, and that is to tell me
whether anywhere hereabout is to be found an adventure such as may
beseem a knight of good credit to undertake."

Upon this one of those minstrels spake saying: "Messire, I know where
there is an adventure, which, if you achieve it, will bring you such
great credit that I believe Sir Launcelot of the Lake himself would not
have greater credit than you."

At this Sir Launcelot laughed with great good will. "Well," quoth he, "I
would not be overbold, yet this I may say, that anything Sir Launcelot
of the Lake might not fear to undertake, that also I shall not fear to
assume, and whatever he might find strength to do that also I may hope
to accomplish. For indeed I may tell ye that I hold myself to be
altogether as good and worthy a knight as ever is Sir Launcelot of the
Lake."

"Ha!" quoth the chief minstrel, "I perceive, Sir Knight, that thou hast
a very good opinion of thyself. Now, were Sir Launcelot here, haply thou
wouldst not venture to reckon thyself so high as thou now dost."

At that all those minstrels laughed in great measure, and Sir Launcelot
laughed with them as loud as any. "Good fellows," said he, "I believe I
reckon myself to be no better than another man born of woman, yet this I
have to say: Oftentimes have I beheld Sir Launcelot and sometimes have I
contended against his will, but never at any time have I found him to be
stronger or worthier than am I myself. But let us not debate so small a
matter as this. Let us instead learn what is that adventure concerning
which yonder good fellow hath to advise us."

"Messire," quoth the minstrel, "have ye ever heard tell of the Worm of
Corbin?"

"Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "but tell thou me of it."

[Sidenote: _The minstrel telleth of the Worm of Corbin._]

"Sir," said the minstrel, "I will do so. You are to know that some ways
to a considerable distance to the eastward of this place there is a very
large fair noble town hight Corbin; and the King of that country is King
Pelles. Now one time it chanced that Queen Morgana le Fay and the Queen
of North Wales were upon a visit to Corbin, and whilst they were there
there was given in that place a great jousting and feast in their honor.

[Sidenote: _Of the damsel who came to the feast of the King._]

"Whilst King Pelles sat at table with the two queens (all of his court
and his daughter Elaine the Fair being with him) there came into the
pavilion where the feast was held a wonderfu