except on one spike. And the castle was always turning, like a mill-wheel or a top. Gawain spurred the mule and made a rush for the gate as it came round; the mule got through with the loss of half her tail.
Gawain rode through the castle but found no one, till at last a dwarf appeared who greeted him by his name, but would not answer any questions, and went away again. Then Gawain came to a deep hole under an arch, out of which there ascended a large villain with a gisarme, "black as one from the Morians' land or one of the sunburnt villains of Champagne."[1]
The villain entertained Gawain, waited on him at table, made his bed for him, and then proposed the beheading game (a jeu parti): "Cut off my head to-day and I will cut off yours tomorrow." Gawain accepted the challenge and beheaded him. The villain picked up his head and went back to his cellar. The next day Gawain stood the test and allowed the villain his stroke, but the villain let him off, because he had played fair.
Gawain then asked for the bridle. But first he had to fight with two lions, and next with a wounded knight, who was used to fight with all who came seeking the bridle, whose heads were on the spikes outside, as Gawain had seen. Then he had to face two fiery serpents. After that the sulky dwarf appeared again, this time with an invitation from his lady to Gawain to come and dine with her. Then he should have the bridle.
"You have killed my wild beasts," said the lady, who, however, seemed to bear no ill-will to Gawain. The villain and the dwarf waited at dinner. The lady was sister of the damsel of the mule, and gave Gawain the bridle. She would fain have persuaded Gawain to stay with her and be her lord, and lord of all her castles. But Gawain answered that he must go back to the court of the King. The villain stopped the whirling of the castle as Gawain rode out. Then befel a great marvel. For when Gawain had crossed the bridge he looked back and saw all the streets of the place full of multitudes of people, "caroling," singing and dancing in great joy. The villain was still standing above the gate, and Gawain asked him who they were. "Sir," said he,
