[Sidenote:  The damsel leads Sir Launcelot to an adventure] So Sir Launcelot and that damsel rode away from that place together; he upon his great war-horse and she upon her ambling palfrey beside him.  And the sun shone down upon them, very pleasant and warm, and all who passed them turned to look after them; for the maiden was very fair and slender, and Sir Launcelot was of so noble and stately a mien that few could behold him even from a distance without looking twice or three times upon him.  And as they travelled in that way together they fell into converse, and the damsel said to Sir Launcelot:  “Sir, thou appearest to be a very good knight, and of such a sort as may well undertake any adventure with great hope of success.  Now I prithee to tell me thy name and what knight thou art.”

“Fair maiden,” said Sir Launcelot, “as for telling you my name, that I will gladly do.  I am called Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I am a knight of King Arthur’s court and of his Round Table.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot and the maiden discourse together] At this the damsel was very greatly astonished and filled with admiration.  “Hah!” quoth she, “it is a great pleasure to me to fall in with you, Sir Launcelot, for all the world now bespeaketh your fame.  Little did I ever think to behold your person, much less speak with you, and ride in this way with you.  Now I will tell you what this adventure is on which we are set; it is this—­there is, some small distance from this, a castle of a knight hight Sir Turquine, who hath in his prison a great many knights of King Arthur’s court, and several knights of his Round Table.  These knights he keepeth there in great dole and misery, for it is said that their groans may be heard by the passers along the high-road below the castle.  This Sir Turquine is held to be the greatest knight in the world (unless it be thou) for he hath never yet been overcome in battle, whether a-horseback or a-foot.  But, indeed, I think it to be altogether likely that thou wilt overcome him.”

“Fair damsel,” quoth Sir Launcelot, “I too have hope that I shall hold mine own with him, when I meet him, and to that I shall do my best endeavor.  Yet this and all other matters are entirely in the hands of God.”

Then the damsel said, “If you should overcome this Sir Turquine, I know of still another adventure which, if you do not undertake it, I know of no one else who may undertake to bring it to a successful issue.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “I am glad to hear of that or of any other adventure, for I take great joy in such adventuring.  Now, tell me, what is this other adventure?”

[Sidenote:  The maiden tells Sir Launcelot of the savage forest knight] “Sir,” said the damsel, “a long distance to the west of this there is a knight who hath a castle in the woods and he is the evilest disposed knight that ever I heard tell of.  For he lurks continually in the outskirts of the woods, whence he rushes forth at times upon those who pass by.  Especially he is an enemy to all ladies of that country, for he hath taken many of them prisoners to his castle and hath held them in the dungeon thereof for ransom; and sometimes he hath held them for a long while.  Now I am fain that thou undertake that adventure for my sake.”