n but bid you eat. If you
be such a knight as men say, I shall tell you more to-morrow morn."

"Thanks, fair damsel," said Lancelot. "It pleases me to have your good
will."

Little comfort had the good knight of that night's sleep; but early in
the morning there came to him the four queens, each dressed in her
richest attire, adorned with rare jewels, and as beautiful as art and
skill could make them.

They bade him good morning and he returned their greeting, looking upon
them with eyes of admiration, but not of love.

"You are our prisoner, sir knight," said Morgan. "We know you well. You
are Lancelot of the Lake, King Ban's son. And well we understand that
you are named the worthiest knight living, and that men say that no lady
in the land but Queen Guenever can have your love. But this we would
have you know, that you must choose one of us four as your heart's
queen, for if you refuse you shall never see Arthur's queen again. I am
Morgan le Fay, queen of the land of Gore, and here is the Queen of
Northgalis, the Queen of East-land, and the Queen of the Out Islands. We
bid you to forget Guenever and choose of us the one you will have for
your love. If you choose not it will be worse for you, for I shall hold
you in prison until death."

"This is a hard chance," said Lancelot, "that I must die in prison or
profess a love that I do not feel. Let me tell you this, though I die
twice in your dungeon I will have none of you, for you are false
enchantresses and not true dames for honest men to love. As for dame
Guenever, were I at liberty I would prove it on all the knights whom you
command that she is of all ladies the truest to her lord."

"Is this, then, your answer," said Morgan, "that you disdain our love?"

"On my life it is!" cried Lancelot. "Such love as yours is not for
honest knights; and my love is not to be had for the bidding."

"You may live to change your mind," said Morgan. "Prison life and prison
fare may cure your pride."

With these words they departed, leaving Lancelot in gloom of mind but
steadfastness of heart.

At noon, the damsel who had brought him his supper the night before came
with his dinner, and asked him again how he fared.

"Never so ill," said Lancelot. "For never before was I held under lock
and key, and never was worthy knight so shamefully entreated."

"It grieves me deeply to see you in such distress," she said. "If you
will be ruled by me, and make me a promise, you shal