himself to his lodging, and called upon
his lady, but received no answer. Again he called, but without result,
and believing that his fairy bride had utterly abandoned him he gave
way to despair. In a year's time Graelent returned to the Court and
admitted his failure.

"Sir Graelent," said the King, "wherefore should you not be punished?
You have slandered the Queen in the most unknightly manner, and given
the lie to those nobles who must now give judgment against you."

The nobles retired to consider their judgment upon Graelent. For a
long time they debated, for most of them were friendly to him and
he had been extremely popular at Court. In the midst of their
deliberations a page entered and prayed them to postpone judgment,
as two damsels had arrived at the palace and were having speech with
the King concerning Graelent. The damsels told the King that their
mistress was at hand, and begged him to wait for her arrival, as she
had come to uphold Graelent's challenge. Hearing this, the Queen
quitted the hall, and shortly after she had gone a second pair of
damsels appeared bearing a similar message for the King. Lastly
Graelent's young bride herself entered the hall.

At sight of her a cry of admiration arose from the assembled nobles,
and all admitted that their eyes had never beheld a fairer lady. When
she reached the King's side she dismounted from her palfrey.

"Sire," she said, addressing the King, "hasty and foolish was
Graelent's tongue when he spoke as he did, but at least he told the
truth when he said that there is no lady so fair but a fairer may be
found. Look upon me and judge in this quarrel between the Queen and
me."

When she had spoken every lord and noble with one voice agreed that
she was fairer than her royal rival. Even the King himself admitted
that it was so, and Sir Graelent was declared a free man.

Turning round to seek his lady, the knight observed that she was
already some distance away, so, mounting upon his white steed, he
followed hotly after her. All day he followed, and all night, calling
after her and pleading for pity and pardon, but neither she nor her
attendant damsels paid the slightest attention to his cries. Day after
day he followed her, but to no purpose.

At last the lady and her maidens entered the forest and rode to the
bank of a broad stream. They set their horses to the river, but when
the lady saw that Graelent was about to follow them she turned and
begged him