that should build up the
place in holiness for the service of God. The King was right joyful
thereof, and told them that it had been too perilous. They parted from
the hermits and entered into a forest, nor was there never a day so
long as King Arthur was on pilgrimage, so saith the history, but he
heard the sound of one single bell every hour, whereof he was right
glad. He bade Messire Gawain and Lancelot that they should everywhere
conceal his name, and that they should call him not Lord but Comrade.
They yielded him his will, and prayed to Our Lord that he would guide
and lead them to such a castle and such a hostel as that they might be
lodged honourably therein. They rode on until evening drew nigh, and
they found a right fair hold in the forest, whereinto they entered and
alighted. The damsel of the hold came to meet them and made them right
great cheer, then made them be disarmed, afterward bringeth them right
rich robes to wear. She looketh at Lancelot and knoweth him again.

VIII.

"Sir," saith she, "You had once, on a day that is past, right great
pity of me, and saved me my honour, whereof am I in great unhappiness.
But better love I to suffer misease in honour, than to have plenty and
abundance in shame or reproach, for shame endureth, but sorrow is soon
overpassed."

Thereupon behold you the knight of the hold, whither he cometh from
shooting in the forest and maketh carry in full great plenty venison of
deer and wild boar. He alighted to greet the knights, and began to
laugh when he saw Lancelot.

"By my head," saith he, "I know you well For you disappointed me of the
thing I best loved in the world, and made me marry this damsel that
never yet had joy of me, nor never shall have."

"Faith, Sir," saith Lancelot, "You will do your pleasure therein, for
she is yours. Truth it is that I made you marry her, for you were fain
to do her a disgrace and a shame in such sort that her kinsfolk would
have had shame of her."

"By my head," saith the knight, "the damsel that I loved before loveth
you no better hereof, nay, rather, fain would she procure your vexation
and your hurt and your shame if she may, and great power hath she in
this forest."

"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I have sithence spoken to her and she to me,
and so hath she told me her will and her wish."

Thereupon the knight bade the knights take water, and the lady taketh
the basins and presenteth water to the knights.

"Avoid, damsel