yet a long way to go. And he found a chapel that
stood between the forest and the castle, and it was builded upon four
columns of marble and within was a right fair sepulchre. The chapel
had no fence of any kind about it so that he seeth the coffin within
full clearly, and Messire Gawain bideth awhile to look thereon. And
the squire entered into the castle and hath made the bridge be lowered
and the door opened. He alighteth and is come into the hall when was
the Widow Lady and her daughter. Saith the Lady to the squire:
"Wherefore have you returned from doing my message? Lady, for the
comeliest knight that I have seen ever, and fain would he harbour
within to-night, and he is garnished of all arms and rideth without
company."

"And what name hath he?" saith the Lady.

"Lady, he told me you should know it well or ever he depart from this
castle."

Therewithal the Lady gan weep for joy and her daughter also, and,
lifting her hands towards heaven, "Fair Lord God!" saith the Widow
Lady, "And this be indeed my son, never before have I had joy that
might be likened to this! Now shall I not be disherited of mine
honour, neither shall I lose my castle whereof they would fain reave me
by wrong, for that no Lord nor champion have I!"

VII.

Thereupon the Widow Lady ariseth up and her daughter likewise, and they
go over the bridge of the castle and see Messire Gawain that was yet
looking on the coffin within the chapel.

"Now haste!" saith the Lady; "At the tomb shall we be well able to see
whether it be he!"

They go to the chapel right speedily, and Messire Gawain seeth them
coming and alighteth. "Lady," saith he, "Welcome may you be, you and
your company."

The Lady answereth never a word until that they are come to the tomb.
When she findeth it not open she falleth down in a swoon. And Messire
Gawain is sore afraid when he seeth it. The Lady cometh back out of
her swoon and breaketh out into great lamentation.

"Sir," saith the damsel to Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be! But now
sithence my mother supposed that you had been her son and made great
joy thereof, and now seeth she plainly that you are not he, whereof is
she sore sorrowful, for so soon as he shall return, this coffin
behoveth open, nor until that hour shall none know who it is that lieth
therein."

The Lady riseth up and taketh Messire Gawain by the hand. "Sir," saith
she, "What is your name?"

"Lady," saith he, "I am called Gawain, Kin