rthur and Merlin alighted and tied their horses to two trees, and so
they went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the hand
held, Sir Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him, and
the arm and the hand went under the water. And so [they] came unto
the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion. What
signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight's pavilion, said Merlin,
that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is out, he is not there.
He hath ado with a knight of yours that hight Egglame, and they have
foughten together, but at the last Egglame fled, and else he had been
dead, and he hath chased him even to Carlion, and we shall meet with him
anon in the highway. That is well said, said Arthur, now have I a sword,
now will I wage battle with him, and be avenged on him. Sir, you shall
not so, said Merlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and chasing, so
that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him; also he will not be
lightly matched of one knight living, and therefore it is my counsel,
let him pass, for he shall do you good service in short time, and his
sons after his days. Also ye shall see that day in short space, you
shall be right glad to give him your sister to wed. When I see him, I
will do as ye advise, said Arthur.

Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether
liketh you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh
better the sword, said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the
scabbard is worth ten of the swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard
upon you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded;
therefore keep well the scabbard always with you. So they rode unto
Carlion, and by the way they met with Sir Pellinore; but Merlin had done
such a craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and he passed by without
any words. I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight would not speak. Sir,
said Merlin, he saw you not, for an he had seen you, ye had not lightly
departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof his knights were passing
glad. And when they heard of his adventures, they marvelled that he
would jeopard his person so, alone. But all men of worship said it
was merry to be under such a chieftain, that would put his person in
adventure as other poor knights did.

CHAPTER XXVI. How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome
eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur's beard to trim his mant