bows and arrows. And the hair of the
youths was yellow and curling, and each bore a frontlet of gold upon his
head, and they wore upon their feet shoes of embossed leather with
latchets of gold upon the insteps.

"These two youths, as I drew near, gave me very courteous greeting, and
besought me that I would declare to them my name and degree, and I did
so. Then they besought me that I would come with them to the castle, and
I went with them with great content of spirit; for it seemed to me that
this was likely to be a very fair and cheerful place to lodge
over-night. So I entered with those two youths into the castle, and
there came attendants and took my horse and there came others who
unarmed me and led me to a bath of tepid water. After that I descended
to the hall of that castle, and there I beheld that it was all hung with
tapestries and fabrics of divers sorts and of very rich and beautiful
designs.

[Sidenote: _Sir Sagramore meets the Lady Vivien._]

"In that hall there were twelve ladies who sat embroidering cloth of
satin at a window, and I think I have hardly ever seen any ladies who
were so beautiful as they. Immediately I entered that room these twelve
ladies arose, and she who was the fairest amongst them came forward and
gave me greeting. And immediately I knew that lady that she was the Lady
Vivien who beguiled the Enchanter Merlin to his undoing and his ruin.
Yet in this time, I do assure you, she has grown more beautiful than
ever she was before; for her hair, which was ruddy, is now like to pure
gold for brightness, and it was enmeshed in a golden net, and yet one
could not tell whether the net or the hair shone the more brightly. And
her eyes, which are perfectly black are as bright as jewels, and her
lips are like red corals and very fragrant, and her teeth are like to
rich pearls. Moreover, she was clad in garments of flame-colored satin,
and her neck and arms were adorned with ornaments of gold set with
jewels of a great many kinds and colors. And well ye wist, Messires,
that it was very difficult not to be altogether enchanted by her beauty
of face and appearance.

[Sidenote: _Sir Sagramore feasteth with the Lady Vivien._]

"Yet well knowing how this lady loved mischief, I was for a time very
ill at ease, not knowing whether or not she might be minded to cast some
evil spell upon me. Yet she made no sign of such intent, but spake me
very fair and gave me courteous greeting. And she took my