The King commanded that the ladies should be led to their companions, and bestowed in the same honourable fashion as they.  Then he bade the lords of his household to consider their judgment, since he would endure no further respite.  The Court already had given too much time to the business, and the Queen was growing wrathful, because of the blame that was hers.  Now the judges were about to proclaim their sentence, when, amidst the tumult of the town, there came riding to the palace the flower of all the ladies of the world.  She came mounted upon a palfrey, white as snow, which carried her softly, as though she loved her burthen.  Beneath the sky was no goodlier steed, nor one more gentle to the hand.  The harness of the palfrey was so rich, that no king on earth might hope to buy trappings so precious, unless he sold or set his realm in pledge.  The Maiden herself showed such as I will tell you.  Passing slim was the lady, sweet of bodice and slender of girdle.  Her throat was whiter than snow on branch, and her eyes were like flowers in the pallor of her face.  She had a witching mouth, a dainty nose, and an open brow.  Her eyebrows were brown, and her golden hair parted in two soft waves upon her head.  She was clad in a shift of spotless linen, and above her snowy kirtle was set a mantle of royal purple, clasped upon her breast.  She carried a hooded falcon upon her glove, and a greyhound followed closely after.  As the Maiden rode at a slow pace through the streets of the city, there was none, neither great nor small, youth nor sergeant, but ran forth from his house, that he might content his heart with so great beauty.  Every man that saw her with his eyes, marvelled at a fairness beyond that of any earthly woman.  Little he cared for any mortal maiden, after he had seen this sight.  The friends of Sir Launfal hastened to the knight, to tell him of his lady’s succour, if so it were according to God’s will.

“Sir comrade, truly is not this your friend?  This lady is neither black nor golden, mean nor tall.  She is only the most lovely thing in all the world.”

When Launfal heard this, he sighed, for by their words he knew again his friend.  He raised his head, and as the blood rushed to his face, speech flowed from his lips.

“By my faith,” cried he, “yes, she is indeed my friend.  It is a small matter now whether men slay me, or set me free; for I am made whole of my hurt just by looking on her face.”

The Maiden entered in the palace—­where none so fair had come before—­and stood before the King, in the presence of his household.  She loosed the clasp of her mantle, so that men might the more easily perceive the grace of her person.  The courteous King advanced to meet her, and all the Court got them on their feet, and pained themselves in her service.  When the lords had gazed upon her for a space, and praised the sum of her beauty, the lady spake to Arthur in this fashion, for she was anxious to begone.