he was recompensed most largely for the lodging.  He bade him also to seek out such knights as should pass through the town to refresh and solace themselves in the company of his lord.  The host was a worthy man.  He made ready a plenteous dinner, and inquired through the town for such poor knights as were in misease by reason of prison or of war.  These he brought to the hostelry of Sir Graelent, and comforted them with instruments of music, and with all manner of mirth.  Amongst them sat Graelent at meat, gay and debonair, and richly apparelled.  Moreover, to these poor knights and the harpers Graelent gave goodly gifts, so that there was not a citizen in all the town who did not hold him in great worship, and regard him as his lord.

From this moment Graelent lived greatly at his ease, for not a cloud was in his sky.  His lady came at will and pleasure; all day long they laughed and played together, and at night she lay softly at his side.  What truer happiness might he know than this?  Often, besides, he rode to such tournaments of the land as he was able, and all men esteemed him for a stout and worthy knight.  Very pleasant were his days, and his love, and if such things might last for ever he had nothing else to ask of life.

When a full year had passed by, the season drew to the Feast of Pentecost.  Now it was the custom of the King to summon at that tide his barons and all who held their fiefs of him to his Court for a rich banquet.  Amongst these lords was bidden Sir Graelent.  After men had eaten and drunk the whole day, and all were merry, the King commanded the Queen to put off her royal robes, and to stand forth upon the dais.  Then he boasted before the company,

“Lord barons, how seems it to you?  Beneath the sky is there a lovelier Queen than mine, be she maid, lady or demoiselle?”

So all the lords made haste to praise the Queen, and to cry and affirm that in all the world was neither maid nor wife so dainty, fresh and fair.  Not a single voice but bragged of her beauty, save only that of Graelent.  He smiled at their folly, for his heart remembered his friend, and he held in pity all those who so greatly rejoiced in the Queen.  So he sat with covered head, and with face bent smiling to the board.  The Queen marked his discourtesy, and drew thereto the notice of the King.

“Sire, do you observe this dishonour!  Not one of these mighty lords but has praised the beauty of your wife, save Graelent only, who makes a mock of her.  Always has he held me in envy and despite.”

The King commanded Graelent to his throne, and in the hearing of all bade the knight to tell, on his faith as vassal to his liege, for what reason he had hid his face and laughed.

“Sire,” answered Graelent to the King, “Sire, hearken to my words.  In all the world no man of your lineage does so shameful a deed as this.  You make your wife a show upon a stage.  You force your lords to praise her just with lies, saying that the sun does not shine upon her peer.  One man will tell the truth to your face, and say that very easily can be found a fairer dame than she.”