“Sir,” said he, “my name is Lancelot du Lake.”
“Alas!” cried Sir Tristram, “what have I done? You are the man in all the world that I most love.”
“Fair knight,” said Sir Lancelot, “tell me now thy name.”
“Truly, I am Sir Tristram de Lyons.”
“Alas!” said Lancelot, “what an adventure hath befallen me.” So they both sat on the stone, took off their helms, and kissed each other, and they had great joy at their meeting. And so was the prediction of Merlin fulfilled, that at that tomb the two best knights of the world should do battle.
Sir Lancelot conducted Sir Tristram to Gamelot, where King Arthur, who had long desired him, and all the Knights of the Round Table, received him with the greatest honour. And forthwith he was made Knight of the Round Table, and the seat that was given him was that of Sir Marhaus, whom he himself had slain. So he abode a while at King Arthur’s court, and then again he went into Cornwall for the love of Queen Isoude, and after many hardships and perils he brought her with him to England. There they fell in with Sir Lancelot, who took them to his castle of Joyous Gard, and put it in their governance as if it had been their own. So they lived at Joyous Gard very happily together; and there for the present we will leave them.
CHAPTER XI. GERAINT AND ENID.
ONE Whitsuntide King Arthur held his court at Caerleon upon Usk, and he had with him Queen Guenever and most of his knights. While he was holding high feast in his hall, there came to him one of his foresters from the Forest of Dean, and reported to him that he had seen there a white stag of wondrous size and beauty. King Arthur resolved to hunt that stag on the following day; and Queen Guenever craved leave to ride with him and see the chase, which Arthur granted her with a good will. But on the morrow the king and his huntsmen rose full early, and the queen overslept herself, so when she awoke they were all gone. She took her horse as soon as she might, and rode forth with her maidens to follow the hunt. Presently there met her a good knight of the court, Sir Geraint, the son of Erbin, who was lord of the country of Devon. While they held converse together, they saw a dwarf riding along on a great horse, and behind him a knight and a lady riding together. The knight was fully armed, and seemed to be a man of much prowess.