he has what he most desires, he
cares little for the rest.

(Vv. 5379-5514.) While the Queen was out of the country, I believe, the
ladies and the damsels who were disconsolate, decided among themselves
that they would marry, soon, and they organised a contest and a
tournament. The lady of Noauz was patroness of it, with the lady of
Pomelegloi. They will have nothing to do with those who fare ill, but
they assert that they will accept those who comport themselves well in
the tournament. And they had the date of the contest proclaimed s long
while in advance in all the countries near and far, in order that there
might be more participants. Now the Queen arrived before the date they
had set, and as soon as the ladies heard of the Queen's return, most of
them came at once to the King and besought him to grant them a favour
and boon, which he did. He promised to do whatever they wished, before
he knew what their desire might be. Then they told him that they wished
him to let the Queen come to be present at their contest. And he who was
not accustomed to forbid, said he was willing, if she wished ir so. In
happy mood they go to the Queen and say to her: "Lady, do not deprive us
of the boon which the King has granted us." Then she asks them: "What
is that? Don't fail to tell!" Then they say to her: "If you will come to
our tournament, he will not gainsay you nor stand in the way." Then she
said that she would come, since he was willing that she should. Promptly
the dames send word throughout the realm that they are going to bring
the Queen on the day set for the tournament. The news spread far and
near, here and there, until it reached the kingdom whence no one used
to return--but now whoever wished might enter or pass out unopposed.
The news travelled in this kingdom until it came to a seneschal of
the faithless Meleagant may an evil fire burn him! This seneschal had
Lancelot in his keeping, for to him he had been entrusted by his enemy
Meleagant, who hated him with deadly hate. Lancelot learned the hour and
date of the tournament, and as soon as he heard of it, his eyes were not
tearless nor was his heart glad. The lady of the house, seeing Lancelot
sad and pensive, thus spoke to him: "Sire, for God's sake and for your
own soul's good, tell me truly," the lady said, "why you are so changed.
You won't eat or drink anything, and I see that you do not make merry or
laugh. You can tell me with confidence why you are so sad and t