st and most beautiful of all.
Everyone, of course, expected that Sir Lancelot would win it, but
only a few days before the contest he announced to the king that
he would not compete.

Then the queen was vexed, for she loved Sir Lancelot more than
all the other knights, and it gave her great joy to see him
always successful in the tournaments. Therefore she urged him to
change his decision.

"My queen," he said, "I told the king I would not fight."

The queen replied:

"My advice is that you go in disguise. The knights who contest
with you do so but half-heartedly, for they know your great fame
and feel sure of failure. If they did not know who you were, they
would fight better and win more glory for themselves. Then fight
as a stranger knight, and afterwards explain to the king."

Sir Lancelot took her advice. He rode away over the woods and
hills till he came to the castle of Astolat, where he decided to
stop and ask for a disguise. He knocked on the gate, which was
opened by an old dumb servant, and entered the courtyard. The
lord of Astolat came to meet him with his two sons, Sir Torre and
Sir Lavaine, and his beautiful daughter Elaine. The lord of the
castle said:

"Fair sir, whoever you are, you are welcome. You seem to me much
like a Knight of the Round Table."

"That I am," said Sir Lancelot. "Hereafter I will tell you my
name; at present I wish to remain unknown. I must enter the
coming tournament as an unknown knight, and I should like to
leave with you my great shield, for it is as well known in
Camelot as I. Will you keep it and lend me another one?"

Then answered the Lord of Astolat:

"You may take the shield of my son Torre. He was hurt in his
first tournament, and has not been able to fight since. My son
Lavaine will gladly go with you to the tournament. Perhaps,"
added the lord, laughing, "he can win the diamond, and put it in
his sister Elaine's hair."

"Nay, father, do not make me ashamed before this noble knight,"
said the young Lavaine. "I know I can never win the diamond for
Elaine, but I can at least do my best to fight."

"Gladly will I take you for a companion," said Sir Lancelot, "and
if you can, win the diamond for this fair maiden."

"Such a diamond," said Sir Torre, "is fit for a queen, and not
for a simple girl."

Sir Lancelot smiled to himself. He was sure that he should win
the diamond. Then he meant to give it with the eight others to
Queen Guinevere. He spoke kindly,