said Arthur, an I had horse and armour. Ye shall lack none,
said the damosel. Meseemeth, damosel, I should have seen you in the
court of Arthur. Nay said the damosel, I came never there, I am the
lord's daughter of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one of
the damosels of Morgan le Fay.

Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him how he would do battle for
him, and so he sent for Arthur. And when he came he was well coloured,
and well made of his limbs, that all knights that saw him said it were
pity that such a knight should die in prison. So Sir Damas and he were
agreed that he should fight for him upon this covenant, that all other
knights should be delivered; and unto that was Sir Damas sworn unto
Arthur, and also to do the battle to the uttermost. And with that all
the twenty knights were brought out of the dark prison into the hall,
and delivered, and so they all abode to see the battle.

CHAPTER VIII. How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon him
to do battle against Arthur.

NOW turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found himself by
a deep well-side, within half a foot, in great peril of death. And there
came out of that fountain a pipe of silver, and out of that pipe ran
water all on high in a stone of marble. When Sir Accolon saw this, he
blessed him and said, Jesus save my lord King Arthur, and King Uriens,
for these damosels in this ship have betrayed us, they were devils and
no women; and if I may escape this misadventure, I shall destroy all
where I may find these false damosels that use enchantments. Right with
that there came a dwarf with a great mouth and a flat nose, and saluted
Sir Accolon, and said how he came from Queen Morgan le Fay, and she
greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong heart, for ye shall
fight to morrow with a knight at the hour of prime, and therefore she
hath sent you here Excalibur, Arthur's sword, and the scabbard, and
she biddeth you as ye love her, that ye do the battle to the uttermost,
without any mercy, like as ye had promised her when ye spake together in
privity; and what damosel that bringeth her the knight's head, which
ye shall fight withal, she will make her a queen. Now I understand you
well, said Accolon, I shall hold that I have promised her now I have
the sword: when saw ye my lady Queen Morgan le Fay? Right late, said the
dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his arms and said, Recommend me unto my
lady queen, and tell her