t that assieged them maimed me in this
fashion, but was himself maimed in such sort that he is dead thereof.
But the wounds that he dealt me are so cruel and so raging, that they
may not be healed save his sword toucheth them and if be not bound with
some of the winding-sheet wherein he was shrouded, that he had
displayed about him, all bloody."

"By my faith," saith the damsel, "Behold them here!"

"Ha, Sir," saith he, "Gramercy of this great goodness! In every way
appeareth it that you are good knight, for, but for the goodness of
your knighthood, the coffin wherein the knight lieth had never opened
so lightly, nor would you never have had the sword nor the cloth, nor
never till now hath knight entered therein but either he were slain
there, or departed thence wounded right grievously."

They uncover his wounds, and Lancelot unbindeth them, and the damsel
toucheth him of the sword and the winding-sheet, and they are assuaged
for him. And he saith that now at last he knoweth well he need not
fear to die thereof. Lancelot is right joyful thereof in his heart,
for that he seeth he will be whole betimes; and sore pity had it been
of his death, for a good knight was he, and wise and loyal.

XI.

"Lancelot," saith the lady, "Long time have I hated you on account of
the knight that I loved, whom you reft away from me and married to
another and not to me, and ofttimes have I put myself to pains to
grieve you of some ill deed for that you did to me, for never was I so
sorrowful for aught that befell me. He loved me of right great love,
and I him again, and never shall that love fail. But now is it far
further away from me than it was before, and for this bounty that you
have done, never hereafter need you fear aught of my grievance."

"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Gramercy heartily."

He was lodged in the castle the night richly and worshipfully, and
departed thence on the morrow when he had taken leave of the damsel and
Meliot, and goeth back a great pace toward the court of King Arthur,
that was sore dismayed, for Madeglant was conquering his islands and
great part of his land. The more part of the lands that he conquered
had renounced the New Law for fear of death and held the false believe.
And Messire Gawain and many other knights were departed from King
Arthur's court for that the King trusted more in Briant of the Isles
than he did in them.

XIII.

For many times had King Arthur sent knights against Ma