st fair Lady of the Fountain
for his wife._

[Illustration: Sir Gawaine, Knight of the Fountain:]

[Illustration]

Chapter First

_How Sir Ewaine and Sir Percival departed together in quest of Sir
Launcelot, and how they met Sir Sagramore, who had failed in a certain
adventure. Also how Sir Sagramore told his story concerning that
adventure._

It hath already been told in this book how certain knights of King
Arthur's court--to wit, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir Bors de
Ganis, Sir Gawaine, Sir Ewaine, Sir Percival, Sir Sagramore the Desirous
and Sir Agravaine went forth upon Queen Guinevere's command to search
for Sir Launcelot and to bring him back to the court of the King.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival and Sir Ewaine ride forth together._]

Upon that quest, Sir Percival and Sir Ewaine rode together for the sake
of companionship. And they made agreement to travel together in that
wise until the fortunes of adventure should separate them.

So they rode side by side in very pleasant companionship, taking the way
that chance led them, yet everywhere seeking for news of Sir Launcelot,
of whom they could find no word of any sort.

In those days the world was very fresh and young, so that it was great
pleasure to journey in that wise, for anon they two rode beneath blue
skies and anon through gentle showers, anon up hill and anon down dale,
anon through countryside, anon through town, anon through forest and
anon through wold. Yea; in those days, when the world was young, all
things of life were so gay and joyous that it was little wonder that
good knights like those twain took delight in being abroad in that wise,
for so they might breathe more freely, out in the wider expanses of
God's world, and so the spirit within them might expand to a greater joy
of life than would be possible in court or in lady's bower.

So those two worthy gentlemen travelled as aforesaid in good-fellowship
together, journeying hither or yon for a fortnight, neither hearing
aught of Sir Launcelot, or meeting with any adventure whatsoever, and
lodging them at night at what place chance might happen to bring them.

[Sidenote: _They perceive a castle in a valley._]

At the end of that time--to wit, a fortnight--they came to a certain
high hill and from the summit thereof they beheld a valley that lay
stretched out beneath them. And they beheld a fair tall castle that
stood in the midst of that valley, and the castle was surroun