’

And she answered, that gracious maiden, ‘On thy service no claim have I,

But look thou with favour on me, and thy will do I willingly,

And all who are with my father, yea, mother alike and child,

Do hail thee their lord and master, for love of thy dealings mild!’30

Then he quoth, ‘Is it long since thou camest? Had I of thy coming known

Fain would I have asked a question, perchance thou the truth hadst shown:

Yestreen and again this morning fair ladies have looked on me

From a mighty tower, of thy goodness now tell me who may they be?’

But the maiden she shrunk in terror, and she cried, ‘Ask me not, Sir Knight,35

Since ne’er may I give an answer—I prithee to hear aright,

If I knew, yet I might not tell thee, nor do thou my silence chide,

But ask thou what else shall please thee and my lips naught from thee shall hide,

But on this thing alone keep silence, and follow thou what I say!’

But Gawain, he would ever ask her, and ever an answer pray,40

What ladies were they who sat there, and looked from that stately hall?

And the maiden she wept full sorely, and aloud in her grief did call.

’Twas yet in the early dawning, and her father he sought her side,

Nor I deem me had he been wrathful if here did such chance betide

That Gawain with the maid had striven, and had forced her unto his will,45

And the maiden, so fair and gentle, in such wise did she hold her still,

For beside the couch was she seated—Then her father he mildly spake,

‘Now weep not so sore, my daughter, for if one a jest doth make

Whereof thou at first art wrathful, yet I ween ere the time be long,

Shall thy sorrow be changed to gladness, and thy wailing to joyful song!’50

Quoth Gawain, ‘Nay, mine host, naught hath chanced here save that which thine eye may see;

This maiden I fain would question, but naught would she tell to me,

For she thinketh, ’tis my undoing, and silence hath she implored:

But now if it shall not vex thee let my service here find reward,

And tell me, mine host, if it please thee, how it stands with those ladies there,55

For I know not the place or the country where I looked on such maidens fair,

So many there are, and their raiment showeth clear to my wondering sight!’

Then the host wrung his hands for sorrow, and he spake, ‘Ask me not, Sir Knight,

In the name of God, ask no question—For wherever thy foot shall speed,

Or whatever thine eyes shall light on, no need shall be like their need!’60

‘Then soothly I’ll mourn for their sorrow,’ quoth Gawain, ‘but mine host now say

Why vex thee so sore for my question? Thine answer why thus delay?’

‘Sir Knight, for thy manhood mourn I, if thou wilt not thy question spare

Then strife sure shall be thy portion, and sorrow thine heart shall bear.

And thy sorrow of joy shall rob us, myself and my children three,65

Who were born for thy gallant service true service to yield to thee.’

Quoth Gawain, ‘Yet for this thou shalt tell me, or if thou still say me, Nay,

And I learn not from thee the story yet the truth will I know alway!’

Then the host he spake out truly, ‘Sir Knight, I must sorely rue,

The question thou here dost ask me—Thou goest to strife anew,70

Arm thee well, and a shield I’ll lend thee—In “Terre Merveil” thou art,

And the “Lit Merveil” shall be here—And ne’er hath a knightly heart

Withstood all the many dangers that in Chateau Merveil shall be!

Turn aside, ere thy death o’ertake thee, for life should be dear to thee!

For wherever thine hand shall have striven, or what ventures soe’er it found75

As child’s play have been thy perils to those which beset this ground!’

Quoth Gawain, ‘Yet ’twould sorely vex me, if I, but to save me pain,

Rode hence, doing naught, and those ladies had looked for mine aid in vain.

Long since have I heard of this castle, and since it so near doth stand

No man from the task shall bring me; to the venture I set my hand!’80

Then the host he did sore bemoan him, and he spake to his guest so true,

‘Now as naught is all other peril, what perils around thee drew,

To the peril of this adventure, to its awe, and its anguish dire,

And naught but the truth am I speaking, for no man ever spake me liar!

But that gallant knight, Sir Gawain, for naught would he turn aside,85

But he quoth, ‘Now mine host give counsel how the strife I may best abide,

If thy words be the words of wisdom, and God give me the strength thereto,

Thy will and thy rede I’ll follow, and knightly the deeds I’ll do!

Sir Host, of a sooth it were ill done, did I fail here a blow to strike,

And coward should I be accounted of foeman and friend alike.’90

Then first did the host bemoan him, such sorrow he ne’er might know,

And he quoth to his guest, ‘If it may be that Heaven such grace shall show

That death be not here thy portion, then this land unto thee shall fall.

