e may not ride. His shield ye shall
have, for that is not known, I dare say, except in this place. And my
youngest son is named Sir Lavaine, and if it please you, he shall ride
with you unto the jousts, for he is of his age strong and brave. Much
my heart leads me to believe that ye should be a noble knight;
therefore I pray you tell me your name."

"As for that," said Sir Launcelot, "ye must hold me excused at his
time, but if God give me grace to speed well at the jousts, I shall
come again and tell you. But I pray you in any wise let me have your
son Sir Lavaine with me, and his brother's shield."

"This shall be done," said Sir Bernard.

This old baron had a daughter, Elaine le Blank, that was called at that
time the Fair Maid of Astolat. Ever she beheld Sir Launcelot
admiringly, and, as the book saith, she cast such a love unto him that
she could never withdraw her love, so she besought him to wear at the
jousts a token of hers. "Fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, "if I grant
you that, ye may say I do more for your love than ever I did for lady
or damsel."

[Illustration: Elaine]

Then he remembered that he would go to the jousts disguised; and
because he had never afore that time borne any manner of token of any
damsel, he bethought him that he would bear one of her, so that none of
his blood thereby might know him. And then he said, "Fair maiden, I
will grant you to wear a token of yours upon my helmet; therefore, show
me what it is."

"Sir," she said, "it is a red sleeve of mine, of scarlet, well
embroidered with great pearls."

So she brought it him, and Sir Launcelot received it, saying that he
had never done so much for any damsel. Then he left his shield in the
fair maiden's keeping, and prayed her to care for it until that he came
again. So that night he had merry rest and great cheer, for ever the
damsel Elaine was about Sir Launcelot, all the while she might be
suffered.

On the morn Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine took their leave of Sir
Bernard, the old baron, and of his daughter, the Fair Maiden of
Astolat, and then they rode so long till they came to Camelot. There
was great press of kings, dukes, earls, and barons, and many noble
knights; but there Sir Launcelot was lodged privily, by the means of
Sir Lavaine, with a rich burgess, so that no man in that town was ware
what they were.

At the time appointed the jousts began, and Sir Launcelot made him
ready in his best manner, and p