Then answer'd Lancelot, the chief of

knights:

Known am I, and of Arthur's hall, and known,

What I by mere mischance have brought, my shield.

But since I go to joust as one unknown At Camelot for the diamond, ask me not, Hereafter ye shall know me and the shield

I pray you lend me one, if such you have, Blank, or at least with some device not mine.'

Then said the Lord of Astolat, 'Here is Torre's:

Hurt in his first tilt was my son, Sir Torre. And so, God wot, his shield is blank enough.

His ye can have.' Then added plain Sir Torre,

'Yea, since I cannot use it, ye may have it.'

Here laugh'd the father saying, 'Fie, Sir Churl,

Is that an answer for a noble knight? Allow him! but Lavaine, my younger

here,

He is so full of lustihood, he will ride, Joust for it, and win, and bring it in an hour,

And set it in this damsel's golden hair, To make her thrice as wilful as before.'

'Nay, father, nay good father, shame

me not

Before this noble knight,' said young Lavaine,

For nothing. Surely I but play'd on Torre :

He seem'd so sullen, vext he could not go : A jest, no more! for, knight, the maiden deamt

That some one put this diamond in her hand,

And that it was too slippery to be held, And slipt and fell into some pool or stream, The castle-well, belike; and then I said That if I went and if I fought and won it (But all was jest and joke among ourselves) Then must she keep it safelier. All was jest. But, father, give me leave, an if he will, To ride to Camelot with this noble knight : Win shall I not, but do my best to win : Young as I am, yet would I do my best.'

'So ye will grace me,' answer'd

Lancelot,

Smiling a moment, 'with your fellowship O'er these waste downs whereon I lost

myself,

Then were I glad of you as guide and friend :

And you shall win this diamond-as I hear,
It is a fair large diamond,—if ye may,
And yield it to this maiden, if ye will.'
'A fair large diamond,' added plain Sir
Torre,

Such be for queens, and not for simple

maids.'

Then she, who held her eyes upon the

ground,

Elaine, and heard her name so tost about, Flush'd slightly at the slight disparagement Before the stranger knight, who, looking

at her,

Full courtly, yet not falsely, thus return'd: "If what is fair be but for what is fair, And only queens are to be counted so, Rash were my judgment then, who deem this maid

Might wear as fair a jewel as is on earth, Not violating the bond of like to like.'

He spoke and ceased: the lily maid Elaine,