ight."

"Lords," saith Lancelot, "Of such a kingdom have I no need, and God
defend me from it."

"Sir," they say, "You may not be defended thereof, for you come into
this land at hazard, and great grief would it be that so good land as
you see this is were burnt and melted away by the default of one single
man, and the lordship is right great, and this will be right great
worship to yourself, that on New Year's Day you should be crowned in
the fire and thus save this city and this great people, and thereof
shall you have great praise."

V.

Much marvelleth Lancelot of this that they say. They come round about
him on all sides and lead him into the city. The ladies and damsels
are mounted to the windows of the great houses and make great joy, and
say the one to another, "Look at the new king here that they are
leading in. Now will he quench the fire on New Year's Day."

"Lord!" say the most part, "What great pity is it of so comely a knight
that he shall end on such-wise!"

"Be still!" say the others. "Rather should there be great joy that so
fair city as is this should be saved by his death, for prayer will be
made throughout all the kingdom for his soul for ever!"

Therewith they lead him to the palace with right great joy and say that
they will crown him. Lancelot found the palace all strown with rushes
and hung about with curtains of rich cloths of silk, and the lords of
the city all apparelled to do him homage. But he refuseth right
stoutly, and saith that their king nor their lord will he never be in
no such sort. Thereupon behold you a dwarf that entereth into the
city, leading one of the fairest dames that be in any kingdom, and
asketh whereof this joy and this murmuring may be. They tell him they
are fain to make the knight king, but that he is not minded to allow
them, and they tell him the whole manner of the fire.

VI.

The dwarf and the damsel are alighted, then they mount up to the
palace. The dwarf calleth the provosts of the city and the greater
lords.

"Lords," saith he, "sith that this knight is not willing to be king, I
will be so willingly, and I will govern the city at your pleasure and
do whatsoever you have devised to do."

"In faith, sith that the knight refuseth this honour and you desire to
have it, willingly will we grant it you, and he may go his way and his
road, for herein do we declare him wholly quit."

Therewithal they set the crown on the dwarf's head, and Lan