[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot and Croisette come to a fair valley] At the farther end of the valley was a castle of very comely of appearance, being built part of stone and part of bright red bricks; and the castle had many windows of glass and tall chimneys, some a-smoke.  About the castle and nigh to it was a little village of thatched cottages, with many trees in blossom and some without blossom shading the gables of the small houses that took shelter beneath them.

Now when Sir Launcelot and Croisette came into that little valley it was at the declining of the day and the sky was all alight with the slanting sun, and the swallows were flying above the smooth shining surface of the river in such multitudes that it was wonderful to behold them.  And the lowing herds were winding slowly along by the river in their homeward way, and all was so peaceful and quiet that Sir Launcelot drew rein for pure pleasure, and sat for some while looking down upon that fair, happy dale.  Then by and by he said:  “Croisette, meseems I have never beheld so sweet and fair a country as this, nor one in which it would be so pleasant to live.”

Upon this Croisette was very much pleased, and she smiled upon Sir Launcelot.  “Think you so, Sir Launcelot?” quoth she.  “Well, in sooth, I am very glad that this valley pleasures you; for I love it beyond any other place in all the world.  For here was I born and here was I raised in that castle yonder.  For that is my brother’s castle and it was my father’s castle before his time; wherefore meseems that no place in all the world can ever be so dear to my heart as this dale.”

[Sidenote:  Croisette bringeth Sir Launcelot to her brother’s house] Thereupon they went forward up that little valley, and along by the smoothly flowing river, and the farther they went the more Sir Launcelot took pleasure in all that he beheld.  Thus they came through the pretty village where the folk stood and watched with great admiration how that noble knight rode that way; and so they came to the castle and rode into the court-yard thereof.  Then presently there came the lord of that castle, who was Sir Hilaire of the Dale.  And Sir Hilaire greeted Sir Launcelot, saying:  “Welcome, Sir Knight.  This is great honor you do me to come into this quiet dale with my sister, for we do not often have with us travellers of such quality as you.”

“Brother,” said Croisette, “you may well say that it is an honor to have this knight with us, for this is none other knight than the great Sir Launcelot of the Lake.  This day I beheld him overcome Sir Turquine in fair and honorable battle.  So he doth indeed do great honor for to visit us in this wise.”

Then Sir Hilaire looked at Sir Launcelot very steadily, and he said:  “Sir Launcelot, your fame is so great that it hath reached even unto this peaceful outland place; wherefore it shall not soon be forgotten here how you came hither.  Now, I pray you, come in and refresh yourself, for I see that you are wounded and I doubt not you are weary.”