stle of right ought to be mine,
and I have an uncle the which is a mighty earl, he is Earl of Pase, and
of all folks he hateth most Morgan le Fay; and I shall send unto him and
pray him for my sake to destroy this castle for the evil customs that be
used therein; and then will he come and set wild-fire on every part of
the castle, and I shall get you out at a privy postern, and there
shall ye have your horse and your harness. Ye say well, damosel, said
Alisander. And then she said: Ye may keep the room of this castle this
twelvemonth and a day, then break ye not your oath. Truly, fair damosel,
said Alisander, ye say sooth. And then he kissed her, and did to her
pleasaunce as it pleased them both at times and leisures.

So anon she sent unto her uncle and bade him come and destroy that
castle, for as the book saith, he would have destroyed that castle afore
time had not that damosel been. When the earl understood her letters he
sent her word again that on such a day he would come and destroy
that castle. So when that day came she showed Alisander a postern
wherethrough he should flee into a garden, and there he should find his
armour and his horse. When the day came that was set, thither came the
Earl of Pase with four hundred knights, and set on fire all the parts of
the castle, that or they ceased they left not a stone standing. And all
this while that the fire was in the castle he abode in the garden. And
when the fire was done he let make a cry that he would keep that piece
of earth thereas the castle of La Beale Regard was a twelvemonth and a
day, from all manner knights that would come.

So it happed there was a duke that hight Ansirus, and he was of the kin
of Sir Launcelot. And this knight was a great pilgrim, for every third
year he would be at Jerusalem. And because he used all his life to go in
pilgrimage men called him Duke Ansirus the Pilgrim. And this duke had a
daughter that hight Alice, that was a passing fair woman, and because of
her father she was called Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And anon as she heard
of this cry she went unto Arthur's court, and said openly in hearing
of many knights, that what knight may overcome that knight that keepeth
that piece of earth shall have me and all my lands.

When the knights of the Round Table heard her say thus many were glad,
for she was passing fair and of great rents. Right so she let cry in
castles and towns as fast on her side as Alisander did on his side.
Then s