idden with them in fellowship, and that she remembered
her how she had rebuked him and called him coward, then was she passing
heavy.

CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,
and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.

SO then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir
Launcelot. And within two mile they overtook him, and saluted him, and
thanked him, and the damosel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed
and saying: For now I know the flower of all knighthood is departed even
between Sir Tristram and you. For God knoweth, said the damosel, that I
have sought you my lord, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram long, and now
I thank God I have met with you; and once at Camelot I met with Sir
Tristram, and there he rescued this black shield with the white hand
holding a naked sword that Sir Breuse Saunce Pite had taken from me.
Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my name? Sir, said
she, there came a damosel from a knight that ye fought withal at the
bridge, and she told me your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Blame have
she then, said Sir Launcelot, but her lord, Sir Nerovens, hath told her.
But, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, upon this covenant I will ride with
you, so that ye will not rebuke this knight Sir La Cote Male Taile no
more; for he is a good knight, and I doubt not he shall prove a noble
knight, and for his sake and pity that he should not be destroyed I
followed him to succour him in this great need. Ah, Jesu thank you, said
the damosel, for now I will say unto you and to him both, I rebuked him
never for no hate that I hated him, but for great love that I had to
him. For ever I supposed that he had been too young and too tender to
take upon him these adventures. And therefore by my will I would have
driven him away for jealousy that I had of his life, for it may be
no young knight's deed that shall enchieve this adventure to the end.
Pardieu, said Sir Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye are called
the Damosel Maledisant I will call you the Damosel Bienpensant.

And so they rode forth a great while unto they came to the border of the
country of Surluse, and there they found a fair village with a strong
bridge like a fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and they were at the
bridge there stert forth afore them of gentlemen and yeomen many, that
said: Fair lords, ye may not pass this bridge and this fortress because
of that black shield that I see one of you b