he had heard mass, he took leave of the Lady of the Castle,
and she besought him over and over to keep his covenant, and he said
that so would he do without fail. Therewithal he issueth forth of the
castle and entereth into a tall and ancient forest, and rideth the day
long until he cometh to the outskirt of the forest, and seeth a tall
cross at the entrance of a burying-ground enclosed all round about with
a hedge of thorns. And the way lay through the burying ground.
Lancelot entered therein and the night was come. He seeth the
graveyard full of tombs and sepulchres. He looketh behind and seeth a
chapel wherein were candles burning. Thitherward goeth he, and passeth
beyond without saying aught more by the side of a dwarf that was
digging a grave in the ground.

"Lancelot," saith the dwarf, "you are right not to salute me, for you
are the man of all the world that most I hate; and God grant me
vengeance of your body. So will He what time you are stricken down
here within!"

Lancelot heard the dwarf, but deigned not to answer him of nought. He
is come to the chapel, and alighteth and maketh fast the bridle of his
horse to a tree, and leaneth his shield and spear without. After that
he entereth into the chapel, and findeth a damsel laying out a knight
in his winding-sheen. As soon as Lancelot was entered therewithin the
wounds of the knight were swollen up and began to bleed afresh.

"Ha, Sir Knight, now see I plainly that you slew him that I am wrapping
in his windingsheet!"

X.

Thereupon, behold you, two knights that are carrying other two knights
dead. They alight and then set them in the chapel. And the dwarf
crieth out to them: "Now shall it be seen how you avenge your friends
of the enemy that fell upon you!"

The knight that had fled from the forest when Messire Gawain came
thither where the three lay dead, was come therewithin and knew
Lancelot, whereupon saith he: "Our mortal enemy are you, for by you
were these three knights slain."

"Well had they deserved it," saith Lancelot, "and in this chapel am I
in no peril of you, wherefore as at this time will I depart not hence,
for I know not the ways of the forest."

He was in the chapel until the day broke, when he issued forth thereof,
and sore it weighed upon him that his horse was still fasting. He
taketh his arms and is mounted. The dwarf crieth out aloud: "What
aileth you?" saith he to the two knights, "Will you let your mortal
enemy