Line 765 occurs in Stanza 32 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This stanza marks a turning point for Sir Gawain in several ways.

The two preceding stanzas stressed the travails he endured in the woods. Not only was he traveling alone, but no one he met would admit to having heard of the Green Knight or the Green Chapel. The further he penetrated into the wilderness, the more solitary and dangerous his passage became. He was often forced to fight animals, including supernatural ones, and “madmen.” The poet mentions Gawain fighting dragons and monsters, as well as wolves, bulls, bears, and boars. To make matters worse, the weather is growing colder every day with the onset of winter. With no shelter to be found, he sleeps among bare rocks with icicles over his head. The poet summarizes,

Thus in perils and many a painful plight this knight wended his way until Christmas Eve.

Gawain wishes for a place to rest and hear Christmas Mass. He beseeches his Lord and Mary to grant him these things. At the end of stanza 31, Sir Gawain prays and repents of his misdeeds. As he rides, he makes the sign of the Cross, asking that the Cross speed him along.

As soon as he has made the sign of the Cross three times, a new sight appears. In lines 765–767, in a clearing in the woods, he sees a beautiful castle; it is “the comeliest castle that ever a knight possessed.” Knowing that this is his much-needed refuge, he gives thanks to Jesus and St. Gillian for guiding him there.