where he could drink when he was thirsty. The lion also brought
him game. At first Sir Ivaine would not touch it, but finally
began to eat it raw.

After a time he became better, physically, but his senses were
gone. In his madness he wandered all through the woods, fighting
with the trees and bushes. The lion always followed him,
protecting him from other animals and from men.

One day when the lion was absent finding food, Sir Ivaine lay
asleep. A good hermit came up to him, and pitying his condition,
lifted him in his arms and carried him to his hut. He bathed the
poor knight, cut his hair, and put a robe upon him. He was laying
him upon a bed when the lion came roaring to the door and dashed
it open.

When it saw the hermit tending its master, it fawned at his feet.
After that Sir Ivaine spent much of his time in the hut. The lion
supplied him with food, bringing meat to the hermit, who always
divided it into four parts: three parts he gave to the lion, and
one he cooked for Sir Ivaine and himself.

Sometimes Sir Ivaine would run away from the hermit and wander
for days in the forest. The lion took care of him, and always led
him back to the hermit's hut. Once, however, Sir Ivaine set forth
in the direction of his wife's castle. At night the lion tried to
take him to the hut, but in vain. For days he wandered, always in
the same direction, until at last he reached the wood where the
stone platform was. He laid himself down upon it and slept. Soon
a lady and a maid appeared. The lion sprang at them, but when it
reached their feet, it licked the lady's hand, for she was its
mistress.

It took her robe in its teeth and pulled her gently to the spot
where Sir Ivaine lay. At first she would not look at him,
because she had not forgiven him for breaking his promise. But
the little maiden said:

"Dear mistress, look at him. The story which the knights of
Arthur's Court told us about his madness must be true. If you
will but look at his face you will see that it is the face of a
man who has lost his senses."

Then the lady knelt beside him. When she saw his worn features
and his tattered garments, she began to believe that he really
had lost his senses from grief. She sent the little maiden to the
castle for an ointment she had. It was so powerful that if it
were rubbed over a person who was ill, it would cure him, no
matter what his disease was. When the little maid brought it, the
lady put it upon Sir Ivaine,