The Story of King Arthur and his Knights

by Howard Pyle

So Sir Accalon was altogether astonished to find himself in this place when he had fallen asleep on board that ship, wherefore he was afraid that all this was the fruit of some very evil spell. So he crossed himself and said, “God save King Arthur from any harm, for it seems to me that those damsels upon that ship have wrought some magic upon us for to separate us the one from the other.” So saying, he arose from where he lay with intent to inquire further into that matter.

Now, as he made some noise in bestirring himself, there came forth from that pavilion aforementioned a very hideous dwarf, who saluted him with all civility and with high respect. Then Sir Accalon said to the dwarf, “Sirrah, who are you?” Unto which the dwarf made answer, “Messire, I belong unto the lady of yonder pavilion, and she hath sent me to bid you welcome to this place, and to invite you in for to partake of a repast with her.” “Ha!” quoth Sir Accalon, “and how was it I came hither?” “Sir,” said the dwarf, “I do not know, but when we looked forth this morning we saw you lying here by the fountain side.”

Then Sir Accalon made great marvel at that which had happened to him, and by and by he said, “Who is thy lady?” To which the dwarf replied, “She is hight the Lady Gomyne of the Fair Hair, and she will be passingly glad of your company in her pavilion.”

Sir Accalon enters the pavilion of the Lady Gomyne.

Upon this Sir Accalon arose, and, having laved himself at the fountain and so refreshed himself, he went with the dwarf unto the pavilion of that lady. And when he had come there he saw that in the centre of the pavilion was a table of silver spread with a fair white cloth and covered with very excellent food for a man to break his fast withal.

Now immediately Sir Accalon came into the pavilion, the curtains upon the further side thereof were parted and there entered from a further chamber a very beautiful lady and gave Sir Accalon welcome to that place. And Sir Accalon said to her, “Lady, methinks thou art very civil to invite me thus into thy pavilion.” “Nay, sir,” said the lady, “it took no great effort to be civil unto a knight so worthy as thou.” Then she said to Sir Accalon, “Sir, wilt thou sit here at the table with me and break thy fast?”

At this Sir Accalon was very glad, for he was anhungered, and the beauty of the lady pleased him a very great deal, wherefore it afforded him great joy for to be in her company.

So they two sat at the table with a very cheerful and pleasant spirit and the dwarf waited upon them.

Now after Sir Accalon and the Lady of the Pavilion had broken their fasts she spake to him in this wise, “Sir knight, thou appearest to be a very strong and worthy lord and one very well used to feats of arms and to prowess in battle.”

To this Sir Accalon made reply, “Lady, it does not beseem me to bespeak of my own worth, but this much I may freely say; I have engaged in several affrays at arms in such measure as a knight with belt and spurs may do, and I believe that both my friends and mine enemies have had reason to say that I have at all times done my devoirs to the best of my powers.”