King taketh the candlestick, and looketh thereat in wonderment for
none so rich had he never seen tofore. The King showeth it to the
Queen. "Sir," saith the squire, "Draw not forth the knife of my body
until that I be shriven."

The King sent for one of his own chaplains that made the squire confess
and do his houselling right well. The King himself draweth forth the
knife of the body, and the soul departed forthwith. The King made do
his service right richly and his shrouding and burial. Ywain li
Aoutres that was father to the squire was right sorrowful of the death
of his son. King Arthur, with the good will of Ywain his father, gave
the candlestick to S. Paul in London, for the church was newly founded,
and the King wished that this marvellous adventure should everywhere be
known, and that prayer should be made in the church for the soul of the
squire that was slain on account of the candlestick.

V.

King Arthur armed himself in the morning, as I told you and began to
tell, to go to the chapel of S. Augustine. Said the Queen to him.
"Whom will you take with you?"

"Lady," saith he, "No company will I have thither, save God only, for
well may you understand by this adventure that hath befallen, that God
will not allow I should have none with me."

"Sir," saith she, "God be guard of your body, and grant you return
safely so as that you may have the will to do well, whereby shall your
praise be lifted up that is now sore cast down."

"Lady," saith he, "May God remember it."

His destrier was brought to the mounting-stage, and the King mounted
thereon all armed. Messire Ywain li Aoutres lent him his shield and
spear. When the King had hung the shield at his neck and held the
spear in his hand, sword-girt, on the tall destrier armed, well seemed
he in the make of his body and in his bearing to be a knight of great
pith and hardiment. He planteth himself so stiffly in the stirrups
that he maketh the saddlebows creak again and the destrier stagger
under him that was right stout and swift, and he smiteth him of his
spurs, and the horse maketh answer with a great leap. The Queen was at
the windows of the hall, and as many as five-and-twenty knights were
all come to the mounting-stage. When the King departed, "Lords," saith
the Queen, "How seemeth you of the King? Seemeth he not a goodly man?"

"Yea, certes, Lady, and sore loss is it to the world that he followeth
not out his good beginning, for no ki