than half a hundred knights."

"Sir," saith Lancelot, "It is evening, nor know I how I may go farther
this day, for I know not whither I go sith that I know not the places
nor the ways of the forest."

"Sir," saith the knight, "I speak only for your own good, and God grant
you depart hence, honour safe."

Lancelot findeth the door of the castle all open, and entereth in all
armed, and alighteth before the master-hall. The King was leaning at
the windows, and biddeth stall his horse.

IV.

Lancelot is entered into the hall, and findeth knights and damsels at
the tables and playing at the chess, but none did he find to salute him
nor make him cheer of his coming save the lord only, for such was the
custom of the castle. The lord bade him be disarmed.

"Sir," saith he, "Right well may you allow me wear my arms, for they be
the fairest garniture and the richest I have."

"Sir," saith the lord of the castle, "No knight eateth armed within
yonder, but he that cometh armed in hither disarmeth himself by my
leave. He may take his arms again without gainsay, so neither I nor
other desire to do him a hurt."

With that two squires disarm him. The lord of the Castle maketh bring
a right rich robe wherein to apparel him. The tables were set and the
meats served. The damsel issued forth of her chamber and was
accompanied of two knights as far as the hall. She looketh at
Lancelot, and seeth that he is a right comely knight, and much liketh
her of his bearing and countenance, and she thinketh to herself that
sore pity would it be so comely knight should have his head smitten off.

V.

Lancelot saluted the damsel and made great cheer, and when they had
eaten in hall, forthwith behold you, the damsel where she cometh that
Lancelot overtook in the forest with the knight.

"Sir," saith she to the lord of the castle, "You have harboured this
night your deadly enemy that slew your brother at the Waste Manor."

"By my faith," saith the lord of the manor, "I think not so, for him
would I not have harboured, nor will I not believe it for true until
such time as I have proved it. Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "Make the
demand that the others make!"

"What is it?" saith Lancelot.

"See there my daughter! Ask her of me, and if you be such as you ought
to be, I will give her to you."

"Sir," saith Lancelot, "No knight is there in the world so good but
ought to plume him upon having her to wife, so always she were willin