e saith that if any
Christian should come into his land, he would receive him."

Right joyous is Messire Gawain of these tidings, and departeth from the
castle and rideth on until he cometh to the castle of King Gurgalain.
The tidings come to the King that there is a Christian come into his
castle. The King maketh great joy thereof, and maketh him come before
him and asketh him of his name and of what land he is.

"Sir," saith he, "My name is Gawain and I am of the land of King
Arthur."

"You are," saith he, "of the land of the Good Knight. But of mine own
land may I find none that durst give counsel in a matter I have on
hand. But if you be of such valour that you be willing to undertake to
counsel me herein, right well will I reward you. A Giant hath carried
off my son whom I loved greatly, and so you be willing to set your body
in jeopardy for my son, I will give you the richest sword that was ever
forged, whereby the head of S. John was cut off. Every day at right
noon is it bloody, for that at that hour the good man had his head cut
off."

The King made fetch him the sword, and in the first place showeth him
the scabbard that was loaded of precious stones and the mountings were
of silk with buttons of gold, and the hilt in likewise, and the pommel
of a most holy sacred stone that Enax, a high emperor of Rome, made be
set thereon. Then the King draweth it forth of the scabbard, and the
sword came forth thereof all bloody, for it was the hour of noon. And
he made hold it before Messire Gawain until the hour was past, and
thereafter the sword becometh as clear as an emerald and as green. And
Messire looketh at it and coveteth it much more than ever he did
before, and he seeth that it is as long as another sword, albeit, when
it is sheathed in the scabbard, neither scabbard nor sword seemeth of
two spans length.

V.

"Sir Knight," saith the King, "This sword will I give you, and another
thing will I do whereof you shall have joy."

"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "And I will do your need, if God please
and His sweet Mother."

Thereupon he teacheth him the way whereby the Giant went, and the place
where he had his repair, and Messire Gawain goeth his way thitherward
and commendeth himself to God. The country folk pray for him according
to their belief that he may back repair with life and health, for that
he goeth in great peril. He hath ridden until that he cometh to a
great high mountain that lay ro