"Lady," said Robert, "your prayer is guerdon enough for me. Be assured I will do all that I may."
"I am content," returned the lady.
Now within a little space the knight made ready to fare to a tournament very far from his land. When he came to the field, he (with a certain knight in whose company he rode) was joined to one party, and his banner was carried to the lodging of his lord. The tilting began, and such deeds did the knight, by the cunning service of his squire, that he bore off the honour and the prize of that tourney from the one side and the other. On the second day the knight prepared to return to his own country; so Robert took him often to task and blamed him greatly that he had not bestowed his fair daughter in marriage. Having heard this many times, at the end his lord replied—
"Robert, thou and thy lady give me no peace in the matter of the marriage of my daughter; but at present I see and know of none in my parts to whom I am content to give her."
"Ah, sir," cried Robert, "there is no knight in your realm who would not receive her right joyously."
"Robert, fair friend, they are worth nothing, not one of them; neither will I bestow her there with my good will. I know of no man in the world who is worthy of her, save one man only, and he, forsooth, is no knight."
"Sir, tell me his name," answered Robert, "and I will find means to speak to him so privily that the marriage shall be made."
"Certes, Robert," returned the knight, "meseems thou art very desirous that my daughter shall be wedded."
"Sir," quoth Robert, "you speak truly, for it is full time."
"Robert," said the knight, "since thou art so hot to carol at her wedding, she shall soon enough be married if thou accord thereto."