eam he had dreamed. He seeth
them enter within all armed, and the damsel crieth to them: "Now will
it appear," saith she, "what you will do!"

Lancelot hath leapt up, thinking to take his sword, but findeth the
scabbard all empty. The damsel that held the sword was the first of
all to run upon him, and the five knights and the dwarf set upon him
from every side. He perceived that it was his own sword the damsel
held, the one he prized above all other. He taketh his lance that was
at his bed's head and cometh toward the master of the knights at a
great sweep, and smiteth him so fiercely that he thrusteth him right
through the body so that the lance passeth a fathom beyond, and beareth
him to the ground dead. His spear broke as he drew it back. He
runneth to the damsel that held the sword, and wresteth it forth of her
hands and holdeth it fast with his arm right against his flank and
grippeth it to him right strait; albeit she would fain snatch it again
from him by force, whereat Lancelot much marvelled. He swingeth it
above him, and the four knights come back upon him. He thinketh to
smite one with the sword, when the damsel leapeth in between them,
thinking to hold Lancelot fast, and thereby the blow that should have
fallen on one of the knights caught the damsel right through the head
and slew her, whereof he was right sorrowful, howsoever she might have
wrought against him.

VI.

When the four knights saw the damsel dead, right grieved were they
thereof. And the dwarf crieth out to them: "Lords, now shall it be
seen how you will avenge the sore mischief done you. So help me God,
great shame may you have and you cannot conquer a single knight."

They run upon him again on all sides, but maugre all their heads he
goeth thither where he thinketh to find his horse; but him findeth he
not. Thereby well knoweth he that the dwarf hath made away with him,
wherefore he redoubled his hardiment and his wrath waxed more and more.
And the knights were not to be lightly apaid when they saw their lord
dead and the damsel that was their cousin. Sore buffets they dealt him
of their swords the while he defended himself as best he might. He
caught the dwarf that was edging them on to do him hurt, and clave him
as far as the shoulders, and wounded two of the knights right badly,
and he himself was hurt in two places; but he might not depart from the
house, nor was his horse there within, nor was there but a single
entra