must know, I bore no
very high regard for that knight whom thou didst overthrow."

Now Sir Ewaine was very well pleased with the welcome he found at that
place, for he did not suspect that the Lady Vivien, who smiled so kindly
upon him, nourished any thought of mischief against him. Wherefore he
suffered them all to bear him into the castle in triumph and to relieve
him of his armor and to bring him to a bath and to fit him with fine
soft raiment wherewith he might with a good appearance come before the
Lady Vivien in her bower.

After that Sir Ewaine went to where that lady was, and he sat with her
and talked in great amity with her. Yet he knew not that all that while
he talked with her she was planning mischief against him. So by and by,
still in great amity, they went to a place where a noble feast was
prepared, and there Sir Ewaine sat beside the Lady Vivien with great
pleasure in being thus near to her. Then, after a while, having in mind
those several mischiefs she had planned against the knights of King
Arthur and of the Round Table, he said to her: "Lady, you who are so
kind and fair to me, I know not why you do mischief against those
others, my companions, who are of King Arthur's court; and I know not
why you do mischief against the Lady Lesolie of the Fountain so as to
bring trouble upon that land. She hath done you no ill that you should
so practise evil against her."

Then the Lady Vivien assumed an appearance of great meekness and
contrition, and she said: "Messire, what you say is true, and I repent
me of all those evil things which I have done." And she said: "Would it
pleasure you if all enchantment should be removed from that fountain,
and if the land of the fountain should be left at peace?" Sir Ewaine
said, "Lady, it would pleasure me beyond measure." Then the Lady Vivien
said: "So it shall be, and I promise you very faithfully that that
enchantment shall be entirely removed from that land this very day
forward unto all time." Then she looked upon Sir Ewaine and smiled upon
him in such wise that he was bewitched with her smiling, and she said,
"Sir Ewaine, let there be peace betwixt us from this time forth for
aye!" and he said, "Lady, God knows I bear you no ill will and so there
is peace betwixt us."

Then the Lady Vivien said, "Sir, I would that thou wouldst accept a
pledge of peace from me." And he said, "What is that pledge?" Quoth she,
"I will show thee."

[Sidenote: _The Lady Vivien giv