your destrier be
brought after you underground."

"By my head," saith Lancelot, "And she had not conjured me in such
sort, and were it not for love of herself, I would have rather set
myself in hazard with the knights than with the wild beasts, for far
father would I have delivered myself from them, and so I might, than go
forth in such-wise."

"She sendeth you word," saith the messenger, "that so you do not thus,
no further trouble will she take concerning you. She doth it of dread
lest she lose your love; and here behold a brachet that she sendeth you
by me that you will carry with you into the cavern. So soon as you
shalt see the serpent griffons that have couched them therein, you
shall show them this and cast her down before them. The griffons love
her as much as one beast may love another, and shall have such joy and
such desire to play with the brachet that they will leave you alone,
and have such good will toward you that they will not look at you after
to do you any hurt. But no man is there in the world, no matter how
well soever he were armed, nor how puissant soever he were in himself,
might never pass them otherwise, but he should be devoured of them.
But no safeguard may you have as against the lion but of God only and
your own hardiment."

"Tell my damsel," saith Lancelot, "that all her commandment will I do,
but this cowardize resembleth none other, that I shall go fight with
beasts and leave to do battle with knights."

This was then repeated to the damsel, that marvelled her much thereat,
and said that he was the hardiest knight in the world.

VII.

Lancelot armed him toward daybreak, and had his sword girt, his shield
at his neck, and his spear in his hand. So he entered into the cavern,
all shamefast, and the brachet followeth after, that he deigned not to
carry, and so cometh he to the place where the griffons were. So soon
as they heard him coming they dress them on their feet, and then writhe
along as serpents, then cast forth such fire, and so bright a flame
amidst the rock, as that all the cavern is lighted up thereof, and they
see by the brightness of light of their jaws the brachet coming. So
soon as they have espied her, they carry her in their claws and make
her the greatest cheer in the world. Lancelot passeth beyond without
gainsay, and espieth, toward the issue of the cavern, the lion that was
come from the forest all famished. He cometh thither right hardily,
sword dra