ugh perversity or
slothfulness you durst not take me when you have won me."

"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "You may say your will. You have done so
much for me sithence that I came hither that I ought not to be afeard
of you, for traitor is the man or woman that kisseth another to procure
his hurt."

"Lancelot, I took but that I might have, for well I see that none more
thereof may I have never again."

He goeth to put the bridle on his destrier, and then taketh leave of
the damsel, that parteth from him right sorrowfully; but Lancelot would
no longer tarry, for great throng of knights was there in the castle,
and he was not minded to put him in jeopardy for nought. He issueth
forth of the orchard, and the damsel looketh after him as long as she
may see him. After that, cometh she to her chamber, sad and vexed at
heart, nor knoweth she how she may bear herself, for the thing in the
world that most she loveth is far away, and no joy may she have thereof.

X.

Lancelot rideth right amidst the forest until it is day, and cometh at
the right hour of noon to the Castle Perilous, where Meliot of Logres
lay. He entered into the castle. The damsel that was at King Arthur's
court cometh to meet him.

"Lancelot," saith she, "Welcome may you be!"

"Damsel," saith he, "Good adventure may you have!"

He was alighted at the mountingstage of the hall. She maketh him mount
up the steps and afterward be disarmed.

"Damsel," saith he, "Behold, here is some of the winding-sheet wherein
the knight was shrouded, and here is his sword; but you befooled me as
concerning the serpent's head."

"By my head," saith the damsel, "that did I for the sake of the damsel
of the Castle of Griffons that hateth you not a whit, for so prayed she
me to do. Now hath she seen you, and so will she be more at ease, and
will have no cause to ask me thereof."

XI.

The damsel leadeth Lancelot to where Meliot of Logres lay. Lancelot
sitteth him down before him and asketh how it is with him?

"Meliot," saith the damsel, "This is Lancelot, that bringeth you your
healing."

"Ha, Sir, welcome may you be!"

"God grant you health speedily," said Lancelot.

"Ha, for God's sake," saith Meliot, "What doth Messire Gawain? Is he
hearty?"

"I left him quite hearty when I parted from him," saith Lancelot, "And
so he knew that you had been wounded in such sort, full sorry would he
be thereof and King Arthur likewise."

"Sir," saith he, "The knigh