overcame Sir Sagron, then is
he better than Sir Sagron, and so he is better to be the defender of the
Fountain."

Then the lady said: "Say no more, but go ye both away until I meditate
upon this for a while." And thereupon Elose and Sir Ewaine quitted the
apartment of the lady and went away to another part of the castle.

[Sidenote: _The damsel bringeth Sir Ewaine to the Lady of the
Fountain._]

After that they waited for word to come to them from the lady of the
castle, yet no word came for a long while. But when the evening had
come, the chatelaine sent a very courteous message to Sir Ewaine that it
would pleasure her to have him sup with her. So Sir Ewaine went upon
that command, and the lady received him very graciously and made place
for him beside her at the table, and they sat and ate and drank together
and talked of many things of court and field. And ever as they talked
together the Lady Lesolie regarded Sir Ewaine very closely, and she
perceived that he was very noble and haughty of appearance, and she wist
that he was greater champion than she had ever beheld before.

Then, by and by, she said of a sudden to Sir Ewaine: "Messire, dost thou
not think thou didst very ill to come hitherward to the destruction of
our peace?"

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine promiseth to defend the Fountain._]

Then Sir Ewaine spake very boldly, saying: "Lady, I am very sorry to
have caused thee grief, but I did only as any knight-adventurer would
do, taking my chance of battle and of death with him as he took his
chance with me. Yet now that the chance of war hath brought me hither, I
cannot repent me of anything that hath befallen me. For that chance hath
brought me into thy presence and hath made me acquainted with thee."
Then the lady said: "Well, Messire, what am I to do now that thou hast
slain the knight-champion of this place?" To the which Sir Ewaine made
reply: "Lady, if thou wilt take me for thy champion, I will serve thee
very faithfully and will ask no guerdon from thee. For I know of no
greater joy that could befall me than to be thy chosen champion." Then
the Lady Lesolie smiled and said: "Sir Ewaine, thou speakest very well,
and I believe that thy deeds are every whit as trustworthy as thy words.
So I will accept thee as my champion to do combat in my behalf and to
protect my fountain and myself for a year and a day. If by the end of
that time thou hast proved thyself to be entirely faithful, then I will
consider any