bids the damsel quickly return and tell him that it is her command and
prayer that he shall do his "best "; and she says she will go at once
without delay. She came down from the stand to where her valet with
the palfrey was awaiting her. She mounted and rode until she found the
knight, to whom she said at once: "Sire, my lady now sends word that you
shall do the 'best' you can!" And he replies: "Tell her now that it
is never a hardship to do her will, for whatever pleases her is my
delight." The maiden was not slow in bearing back this message, for she
thinks it will greatly please and delight the Queen. She made her way as
directly as possible to the stand, where the Queen rose and started to
meet her, however, she did not go down, but waited for her at the top
of the steps. And the damsel came happy in the message she had to bear.
When she had climbed the steps and reached her side, she said: "Lady, I
never saw so courteous g knight, for he is more than ready to obey every
command you send to him, for, if the truth be known, he accepts good and
evil with the same countenance." "Indeed," says the Queen, "that may
well be so." Then she returns to the balcony to watch the knights. And
Lancelot without delay seizes his shield by the leather straps, for he
is kindled and consumed by the desire to show his prowess. Guiding his
horse's head, he lets him run between two lines. All those mistaken and
deluded men, who have spent a large part of the day and night in heaping
him with ridicule, will soon be disconcerted. For a long time they have
had their sport and joke and fun. The son of the King of Ireland held
his shield closely gripped by the leather straps, as he spurs fiercely
to meet him from the opposite direction. They come together with such
violence that the son of the Irish king having broken and splintered his
lance, wishes no more of the tournament; for it was not moss he struck,
but hard, dry boards. In this encounter Lancelot taught him one of his
thrusts, when he pinned his shield to his arm, and his arm to his side,
and brought him down from his horse to earth. Like arrows the knights
at once fly out, spurring and pricking from either side, some to relieve
this knight, others to add to his distress. While some thus try to aid
their lords, many a saddle is left empty in the strife and fray. But
all that day Gawain took no hand at arms, though he was with the others
there, for he took such pleasure in watching the