for I dare say an he be alive, he is as fair an handed
man and well disposed as any is living. Sir, said Arthur, let this
language be still, and by the grace of God he shall be found an he be
within this seven realms, and let all this pass and be merry, for he is
proved to be a man of worship, and that is my joy.

CHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur sent for the Lady Lionesse, and how she
let cry a tourney at her castle, whereas came many knights.

THEN said Sir Gawaine and his brethren unto Arthur, Sir, an ye will give
us leave, we will go and seek our brother. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that
shall ye not need; and so said Sir Baudwin of Britain: for as by our
advice the king shall send unto Dame Lionesse a messenger, and pray her
that she will come to the court in all the haste that she may, and doubt
ye not she will come; and then she may give you best counsel where ye
shall find him. This is well said of you, said the king. So then goodly
letters were made, and the messenger sent forth, that night and day
he went till he came unto the Castle Perilous. And then the lady Dame
Lionesse was sent for, thereas she was with Sir Gringamore her brother
and Sir Gareth. And when she understood this message, she bade him ride
on his way unto King Arthur, and she would come after in all goodly
haste. Then when she came to Sir Gringamore and to Sir Gareth, she told
them all how King Arthur had sent for her. That is because of me, said
Sir Gareth. Now advise me, said Dame Lionesse, what shall I say, and
in what manner I shall rule me. My lady and my love, said Sir Gareth, I
pray you in no wise be ye aknowen where I am; but well I wot my mother
is there and all my brethren, and they will take upon them to seek me, I
wot well that they do. But this, madam, I would ye said and advised the
king when he questioned with you of me. Then may ye say, this is your
advice that, an it like his good grace, ye will do make a cry against
the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, that what knight there proveth
him best he shall wield you and all your land. And if so be that he be
a wedded man, that his wife shall have the degree, and a coronal of
gold beset with stones of virtue to the value of a thousand pound, and a
white gerfalcon.

So Dame Lionesse departed and came to King Arthur, where she was nobly
received, and there she was sore questioned of the king and of the Queen
of Orkney. And she answered, where Sir Gareth was she could not tell.
Bu