ed thereof."

"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Blessed be the castle! I plain me not of
the trespass for that right hath been done me. And how is the castle
named?"

"Sir, they call it the Castle of the Ball. Will you return back
thither with me, since you are delivered, and lodge there the night
with Messire, that is a right worshipful man, and of good conditions?"

Therewith they go together to the castle, that was right fair and
well-seeming. They enter in, and when they were within, the Lord, that
sate on a mounting-stage of marble, had two right fair daughters, and
he made them play before him with a ball of gold, and looked at them
right fainly. He seeth Messire Gawain alight and cometh to meet him
and maketh him great cheer. Afterward, he biddeth his two daughters
lead him into the hall.

IX.

When he was disarmed, the one brought him a right rich robe, and after
meat the two maidens sit beside him and make him right great cheer.
Thereupon behold you, a dwarf that issueth forth of a chamber, and he
holdeth a scourge. And he cometh to the damsels and smiteth them over
their faces and their heads.

"Rise up," saith he, "ye fools, ill-taught! Ye make cheer unto him
whom you ought to hate! For this is Messire Gawain, King Arthur's
nephew, by whom was your uncle slain!"

Thereupon they rise, all ashamed, and go into the chamber, and Messire
Gawain remaineth there sore abashed. But their father comforteth him
and saith: "Sir, be not troubled for aught that he saith, for the dwarf
is our master: he chastiseth and teacheth my daughters, and he is wroth
for that you have slain his brother, whom you slew the day that Marin
slew his wife on your account, whereof we are right sorrowful in this
castle."

"So also am I," saith Messire Gawain, "But no blame of her death have I
nor she, as God knoweth of very truth."

X.

Messire Gawain lay the night at the castle, and departed on the morrow,
and rode on his journeys until he cometh to the castle at the entrance
to the land of the rich King Fisherman, where he seeth that the lion is
not at the entrance nor were the serjeants of copper shooting. And he
seeth in great procession the priests and them of the castle coming to
meet him, and he alighteth, and a squire was apparelled ready, that
took his armour and his horse, and he showeth the sword to them that
were come to meet him. It was the hour of noon. He draweth the sword,
and seeth it all bloody, an