just now,' said Sir Lancelot,
'but if I speedwell at the jousts, I will come again and tell you. But
let me have Sir Lavaine with me, and lend me, as you have offered, his
brother's shield.' 'This shall be done,' replied Sir Bernard.

Besides these two sons, Sir Bernard had a daughter whom everyone
called The Fair Maid of Astolat, though her real name was Elaine le
Blanc. And when she looked on Sir Lancelot, her love went forth to him
and she could never take it back, and in the end it killed her. As
soon as her father told her that Sir Lancelot was going to the tourney
she besought him to wear her token in the jousts, but he was not
willing. 'Fair damsel,' he said, 'if I did that, I should have done
more for your love than ever I did for lady or damsel.' But then he
remembered that he was to go disguised to the tourney, and because he
had before never worn any manner of token of any damsel, he bethought
him that, if he should take one of hers, none would know him. So he
said to her, 'Fair damsel, I will wear your token on my helmet, if you
will show me what it is.'

'Sir,' she answered, 'it is a red sleeve, embroidered in great
pearls,' and she brought it to him. 'Never have I done so much for any
damsel,' said he, and gave his own shield into her keeping, till he
came again. Sir Arthur had waited three days in Astolat for some
Knights who were long on the road, and when they had arrived they all
set forth, and were followed by Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine, both
with white shields, and Sir Lancelot bore besides the red sleeve that
was a token. Now Camelot was filled with a great number of Kings and
Lords and Knights, but Sir Lavaine found means to lodge both himself
and Sir Lancelot secretly with a rich burgess, and no man knew who
they were or whence they came. And there they stayed till the day of
the tourney. At earliest dawn the trumpets blew, and King Arthur took
his seat upon a high scaffold, so that he might see who had done best;
but he would not suffer Sir Gawaine to go from his side, for Sir
Gawaine never won the prize when Sir Lancelot was in the field, and as
King Arthur knew, Sir Lancelot oftentimes disguised himself.

Then the Knights formed into two parties and Sir Lancelot made him
ready, and fastened the red sleeve upon his helmet, and he and Sir
Lavaine rode into a little wood that lay behind the Knights who should
fight against those of the Round Table. 'Sir,' said Sir Lancelot,
'yonder is a comp