n he had heard mass, and leant at the windows of the hall and seeth
the gate shut and barred, and heareth a horn sound without the gate
three times right loud.

"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "the knight is come, and thinketh that
within here is no defence."

"By my head," saith Lancelot, "but there is, please God!"

The knight bloweth another blast of his horn.

"Hearken, Sir," saith the Vavasour, "It is nigh noon, and he thinketh
him that none will issue hence to meet him."

II.

Lancelot cometh down below and findeth his horse saddled and is mounted
as soon. The damsels are at his stirrup, and pray him for God's sake
remember to defend the honour that is theirs of the castle, for, save
only he so doth, they must flee like beggars into other lands.
Thereupon the Knight soundeth his horn again. Lancelot, when he
heareth the blast, hath no mind to abide longer, and forthwith issueth
out of the castle all armed, lance in hand and shield at his neck. He
seeth the knight at the head of the bridge, all armed under a tree.
Thitherward cometh Lancelot full speed. The knight seeth him coming,
and crieth to him.

"Sir Knight," saith he, "What demand you? Come you hither to do me
evil?"

"Yea," saith Lancelot, "for that evil are you fain to do to this
castle; wherefore on behalf of the Vavasour and his daughters do I defy
you."

He moveth against the knight and smiteth him on the shield with his
spear and the knight him. But Lancelot pierceth his shield for him
with his sword, and smiteth him so stiffly that he pinneth his arm to
his side, and hurtleth against him so passing stoutly that he thrusteth
him to the ground, him and his horse, and runneth over him, sword drawn.

"Ha," saith the knight to Lancelot, "withdraw a little from over me,
and slay me not, and tell me your name, of your mercy."

"What have you to do with my name?" saith Lancelot.

"Sir," saith he, "Gladly would I know it, for a right good knight seem
you to be, and so have I well proven in the first encounter."

"Sir" saith he, "I am called Lancelot of the Lake. And what is your
name?"

"Sir." saith he, "I am called Marin of the castle of Gomeret. So am
I--father of Meliot of Logres. I pray you, by that you most love in
the world, that you slay me not."

"So will I do," saith Lancelot, "and you renounce not your feud against
this castle."

"By my faith," saith the knight, "thus do I renounce it, and I pledge
myself that thenceforth