And the stake is full many a maiden fast bound in a magic thrall,

No man ere this day hath freed them—And with them many noble knights95

Shall lie as yet imprisoned; and if thou with hand of might

Shall loose them, thou winnest glory, and God showeth grace to thee,

And joyful, o’er light and beauty, king and ruler thou sure shalt be!

And maidens from many a country shall honour thee as their king.

Nor think, if thou now dost ride hence, such deed shame on thee should bring,100

Since on this field Lischois Giwellius hath yielded him to thine hand,

And left unto thee his honour; who erstwhile in every land

Hath done gallant deeds of knighthood, of right may I praise his name,

No knight showed a higher courage, or won him a fairer fame.

And in no heart the root of virtue it showeth such fair increase105

In blossom and flower of God’s planting, save in Ither of Gaheviess!’

‘And he who at Nantes slew Prince Ither my ship bare but yesterday,

Five steeds hath he given unto me, (God keep him in peace alway,)

Princes and kings once rode them, but now they afar must fare,

And tidings of him who o’erthrew them must they carry to Pelrap?r.110

For thus have they sworn the victor—His shield telleth many a tale

Of jousting so fair and knightly—He rode hence to seek the Grail!’

Quoth Gawain, ‘Say, whence came he hither? Mine host, since he rode so near,

Knew he naught of the wondrous venture? Or did he the marvel hear?’

‘Sir Knight, ne’er a word hath he heard here, I guarded me all too well,115

Lest unseemly my deed be reckoned if unasked I the tale should tell.

And hadst thou thyself not asked me thou never from me hadst known

The venture that here awaits thee, wrought of terror and pain alone.

If thou wilt not forego this peril, and thy life shall the forfeit pay,

Then never a greater sorrow have we known than we know to-day.120

But if thou shalt here be victor, and over this land shalt reign,

Then my poverty hath an ending, and my loss shall be turned to gain;

Such trust in thy free hand have I, I shall joy without sorrow know

If thy glory here winneth glory, and thy body be not laid low!’

‘Now arm thee for deadly warfare!’—unarmed was as yet Gawain,125

‘Now I prithee bring here my harness!’ and the host to his will was fain.

And from head to foot she armed him, the maiden fair and tall,

And her father he sought the charger—Now a shield hung upon the wall,

And the wood it was tough and well hardened, (else Gawain ne’er this tale might tell,)

And the shield and the horse were brought him—and the host he bethought him well;130

And, as once more he stood before him, he spake, ‘List thou well, Sir Knight,

I will tell thee how thou shalt bear thee, and guard thee thy life in fight:’

‘My shield shalt thou carry with thee! Of war shall it bear no trace

For but seldom I strive in battle, nor I count it me as disgrace.

When thou comest, Sir Knight, to the castle, do this, it shall serve thy steed:135

At the doorway a merchant sitteth, buy of him that which thou shalt need,

Then give him thy steed, he will hold it, nor care thou what thou shalt buy,

As a pledge will he hold thy charger, and will give it thee joyfully

If unhurt from the Burg thou comest!’ Quoth Gawain, ‘Say, shall I not ride?’

‘Nay, nay, for sore peril neareth, and the maidens their faces hide!’140

‘Thou shalt find that fair palace lonely, deserted by great and small,

And no token of living creature shalt thou see in that stately hall.

And may God’s grace watch o’er thy footsteps, and His blessing go with thine hand

When thou comest into the chamber where the “Lit Merveil” shall stand.

And the couch, and the rollers beneath it, in Morocco they first were made145

For the Ruler of all the Faithful; and were it in the balance weighed

‘Gainst all treasures of crown and kingdom it still would outweigh them all.

And I wot, there shall ill o’ertake thee, and God knoweth what shall befall,

But I pray that the end be joyful! Yet hearken, Sir Knight, to me,

This sword and this shield that thou holdest, in thine hand must they ever be,150

For surely when thou shalt think thee that the peril hath done its worst,

Then first mayst thou look for conflict, and then shall the storm-cloudburst!’

Then mournful I ween was the maiden, as Gawain to the saddle sprung,

And all they who stood around her they wept and their hands they wrung,

Then he quoth to his host, ‘God grant me that hereafter I may repay155

The care and the kindly counsel I have won from thy lips to-day.’

Then leave did he pray of the maiden, and her sorrow was sore to see,

He rode hence, and they whom he left here they mourned for him bitterly.

And now, if ye fain would hearken what unto Gawain befell,

The tale of his wondrous venture right gladly to ye I’ll tell.160

And in this wise I heard the story—As he came to the castle gate,

A merchant with merchandise costly without did his coming wait.

And so rich were his wares, and precious, that in sooth I were glad at heart

If I, in so great a treasure, my portion might bear and part.

