VIII.
Lancelot issued forth and so cometh into the orchard beside the forest, and wiped his sword on the freshness of the green grass. Thereupon behold you the damsel that cometh.
"Sir," saith she to Lancelot, "Are you wounded in any place?"
"Damsel, nowhere, thank God!"
Another damsel leadeth a horse into the orchard. The damsel of the castle looketh at Lancelot.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "Meseemeth that you are not over joyous."
"Damsel," saith he, "If I be not, I have good right, for I have lost the thing in the world that most I loved."
"And you have won me," saith she, "so you remain not here, that am the fairest damsel in this kingdom, and I have saved you your life for this, that you grant me your love, for mine own would I fain give unto you."
"Gramercy, damsel," saith Lancelot, "Your love and your good will fain would I have; but neither you nor none other damsel ought not to have affiance in me, and I might so soon set carelessly aside the love to whom my heart owed its obedience, for the worthiness and the courtesy that were lodged in her. Nor never hereafter, so long as I live, shall I love none other in like manner; wherefore all others commend I to God, and to yourself, as for leave-taking to one at whose service I fain would be; I say that if you shall have need of me, and so I be in place and free, I will do all I may to protect your honour."