r, an ye be remembered, even such one was
Sir Launcelot du Lake when he came first into this court, and full few
of us knew from whence he came; and now is he proved the man of most
worship in the world; and all your court and all your Round Table is by
Sir Launcelot worshipped and amended more than by any knight now living.
That is truth, said the king, and to-morrow at your request I shall make
him knight.

So on the morrow there was an hart found, and thither rode King Arthur
with a company of his knights to slay the hart. And this young man
that Sir Kay named La Cote Male Taile was there left behind with Queen
Guenever; and by sudden adventure there was an horrible lion kept in a
strong tower of stone, and it happened that he at that time brake loose,
and came hurling afore the queen and her knights. And when the queen saw
the lion she cried and fled, and prayed her knights to rescue her. And
there was none of them all but twelve that abode, and all the other
fled. Then said La Cote Male Taile: Now I see well that all coward
knights be not dead; and therewithal he drew his sword and dressed him
afore the lion. And that lion gaped wide and came upon him ramping to
have slain him. And he then smote him in the midst of the head such a
mighty stroke that it clave his head in sunder, and dashed to the earth.
Then was it told the queen how the young man that Sir Kay named by scorn
La Cote Male Taile had slain the lion. With that the king came home.
And when the queen told him of that adventure, he was well pleased, and
said: Upon pain of mine head he shall prove a noble man and a faithful
knight, and true of his promise: then the king forthwithal made him
knight. Now Sir, said this young knight, I require you and all the
knights of your court, that ye call me by none other name but La Cote
Male Taile: in so much as Sir Kay hath so named me so will I be called.
I assent me well thereto, said the king.

CHAPTER II. How a damosel came into the court and desired a knight to
take on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile emprised.

THEN that same day there came a damosel into the court, and she brought
with her a great black shield, with a white hand in the midst holding a
sword. Other picture was there none in that shield. When King Arthur saw
her he asked her from whence she came and what she would. Sir, she said,
I have ridden long and many a day with this shield many ways, and for
this cause I am come to your cou