On Christmas Eve, I rode upon Gringalet through marsh and m,ire, and prayed that I might find shelter. I came through open parkland to a fine castle set on a little hill above a deep valley where flowed a wide stream. A fair lawn lay in front of it and many great oak trees on either side: there was a moat before the castle and a low palisade of wood. With a kindly smile the porter opened the gate and I rode over the drawbridge and into the courtyeard. And there was squires and serving-men waiting who helped him to alight, led Gringalet away to the stable,a nd brought me into a goodly hall where a fire burned brightly and the lord of the castle came forth from his chamber to greet his guest, saying: 'Welcome to my dwelling, Sir knight: all that I have is here at your service, and you shall be my honoured guest for as long as it shall please you to remain in this castle.' 'I thank you, noble sir,' I said. 'May God bless you for hospitality.' With that they clasped hands as good friends should: and Gawain looked upon the knight who greeted him so warmly, and thought what a fine warrior that castle had as its lord. For he was a tall man and broad of shoulder, with an open, honest face hand-clasp, a free stride, and a straightfoward speech. The squires led me next to a fair chamber in the keep, where they helped me lay beside my armour and clad me in rish, flowin grobes lined softly with fur. The they led me back to the hall and set me in a chair near to the fire, beside the lord of the castle. The lord of the castle drank to me and rejoiced with all his followers that chance had brought so far-famed a knight to his lonely dwelling. When the meal was ended the two knights went together to the chapel of the castle where the chaplain celebrated Evensong and the whol eservice for Christmas Eve. The Knight brough me into a comely closet and sat me in a chair by the fire. And there the lady of the castle came to visit him, accompanied by her handmaidens- a very lovely lady, fairer even than Queen Guinevere. The evening passed in jest and joy and they brought me to my room with bright tapers, set a goblet of hot spiced wine at my bedside and letf me there to rest.