his desire is, and says: "Fair lord, you
may command me your pleasure, whatever it be." Then my lord Yvain
at once asks her for permission to escort the King and to attend at
tournaments, that no one may reproach his indolence. And she replies:
"I grant you leave until a certain date; but be sure that my love will
change to hate if you stay beyond the term that I shall fix. Remember
that I shall keep my word; if you break your word I will keep mine. If
you wish to possess my love, and if you have any regard for me, remember
to come back again at the latest a year from the present date a week
after St. John's day; for to-day is the eighth day since that feast.
You will be checkmated of my love if you are not restored to me on that
day."

(Vv. 2579-2635.) My lord Yvain weeps and sighs so bitterly that he can
hardly find words to say: "My lady, this date is indeed a long way off.
If I could be a dove, whenever the fancy came to me, I should often
rejoin you here. And I pray God that in His pleasure He may not detain
me so long away. But sometimes a man intends speedily to return who
knows not what the future has in store for him. And I know not what will
be my fate--perhaps some urgency of sickness or imprisonment may keep
me back: you are unjust in not making an exception at least of actual
hindrance." "My lord," says she, "I will make that exception. And yet
I dare to promise you that, if God deliver you from death, no hindrance
will stand in your way so long as you remember me. So put on your finger
now this ring of mine, which I lend to you. And I will tell you all
about the stone: no true and loyal lover can be imprisoned or lose any
blood, nor can any harm befall him, provided he carry it and hold it
dear, and keep his sweetheart in mind. You will become as hard as iron,
and it will serve you as shield and hauberk. I have never before been
willing to lend or entrust it to any knight, but to you I give it
because of my affection for you." Now my lord Yvain is free to go, but
he weeps bitterly on taking leave. The King, however, would not tarry
longer for anything that might be said: rather was he anxious to have
the palfreys brought all equipped and bridled. They acceded at once to
his desire, bringing the palfreys forth, so that it remained only to
mount. I do not know whether I ought to tell you how my lord Yvain took
his leave, and of the kisses bestowed on him, mingled with tears and
steeped in sweetness. And wha