he noble Lancelot du Lake, son of King Ban of Gaul, gained his
first measure of renown.

After the war had ended and the victorious host returned to England,
many adventures came to Lancelot, some of which we must here tell.
Great indeed was the valor and might of this worthiest of knights, who
in after years proved himself in knightly prowess and chivalric honor
the noblest of men. In tournaments and deeds of arms, in sportive war or
battle for life or death, he passed all other knights, and was never
overcome but by treason or enchantment.

After Arthur's return from Rome sports and feasts were given, and jousts
and tournaments held, in which the Knights of the Round Table took part,
many who had gained no great fame in the war now proving themselves able
and worthy warriors. But above them all Lancelot displayed such skill
and prowess that he increased in honor and worship beyond any knight of
Arthur's court.

And, as fortune and fate decreed, he loved Queen Guenever above all
other ladies, while she held him in favor above all other knights,--a
favor that was destined thereafter to bring deep sorrow and trouble to
England's realm. For her sake he did many noble deeds of arms, and he
was looked upon as her especial champion by all the court.

After the return from Rome Lancelot rested long at the court, taking
part in all its feasts and gayeties. But in time he grew weary of sport
and play, and of the idle ways and empty flatteries of courtiers, and
felt a strong desire to wander abroad in search of strange adventures.
So he bade his nephew, Sir Lionel, to make ready, saying to him that
they two would leave the court and ride as knights-errant through the
land, to right wrongs and punish crimes, to rescue the oppressed and
overthrow the proud and haughty, and knightly to do and dare wherever
they went.

So on a day in spring, when the summer was coming with its flowers to
adorn the rich green of the grassy meads, and the birds sang gayly in
the trees, the two knights armed themselves at all points and rode
abroad, passing soon through a deep forest and into a verdant plain
beyond.

Noon now came on, and the weather grew close and sultry, so that
Lancelot became drowsy. This he told to Lionel, who pointed to a large
apple-tree by a hedge, and said,--

"Yonder is a cool shadow. There we may rest ourselves and our horses
till the noontide heat has passed."

"You speak to the point," said Lancelot. "Not for sev