Then, Sir Gawain, he sprang from his charger, for ne’er had he seen before165

Outspread in the open market such goods as were here in store.

And the booth was of velvet fashioned, four-square, and both wide and high,

And that which lay there for purchase no monarch might lightly buy.

The Baruch of Bagdad scarcely had paid that which lay therein;

Nor the Patriarch of Rankulat might think him such prize to win.170

Yea, and great as shall be the treasure that was found but awhile ago

In the land of the Greeks yet their Emperor such riches might hardly know!

And e’en if these twain had helped him the price he had failed to pay

That a man must count for the treasure that here before Gawain lay.

Then the knight greeted well the merchant as he looked on the wondrous store175

Of marvels that lay before him, but he stayed not to turn it o’er,

But bade him show clasp and girdle; then he quoth to the hero bold,

‘For many a year have I sat here, yet no man doth my wares behold;

None but ladies have looked upon them! yet if manhood shall nerve thine hand

Of all here shalt thou be the master; they were brought from a distant land,180

If here thou shalt be the victor, (for in sooth hast thou come for fight,)

And the venture shall well betide thee, I will deal with thee well, Sir Knight!

For all that my booth containeth is thine if thou win the day!

So trust thou in God and His mercy, and take to the Burg thy way.

Plippalinòt in sooth hath sent thee, and thy coming well praised shall be185

Of many a gracious maiden if thy prowess shall set her free!’

‘Now wouldst thou withstand this venture leave here for awhile thy steed,

If thou trust it unto my keeping, I will give to the charge good heed.’

Quoth Gawain, ‘Yea, I’ll gladly do so, if unseemly be not the task,

Too greatly I fear thy riches such grace from thine hand to ask,190

For ne’er since I rode upon it such keeper my steed hath known’—

Out quoth the merchant freely, ‘Sir Knight, all shall be thine own,

Myself, and the wares I guard here, (nor further of them I’ll speak,)

They are his, who in safety faceth the danger thou here dost seek!’

And so bold was I ween the hero that on foot did he go straightway,195

Undaunted, to face the peril untold that before him lay.

And, as I before have told ye, the Burg it stood high and wide,

And its bulwarks so stoutly builded did guard it on either side.

If for thirty years they stormed it, not a berry or leaf would yield,

However the foe might threaten; in the midst was a grassy field,200

(Yet the Lechfeld I ween is longer,) many turrets they towered on high,

And the story it tells that Gawain, as the palace he did espy,

Saw the roof shine all many-coloured, as peacock’s plumes its glow,

And so bright it was that its glory was dimmed nor by rain nor snow.

And within was it richly furnished, and decked to delight the eye,205

And the pillars were richly carven, and the windows were arched on high,

And many a fair couch costly had they set there against the wall,

Nor touched they the one to the other, and rich covers lay over all.

And but now had the maidens sat there, but each one had taken thought,

And no one of them all remained there, and of welcome Gawain found naught.210

Yet their joy came again with his coming, and the day of their bliss was he,

And ’twere well they had looked upon him, none fairer their eyes might see.

Yet none there might dare behold him, tho’ to serve them he aye was fain,

And yet in this thing were they guiltless—Thro’ the palace strode knight Gawain,

And he looked on this side and the other, and he sought well the chamber o’er,215

If to left or to right I know not, but he saw there an open door,

And wherever that door might lead him the hero was fain to go,

If high fame he might gain for his seeking, or die there a death of woe!

So stepped he within the chamber, and behold! the shining floor,

As glass it lay smooth beneath him, and the Lit-Merveil he saw,220

The wonder-couch; and beneath it four rollers as crystal clear,

And fashioned of fire-red rubies: as the swift wind afar and near

Did it speed o’er the shining pavement, no floor might fairer be,

Chrysolite, sardius, jasper, inwrought there the eye might see.

For so had Klingsor willed it, and the thought it was his alone,225

From far-off lands his magic had brought to the Burg each stone.

So smooth ‘neath his feet the pavement, scarce might be his footing hold,

Then fain would he seek the venture, but, so is the marvel told,

As ever he stood before it the couch from its station fled,

And swift as the winds of heaven o’er the glittering floor it sped.230

(And Gawain he found all too heavy the shield that his hand gripped fast,

And yet did his host give counsel it should ne’er on one side be cast.)

Thought Gawain, ‘Now, how may I reach thee, since still thou dost fly from me?

Methinks thou shalt have a lesson, it may be I may spring to thee!’

Then still stood the couch before him, and straight from the ground he leapt235

And stood firm in the midst of the marvel, and again o’er the floor it swept,

And hither and thither turning in the four walls its goal it found,
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