ng. Now
would I fain that you had had your head smitten off, and that it were
hanging with the others! So would I solace myself by beholding it!"

Lancelot took no account of that he heard, for the grief that lay at
his heart of the Queen. He mounteth on his horse and issueth forth of
the orchard by a postern gate, and entereth into the forest, and
commendeth him to God. The lord of the Castle of the Griffons
marvelleth much that Lancelot delayeth so long. He thinketh that he
durst not come down, and saith to his knights, "Let us go up and cut
off his head, sith that he durst not come down."

He maketh search for him all through the hall and the chambers, but
findeth him not.

"He hath gone," saith he, "through the cavern, so have the griffons
devoured him."

So he sendeth the twain most hardy of his knights to see. But the
brachet had returned after the damsel, whereof the griffons were wroth,
and they forthwith seized on the two knights that entered into their
cavern and slew them and devoured.

X.

When the lord of the castle knew it, he went into the chamber where his
daughter was, and found her weeping, and thinketh that it is for the
two knights that are dead. News is brought him that the lion is dead
at the issue of the cavern, and thereby well knoweth he that Lancelot
is gone. He biddeth his knights follow after him, but none was there
so hardy as that he durst follow. The damsel was right fain they
should go after him, if only they might bring him back to the castle,
for so mortally was she taken of his love that she thought of none
other thing. But Lancelot had her not in remembrance, but only
another, and rode on sadly right amidst the forest, and looked from
time to time at the rent the lion had made in his habergeon. He rideth
until he is come toward evening to a great valley where was forest on
the one side and the other, and the valley stretched onward half a
score great leagues Welsh. He looketh to the right, and on the top of
the mountain beside the valley he seeth a chapel newly builded that was
right fair and rich, and it was covered of lead, and had at the back
two quoins that seemed to be of gold. By the side of this chapel were
three houses dight right richly, each standing by itself facing the
chapel. There was a right fair grave-yard round about the chapel, that
was enclosed at the compass of the forest, and a spring came down, full
clear, from the heights of the forest bef