"Saving your good grace," said Gawaine, "that I shall not do."
"Then, sir, seek to draw the sword at my command."
"Your command I must obey," said Gawaine, "yet I dread to meddle with magic."
Then he took the sword by the handle, and pulled with all his might, but he could not stir it.
"I thank you," said the king, "for the trial, even if you have failed."
"My lord Gawaine," said Lancelot, "bear well in mind, this sword shall touch you so sore that you would give the best castle in this kingdom not to have set your hand thereto."
"It may be," answered Gawaine. "Yet I could not disobey the command of the king."
Then the king turned to Percivale, and asked him for his love to try the task.
"Gladly will I," he said, "if only to bear Gawaine fellowship."
But pull as strongly as he would, the sword yielded not to his hand. And there were more there so hardy as to disregard Lancelot's warning and seek to draw the sword, but to no hand would it yield.