e of the sweet Mother of God and the angels. Great joy had he,
and was right glad of the good man's soul that was borne thence into
Paradise. The King had slept right little the night and was all armed.
He saw the day break clear and fair, and goeth his way toward the
chapel to cry God mercy, thinking to find the coffin discovered there
where the hermit lay; but so did he not! Rather, was it covered of the
richest tomb-stone that any might ever see, and had on the top a red
cross, and seemed it that the chapel was all incensed. When the King
had made his orison therein, he cometh back again and setteth on his
bridle and saddle and mounteth, and taketh his shield and spear and
departeth from the little house and entereth into the forest and rideth
a great pace, until he cometh at right hour of tierce to one of the
fairest laundes that ever a man might see. And he seeth at the
entrance a spear set bar-wise, and looketh to the right or ever he
should enter therein, and seeth a damsel sitting under a great leafy
tree, and she held the reins of her mule in her hand. The damsel was
of great beauty and full seemly clad. The King turneth thitherward and
so saluteth her and saith: "Damsel," saith he, "God give you joy and
good adventure."

"Sir," saith she, "So may He do to you!"

"Damsel," saith the King, "Is there no hold in this launde?"

"Sir," saith the damsel, "No hold is there save a most holy chapel and
a hermit that is beside S. Augustine's chapel."

"Is this then S. Augustine's chapel?" saith the King.

"Yea, Sir, I tell it you for true, but the launde and the forest about
is so perilous that no knight returneth thence but he be dead or
wounded; but the place of the chapel is of so great worthiness that
none goeth thither, be he never so discounselled, but he cometh back
counselled, so he may thence return on live. And Lord God be guard of
your body, for never yet saw I none aforetime that seemed more like to
be good knight, and sore pity would it be and you were not, and never
more shall I depart me hence and I shall have seen your end."

"Damsel," saith the King, "Please God, you shall see me repair back
thence."

"Certes," saith the damsel, "Thereof should I be! right fain, for then
should I ask you tidings at leisure of him that I am seeking."

The King goeth to the bar whereby one entereth into the launde, and
looketh to the right into a combe of the forest and seeth the chapel of
S. Augustine and