ow, Lady!" said he,
"say you this truly, _as_ my lady?" And she said, "Yes,
without fail." "Lady," said he, "blessed be you of God, that
you said it to me so soon [_or_ as soon as you have said
it]. For to that will you make me come which I never thought
to attain. Nor had I so much desire of anything as of
possessing gentry."

[_The first meeting of Lancelot and Guinevere. The Lady of
the Lake has prevailed upon the King to dub Lancelot on St.
John's Day (Midsummer, not Christmas). His protectress
departing, he is committed to the care of Ywain, and a
conversation arises about him. The Queen asks to see him._]

[Sidenote: The first meeting of Lancelot and Guinevere.]

Then bid he [the King] Monseigneur[47] Ywain that he should
go and look for Lancelot. "And let him be equipped as
handsomely as you know is proper: for well know I that he
has plenty." Then the King himself told the Queen how the
Lady of the Lake had requested that he would not make
Lancelot knight save in his own arms and dress. And the
Queen marvelled much at this, and thought long till she saw
him. So Messire Ywain went to the Childe [_vallet_] and had
him clothed and equipped in the best way he could: and when
he saw that nothing could be bettered, he led him to Court
on his own horse, which was right fair. But he brought him
not quietly. For there was so much people about that the
whole street was full: and the news was spread through all
the town that the fair Childe who came yester eve should be
a knight to-morrow, and was now coming to Court in knightly
garb. Then sprang to the windows they of the town, both men
and women. And when they saw him pass they said that never
had they seen so fair a Childe-knight. So he came to the
Court and alighted from his horse: and the news of him
spread through hall and chamber; and knights and dames and
damsels hurried forth. And even the King and the Queen went
to the windows. So when the Childe had dismounted, Messire
Ywain took him by the hand, and led him by it up to the
Hall.

The King and the Queen came to meet him: and both took him
by his two hands and went to seat themselves on a couch:
while the Childe seated himself before them on the fresh
green grass with which the Hall was spread. And the King