stood on the bank of a broad river; 'twould take me over long to tell the fashion thereof, but this and no more will I say, 'twas the fairest ever seen.
Then Sir Gawain looked toward the river, and beheld two maidens, in very fair vesture of purple, bearing pitchers of fine gold, wherein they had drawn water, and he quoth, "Maidens, God save ye, and give ye good speed!" and they answered, as was fitting, "Fair sir, God bless ye!"
"Maidens, by the faith ye owe me answer me, and hide it not, what bear ye in those pitchers?"
Quoth the one, "No need have we to hide aught; 'tis but water, wherewith the good knight shall wash his hands."
"Of a faith," quoth Sir Gawain, "courteously have ye named him; great honour is there in such a name!"
The second maiden answered, "Sir, she hath spoken truth; ye will not lightly find a fairer, or a better, knight. See, but now doth he enter within his burg."
Then Sir Gawain hasted, and spake no more with the maidens, but rode over the bridge, and entered the castle by the gateway. Since the hour of his birth never
