wn. The lion cometh toward him, jaws yawning, and claws
bared, thinking to fix them in his habergeon, but Lancelot preventeth
him and smiteth him so stoutly that he cutteth off thigh and leg
together. When the lion feeleth himself thus maimed, he seizeth him by
the teeth and the claws of his fore feet and rendeth away half the
skirt of his habergeon. Thereupon Lancelot waxeth wroth. He casteth
his shield to the ground and approacheth the lion closer. He seeth
that he openeth his jaws wide to avenge himself, and thrusteth his
sword the straightest he may into his gullet, and the lion giveth out a
roar and falleth dead. The damsel, that had come into the cavern,
heareth that the lion is dead.

VIII.

Lancelot issued forth and so cometh into the orchard beside the forest,
and wiped his sword on the freshness of the green grass. Thereupon
behold you the damsel that cometh.

"Sir," saith she to Lancelot, "Are you wounded in any place?"

"Damsel, nowhere, thank God!"

Another damsel leadeth a horse into the orchard. The damsel of the
castle looketh at Lancelot.

"Sir," saith the damsel, "Meseemeth that you are not over joyous."

"Damsel," saith he, "If I be not, I have good right, for I have lost
the thing in the world that most I loved."

"And you have won me," saith she, "so you remain not here, that am the
fairest damsel in this kingdom, and I have saved you your life for
this, that you grant me your love, for mine own would I fain give unto
you."

"Gramercy, damsel," saith Lancelot, "Your love and your good will fain
would I have; but neither you nor none other damsel ought not to have
affiance in me, and I might so soon set carelessly aside the love to
whom my heart owed its obedience, for the worthiness and the courtesy
that were lodged in her. Nor never hereafter, so long as I live, shall
I love none other in like manner; wherefore all others commend I to
God, and to yourself, as for leave-taking to one at whose service I
fain would be; I say that if you shall have need of me, and so I be in
place and free, I will do all I may to protect your honour."

IX.

"Ha, God!" saith the damsel, "How am I betrayed, sith that I am parted
from the best knight in the world! Lancelot, you have done that which
never yet no knight might do! Now am I grieved that you should escape
on such wise, and that your life hath been saved in this manner by me.
Better should I love you mine own dead, than another's livi