He had not sain’d himself, good soul, but thrice, + 

When he was ware in that wood of a wone in a moat, + 

Above a laund, on a low, that leam’d under branches + 

Of mány a búrly bóle at the brink of the ditches; + 

A castle the comeliest that knight ever own’d, + 

Built on a bentfield, and about it a park + 

Fencèd compactly with paling of pikes, + 

That, for more than two miles, trees many encompass’d. + 

Sir Gawain a while regarded that keep + 

As it shimmer’d and shone through the sheen branches, + 

Then he has off his helmet and thanks from his heart + 

Jesus and Saint Julian, those gentle watchers, + 

Who courtesy had shown him and his cry hearken’d. + 

“Good lodging,” cried Gawain, “grant, I beseech you!” + 

And with gilded heels he goads on Gringolet, + 

And by right good chance the road he has chosen + 

That brings him anon to the brídge-ènd + 

in haste. + 

The bridge was up, on height, + 

The gates were lockèd fast, + 

The walls were stoutly pight; + 

It might fear no wind’s blast. + 