mated him twice. At the third
time, when he thought to revenge himself and saw that he had the worse,
he swept the pieces off the board. And the damsel issued forth of a
chamber and made a squire take the chess-board and the pieces and so
carry them away. And Messire Gawain, that was way-worn of his
wanderings to come thither where he now hath come, slept upon the couch
until the morrow when it was day, and he heard a horn sound right
shrill.

XXI.

Thereupon he armeth him and would fain go to take leave of King
Fisherman, but he findeth the doors bolted so that he may not get
forth. And right fair service seeth he done in a chapel, and right
sorrowful is he for that he may not hear the mass. A damsel cometh
into the hall and saith to him: "Sir, now may you hear the service and
the joy that is made on account of the sword you presented to the good
King, and right glad at heart ought you to have been if you had been
within the chapel. But you lost entering therein on account of a right
little word. For the place of the chapel is so hallowed of the holy
relics that are therein that man nor priest may never enter therein
from the Saturday at noon until the Monday after mass."

And he heard the sweetest voices and the fairest services that were
ever done in chapel. Messire Gawain answereth her not a word so is he
abashed. Howbeit the damsel saith to him: "Sir, God be guardian of
your body, for methinketh that it was not of your own default that you
would not speak the word whereof this castle would have been in joy."

With that the damsel departeth and Messire Gawain heareth the horn
sound a second time and a voice warning him aloud: "He that is from
without, let him go hence! for the bridges are lowered and the gate
open, and the lion is in his den. And thereafter behoveth the bridge
be lifted again on account of the King of the Castle Mortal, that
warreth against this castle, and therefore of this thing shall he die."

XXII.

Thereupon Messire Gawain issueth forth of the hall and findeth his
horse all made ready at the mounting-stage, together with his arms. He
goeth forth and findeth the bridges broad and long, and goeth his way a
great pace beside a great river that runneth in the midst of the
valley. And he seeth in a great forest a mighty rain and tempest, and
so strong a thunderstorm ariseth in the forest that it seemeth like all
the trees should be uprooted. So great is the rain and the temp