ed with journeying, a repast had been spread in the open
air, and all they sat at table with only the blue sky and the bright
floating clouds above their heads for a canopy, and only the soft green
grass and the pretty flowers beneath their feet for a carpet. And so as
they sat, pages and attendants ran hither and thither with plates and
dishes and pattens of silver and of gold full of meats of all kinds, and
with beakers and pitchers and goblets of silver and of gold full of
wines of various sorts; and with these foods the attendants served that
noble company as they sat at table. And all the stillness of the forest
was filled full of the noise of the chanting of many voices, and of
laughter and of snatches of song. What time there stood near by several
minstrels who played upon harps for the entertainment of those who ate
at the table.

[Sidenote: _A strange damsel appeareth in the forest._]

So, as they sat, all enjoying themselves with feasting and good cheer,
there came forth of a sudden from the forest a very beautiful damsel
riding upon a milk-white horse with two esquires in attendance upon
her--the one walking upon the one side of her horse, and the other upon
the other. This damsel and the esquires were all clad in flame-colored
satin and all these were adorned with many ornaments of gold. And the
damsel wore about her neck several shining necklaces of gold inset with
jewels of divers sorts, and she wore armlets of gold also inset with
jewels upon her arms, and her hair was gathered into a net of gold. So
it was, what with that flaming raiment and the shining of those several
ornaments of gold, that she who came thither was all one living flame of
fire.

So she drew nigh to them who sat at table, and they beheld that the face
of that damsel was of a very singularly beautiful appearance, being like
to ivory for whiteness; and they beheld that her lips were like to coral
for redness, and that her eyes were like two jewels, very bright and
shining. And they beheld that her hands were long and slender, and were
adorned with many rings of wrought gold, so that each finger shone, as
it were, with pure brightness because of those several hoops of gold
that encircled them.

Such was the appearance of that damsel and all they who sat there at
feast were astonished with wonderment when they beheld her, for they all
wist that without doubt she was fay.

[Sidenote: _The damsel bespeaketh them._]

Now when that dams