ly that he cut a
good three fingers into a shaft of marble. The lions and the beast that
were chained to guard the gate slink away into their dens, and the
castle stoppeth at once. The archers cease to shoot. There were three
bridges before the castle that uplifted themselves so soon as he was
beyond.

XV.

Lancelot and Messire Gawain departed thence when they had beholden the
marvel, but they were fain to go toward the castle when they saw it
stop turning. But a knight cried out to them from the battlements,
"Lords, and you come forward, the archers will shoot and the castle
will turn, and the bridges be lowered again, wherefore you would be
deceived herein."

They draw back, and hear made within the greatest joy that ever was
heard, and they hear how the most part therewithin say that now is he
come of whom they shall be saved in twofold wise, saved as of life, and
saved as of soul, so God grant him to vanquish the knight that beareth
the spirit of the devil. Lancelot and Messire Gawain turn them back
thoughtful and all heavy for that they may not pass into the castle,
for none other passage might they see than this. So they ride on,
until that they draw nigh the Waste City where Lancelot slew the knight.

"Ha," saith he to Messire Gawain, "Now is the time at hand that
behoveth me to die in this Waste City, and God grant not counsel
herein."

He told Messire Gawain all the truth of that which had befallen him
therein. So, even as he would have taken leave of him, behold you, the
Poor Knight of the Waste Castle!

XVI.

"Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "I have taken respite of you in the city
within there, of the knight that you slew, until forty days after that
the Graal shall be achieved, nor have I issued forth of the castle
wherein you harboured you until now, nor should I now have come forth
had I not seen you come for fulfilling of your pledge, nor never shall
I come forth again until such time as you shall return hither on the
day I have named to you. And so, gramercy to you and Messire Gawain
for the horses you sent me, that were a right great help to us, and for
the treasure and the hold you have given to my sisters that were sore
poverty-stricken. But I may not do otherwise than abide in my present
poverty until such time as you shall be returned, on the day whereunto
I have taken respite for you, sore against the will of your enemies,
for the benefits you have done me. Wherefore I pray yon f