TITLE I.
The story saith that King Arthur goeth his way and Lancelot and Messire Gawain with him, and they had ridden so far one day that night came on in a forest and they might find no hold. Messire Gawain marvelled him much that they had ridden the day long without finding neither hold nor hermitage. Night was come and the sky was dark and the forest full of gloom. They knew not whitherward to turn to pass the night.
"Lords," saith the King, "Where may we be able to alight to-night?"
"Sir, we know not, for this forest is fight wearisome."
They make the squire climb up a tall tree and tell him to look as far as he may to try whether he may espy any hold or house where they may lodge. The squire looketh on all sides, and then telleth them he seeth a fire a long way off as if it were in a waste house, but that he seeth nought there save the fire and the house.
"Take good heed," saith Lancelot, "in which quarter it is, so that you may know well how to lead us thither."
He saith that right eath may he lead them.