Cligesstayswiththekinguntilthebeginningofsummer;bythattimehehasbeenoverallBritainandoverFranceandoverNormandy，andhaswroughtmanyaknightlydeed，sothathehaswellprovedhimself。Butthelovewithwhichheiswoundedgrowsneitherlighternoreasier。Thewishofhisheartkeepshimeverconstanttoonethought：heremembersFenicewhofarfromhimistorturingherheart。Alongingseizeshimtoreturnhome;fortoolonghasheabstainedfromseeingtheladymoreyearnedforthananylady，thateverheardofmanhasyearnedfor。Andhewillnotabstainlongerfromher。HepreparesforthejourneytoGreece;
hehastakenleaveandreturns。Much，Iween，diditgrievemylordGawainandthekingwhentheycannolongerkeephim。Buthelongstoreachherwhomhelovesanddesires;andhehastenso’erseaandland;andthewayseemsverylongtohim，soeagerlydoesheyearntoseeherwhotakesawayandpurloinshisheartfromhim。Butsheyieldshimafairreturn;andwelldoesshepayandcompensatehimforthetollshehasextortedfromhim;forsheinherturngivesherownheartinpaymenttohim，whomshelovesnoless。Butheisnotawhitcertainaboutit;neverhadhepledgeorpromiseinthematter;andhegrievescruelly。Andshealsolaments;forherloveofhimistormentingandkillingher;andnothingcangivepleasureorjoyinhereyessincethathourwhensheceasedtoseehim。Shedoesnotevenknowifheisalive，whereofgreatsorrowstrikeshertotheheart。ButCligesgetsnearereachday，andinhisjourneyhehashadgoodluck;forhehashadafairwindandcalmweather，andhasanchoredwithjoyanddelightbeforeConstantinople。Thenewsreachedthecity;itwaswelcometotheemperorandahundredtimesmorewelcometotheempress。Ifanyonedoubtthisitwillbetohisownsorrow。
CligesandhiscompanyhaverepairedtoGreece，straighttotheportofConstantinople。Allthemostpowerfulandnoblecometotheporttomeethim。Andwhentheemperorwhohadadvancedinfrontofallmeetshim，andtheempresswhowalksbyhisside，theemperor，beforeall，runstofallonhisneckandtogreethim。AndwhenFenicegreetshim，theonechangescolourbecauseoftheother;andthemarvelishowwhentheycomeclosetoeachothertheykeepfromembracingandkissingeachotherwithsuchkissesaspleaseLove。Butfollywouldithavebeenandmadness。
Thefolkrunupinalldirectionsanddelighttoseehim。Theyallleadhimthroughthemidstofthetown，someonfootandsomeonhorseback，asfarastheimperialpalace。Ofthejoythattherewasmadewillneverwordherebetold，norofthehonour，norofthehomage;buteachhasstriventodowhateverhethinksandbelieveswillpleaseCligesandbewelcometohim。Andhisuncleyieldstohimallthathehassavethecrown。HeisrightwillingthatCligestakeathispleasurewhatsoeverheshallwishtoobtainfromhim，beitlandortreasure;butCligesmakesnoaccountofsilverorofgold，sincehedarenotdisclosehisthoughttoherforwhomheloseshisrest;andyethehasleisureandopportunityfortellingherifonlyhewerenotafraidofbeingrefused;foreverydayhecanseeherandsitalonebyhersidewithoutanyonegainsayingorforbidding;fornobodyimaginesorthinksevilofit。
Aspaceoftimeafterhehadreturned，onedayhecameunattendedintotheroomofherwhowasnotforsoothhisenemy，andbewellassuredthatthedoorwasnotshutagainstthemeeting。Hewasclosebyhersideandalltheresthadgoneaway，sothatnoonewassittingnearthemwhocouldheartheirwords。FenicefirstofallquestionedhimaboutBritain。SheaskshimconcerningthedispositionandcourtesyofmylordGawain，andatlastsheventurestospeakofwhatshedreaded。Sheaskedhimifheloveddameormaideninthatland。TothisCligeswasnotunwillingorslowtoreply。Quicklywasheabletoexplainalltoher，assoonasshechallengedhimonthepoint。\"Lady，\"quothhe，\"Iwasinlovewhileyonder;butIlovednonewhowasofyonderland。InBritainmybodywaswithoutaheartlikebarkwithouttimber。