numbers of other pigeons strutted on the tiles of the roof and bridled
and cooed to each other in the red sunlight of the waning day. So this
was a very pleasant place in which to dwell. And the damsel said to Sir
Ewaine, "Here shall you abide until my further purpose is ripe."

[Sidenote: _The damsel serveth Sir Ewaine._]

Then the damsel Elose brought an ewer full of tepid water and she poured
the water into a basin, and the ewer and the basin were both of them of
silver. And the damsel held the basin and Sir Ewaine bathed his hands
and his face, and after that she gave him a large napkin of fine white
linen and he dried his hands and his face thereon. So, when he was thus
refreshed she brought him food and drink, and Sir Ewaine ate and drank
with much appetite and was greatly uplifted in spirit. And by that time
the evening was come.

Now all this while Sir Ewaine was greatly astonished that the damsel
should be so kind to him, wherefore he said, "Damsel, why art thou so
kind to me?" To this she made reply: "Messire, I have a purpose in all
this, that by and by and in good season I will unfold to thee."

Then Sir Ewaine said to her: "I pray you, fair damsel, tell me now the
mystery of that fountain and of the knight who guarded it? For I am very
curious to know why there came that quaking of the earth and that
thundering and rain when I cast water upon the slab beside the
fountain."

"Sir," said Elose, "I will tell you that mystery." And so she did, as
followeth:

[Sidenote: _The damsel telleth Sir Ewaine of the enchantment of the
fountain._]

"You are to know," quoth she, "that somewhile ago there was appointed a
joust at a place not very distant from this. And to that joust there
went the lady of this castle who is hight the Lady Lesolie. Thither also
went the Lady Vivien, of whom thou either knowest or hast heard tell,
for she is one of the greatest and most mischievous enchantresses in all
of the world.

"At that jousting there was one knight who distinguished himself above
all others, and he was Sir Sagron surnamed Coeur de Fer. For that
noble knight won the battle of the joust, overthrowing all who came
against him without once suffering defeat himself. So to him was awarded
the prize of battle, which prize was a fillet of gold. This fillet the
victor had the right to bestow upon the lady whom he deemed the fairest
of all who were there.

"Now the Lady Vivien thought that she would be chosen by who