behold, and well seemed he to be a knight of great valour. "Sir," say the knights, "May it please you come see the lord of this castle?" stones that gave out a right great brightness of light; and over service." him the sun shone there. Wherefore marvelled he right sore whence so He seeth well that albeit the night were dark, within was so great samite of silk, and a golden cross, and under his head was a pillow all They lead him into the chamber where lay King Fisherman, and it seemed often as was need. Messire Gawain cometh before the King and saluteth great light should come. cross of gold wherein was a piece of the true cross whereon God was as it were all strown and sprinkled of balm, and it was all strown with whereof the stavs were of ivory; and therein was a mattress of straw him. And the King maketh him right great cheer, and biddeth him be whereon he lay, and above a coverlid of sables whereof the cloth was smelling sweet of balm, and at the four corners of the pillow were four green herbs and reeds. And King Fisherman lay on a bed hung on cords "Right gladly will I see him," saith he, "For I would fain present him brightness of light without candles that it was marvel. And it seemed welcome. right rich. And he had a cap of sables on his head covered with a red XVII. When Messire Gawain was clad in the rich robe, right comely was he to against him was a pillar of copper whereon sate an eagle that held a with a rich sword." set, as long as was the cross itself; the which the good man adored. And in four tall candle sticks of gold were four tall wax tapers set as