hapel, where he saw no light but a
dim lamp burning, and soon became aware of a corpse covered with a
cloth of silk. Sir Launcelot stooped down and cut off a piece of that
cloth, whereupon the earth under him seemed to quake a little, and at
this he feared. Then he saw a fair sword lying by the dead knight.
This he gat into his hand and hied out of the chapel.

As soon as ever he was in the chapel yard all the giants spake to him
with a grimly voice, and said: "Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword
from thee, or else thou shalt die."

"Whether I live or die," said Sir Launcelot, "no loud words will get it
again; therefore fight for it if ye will."

Then he immediately passed right through their midst, and beyond the
chapel yard there met him a fair damsel, who said, "Sir Launcelot,
leave that sword behind thee, or thou wilt die for it."

"I leave it not," said Sir Launcelot, "for any entreaties."

"It is well," said she. "If thou didst leave that sword thou shouldst
never see Queen Guenever again. Now, gentle knight, I request one
thing of thee. Kiss me but once."

"Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "God forbid that I should do that."

"It is well, sir," said she; "if thou hadst kissed me thy life days had
been done. But now, alas, I have lost all my labour, for I ordained
this chapel to win thee. Once I had Sir Gawaine well nigh within my
power, but he fought with that knight that lieth there dead in yonder
chapel, Sir Gilbert, and smote off his left hand and so escaped. Sir
Launcelot, I have loved thee these seven years, but now I know no woman
may have thy love but Queen Guenever."

"Ye say well," said Sir Launcelot. "God preserve me from your subtile
crafts."

Thereupon he took his horse and so departed from her, and soon met the
damsel, Sir Meliot's sister. Anon she led him to the castle where Sir
Meliot lay, pale as the earth from bleeding. Sir Launcelot leaped unto
him and touched his wounds with Sir Gilbert's sword, and then wiped his
wounds with a part of the cloth that Sir Gilbert was wrapped in, and
anon he was as whole a man as ever he had been in all his life. And
then there was great joy between them. They made Sir Launcelot all the
cheer that they might, and on the morn he took his leave of Sir Meliot
and his sister, and rode away.

CHAPTER XIII

THE KNIGHT, THE LADY, AND THE FALCON

And Sir Launcelot by fortune came to a fair castle, and as he passed by
he was ware of a falcon t