t the court. [13] Of all the knights that ever were there,
never one received such praise; and he was so fair that nowhere in the
world need one seek a fairer knight than he. He was very fair, brave,
and courteous, though not yet twenty-five years old. Never was there
a man of his age of greater knighthood. And what shall I say of his
virtues? Mounted on his horse, and clad in an ermine mantle, he came
galloping down the road, wearing a coat of splendid flowered silk which
was made at Constantinople. He had put on hose of brocade, well made and
cut, and when his golden spurs were well attached, he sat securely in
his stirrups. He carried no arm with him but his sword. As he galloped
along, at the corner of a street he came up with the Queen, and said:
"My lady, if it please you, I should gladly accompany you along this
road, having come for no other purpose than to bear you company." And
the Queen thanks him: "Fair friend, I like your company well, in truth;
for better I could not have."

(Vv. 115-124.) Then they ride along at full speed until they come into
the forest, where the party who had gone before them had already started
the stag. Some wind the horns and others shout; the hounds plunge ahead
after the stag, running, attacking, and baying; the bowmen shoot amain.
And before them all rode the King on a Spanish hunter.

(Vv. 125-154.) Queen Guinevere was in the wood listening for the dogs;
beside her were Erec and the damsel, who was very courteous and fair.
But those who had pursued the stag were so far from them that, however
intently they might listen to catch the sound of horn or baying of
hound, they no longer could hear either horse, huntsman, or hound. So
all three of them drew rein in a clearing beside the road. They had been
there but a short time when they saw an armed knight along on his steed,
with shield slung about his neck, and his lance in hand. The Queen
espied him from a distance By his right side rode a damsel of noble
bearing, and before them, on a hack, came a dwarf carrying in his hand
a knotted scourge. When Queen Guinevere saw the comely and graceful
knight, she desired to know who he and his damsel were. So she bid her
damsel go quickly and speak to him.

(Vv. 155-274.) "Damsel," says the Queen, "go and bid yonder knight come
to me and bring his damsel with him." The maiden goes on amble straight
toward the knight. But the spiteful dwarf sallies forth to meet her with
his scourge in hand