ay, nor ought you to be wroth
hereof. Behold, here have you Lancelot with you, and so many other
good knights, that little worship should I have herein were I to set
myself forward before them."

"Messire Ywain," saith the King, "Set your hand hereto! It may be that
you think too humbly of yourself herein."

"Sir," saith Messire Ywain, "Nought is there in the world that I would
not do for you, but as for this matter I pray you hold me excused."

"Sagramors, and you, Orguelleux of the Launde, what will you do?" saith
the King.

"Sir," say they, "When Lancelot hath made assay, we will do your
pleasure, but before him, so please you, we will not go."

VI.

"Damsel," saith the King, "Pray Lancelot that he be fain to set his
hand, and then the rest shall go after him if needs be."

"Lancelot," saith the damsel, "By the thing that most you love, make
not mine errand bootless, but set your hand to the quarrel and then
will the others do that they ought of right to do. For no leisure have
I to tarry here long time."

"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Ill do you, and a sin, to conjure me for
nought, for so many good knights be here within, that I should be held
for a fool and a braggart and I put myself forward before all other."

"By my head," saith the King, "Not so! Rather will you be held as a
knight courteous and wise and good, as now you ought to be, and great
worship will it be to yourself and you may draw forth the quarrel, and
great courtesy will it be to aid the damsel. Wherefore I require you,
of the faith you owe me, that you set your hand thereto, sith that the
damsel prayeth you so to do, before the others."

VII.

Lancelot hath no mind to disobey the King's commandment; and he
remembered that the damsel had conjured him by the thing that most he
loved; nor was there nought in the world that he loved so much as the
Queen, albeit she were dead, nor never thought he of none other thing
save her alone. Then standeth he straight upright, doth off his robe,
and cometh straight to the quarrel that is fixed in the column. He
setteth his hand thereunto and draweth it forth with a right passing
strong wrench, so sturdily that he maketh the column tremble. Then he
giveth it to the damsel.

"Sir," saith she to King Arthur, "Now is it my devoir to tell you
plainly of my errand; nor might none of the knights here within have
drawn forth the quarrel save only he; and you held me in covenant how
he that should