[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot is made at ease] Upon this several attendants came, and they took Sir Launcelot and led him to a pleasant chamber.  There they unarmed him and gave him a bath in tepid water, and there came a leech and searched his wounds and dressed them.  Then those in attendance upon him gave him a soft robe of cloth of velvet, and when Sir Launcelot had put it on he felt much at ease, and in great comfort of body.

By and by, when evening had fallen, a very good, excellent feast was spread in the hall of the castle, and there sat down thereto Sir Launcelot and Sir Hilaire and the damsel Croisette.  As they ate they discoursed of various things, and Sir Launcelot told many things concerning his adventures, so that all who were there were very quiet, listening to what he said.  For it was as though he were a visitor come to them from some other world, very strange and distant, of which they had no knowledge, wherefore they all listened so as not to lose a single word of what he told them.  So that evening passed very pleasantly, and Sir Launcelot went to his bed with great content of spirit.

[Sidenote:  How Sir Launcelot abides at the castle of Sir Hilaire] So Sir Launcelot abided for several days in that place until his wounds were healed.  Then one morning, after they had all broken their fast, he made request that he and the damsel might be allowed to depart upon that adventure which he had promised her to undertake, and unto this Sir Hilaire gave his consent.

Now, during this while, Sir Launcelot’s armor had been so pieced and mended by the armor-smiths of that castle that when he donned it it was, in a measure, as sound as it had ever been, and of that Sir Launcelot was very glad.  So having made ready in all ways he and Croisette took leave of that place, and all they who were there bade them adieu and gave Sir Launcelot God-speed upon that adventure.

Now some while after they left that dale they rode through a very ancient forest, where the sod was exceedingly soft underfoot and silent to the tread of the horses, and where it was very full of bursting foliage overhead.  And as they rode at an easy pace through that woodland place they talked of many things in a very pleasant and merry discourse.

Quoth the damsel unto Sir Launcelot:  “Messire, I take very great wonder that thou hast not some special lady for to serve in all ways as a knight should serve a lady.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot and Croisette discourse together] “Ha, damsel,” said Sir Launcelot, “I do serve a lady in that manner and she is peerless above all other ladies; for that lady is the Lady Guinevere, who is King Arthur’s queen.  Yet though I am her servant I serve her from a very great distance.  For in serving her I am like one who standeth upon the earth, yet looketh upward ever toward the bright and morning star.  For though such an one may delight in that star from a distance, yet may he never hope to reach an altitude whereon that star standeth.”