ingly did I make Kay's lands the broader thereof, and
well ought I to do him such favour, for he avenged me of him that did
my land more hurt than any other, wherefore I love him greatly."

But, and the King had only known how Kay had wrought against him, he
would not have so highly honoured his chivalry and his hardiment. The
King sate one day at meat and Queen Guenievre at his side. Thereupon
behold you, a damsel that alighteth before the palace, then mounteth
the steps of the hall and is come before the King and the Queen.

"Sir, I salute you as the sorest dismayed and most discounselled damsel
that ever you have seen! Wherefore am I come to demand a boon of you
for the nobleness and valour of your heart."

"Damsel," saith the King, "God counsel you of His will and pleasure,
and I myself am full fain to partake therein."

The damsel looketh at the shield that hangeth in the midst of the hall.

"Sir," saith she, "I beseech you that you deign grant me the aid of the
knight that shall bear this shield from hence. For sorer need have I
thereof than ever another of them that are discounselled."

"Damsel," saith the King, "Full well shall I be pleased, so the knight
be also fain to do as you say."

"Sir," saith she, "And he be so good knight as he is reported, never
will he refuse your prayer, nor would he mine, if only I were here at
such time as he shall come. For, had I been able to find my brother
that I have been seeking this long time, then well should I have been
succoured long agone! But I have sought him in many lands, nor never
could I learn where he is. Therefore to my sorrow, behoveth me to ride
all lonely by the strange islands and put my body in jeopardy of death,
whereof ought these knights to have great pity."

II.

"Damsel," saith the King, "For this reason do I refuse you nought of
that you wish, and right willingly will I put myself to trouble herein."

"Sir," saith she, "much thanks to God thereof!"

He maketh her be set at meat, and much honour be done her. When the
cloths were drawn, the Queen leadeth her into her chamber with the
maidens, and maketh much joy of her. The brachet that was brought
thither with the shield was lying on a couch of straw. He would not
know the Queen nor her damsels nor the knights that were in the court,
but so soon as ever he heard the damsel he cometh to her and maketh
greater joy of her than ever was brachet seen to make before. The
Queen and her