But whan he saugh that he com nought, he was full pensif and full of hevynesse. And on a day, Sir Gawein asked what hym eiled. "Certes, nevew," seide the kynge, "I thinke on that I trowe I have loste Merlin, and that he will never more come to me; for now hath he abiden lenger than he was wonte. And gretly I am dismayed of the worde that he seide whan he fro me departed, for he seide this is the laste tyme; therfore I am in doute that he sey soth, for he ne made never lesinge of nothinge that he seide. For so helpe me God, I hadde lever lese the cité of Logres than hym. And therfore, fain wolde I wite yef eny myght hym finde fer or nygh; and therfore I praye you as derely as ye me love that ye hym seche till ye knowe the verité."
...
Whan Sir Gawein herde the voice thus speke, he thought anoon it was Merlin,
and ansuerde anoon. "Certes, it is trouthe I ought you wele for to knowe, for many tyme have I herde youre speche; and therfore I pray you that ye will apere to me so that I may yow se." "My lorde Sir Gawein," quod Merlin, "me shull ye never se; and that hevieth me sore that I may do noon other. And whan ye be departed fro hens, I shall never speke with yow no more, ne with noon other saf only with my leef. "
...
"How is that, swete frende," quod Gawein, "that ye be in this maner withholden, that noon may you delyver by no force that may be do, ne ye may not you shewe to me, that be the wisest man of the world?"
...
"Now," quod Merlin, "I beteche yow to God that kepe the Kynge Arthur
and the reame of Logres as for the best peple of the worlde."
Than departed Sir Gawein gladde and sorowful - gladde for that Merlin hadde
hym assured to be releveth from his lothlynesse, and sory for that he hadde Merlin thus loste.