d take heed that my
horse be saddled at break of day and mine arms ready. For I would be
moving at the time I tell you, and yourself with me without more
company."

"Sir," saith the squire, "At your pleasure."

And the evening drew on, and the King and Queen go to bed. When they
had eaten in hall, the knights went to their hostels. The squire
remained in the hall, but he would not do off his clothes nor his
shoon, for the night seemed him to be too short, and for that he would
fain be ready in the morning at the King's commandment. The squire was
lying down in such sort as I have told you, and in the first sleep that
he slept, seemed him the King had gone without him. The squire was
sore scared thereat, and came to his hackney and set the saddle and
bridle upon him, and did on his spurs and girt on his sword, as it
seemed him in his sleep, and issued forth of the castle a great pace
after the King. And when he had ridden a long space he entered into a
great forest and looked in the way before him and saw the slot of the
King's horse and followed the track a long space, until that he came to
a launde of the forest whereat he thought that the King had alighted.
The squire thought that the hoof-marks on the way had come to an end
and so thought that the King had alighted there or hard by there. He
looketh to the right hand and seeth a chapel in the midst of the
launde, and he seeth about it a great graveyard wherein were many
coffins, as it seemed him. He thought in his heart that he would go
towards the chapel, for he supposed that the King would have entered to
pray there. He went thitherward and alighted. When the squire was
alighted, he tied up his hackney and entered into the chapel. None did
he see there in one part nor another, save a knight that lay dead in
the midst of the chapel upon a bier, and he was covered of a rich cloth
of silk, and had around him waxen tapers burning that were fixed in
four candlesticks of gold. This squire marvelled much how this body
was left there so lonely, insomuch that none were about him save only
the images, and yet more marvelled he of the King that he found him
not, for he knew not in what part to seek him. He taketh out one of
the tall tapers, and layeth hand on the golden candlestick, and setteth
it betwixt his hose and his thigh and issueth forth of the chapel, and
remounteth on his hackney and goeth his way back and passeth beyond the
grave-yard and issueth for