s adventure because a fellow of mine failed in it and
because I deemed that it behooved me to redeem with mine own hand the
honor he had lost to your champion. As for the hurts which he suffered
at my hand--wit you that when a knight fights in battle with another
knight, as I fought of late with your champion, that one knoweth not how
hard he smites until the mischief is done. So it was with me, and when I
smote I smote in the heat and the passion of battle. Then, when I
perceived that I had hurt him so sorely I pursued your knight with
intent to help him whom I had so sadly hurt. But ever your
knight-champion fled away from me, so that at last I pursued him in
anger; wherefore I rushed into this place without thinking, and so am
caught here a helpless prisoner."

Then the damsel said, "Sir Knight, I pray you tell me what is your name
and your degree?" To the which Sir Ewaine made reply: "My name is Sir
Ewaine and I am King Uriens' son of Gore, and my mother is Queen
Morgana, surnamed Le Fay."

Now when the damsel heard this announcement of the name and the degree
of Sir Ewaine, she made great admiration, crying out: "Is it then
possible that so famous a knight as thou art, and one so renowned in all
the world both of chivalry and of common history, shouldst be caught a
prisoner in this wise?" And she regarded Sir Ewaine through the aperture
of the gate with very great wonder, and by and by she regarded him with
still greater pity. Then after a little, she said: "Sir Knight Ewaine, I
take great sorrow that so worthy a knight as thou art shouldst suffer
harm. Now I am of a great mind for to help thee if thou wilt do my
bidding in all things that I shall ordain for thee to do. For if I
release thee from thy captivity, there are several things I would have
thee do upon my commandment."

"Lady," said Sir Ewaine, "I believe that you mean me well, and I believe
that you would not lay any command upon me that would be contrary to my
knightly honor or my integrity as a right knight of royal blood to
fulfill." And the damsel said: "Take no thought that I intend ill faith
against thee, Sir Ewaine, for instead I am of a mind to be thy friend in
this affair if so be thou wilt put thy trust in me."

Then Sir Ewaine said: "Lady, I yield myself to your will, and if you
will set me free from this captivity I will do whatsoever you ordain for
me to perform. But tell me, how mean ye for to bring me forth from this
peril unless you ma