ardy as he had set his. Now the day draweth nigh
that I must go thither, for I am unwilling to fail of my covenant,
whereof I should be blamed, and, so God grant me to escape therefrom, I
will follow you speedily."

The King embraceth him and kisseth him at parting and Messire Gawain
also, and they pray God preserve his body and his life, and that they
may see him again ere it be long. Lancelot would willingly have sent
salute to the Queen had he durst, for she lay nearer his heart than
aught beside, but he would not that the King nor Messire Gawain should
misdeem of the love they might carry to their kinswoman. The love is
so rooted in his heart that he may not leave it, into what peril soever
he may go; rather, he prayeth God every day as sweetly as he may, that
He save the Queen, and that he may deliver his body from this jeopardy.
He hath ridden until that he cometh at the hour of noon into the Waste
City, and findeth the city empty as it was the first time he was there.

XIII.

In the city wherein Lancelot had arrived were many waste houses and
rich palaces fallen down. He had scarce entered within the city when
he heard a great cry and lamentation of dames and damsels, but he knew
not on which side it was, and they say: "Ha, God, how hath the knight
betrayed us that slew the knight, inasmuch as he returneth not! This
day is the day come that he ought to redeem his pledge! Never again
ought any to put trust in knight, for that he cometh not! The others
that came hither before him have failed us, and so will he also for
dread of death; for he smote off the head of the comeliest knight that
was in this kingdom and the best, wherefore ought he also to have his
own smitten off, but good heed taketh he to save it if he may!"

Thus spake the damsels. Lancelot much marvelled where they might be,
for nought could he espy of them, albeit he cometh before the palace,
there where he slew the knight. He alighteth, then maketh fast his
horse's reins to a ring that was fixed in the mounting-stage of marble.
Scarce hath he done so, when a knight alighteth, tall and comely and
strong and deliver, and he was clad in a short close-fitted jerkin of
silk, and held the axe in his hand wherewith Lancelot had smitten off
the head of the other knight, and he came sharpening it on a whetstone
to cut the better. Lancelot asketh him, "What will you do with this
axe?"

"By my head," saith the knight, "That shall you know in s