Lancelot understandeth that the knight is not overburdened of courtesy, will not do well to lose such ease, for misease enough had they the shall you not eat with me this night there within." to do her a disgrace and a shame in such sort that her kinsfolk would "Faith, Sir," saith Lancelot, "You will do your pleasure therein, for this forest." night before. He maketh the King take water of the lady, and the same IX. and he seeth the table garnished of good meat, and bethinketh him he the basins and presenteth water to the knights. have had shame of her." "By my head," saith the knight, "the damsel that I loved before loveth "Sir," saith Lancelot, "I have sithence spoken to her and she to me, she is yours. Truth it is that I made you marry her, for you were fain Thereupon the knight bade the knights take water, and the lady taketh squires as she was wont to do. The knights are sorry enough thereof, "Avoid, damsel," saith the King, "Take it away! Never, please God, and your hurt and your shame if she may, and great power hath she in than she shall not serve you to-night in this matter, or otherwise shall it befall that we should accept such service from you." "By my head," saith the knight, "But so must you needs do, for other knight said that there she should not sit. She goeth to sit among the you no better hereof, nay, rather, fain would she procure your vexation service did she for all of them. The knight biddeth them be seated. and so hath she told me her will and her wish." but they durst not gainsay the will of her lord. When they had eaten, The King would have made the lady sit beside him at the table, but the